Shiloh Shepherd

Breed Profile

The Shiloh Shepherd is a breed that has been under development since 1962 by Tina Barber of Shiloh Shepherds Kennels. The breed was developed as an intense “re-creation” and variant to the German Shepherd Dog, to preserve the original qualities found in the old world style German Shepherd with soundness, temperament and health of utmost importance.

The Shiloh’s general appearance is one of nobility and strength. He is powerfully built, elegant, well balanced, has a proud carriage and moves effortlessly. He is self-confident, courageous, very intelligent, steady and bold. A very versatile breed, the Shiloh is easily trained, loyal and devoted to his family, and always ready and willing to work.

There are two types of coats for the breed: The Smooth has a double coat of medium length with a straight, harsh, dense, close-lying outer coat and a soft undercoat. The Plush type also has a close-fitting double coat of medium-length and a softer undercoat, but the neck has a distinct mane that extends to and covers the chest. This variety also has feathering on the inside of the ears and the back of the forelegs.

The Shiloh comes in various colours, ranging from solid black to solid white (the nose, eye rims and lips must be solid black) and also shades of tan, silver, red, dark brown, sable and cream.

The Shiloh Shepherd’s gait should be outreaching, elastic and seemingly tireless without effort. It should be smooth and rythmic covering the maximum amount of ground with the minimum amount of steps. At a walk, he uses long strides for both hind legs and forelegs. At a trot, even longer strides are used, moving powerfully but easily with coordination and balance.

Important Note:

The ISSR was the original breed registry formed in 1991. In 1998 the International Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club/Registry (ISSDC/r) was formed and then relinquished in late 2001. The club was then re-established again in 2004. Other registries now exist as well, namely the National Shiloh Shepherd Registry (NSBR), The Shiloh Shepherd Registry (TSSR), and the Shiloh Shepherd Breed Association and Registry (SSBA).

There are several excellent articles and websites available on the Internet to help in your research of this breed:

• About Shiloh Shepherds — The Library Project — This website is an excellent place to learn more about the Shiloh Shepherd breed. It covers topics such as appearance and temperament; health concerns; listings of clubs, registries and breeders; and much more.
• The Shiloh Shepherd Learning Center — Sponsored by the International Shiloh Shepherd Registry, Inc. This site contains a wealth of information concerning the origins, health, and temperament of the Shiloh Shepherd, breed and club history, registry reports, health data, and training information.
• Introduction to the Shiloh Shepherd — Originally written in 1991 by Tina M. Barber, (Breed Founder) for the SSDCA, Inc. Updated and Revised 9/97
• The Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club of America
• The International Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club
• Another Breeding Tool by Tina Barber — “Whether you are only interested in purchasing a puppy, or breeding Shiloh Shepherds in the future, investigating the Relationship Coefficient factor in your dog’s ancestry should be one of the most important items on top of your To Do list!”
• FAQs: Breed Specific
• Shiloh Shepherd Forums
• Information for the Potential Puppy/Dog Owner — This section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website is not breed-specific but includes several must read articles covering such topics as determining whether you are prepared to bring a dog into your lifestyle; what to look for in a Breeder; as well as a selection of reference books on the subject of choosing the right breed for you.

The links provided here are strictly for information purposes and convenience in finding relevant details about the breed and/or breeders and should in no way be viewed as a recommendation, endorsement or support of any one site and/or point of view over another — this representation of the breed is intended to be a completely unbiased view.

Health Issues

If you are considering the adoption of a Shiloh Shepherd puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy’s parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the main General Information page.)

Additional Health Resources:

• Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) — Providing a source of health information for owners, breeders, and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs. CHIC is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
• ISSR, Inc. Health Survey
• Health and Nutrition — Growing section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website which includes information on several health and nutrition related issues.
• AKC Canine Health Foundation — Working towards developing scientific advances in canine health.
• Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF)
• Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
• Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
• University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip)
• HealthGene — HealthGene Corporation is the leading provider of veterinary DNA diagnostic services in Canada.
• Labgenvet — Laboratory of Veterinary Genetics is a Canadian diagnostic laboratory that offers a comprehensive service of DNA tests for veterinary genetic diseases.

Breed Standards

• ISSR Shiloh Shepherd Breed Standard

Note: According to the breed founder, Tina Barber, the Shiloh Shepherd is a breed under development. At this time, the breed is not recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), the United Kennel Club (UKC), nor the American Kennel Club (AKC) or its Foundation Stock Service (FSS) program. However, the breed has been recognized by the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) since 1991 as well as other Rare Breed registries.

Grooming Information

• Grooming — This section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada.

Training Resources

• Training — For training information, see this growing section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.

Additional Information

• Clubs, Sports & Activities — For information on the many sports and activities you can get involved in with your dog.
• Working Dogs — The Working Dogs section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website provides information and listings of organizations that are involved in various dog jobs, such as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, Protection Dogs, and much more.