Shiloh Shepherd Dog

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Shiloh Shepherd
Plush-coated Shiloh Shepherd
Country of origin	United States
Nicknames	Shilohs
Traits
Classification & standards Not recognized by any major kennel club
Notes
Recognized by some Rare Breed organizations such as RBCSWO, ARBA, Rarities, NKC, IABCA for Showing purposes.

The Shiloh Shepherd is a breed of dog. Developed in the 1970s, they are meant to resemble an older variety of German Shepherd. Shilohs are not recognized by any major breed organization, but may be shown in some rare breed organizations such as RBCSWO or ARBA.Shilohs are generally larger and have a straighter back than most modern Shepherds; they are also bred for intelligence. Shilohs come in many colors, including black, white, tan, sable and cream. They also appear in bi-color or multi-color.

Shilohs compete in herding, obedience, protection and agility. They are also used as therapy dogs, search and rescue, livestock guardian, seizure alert and service assistance. Like many other Shepherds, Shilohs may have problems with bloat and hip dysplasia.

Contents 1 Characteristics 1.1 Appearance 1.1.1 Size standards 1.1.2 Coat Types 1.1.3 Variant Colors 1.1.4 Movement and Gait 1.2 Temperament 2 Health 3 Titling and competition 4 History 5 References 6 External links 6.1 Registries 6.2 Clubs 6.3 Rescue

[edit] Characteristics

[edit] Appearance

According to the breed standard, the Shiloh Shepherd should have a regal bearing that shows intelligence and strength. The balance between elegance and strength is the key to their distinct appearance and fluid movement. Their larger size should not impede their movement or grace.

The head should be 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. Muzzles and lips should be black, though pink has been seen, it is considered a fault. Ears should be firm, triangular and well cupped; they are carried erect when at attention. Their eyes are always a shade of dark to light brown; no other eye colors are bred.

Their broad and muscular backs should be straight with a gradual slope from the withers that complements their full chest. Tails should be 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.^[1]

[edit] Size standards

The Shiloh Shepherd is powerfully built and well-balanced and should have a proud carriage and smooth, effortless gait. The male Shiloh stands 30 inches (76 cm) or more in height with a minimum of 28 inches (71 cm); he weighs 140 to 160 pounds (63-72kg kg) with a minimum of 120 pounds (63.5 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 should appear longer than they are tall.^[1]

[edit] 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 distinctive "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.^[1]

[edit] 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 acceptable, 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.^[2]

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.^[1]

[edit] 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 should be 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.^[1]

[edit] Temperament

Bred 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 a trainable drive for particular working applications, such as assistive service, obedience, or herding. With proper socialization they adapt easily to many environments and are stable. Any form of extreme aggression or shyness is severely penalized per the breed standard.^[1]

[edit] Health

There are two main areas of concern for this breed: gastrointestinal problems and skeletal disorders.^[3]

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.^[4]

As with many other large breeds, Shilohs can also be susceptible to hip dysplasia, a genetic disorder characterized by incomplete growth of the hip. Almost all large breeds suffer from some skeletal disorder, due to the fact that the immense weight of their body adds pressure to the hips, limbs and bones. 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.^[5]

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.^[3]

[edit] Titling and competition

Using their speed and balance, Shilohs perform agility related activities with ease. However, due to slower bone growth these large animals shouldn't perform strenuous obstacles or jumping until they reach maturity. Shilohs also have herding instincts that make them excellent partners in the arena. Shilohs have been recognized by the American Herding Breed Association(AHBA) since 2004.^[6] The AHBA's preliminary test for Herding Instinct is often used to determine if a Shiloh has the instincts and interest for herding.^[7]

Shiloh have also been successfully trained as search and rescue dogs. In March 2007, a Shiloh named Gandalf received national media attention after finding a Boy Scout lost in the mountains of North Carolina.^[8]

Shiloh's gentleness and calm temperament also allow them to be a part of therapy work.^[9] Their 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. 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.^[10][11]

Shilohs are easy to handle so that even children can be successful in the show ring. 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.

[edit] History

The Shiloh Shepherd was developed by Tina M. Barber of Shiloh Shepherds (kennel) in New York, United States. In 1974, she began developing a new 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.^[12][13]

Tina separated her foundation stock from the American Kennel Club (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.^{[12] [13]}

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 (Littermate X-Ray Program) data were 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.^[13][14]

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.^{[13][15][16][17]}

As with many breeds, there are significant differences of opinion between the founding club/registry and subsequently established club/registries.^[18][19]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• ISSR Inc. (2003) - Photographic Guide to Color Conformation
• Photographic guide to Shiloh coat colors

[edit] Registries

• International Shiloh Shepherd Registry, Inc. (ISSR) (Illustrated Breed Standard)
• National Shiloh Breeders Registry (NSBR)
• The Shiloh Shepherd Registry (TSSR)
• Shiloh Shepherd Breed Association (SSBA)

[edit] Clubs

• Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club of America (SSDCA)
• International Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club (ISSDC)

[edit] Rescue

• International Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club Rescue
• Shiloh Rescue Network