Shiloh Shepherd Basics
The Shiloh Shepherd is similar to the German Shepherd. These gentle giants are protective, loyal, and loving, making them popular amongst those who are searching for a great family dog or working dog. However, they do have special needs, and they do need a lot of space, so continue reading to learn more about this breed to decide if it would be the right fit for you.
The Shiloh Shepherd is a cross between a purebred German Shepherd and Alaskan Malamute.
Origin
The Shiloh Shepherd is a designer dog breed from the United States. In the 1970s, Tina M. Barber, who was a German Shepherd breeder, sought to create a Shepherd that reminded her of the dogs that she grew up with in Germany. She wanted the dogs to be large, intelligent, and great with families. It was not until 1990 that she separated her new breed from the AKC and began maintaining registry records for Shiloh Shepherds.
Pedigree
The Shiloh Shepherd is a cross between a purebred German Shepherd and Alaskan Malamute.
Food / Diet
The Shiloh Shepherd is a big breed that needs to eat quite a bit in order to maintain its energy and strength. Many breeders and owners are advocates of a raw diet for the breed, as they find it provides exceptional results with respect to their health.
Your dog is an individual, so he may need more or less food, depending upon his age and activity level. Always talk to your vet about the best food to nourish your pet, and to discuss raw and homemade options. The key is to provide your pet with the highest quality food that has natural ingredients for health and vitality.
The Shiloh Shepherd is protective, loyal, and loving.
Training
Training your Shiloh Shepherd should come easily, thanks to this breed’s willingness to please and its high level of intelligence. You can also train this breed to be a working dog or guard dog. These pooches are obedient and respond best to positive training sessions in which the owner is firm, patient, and consistent.
Weight
A large to giant-sized breed, the Shiloh Shepherd weighs between 80 and 130 pounds.
Temperament / Behavior
Shiloh Shepherds are revered for their courage, confidence, and intelligence. They are protective and want to keep you safe, and they are also friendly and loyal. Before you bring one of these dogs home, though, make sure that you have the time to dedicate to his needs. These canines enjoy being close to their human family and thrive on experiencing fun activities with you.
Common Health Problems
Like other hybrid canine breeds, the Shiloh Shepherd could be prone to the health problems that commonly affect its parent breeds. However, hybrid dogs can be hardy and healthy, and there’s no way to predict an individual dog’s long-term health, as every animal is different.
Shiloh Shepherds might be prone to developing tumors, panosteitis, and hip dysplasia or other skeletal disorders, as well as bloat, small intestine bacterial overgrowth syndrome, and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency.
Life Expectancy
The Shiloh Shepherd has an average lifespan of 12 to 14 years.
Exercise Requirements
Shiloh Shepherds need to participate in physical activities every day. These dogs like being challenged and trained, and they will do well with daily walks that are brisk and long. You can also take your dog on a hike or for a jog, and you can let him run off-leash at the dog park with other canines. It is best if you have an enclosed, safe backyard space where your pooch can run and play as well.
Give your pet some toys to play with while indoors, as they can help keep your dog mentally stimulated. However, if you do not lead an active lifestyle, this breed, which can become destructive as a result of boredom, isn’t the right choice for you.
Shiloh Shepherds are revered for their courage, confidence, and intelligence.
Recognized Clubs
The Shiloh Shepherd is recognized by the American Canine Association (ACA), the American Pet Registry, Inc. (APRI), the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA), the Dog Registry of America, Inc. (DRA), the International Shiloh Shepherd Registry (ISSR), the National Kennel Club (NKC), the National Shiloh Breed’s Registry (NSBR), the Shiloh Shepherd Breeders Association (SSBA), and The Shiloh Shepherd Registry (TSSR).
Coat
A Shiloh Shepherd could feature a coat that’s plush or a coat that’s smooth. If the coat is plush, it will be medium in length and it will have a dense undercoat, along with a mane that runs from the chest to the neck. On the other hand, if the coat is smooth, it will be medium in length and thick, but the outer hair will be rougher to the touch.
If your Shiloh Shepherd features the plush coat, you’ll need to brush him regularly in order to keep the fur free of tangles, smooth, and clean. However, if the coat is smooth, minimal grooming will be required, so brushing will be necessary less often.
These dogs do shed constantly, and they will also shed more heavily on a seasonal basis. Expect to clean up fur around your house, but daily brushing should help minimize this problem.
Puppies
Even though the Shiloh Shepherd grows up to be a hefty adult, these pooches are small when they are puppies, and they need to be handled with care.
If you can start socializing and training your puppy from a young age, he will grow comfortable and confident around a variety of people and animals.
It’s also important to be aware that Shiloh Shepherds experience slow bone growth that could make them susceptible to injuries, so puppies shouldn’t be allowed to perform strenuous activities until they are mature.
Photo credits: Don Cortell/ pawsthemoment.ca; Klaus2/Bigstock
