1) What's the difference between the Shiloh Shepherd and the German Shepherd?

The American Bred German Shepherd has gone through some dramatic changes over the past few decades. What was once considered a large breed, is more medium size in build. They are also now longer in body, with finer bone. For generations they have been bred for a more angulated appearance which has resulted in the more streamlined Shepherd we see today.

The German Imports have excellent strong protective instincts, having been bred mainly for Schutzhund competition. Since thousands of dollars has been paid to import dogs with a stronger working ability, competition to produce a tougher/harder dog became more intensive. The resulting price war caused many inferior dogs to be brought in because they were still considered imports. Many of these inferior specimens have been bred here in the States, polluting the good blood that had also been imported. Although some good progeny had been produced, there were many with poor temperaments. These include fearfulness, hyperactivity, and anxiety, which may not make for a good household companion.

The Shiloh Shepherd was bred to preserve the original qualities that endeared the German Shepherd to so many. Although the Shiloh was much too big and not angulated enough to please the "show fancy", they still retained the intelligence and working ability the Shepherd had been bred for. They were bred mainly for sound hips, temperament, and large size like their flock guardian ancestors.

2) What is hip dysplasia? Are Shilohs hip dysplasia free?

Hip dysplasia is a malformation of either the hip socket or the femoral head, or both. There are several different degrees of the disease, mild, moderate, and severe. How a dog is affected by the disease depends on each particular dog. Many dogs who have severe hip dysplasia never have any physical problems while others may. Nutrition and exercise play a huge role in the control and progression of the disease. A dog who is fed a poor diet and is overweight will have much more trouble than a dog who is fed a premium diet and kept lean through regular exercise. Hip dysplasia does not have to be a death sentence if maintained properly and the owner is well informed. There are also several surgical options in treating the disease. All breeds can produce dysplastic dogs, although some more than others.

Shiloh Sheperds are no different, but we do have a lower instance than many large breeds. Why is this? In order to use a Shiloh Shepherd in a breeding program, it must have its hips x rayed and rated by one of the agencies we accept for this purpose.** OFA and GDC rate those x-rays with an Excellent, Good, Fair, Borderline, Mild, Moderate, or Severe rating. PennHip uses a different scale using numbers (.1-.99). Only those dogs that receive a passing rating may be used for breeding. We also require that ALL puppies produced in a litter to have xrays done and rated around 12-14 months of age. This is very important so that we may keep track of what different lines, different combinations may be producing.

**Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)

3) How much can I expect to pay for a Shiloh Shepherd?

Pricing varies from breeder to breeder. Prices may reflect the type of guarantee offered by the breeder, the actual quality (companion, breeding, show), Co-Ownerships, Breeders Agreements, as well as other factors such as gender, number of Champions in the breeding pairs pedigrees, etc.

Please be sure to ask the breeder their pricing guidelines as well as their deposit policies.

4) What will be required of me as a future Shiloh Shepherd owner?

When you add a Shiloh Shepherd to your family, aside from giving your puppy a good home with plenty of love and guidance, you can anticipate having to complete several different things when the dog reaches its' first birthday. Each dog, regardless of "quality", must have hip x-rays done, be DNA tested, and have a temperament test. A dominant/recessive sheet must also be filled out and submitted at the same time as x rays and temperament test forms, as well as photos of that particular dog from 4 angles (front, rear, left & right side). This is what is required at minimum. Please ask each breeder you speak to, what they expect in addition to the above.