My Shiloh Shepherd Breeding Program
by Tina Barber - ISSR / New Zion Shiloh Shepherds
I didn’t set out to develop a "breed". I was just
determined to develop the type of puppy I needed for my training program;
great hips, highly intelligent, protective but inherently gentle.
My focus centered on producing sound hips because the other attributes were
of no value in a dog that wasn’t able to serve its family. I was very
diligent in researching lines with good hips, talking with people such as
judge/author Fred Lanting, studying Dr. Barden's dysplasia theory, and
before long I began to develop my littermate X-ray program. Ref #1
People tend to mistake Shiloh Shepherds for very large German Shepherds, especially if
they are "plush" coated. That is an unfortunate misconception because my
gene pool is so far removed from what is typical in the GSD bloodlines
today.
Granted, I used to work with a variety of GSD lines back in the 60's
& 70's but I was getting very discouraged with some of the temperament and
hip problems I ran into. At one point, I almost gave up on the breed, but
then Tammy recharged my batteries (you will have to
read my book for the
full story) and that's when I made a pact with the Lord. You can read all
about it in my testimony.
The
only other dog that I owned that had the qualities I wanted to focus on was
KariAnn. I bred her to Tammy's son Shep, the dog that saved my daughters
life in 1977. Picture
(left) "Kari" and her sire Shep pictured (right). Visit my
website to view her son Shane.
I kept the pick female Kara Lobo (Kara after her dam, and Lobo
because she looked "wolfish" like her sire) and to this day, the entire
Shiloh Shepherd gene pool has been based on her amazing contribution.
* click to enlarge the smaller
photos below *
I bought a lovely farm and built facilities because to do
this right, I had to produce dozens of Shiloh Shepherd litters from which to
keep puppies and detailed records. The pups were housed in a special 10 run
"puppy" unit. They all received the same food, water, air, exercise, etc.
and had their hips x-rayed at the same time so that I could compare the
results.
The
other important feature in my breeding program, their "GENTLE NATURE" was no
accident. In 1974 when I named these dogs "Shiloh Shepherds" (from the
Bible) I had two small boys who played in the kennels while I did my chores.
As a trainer, I was focused on good hips and high intelligence but I also
wanted to make sure that the Shiloh Shepherd would be absolutely safe with
children.
I
made a lot of money during those early decades because my oversized,
child-safe protection dogs sold for top prices. The Shilohs I trained for
personal protection were sold to families with children who wanted
protection but they didn't want a .357 Magnum! They just wanted a (harmless)
water pistol that looked like one and they were willing to pay many times
the normal "trained import" price to get just what their family needed!!
I also designed a unique form of training that accomplished what I needed
for my clients and for my own breeding program. By the end of the '80's I
had made significant progress but realized I had to exercise more control
over my breeding program and also that I needed to go computerized in order
to really track and tabulate results.
One of the breeders I was working with was Steve Betcher who 
was trying to
produce larger White Shepherds with good hips. During our genetic talks I
explained about my data research and how I would love to put all of it into
a special dream software program! So enter the TCCP, a specialized program
which enabled me to set up the International Shiloh Shepherd Registry. That
also allowed us to track pedigrees and all of the hip data ref #2 and
puppies produced by the ISSR Licensed Breeders!
In 1990 I wrote a formal ISSR Breed Standard
ref #3 that was lavishly illustrated and is easy for anyone to understand.
The correct Shiloh Shepherd is a dog no less than 28” and 120 pounds, with
proud carriage, effortless movement, impeccable character that includes a
“heart of gold”. Two clearly described coat types was defined. The emphasis
was on size and soundness, both mental and physical.
But my success in setting type, intelligence and sound hips had caught the
attention of those who were mass producing puppies and representing them as
'Shiloh Shepherds' and the fake Shilohs were reflecting badly on my own
breeding program. When I had first opened my registry to these folks I was
only focused on gene pool expansion! I was willing to allow them to make all
of the money on the puppies they produced and sold for thousands of dollars
because of my name, reputation, and success. Knowing we could not risk
everything we had accomplished and what had in fact become a “breed”, all I
asked for was that they follow the ISSR Rules. Ref #4
If a breeder is working towards developing a bloodline or in my case, a
breed, structure and movement must be carefully maintained. If a novice
walks past a show ring full of dogs, they should be able to tell an Akita
from a Husky!! That's why I worked so hard to write the Shiloh Shepherd
breed standard, and then had to fight to protect it!
Every breeder has disappointments and setbacks and I’ve had my share but my
dogs and my breeding goals have never let me down. People will be people but
a well bred dog will always be true. Maybe that's why I feel that we must
look into AKC recognition, to get protection for the Shiloh Shepherd and
those who have worked so hard to hold true to a massive, intelligent, gentle
but protective breed with a sound mind and body.
In order for this breed/these dogs to survive we have to ask, can AKC help?
At one time the SV ruled the German Shepherd Dog’s future with an iron hand,
but I just read about a long haired GSD that had so many genetic problems he
had to be put down at 15 months! That is why the International Shiloh
Shepherd Registry holds the key to correct type and temperament, but also to
maintaining clear genetics.
As a breeder I’ve given nearly four decades to developing a type of dog that
bred so true, it became a unique breed in far less time that it took for
other AKC registered breeds to get recognition. Some would say it is a
miracle and in a way that is true.
My Breeding Program began before there
was a breed standard other than in my head. The Shiloh was and is so unique,
it sold itself. Thanks to other dedicated Shiloh Shepherd breeders, it
evolved into a magnificent BREED, today known around the world as the Shiloh
Shepherd.
Reference:
#1
http://www.shilohshepherds.info/lmx.htm
#2
Hip data and registry
#3
Shiloh Shepherd Breed Standard
#4
International Shiloh Shepherd Registry, Inc
Go to
New Zion Shiloh Shepherds to see Shiloh Shepherd puppies or upcoming litters
Tina passed away May 30th,
2011. Her daughter, Lisa Barber continues the legacy in
New York.
Lisa can be reached at (585) 567-8040
or
MaShiloh@aol.com
http://www.thedogplace.org/BREEDS/Shiloh-Shepherd/MBP-Barber-11031.asp
#113124
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