The American Bred German Shepherd has gone through some dramatic changes over the past few decades. What was once considered a large breed, is more of amedium size in build. They are also now longer in body, with finer bone. For generations they have been bred for a more angulated appearance which has resulted in the more streamlined Shepherd we see today.

The German Imports have excellent strong protective instincts, having been bred mainly for Schutzhund competition. Since thousands of dollars has been paid to import dogs with a stronger working ability, competition to produce a tougher/harder dog became more intensive. The resulting price war caused many inferior dogs to be brought in because they were still considered imports. Many of these inferior specimens have been bred here in the States, polluting the good blood that had also been imported. Although some good progeny had been produced, there were many with poor temperaments. These include fearfulness, hyperactivity, and anxiety, which may not make for a good household companion.

The Shiloh Shepherd was bred to preserve the original qualities that endeared the German Shepherd to so many. Although the Shiloh was much too big and not angulated enough to please the "show fancy", they still retained the intelligence and working ability the Shepherd had been bred for. They were bred mainly for sound hips, temperament, and large size like their flock guardian ancestors.

Despite controversy, the Shiloh breeding programs intensified to produce these magnificent animals. Even though these dogs had always been registered by the American Kennel Club (AKC), they had clearly become so different that the Breed Founder sought Rare Breed status, and was approved.

Hip dysplasia is a malformation of either the hip socket or the femoral head, or both. There are different degrees of the disease, mild, moderate, and severe. How a dog is affected by the disease depends on each particular dog. Many dogs that have severe hip dysplasia never have any physical problems while others may. Nutrition and exercise play a huge role in the control and progression of the disease. A dog that is fed a poor diet and is overweight will have much more trouble than a dog that is fed a premium diet and kept lean through regular exercise. Hip dysplasia does not have to be a death sentence if maintained properly and the owner is well informed. There are also several surgical options in treating the disease. All breeds can produce dysplastic dogs, although some more than others.

Shiloh Sheperds are no different, but we do have a lower instance than many large breeds. Why is this? In order to use a Shiloh Shepherd in a breeding program, it must have its hips x rayed and rated by one of the agencies we accept for this purpose.** OFA rate x-rays with an Excellent, Good, Fair, Borderline, Mild, Moderate, or Severe rating. PennHip uses a different scale using numbers (.1-.99). Only those dogs that receive a passing rating may be used for breeding. We also require that ALL puppies produced in a litter to have x-rays done and rated by OFA or PennHipp around 12-14 months of age. This is very important so that we may keep track of what different lines, different combinations may be producing.

**Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
**PennHip, Penn State University (PH)

Pricing varies from breeder to breeder. Prices may reflect the type of guarantee offered by the breeder, the actual quality (companion, breeding, show), Co-Ownerships, Breeders Agreements, as well as other factors such as gender, number of Champions in the breeding pairs pedigrees, etc.

1. Pet Quality (companion) are usually priced between $1000.00-$1250.00
2. Possible Breeding prospects with upgrade options may be priced up to $2250, depending on co-ownerships and breeders agreements.
3. Show Quality puppies are considered the best of the litter and may be priced from $1500.00-$2500.00. This can depend on the actual quality and guarantee, as well as co-ownerships and breeders agreements.

Please be sure to ask the breeder their pricing guidelines as well as their deposit policies.

When you add a Shiloh Shepherd to your family, aside from giving your puppy a good home with plenty of love and guidance, you can anticipate having to complete several different things when the dog reaches its' first birthday. Each dog, regardless of "quality", must have hip x-rays done, be DNA tested, and have a temperament test. A dominant/recessive sheet must also be filled out and submitted at the same time as x-rays and temperament test forms, as well as photos of that particular dog from 4 angles (front, rear, left & right side). This is what is required at minimum. Please ask each breeder you speak to, what they expect in addition to the above.

Please keep in mind that you are looking for a companion that will be with you for many years as a part of your family. Don't be shy in asking questions of any breeder. We expect it and we appreciate it. We will also have many questions to ask you as well! You need to feel comfortable with the person you're dealing with because it is a life long commitment on both sides.

1. What health testing has been performed on the breeding pair?

   Hip certification (OFA or PennHipp) has to be performed on ALL breeding dogs. The breeder receives a copy of the evaluation from either certifying agency. If copies cannot be provided or the dog does not show up on the OFA website, RUN, do not walk, away. This is the minimum testing that should be done on each dog used for breeding. Other tests that may be done are thyroid testing, heart certification, elbow certification, and CERF testing (eyes). A breeder should be able to provide you with copies of all testing that have been completed or in the case of OFA certification, can be located on that website by doing a search with the kennel name.

2. What do you expect to be produced in this litter?

   Every breeding produces different "types" of puppies, but the majority of a litter should be consistent in type and temperament. Beware of a breeder who states that they can or will be producing a puppy to suit any household from one litter. Some lines produce softer, quieter puppies and some produce puppies suited more appropriately for active households.

   What are the temperaments of the parents? What are the temperaments of the parent's siblings? Keep in mind that the terms soft, medium, and hard, as used in the description of temperament, mean different things to different people. Ask for clarification and specifics.

3. What is pet, breeding, and show quality?

   While this may seem very evident, it isn't. There are breeders who claim they produce many breeding or show prospects out of one litter or that they breed solely for companion dogs. Be wary of both.

   A breeder may realistically expect 10-20% of their litter to be "strong" enough to carry on their lines. A breeder who claims that you're getting a show/breeding quality puppy at a pet price should be questioned. Of course there may be reasons for placing a show or breeding prospect in a companion home, they need to explain their reasons for doing so.

   A breeder who states that they breed solely for companion dogs should also be questioned. If a breeding is planned, there should be a plan to take some of those puppies further in the breeding program of the breeder.

   Ask the breeder you're speaking with how they define each category, what each means to them, and how they come to the conclusion as to how each puppy fits into each category. Every breeder has their own set of criteria of what they expect from a litter. Make sure it fits into your own ideals and expectations.