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The Shiloh Shepherd was developed to preserve the original qualities found in the German Shepherd Dog (GSD) of the past. They are bred to be the perfect family companion and protector; are highly intelligent and self-confident and possess no limitations in their ability and willingness to perform any job.
Appearance: The Shiloh Shepherd is designed to have a
regal bearing showing both its intelligence and strength.
Balance of elegance and strength is the key to their distinct
appearance and fluid movement. Their head is broad and
slightly domed with a gradually tapering muzzle; bite
alignment is important since either an over or undershot bite
is considered a disqualifying fault.
Their broad and muscular backs are straight with a gradual
slope from the withers that complement their full chest. Tails
are long, plush and slightly curved; they may show a more
pronounced curve when the dog is excited or exercising but
should never be a ring or a hook shape. Ears should be firm,
triangular and well cupped; they are carried erect when at
attention.
Size Standards: The Shiloh Shepherd is powerfully
built and well-balanced, with proud carriage and smooth,
effortless gait. The male Shiloh stands 30 inches (76 cm) r
more in height with a minimum of 28 inches (71 cm); he weighs
140 to 160 pounds (63.5-72.5 kg) with a minimum of 120 pounds
(54.5 kg). The female is smaller, standing 28 inches (71 cm)
or more in height with a minimum of 26 inches (66 cm) and
weighing 100 to 120 pounds (45-54.5 kg) with a minimum of 80
pounds (36 kg). With their even proportions, Shilohs will
appear longer than they are tall.
Coat Types: Shilohs come in two distinct coat
varieties: the smooth or double coat and the plush coat. The
smooth coat should be of medium length and lie close to the
body; the hair at the neck and on the back of the fore and
hind legs may be longer and thicker than other areas. The
outer coat will be dense, straight, and harsh. The plush coat
is longer, with a soft undercoat and a instinctive
"mane" which extends to the chest. The body coat
should not be over 5 inches (12.5 cm) long but will have some
feathering inside the ears and behind the legs which should
not be over 3 inches (7.5 cm) long.
The smooth coat is easier to groom, though the plush coat
seems to shed less. For show purposes, plush coats require
trimming of tufts that grow between the toes and pads. Coats
that are open, wooly or curly are serious faults.
Variant Colors: Shilohs come in many different
colors. They may be bi or duals with shades of black with tan,
golden tan, reddish tan, silver, or cream. They also can be
various shades of rich golden, silver, red, dark brown, dark
grey, or black sable. Solid black and solid white are also
possible, but for show purposes, the nose, lips, and eye rims
must be solid black. Blue and liver colors are not bred as
they are considered disqualifying faults.
Shilohs of any color may have a small white blaze on the
chest or some white on the toes, which should blend in with
the lighter color of their coat. White in any other area is
considered a fault. Whatever the coat color, a Shiloh is
always vibrant since pale, washed-out colours are discouraged.
Their eyes are always a shade of dark to light brown; no other
eye colors are bred.
Movement and Gait: The Shiloh's gait is smooth and
rhythmic. Their long strides and flowing motion require good
muscular development. Even while in a flying trot, the
straightness of their back is maintained. The full trot is
very steady and level, without any swaying or rolling. To help
keep their balance, their feet are brought in toward their
middle line when running. Any faults in movement or carriage
are considered serious.
Temperament: Ideal as companions, Shilohs have loyal
and outgoing personalities. They were developed to be gentle
and loving, able to work with animals and children while still
possessing an excellent drive. With proper socialization they
adapt easily to many environments and are stable no matter the
situation. Breeders strive for a courageous yet manageable
temperament. Any form of extreme aggression or shyness is
severely penalized per the breed standard.
Their self-confidence and superior intelligence leads them
to excel at many activities such as obedience, schutzhund,
tracking and others. They are frequent recipients of the AKCs
"Canine Good Citizen" Award and have also earned the
Companion Dog title, the Companion Dog Excellent title, the
Utility Dog title and been certified as Reading Education
Assistance Dogs.
Working Shiloh Shepherds: Using their speed and
balance, Shilohs perform agility related activities with ease.
However, due to slower bone growth these gentle giants
shouldn't perform strenuous obstacles or jumping until they
reach maturity. Shilohs also have great herding instincts.
Their courage and confidence make them excellent partners in
the arena. Shilohs have been recognized by the American
Herding Breed Association(AHBA) since 2004. The AHBA's
preliminary test for Herding Instinct is a great way to
determine if your Shiloh has the instincts and interest for
herding.
Their unique gentleness and calm temperament also allow
them to be highly responsive to therapy work. Organizations
that provide Animal Assisted Activities often require
stringent temperament testing as part of the application
process.
The Shiloh's intelligence and willingness to please make
them highly suitable for work as assistance dogs. They respond
quickly to training and retain the capacity to make
independent decisions when situations change.
Since they are not only biddable, but capable of following
complex directions, Shilohs can excel at obedience
competitions. The strong bond with their owner makes them
highly responsive to this type of work and their satisfaction
over a job well done make it a pleasant experience for both
Shiloh and owner.
Shilohs excel in the show ring and are so easy to handle
that even children can be successful in the sport. Currently
Shilohs can be shown in the American Rare Breed Association,
the International All Breed Canine Association, Rarities,
Inc., the Rare Breed Club of South Western Ontario, the
National Kennel Club Inc. and the National Canine Association
as well as special shows by the two Shiloh dog clubs and an
annual Homecoming held by the breed founder.
Health: There are two main areas of concern for this breed:
gastrointestinal problems and skeletal disorders.
Shilohs may experience problems with bloat, a condition
where the stomach becomes over-stretched by gas the dog is
unable to release. Small intestine bacterial overgrowth
syndrome has also been reported and can cause diarrhea,
abdominal pain and difficulty absorbing nutrients from food.
Both conditions are serious and should be treated immediately
by a veterinarian.
As with many other large breeds, Shilohs can also be
susceptible to hip dysplasia, a genetic disorder characterized
by incomplete growth of the hip. While more rare, there have
been some instances of osteochondritis, a condition where a
piece of bone or cartilage breaks away, causing pain and
stiffness in the affected joint. Skeletal disorders often
require long term treatment and therapy.
Panosteitis, similar to growing pains, is a self limiting
condition exhibited by shifting leg lameness that may occur
during a Shiloh's growth stages. As is common in other large
breeds, onset can be sudden but episodes usually resolve
within a few weeks and cease when the dog reaches physical
maturity.
History: The Shiloh Shepherd was developed by Tina
M. Barber of Shiloh Shepherds (kennel) in New York State. In
1974, she began developing a unique line of German Shepherds.
Her goal was to preserve the type of dog she remembered from
her childhood in Germany; dogs that are good family
companions, exceptionally intelligent, both physically and
mentally sound, and large in size.
She separated her foundation stock from the AKC in 1990,
and the FIC agreed to register these dogs as a separate breed.
The name chosen for these dogs was "Shiloh
Shepherd", named after the kennel of origin. Shortly
thereafter, the Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club of America, Inc.
(SSDCA, Inc.) was formed to preserve and protect the future
welfare of the breed. In 1991, the International Shiloh
Shepherd Registry (ISSR) was established and took over all
registry functions from the FIC.
In 1993, The Complete Computer Place (TCCP), using a
specially designed database program, officially started to
maintain the records. Nine generations of pedigree and LMX
data was compiled and all past entries that had been kept in
paper files were computerized. The ISSR continues to use this
program to document all vital data on each Shiloh Shepherd
registered in its registry. Ms. Barber continues to be active
in the development of the breed as the President of the SSDCA,
Inc. and Breed Warden for the ISSR.
In 1997, during a period when the SSDCA was inactive, The
International Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club (ISSDC) was opened. In
1998, the ISSDC opened their own registry, calling it the
ISSDCr. The Shiloh Shepherd Breed Association (SSBA) was
opened shortly after and assumed registry functions for the
ISSDCr. The National Shiloh Breed Registry (NSBR) was
established in 2001 and The Shiloh Shepherd Registry (TSSR) in
2002. In 2004, the ISSDC was reorganized as a parent club for
the NSBR, the SSBA, and the TSSR. As with many breeds, there
are significant differences of opinion between the founding
club/registry and subsequently established club/registries.
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