Shepherd Mix

The Shepherd mix is usually a cross of the German Shepherd and other breeds. They are wonderful dogs for protection and loyal. They do well as a family dog, and are energetic and loving.  After years of breeding German Shepherds for years, Tina Barber, a dog enthusiast decides to set back her standards. The end result is a Shiloh Shepherd, large dogs with qualities and features similar to their predecessor.  This took place between the 60s and 90s. Her turning point was in 1974 when Tina embarked on a project to develop the new line of German Shepherds. The name Shiloh Shepherds is derived from that given to her New York kennels. Shiloh Shepherds have a heavy appearance and are similar to German Shepherd Dogs only that they are bigger. The breed is still under development.

Male Shiloh Shepherds weigh between 100-130 pounds, while females are less heavy at 80-100 pounds. Generally, these dogs stand at 28 to 30 inches at the withers. They have a broad and strong back with strong cheekbones and well-muscled feet. Shiloh Shepherds have a long tail that is covered by thick hair. Their coats come in two varieties: plush and smooth. The latter comes in form of a thick coat with rough outer hair. The plush coat is dense on the underside with a mane that runs from the dog's neck to its chest.

Personality

Shiloh Shepherds have a confident and courageous personality. They are intelligent and highly protective of their families. A Shiloh Shepherd will guard your property with zeal and is never afraid of strangers. It is very friendly and loyal. These two aspects make it a great companion dog to have around your home. Despite their massive and dominant size, Shiloh Shepherds are laid back and love children. Their instincts are very sharp and they do love being active. Families with children and active single people will love the companionship offered by these dogs. You can keep a Shiloh in an apartment on condition that you give it lots of exercise. Otherwise, it is an outdoorsy type of dog that needs a yard and some shelter.

Breed Characteristics

Shepherd Mix Build Information

Male Shiloh Shepherds weigh between 100-130 pounds, while females are less heavy at 80-100 pounds. Generally, these dogs stand at 28 to 30 inches at the withers. They have a broad and strong back with strong cheekbones and well-muscled feet. Shiloh Shepherds have a long tail that is covered by thick hair. Their coats come in two varieties: plush and smooth. The latter comes in form of a thick coat with rough outer hair. The plush coat is dense on the underside with a mane that runs from the dog's neck to its chest.

Behaviour and Personality

Shiloh Shepherds have a confident and courageous personality. They are intelligent and highly protective of their families. A Shiloh Shepherd will guard your property with zeal and is never afraid of strangers. It is very friendly and loyal. These two aspects make it a great companion dog to have around your home. Despite their massive and dominant size, Shiloh Shepherds are laid back and love children. Their instincts are very sharp and they do love being active. Families with children and active single people will love the companionship offered by these dogs. You can keep a Shiloh in an apartment on condition that you give it lots of exercise. Otherwise, it is an outdoorsy type of dog that needs a yard and some shelter.

Appearance

If your dog's coat happens to be the plush type, you have to brush it on a regular basis. This prevents it from tangling and looking dirty. However, smooth coats do not need much grooming. One thing Shiloh Shepherd owners should note is that the dogs shed their hair regularly. They are heavy shredders too. To avoid depleting their skin oil, Shiloh Shepherds should be bathed one or two times in a year.

Shepherd Mix Common Health Conditions

Shilohs experience a number of health issues such as hip dysplasia, panosteitis, abdominal pain and diarrhea. They are also susceptible to bloat. All these are conditions that can be managed under the care of a veterinarian.

Shepherd Mix Pet Insurance

When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.

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Breed Talents and Facts

When they sense danger, most Shiloh Shepherds do not bark. Instead, they let out a rumble from deep within the chest. Shilohs are highly adaptive to their environment. You can keep them in town or in rural areas. Shiloh is the most common nickname given to dogs of this breed. Shiloh Shepherds can live for around 12-14 years.