A Shiloh Shepherd shares many traits with the German Shepherd — highly intelligent, loyal and fun loving — but has softer features and comes in a much larger package.
Origin: United States Other Names: Shiloh
The most striking thing about the Shiloh Shepherd is their large size. Weighing between 80 and 110 pounds when fully grown, this is a large and powerful breed. They come in either plush or smooth coats and can have 35 different color combinations of either solid black, solid white, dual or sable colors. Most Shiloh Shepherds also have a distinctive circle of lighter colored fur around their eyes.
Shiloh Shepherds are large dogs, standing between 26 and 30 inches at the shoulder and weighing between 80 and 110 pounds when fully grown.
| Full Grown | |
|---|---|
| Female | 26 in. / 80 lbs. |
| Male | 30 in. / 110 lbs. |
Height is measured up to the shoulders.
Shiloh Shepherds are large dogs, standing between 26 and 30 inches at the shoulder.
This is a large and powerful breed, weighing between 80 and 110 pounds when fully grown.
A very large breed, the Shiloh Shepherd needs plenty of space to run and play.
This large breed requires daily exercise to stay fit, but activities that involve their family are fine, like daily walks and playing fetch in the backyard.
Gentle, loving and loyal, Shiloh Shepherds want nothing more than to be with their family. Keep in mind, however, that appropriate socialization is a must.
The Shiloh Shepherd is less interested in protection than the German Shepherd, although their size alone can be intimidating.
The Shiloh Shepherd makes a wonderful companion for kids, although their large size means they should be watched with small children.
Like the German Shepherd, Shiloh Shepherds excel at obedience and they are eager to learn.
The Shiloh Shepherd comes in two coat varieties, both of which shed heavily and require daily brushing to maintain optimal health.
This breed has an all-weather coat that does fine in any kind of weather. However, they generally prefer a cooler environment.
A generally quiet breed, some can be “good communicators” and will let you know how they feel.
Bred to be softer in temperament than their German Shepherd counterparts, the Shiloh Shepherd is less concerned with protection and more interested in companionship.
“While they are [lower energy than a German Shepherd], a Shiloh is still a Shepherd and will run circles around owners who are too permissive,” says Bridgit Amstrup, membership coordinator with the International Shiloh Shepherd Alliance. “They are extremely intelligent and will make their own executive decisions if allowed.”
The Shiloh Shepherd was bred to be a loyal companion pet. They are easily trained and bark infrequently. As long as you provide the breed with love, some daily exercise and challenge them mentally, they will be the happiest of friends.
The Shiloh Shepherd is gentle and smart, making them relatively easy to train, especially when you start at a young age.
Although they’re large, most Shiloh Shepherds only requires moderate exercise. They’re happy with a daily routine that involves active play with their family members.
Enjoys some moderate exercise every now and then
It is important to keep these dogs on a large breed diet that also fits that particular animals age. Feed for large breed and make sure that the formula is age appropriate. There are all life stage formulas, adult, senior, mature. I recommend against using all life stage and go more with an age specific food to help prevent the possibility of obesity.
Average daily consumption for an adult Shiloh Shepherd is 3-5 cups.
As with most shepherd dogs, due to the possibility of hip arthritis from hip dysplasia, it is wise to start early joint supplementation with a joint supplement such as Glucosamine / Chondroitin and fish oil supplementation. With the risk of bloat, it may be wise to consider tacking the stomach to the body wall during the neuter / spay procedure to help prevent future possibility of bloat. Maintain a healthy weight for this breed as being overweight can add undo stress to the hip joints that are already predisposed for developing arthritis due to hip dysplasia.
Common conditions found in Shiloh Shepherds include, but are not limited to, the following: German Shepherd Dog Inherited Ventricular Arrhythmia (GSDIVA), Degenerative Myelopathy, Bloat, Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency, Hip Dysplasia and a Sensitive stomach.
On average, Shiloh Shepherds live to be between 10 and 13 years old.
The Shiloh Shepherd comes in one of two coat varieties — plush or smooth. Plush coats have a more close-fitting outer coat with long hair, as well as a dense undercoat. This coat type sheds less than the smooth-coated variety, which has a close-fitting double coat with a medium-long outer coat.
Medium
Frequent
Both coat types of the Shiloh Shepherd shed heavily and require daily brushing. “It is commonly known that Shilohs shed twice a year for six months,” Amstrup says.
The Shiloh Shepherd was bred by an American breeder named Tina Barber in 1970s. She was hoping to recreate a breed that had similar characteristics to a German Shepherd, but with a few more select traits that made them more suitable for companionship, rather than work or protection. The breed is still in its early stages and has yet to be recognized by the American Kennel Club.
