Shiloh Shepherd
The Shiloh Shepherd is a large to giant German Shepherd-type dog developed by Tina Barber in New York in the 1970s and 80s by selectively breeding larger, calmer, and more family-friendly German Shepherds with the goal of recreating the original larger type of working shepherd without the orthopedic and temperament problems that had accumulated in show German Shepherd lines.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Origin
United States
Lifespan
9–14 years
Weight
36–64 kg (80–140 lbs)
Height
66–76 cm (26–30 in)
Diet
Omnivore — high-quality giant breed food. Giant breed puppy food essential. Prone to bloat — controlled feeding essential.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Mammalia
Order
Carnivora
Family
Canidae
Genus
Canis
The Story
The Shiloh Shepherd is a large to giant German Shepherd-type dog developed by Tina Barber in New York in the 1970s and 80s by selectively breeding larger, calmer, and more family-friendly German Shepherds with the goal of recreating the original larger type of working shepherd without the orthopedic and temperament problems that had accumulated in show German Shepherd lines. The result is a dog that closely resembles the German Shepherd but is substantially larger and heavier — more like the GSD of the 1930s-40s — with a notably gentler, calmer temperament. It is not AKC-recognised and remains a rare breed managed by independent registries.
Also Known As
Quick Facts
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Physical Profile
Source: wikimedia
A giant shepherd dog resembling a very large, more broadly built German Shepherd. Both plush (semi-long) and smooth coat varieties exist. The plush coat gives a particularly luxurious, lion-like mane and full coat. The overall impression is of an impressive, powerful, gentle giant shepherd.
Grooming
High
Shedding
Very High
Coat Colors
Recognized By
Source: wikimedia
Temperament & Personality
Gentle, devoted, and calm — the Shiloh was specifically bred for family temperament. Excellent with children. More laid-back than the typical German Shepherd but still intelligent and trainable.
Living Profile
Care & Wellness
Professional Care Protocol
- •1.5–2 hours exercise daily. The plush coat requires brushing 3–4 times weekly with heavy seasonal shedding. Giant breed puppy diet and restricted exercise for 18–24 months. Bloat prevention — prophylactic gastropexy recommended.
Vaccination Schedule
Vaccination Schedule
Health Overview
Hip dysplasia — elevated. Bloat (GDV) — high risk in giant deep-chested breed. Degenerative myelopathy. Panosteitis in puppies. The giant size means orthopaedic health is the primary concern.
Common Conditions
Fun Facts
The Shiloh Shepherd was developed by a single breeder — Tina Barber — over nearly two decades in her private kennel in New York, making it one of the more recent and well-documented single-person breed development projects.
The breed was conceived as a response to what Barber saw as the deterioration of the working German Shepherd — both in health (increasing hip dysplasia) and temperament (increasing anxiety in show lines) — and aimed to restore the original large, calm, working shepherd type.
