In my quest to find a dog breed I wanted to start a breeding program with, my search eventually led me to discover the Shiloh Shepherd and I kept reading.  What are they, where do they come from, and what led the Shiloh Shepherd founders to create the breed?

You could be mistaken for thinking they are German Shepherds and you wouldn't be entirely wrong as, at their core, are the Old German Shepherd lines from Germany with the addition of a very few very carefully selected other breeds added, in a well researched outcross program to improve health, soften their temperament, increase their size and also increase the coat colour variation and type as they come in many different colours including various sables, duals, solid black as well as solid white, which was brought in by the carefully choreographed outcross program, and can be either plush or smooth coated.  

The breed founder, Tina Barber, felt nostalgic for the breed she remembered from her childhood in Germany when she went to live in Canada and was unhappy with the smaller size, sloping back and associated hip problems of the modern GSD, and their more unpredictable temperament than the 'Schutzhund' she remembered from her childhood among other things like their larger ears for instance.

She therefore resolved to recreate the ones she had grown up with.  With the help of some Old German Shepherd lines which still existed in Germany and the carefully researched outcross program which helped in the breeds development over time, the Shiloh Shepherd was created and eventually recognised by the rare breed association in the US and Canada in 1991.  They are larger than the modern GSD, have straighter backs and are generally well rounded, family friendly companion dogs with less drive than todays GSD but no lack of energy! They are however very intelligent and enjoy taking part in all sorts of activities and love going on trips and adventures of all kinds but do have a switch off button as they are calm and settled at home and really just want to be with their people while not being Velcro dogs.

Since its recognition by the rare breed association the breed has been continually growing in popularity in its native USA and Canada and more recently, with the establishment of a few breeding programs  in Europe, their popularity over here is also growing.  

Feeling inspired I resolved to import a girl from Canada and have now become the latest addition to the breeding program in Wales, UK of these fabulous and charismatic dogs.