by Pup-less in Portland, ME on Sat Jan 30, 2010 1:57 am
Hi. I'm glad to see that Shiloh shepherds are finally getting some recognition. There is a club that was started by Tina Barber who has gotten the breeding and recognition these wonderful dogs deserve. They are not recognized by the AKC but she has her own club, Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club of America which begot the International Shiloh Shepherd Registry. The official web site shilohshepards.org will answer all your questions about Shiloh Shepherds. To me it looks like they took all the GSD variants that the AKC will not recognize, e.g. Black GSDs, and started a breeding registry which is how new breeds get recognized.
I was 8 when my family got our first GSD. She was a long-haired shepherd who's sire was a German Grand Champion. She was one of the gentlest dogs I ever met. We use to have a joke that if a burglar ever broke in she would probably take him/her by the hand and show him/her where everything is. I didn't realize that these gentle dogs would someday become their own breed until I got a long-haired GSD from a back-yard breeder. (Not recommended unless the pups are properly socialized. Mine wasn't.) Anyway, he was the sweetest, goofiest guy. I joined the GSD club here in Spokane, WA, and that how I found out about Shiloh Shepherds. I hope you and your husband will take one of these wonderful pups into your home. You'll be rewarded with lots of love and fun times. Just make sure you brush them, a lot, they have a thick under fur. But that's just more to cuddle with.
Good luck!