Shiloh Shepherd

About this Breed

Shiloh Shepherds are majestic looking dogs that are still a developing breed. While not officially recognized by any major kennel club, lovers of this new breed are working towards recognition. In the meantime they are showing their dogs in rare breed shows.

They were originally bred in the 1970s by a woman named Tina Barber. She wanted to create a new line of German Shepherds modeled on the breed as she remembered them from her childhood in Germany. She wanted to create a family dog that was mentally and physical sound and larger than most German Shepherds of the time. Since Tina Barber’s death in 2011, her daughter has continued to breed Shiloh Shepherds in the hope that they will become an internationally recognized dog breed.

Shiloh Shepherds make excellent family dogs. Beautiful and impressively large, they are gentle giants who love their family intensely. They can be trained to participate in a variety of activities, from search and rescue to therapy dogs. They are intelligent guardian dogs that are not necessarily suitable for novice owners, but with the right family they make exceptional pets. They love children and are extremely devoted to and protective of any children in their family. Shiloh Shepherds also get along well with other animals.

Shiloh Shepherds are probably the least territorial of all the Shepherd breeds, and thus are a little easier to manage than most. That being said, they retain their instincts as guard dogs and need to be socialized at an early age to different people, places, sights, and sounds. This is true of all dogs, but it is especially important for dogs that have protective instincts, as they can become problematic.

Because of their size, Shiloh Shepherds don’t make good apartment dogs and will fare much better in the suburbs or the countryside. Most Shiloh Shepherd owners live in rural environments where their dogs have the opportunity to mingle with livestock and get plenty of time outdoors. This is the ideal setting for Shiloh Shepherds; they will suffer if kept in an unsuitable environment like a small apartment.

Shiloh Shepherds, as an American breed, are easier to find in the United States. Because of the breed’s similarity to German Shepherds, prospective owners should take care to make sure they are getting a real Shiloh Shepherd, not just a big German Shepherd.