Shiloh Shepherds
- Thread starter Dakotah
- Start date
well I can see that a lot of GSD people aren't fond of the breed. 
I love the way they look, but I've only ever seen one in person, and I don't actually know much about them....
Oh, and weren't they bred from GSD? I thought I remember seeing somewhere that they started from a breeder who wanted to go back to early GSDs... maybe that's why everyone calls them "old school," even though they actually developed into something completely different?
I love the way they look, but I've only ever seen one in person, and I don't actually know much about them....
Oh, and weren't they bred from GSD? I thought I remember seeing somewhere that they started from a breeder who wanted to go back to early GSDs... maybe that's why everyone calls them "old school," even though they actually developed into something completely different?
Preaching to the choir, trust me. Although I will say, I think it is mostly a management issue at this point.
They were, but there is other stuff mixed in. Malamute for sure, I know. You can mutate a breed pretty quickly if you are selecting for certain traits. I was under the impression for the small bit I've read that the whole "breeding for the old - style GSD" was pretty much a tagline for the original breeder, who, as mentioned above, isn't considered a 'good' breeder at all. I think it came from the attempt to breed for more square hips and a level back, and less in regards the the size/temperment.
They were, but there is other stuff mixed in. Malamute for sure, I know. You can mutate a breed pretty quickly if you are selecting for certain traits. I was under the impression for the small bit I've read that the whole "breeding for the old - style GSD" was pretty much a tagline for the original breeder, who, as mentioned above, isn't considered a 'good' breeder at all. I think it came from the attempt to breed for more square hips and a level back, and less in regards the the size/temperment.
From the thread on the other site the breeders never said they were recreating the 'old GSD', they instead said they were taking a lot of the traits of the GSD and changing them to better suit the companion niche. As they said 'Keep some GSD traits and changing others'. They never said they were good working dogs and they never said their aim was for working dogs. They wanted a GSD looking type of dog with a mellower personality, long hair, and larger for whatever reason. Their dogs were doing things like therapy work and they did pass their herding instinct tests, but they all agreed would fail at the type of work you see GSDs doing. They just don't have the drive, the speed, the build, etc...
Now, I'm not giving my personal opinion, just passing info along.
Now, I'm not giving my personal opinion, just passing info along.
- Joined
- May 19, 2006
- Messages
- 891
- Likes
- 0
- Points
- 0
From the thread on the other site the breeders never said they were recreating the 'old GSD', they instead said they were taking a lot of the traits of the GSD and changing them to better suit the companion niche. As they said 'Keep some GSD traits and changing others'. They never said they were good working dogs and they never said their aim was for working dogs. They wanted a GSD looking type of dog with a mellower personality, long hair, and larger for whatever reason. Their dogs were doing things like therapy work and they did pass their herding instinct tests, but they all agreed would fail at the type of work you see GSDs doing. They just don't have the drive, the speed, the build, etc...
Now, I'm not giving my personal opinion, just passing info along.
Now, I'm not giving my personal opinion, just passing info along.
- Joined
- Jul 18, 2008
- Messages
- 265
- Likes
- 0
- Points
- 0
These were bred to be big, cuddly pets. These aren't working dogs by any stretch of the imagination, which for me, takes most of the fun out of owning a dog.
But to each his own, I recognize that these are great dogs, and the fact that they're not, on the whole, drivey monsters makes them a great addition to the GSD type, gives the pet owners a sure sub-type to go after.
But to each his own, I recognize that these are great dogs, and the fact that they're not, on the whole, drivey monsters makes them a great addition to the GSD type, gives the pet owners a sure sub-type to go after.