History of the Shiloh Shepherd
In 1974, Tina M. Barber began genetic development of the Shiloh Shepherd, a dog bred for great intelligence, excellent health and sound stable temperament. Tina started out training German Shepherds for personal protection dogs in upstate New York in the 1970’s. Early on, though, she saw that many of them were too difficult for the average family to handle. Tina wanted to breed a shepherd that could be trusted with, and safely handled by, a small child. She also discovered issues with hip dysplasia in her lines and started to get some ideas about how to reduce it. Thus began her quest to create a dog like the ones she remembered from when she was a child in Germany: big, healthy, family-friendly shepherds.
The Shiloh is based largely on the German Shepherd Dog. Other breeds, such as Malamute, were added to improve breed health in a process called outcrossing. The Shiloh is large, calm, and easier to handle than many working shepherd breeds. They are highly intelligent and protective of their family and home. They compete in obedience, agility and herding events and work as therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, livestock guardians, and service assistants. The Shiloh Shepherd dog has been recognized by the American Rare Breed Association since 1991.
The general Shiloh temperament is social, human-focused, and gentle with children and other animals. That said, there is a range of temperaments and energy levels within the breed. There are pups born that have the independence and energy to do search and rescue work, the aloofness to be a good working service dog, or the nimbleness and drive for agility. The Shiloh is larger and has a straighter back than most modern German Shepherd Dogs, They are bred for intelligence, size, and stable temperaments. On average males range in height from 28 to 32 inches and 110 to 140 pounds. The females range in height from 26 to 29 inches and weigh between 80 and 110 pounds. The Shiloh comes in two different coat styles, Smooth and Plush. The Smooth coat is a double coat made up of medium length fur that lies close to the body. The Plush coat has longer hairs and a distinct "mane" that extends to cover the chest. There are a wide range of color variances in the breed with dual or sable coats in a variety of shades of black, grey, tan, brown, cream, silver and red. Also acceptable are solid white, buff and black coats. The Shiloh has an average life span of 9-14 years.
Tina Barber was our breed founder and today, her Shiloh Shepherd breed is still in development under the auspices of the International Shiloh Shepherd Alliance (ISSA).
The Shiloh is based largely on the German Shepherd Dog. Other breeds, such as Malamute, were added to improve breed health in a process called outcrossing. The Shiloh is large, calm, and easier to handle than many working shepherd breeds. They are highly intelligent and protective of their family and home. They compete in obedience, agility and herding events and work as therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs, livestock guardians, and service assistants. The Shiloh Shepherd dog has been recognized by the American Rare Breed Association since 1991.
The general Shiloh temperament is social, human-focused, and gentle with children and other animals. That said, there is a range of temperaments and energy levels within the breed. There are pups born that have the independence and energy to do search and rescue work, the aloofness to be a good working service dog, or the nimbleness and drive for agility. The Shiloh is larger and has a straighter back than most modern German Shepherd Dogs, They are bred for intelligence, size, and stable temperaments. On average males range in height from 28 to 32 inches and 110 to 140 pounds. The females range in height from 26 to 29 inches and weigh between 80 and 110 pounds. The Shiloh comes in two different coat styles, Smooth and Plush. The Smooth coat is a double coat made up of medium length fur that lies close to the body. The Plush coat has longer hairs and a distinct "mane" that extends to cover the chest. There are a wide range of color variances in the breed with dual or sable coats in a variety of shades of black, grey, tan, brown, cream, silver and red. Also acceptable are solid white, buff and black coats. The Shiloh has an average life span of 9-14 years.
Tina Barber was our breed founder and today, her Shiloh Shepherd breed is still in development under the auspices of the International Shiloh Shepherd Alliance (ISSA).
About Moonshine Shilohs
In 2013, we were introduced to our first Shiloh Shepherd, “River Pack's Wynn for Victory”, a silver and black Shiloh, or “Tequila” as we lovingly call her. So impressed were we by the ISSA’s steadfast commitment to a strict breeding program, which include the health and genetics of the breed, we bred Tequila. Tequila produced her first litter in June of 2017, with encore litters in March of 2019 and March of 2020. Today, as we witness Tequila's progeny, who invariably reflect her outstanding attributes and beauty, and will continue to do so for generations to come, Moonshine Shiloh's is so proud to be a small part of Shiloh Shepherd history.
