Click the link below for more info on our outcrossing program and why we feel that outcrossing is needed.
www.shiloh-shepherd.com/pages/outcrossbase.html
Moonshine Shilohs is Proud to be Part of the
ISSA's Out-Cross Breed Program in the United States
A Foundation Breeding Planned for Spring 2024
Moonshine Shilohs' Louis XIII Cognac and Northwest Guardian Wade
What is an out-cross breeding?
Out-crossing or out-breeding is the technique of crossing between different breeds with no common ancestors. This is the practice of introducing unrelated genetic material into a breeding line. It increases genetic diversity in a breed, thus reducing the probability of a line being subject to disease or genetic abnormalities. In layman's terms, all dogs have defective genes. In fact, all living creatures do, including humans. But often a defective gene doesn't cause any problems unless you have TWO copies of it – one from your mother and one from your father. A purebred puppy has a higher risk of inheriting two copies, since his parents belong to the same breed and share so many of the same genes, including the same defective ones. But parents of different breeds (assuming those breeds are not similar to each other) tend to have different defective genes. This minimizes the risk of their puppies getting two copies of the same bad gene. Not only that, but the greater variety of genes that a crossbred puppy inherits tends to result in a stronger immune system and better physical and mental health. It's called genetic diversity and it is a healthy thing.
But wait a minute...doesn't that mean these puppies won't be purebred Shilohs?
Correct. But remember, dog breeds are NOT different species. A dog "breed" is simply an inbred family of dogs within the same species: Canis Familiaris. The inbreeding (doubling up of the same genes) is what makes a dog breed look alike. All purebred dogs are just as much designed as are crossbred dogs. In animal breeding, a pure breed includes animals that are all similar in appearance, behavior, function, origin, and genetics. These animals produce offspring that appear similar to the parent animals. This is referred to as “breeding true,” or “true-breeding”. In cross breeding, these animals produce offspring that, while they may not appear similar to the parent animals, such as in the case of a Labradoodle, the breeding minimizes the risk of their puppies getting two copies of the same bad gene.
Why does this matter you ask?
In the world of dog breeding, you will often see F1, F2, or F3. These “F” designations refer to the specific generation of cross-bred offspring that an individual dog or litter belongs to. In cross-breeding, the F1 and F2 generations are not purebred as it takes a third generation before the puppies return to “breed true,” and produce offspring that consistently resemble their parents. But these F1 and F2 generations are essential for the improvement of genetic diversity in the breed for future generations.
Why was a Sarplaninac breed, and more specifically Wade chosen for the out-cross?
The Sparlaninac breed is known for wonderful longevity with some dogs getting into the 16 to 20-year age range. In fact, Wade's grandpa is 14 years old and is still actively working as a livestock guardian. Sarplaninac's have strong digestive systems, and GI issues are rare. They are not picky with food and will eat anything. Wade has passed all his mandatory health tests and none of his progeny have any reported health/temperament issues. Additionally, Wade's genetic diversity has been analyzed by UC Davis, and his results were fantastic! He has a whopping 20 STR (a type of microsatellite DNA) that are completely unknown or represented by only a single dog in our gene pool. He also carries 11 STR that are very rare, 9 STR that are rare, and only 17 STR that are common in Shilohs. This means that 74.2% of his DNA ranges from uncommon to completely unknown in Shilohs, lending a ton of genetic diversity! Kind of technical, I know, but extremely important in the world of dog breeding! Remember, it's called genetic diversity and it's a good thing!
A bit more about Wade and Cognac
Wade is a friendly, low intensity dog that is bombproof, outgoing, confident, and independent. His outgoing nature makes him a bit of an outlier for what most people consider typical for livestock guardians, which is just one part of what makes him special. Wade is HUGE. He is a true gentle giant of a Sarplanaric, towering 28 inches at the shoulders and weighing in at a whopping 115 pounds. He carries heavy bone and a wide chest. His coat is thick, dense, and very long. Wade's temperament is non-reactive and friendly, both to humans and to other animals, on or off his home turf. He has little to no noise sensitivity, and he aced his adult temperament test. He has little to no prey drive. If he goes after an animal, it’s in a defensive drive to keep his property safe from predators.
Cognac is one of our few lines relatively unrelated to a lot of dogs in our Shiloh gene pool. Cognac is the quintessential Shiloh Shepherd. She brings a mellow temperament, quick intelligence, excellent movement, and beauty to this pairing.
Can I be a part of this historic breeding?
Yes, you can! Future homes will ideally have some experience with more headstrong, independent breeds, and it is essential that they are willing to keep the F1 dogs intact so that they may be used for the ISSA’s outcrossing program in the future. The Puppy Price for this out-cross litter is $3,000. Request a Puppy Application NOW!
ISSA's Out-Cross Breed Program in the United States
A Foundation Breeding Planned for Spring 2024
Moonshine Shilohs' Louis XIII Cognac and Northwest Guardian Wade
What is an out-cross breeding?
Out-crossing or out-breeding is the technique of crossing between different breeds with no common ancestors. This is the practice of introducing unrelated genetic material into a breeding line. It increases genetic diversity in a breed, thus reducing the probability of a line being subject to disease or genetic abnormalities. In layman's terms, all dogs have defective genes. In fact, all living creatures do, including humans. But often a defective gene doesn't cause any problems unless you have TWO copies of it – one from your mother and one from your father. A purebred puppy has a higher risk of inheriting two copies, since his parents belong to the same breed and share so many of the same genes, including the same defective ones. But parents of different breeds (assuming those breeds are not similar to each other) tend to have different defective genes. This minimizes the risk of their puppies getting two copies of the same bad gene. Not only that, but the greater variety of genes that a crossbred puppy inherits tends to result in a stronger immune system and better physical and mental health. It's called genetic diversity and it is a healthy thing.
But wait a minute...doesn't that mean these puppies won't be purebred Shilohs?
Correct. But remember, dog breeds are NOT different species. A dog "breed" is simply an inbred family of dogs within the same species: Canis Familiaris. The inbreeding (doubling up of the same genes) is what makes a dog breed look alike. All purebred dogs are just as much designed as are crossbred dogs. In animal breeding, a pure breed includes animals that are all similar in appearance, behavior, function, origin, and genetics. These animals produce offspring that appear similar to the parent animals. This is referred to as “breeding true,” or “true-breeding”. In cross breeding, these animals produce offspring that, while they may not appear similar to the parent animals, such as in the case of a Labradoodle, the breeding minimizes the risk of their puppies getting two copies of the same bad gene.
Why does this matter you ask?
In the world of dog breeding, you will often see F1, F2, or F3. These “F” designations refer to the specific generation of cross-bred offspring that an individual dog or litter belongs to. In cross-breeding, the F1 and F2 generations are not purebred as it takes a third generation before the puppies return to “breed true,” and produce offspring that consistently resemble their parents. But these F1 and F2 generations are essential for the improvement of genetic diversity in the breed for future generations.
Why was a Sarplaninac breed, and more specifically Wade chosen for the out-cross?
The Sparlaninac breed is known for wonderful longevity with some dogs getting into the 16 to 20-year age range. In fact, Wade's grandpa is 14 years old and is still actively working as a livestock guardian. Sarplaninac's have strong digestive systems, and GI issues are rare. They are not picky with food and will eat anything. Wade has passed all his mandatory health tests and none of his progeny have any reported health/temperament issues. Additionally, Wade's genetic diversity has been analyzed by UC Davis, and his results were fantastic! He has a whopping 20 STR (a type of microsatellite DNA) that are completely unknown or represented by only a single dog in our gene pool. He also carries 11 STR that are very rare, 9 STR that are rare, and only 17 STR that are common in Shilohs. This means that 74.2% of his DNA ranges from uncommon to completely unknown in Shilohs, lending a ton of genetic diversity! Kind of technical, I know, but extremely important in the world of dog breeding! Remember, it's called genetic diversity and it's a good thing!
A bit more about Wade and Cognac
Wade is a friendly, low intensity dog that is bombproof, outgoing, confident, and independent. His outgoing nature makes him a bit of an outlier for what most people consider typical for livestock guardians, which is just one part of what makes him special. Wade is HUGE. He is a true gentle giant of a Sarplanaric, towering 28 inches at the shoulders and weighing in at a whopping 115 pounds. He carries heavy bone and a wide chest. His coat is thick, dense, and very long. Wade's temperament is non-reactive and friendly, both to humans and to other animals, on or off his home turf. He has little to no noise sensitivity, and he aced his adult temperament test. He has little to no prey drive. If he goes after an animal, it’s in a defensive drive to keep his property safe from predators.
Cognac is one of our few lines relatively unrelated to a lot of dogs in our Shiloh gene pool. Cognac is the quintessential Shiloh Shepherd. She brings a mellow temperament, quick intelligence, excellent movement, and beauty to this pairing.
Can I be a part of this historic breeding?
Yes, you can! Future homes will ideally have some experience with more headstrong, independent breeds, and it is essential that they are willing to keep the F1 dogs intact so that they may be used for the ISSA’s outcrossing program in the future. The Puppy Price for this out-cross litter is $3,000. Request a Puppy Application NOW!