Former ISSR Licensed Breeders Speak Out Against UKC Recognition of the Shiloh Shepherd
 

October 14, 2004

 

To: Ms. Karen Ursel

ISSR/SSDCA Secretary

Dear Ms. Ursel,

Please forward this letter to the proper authorities.

To whom it may concern at the UKC,

I am writing to you with great concern in my heart.  As a licensed breeder of ISSR Original Shiloh Shepherds, it has been brought to my attention that your organization is considering the application for breed recognition of the Shiloh Shepherd. This application was presented to you by a very small group of former ISSR breeders that have chosen to take their own path and not follow the vision of the breed founder. Their dogs, consisting of long haired GSD mixes,  are not registered with the ISSR, the only true Shiloh Shepherd registry. It saddens me that a registry with your reputation would even consider such an application.

photo removed at request of owner.

The ISSR Shiloh is one of the most dignified, regal, and stable tempered dog breeds available, and it is still a breed under careful development.  To grant recognition at this delicate time in its development would be the ruination of the entire breed.   Eventually, when the time is right, and the Shiloh genepool has been PROPERLY expanded, I am sure the breed founder, Tina Barber, will take steps toward full recognition of her breed.  But until that time arrives, to do so prematurely, will cause within a short space of time, the breed we now know as the Shiloh Shepherd to extinguish.

I currently own eight ISSR Original Shiloh Shepherds, and have three litters planned for the coming six months. I will only recognize the ISSR as the true registry for the Original Shiloh and SSDCA as the only National Club. All of my puppies, now and in the future, will continue to remain registered with the ISSR, as I so love this breed, I will do all I can to protect it. I fully support Tina Barbr, the breed founder, the ISSR, and the SSDCA.

I am asking you to deny this application brought before you. It is what is best for the Shiloh Shepherd breed. After all, it is supposed to be about the dogs, correct?

Sincerely,

  photo removed at request of owner.

Dawn M. Swick
Trafford, PA
Belle-Grace Shilohs
LB# DSB100104

President of SSDCA-MAC
Genetic Task Force Member

 *Belle-Grace Shilohs is no longer affiliated with the SSDCA or the ISSR.  This letter is reprinted for historical purposes only and was submitted for publication on this website in October 2004.                                             

To Whom It May Concern:

As an ISSR Shiloh Shepherd owner I would like to express my concern for the future of this breed.  I wanted the real thing and I sought out the Breed Founder, Tina Barber.  Breedings conducted outside the realm of her licensed breeders are only producing poor reproductions. These will only harm the reputation we strive to build for the Shiloh Shepherd.  

I support the ISSR only, and its development of the Shiloh Shepherd lines.

I am proud to be a member of the SSDCA and am proud to be a part of the National Club of the original Shiloh Shepherd.

As as future breeder, I will own only ISSR Shilohs.They will be purchased only from ISSR breeders and I will register them only with the ISSR.

The Shiloh Shepherd is an AWESOME ANIMAL when Tina Barber's strict guidelines are followed.  Outside of that breeders are sure to produce dogs that are less than standard.  Please do not play a part in "The End" of the Shiloh as we know it.

Rhonda and Mikel Van Emon
Churubusco, IN 46723

To:  Karen Ursel
       SSDCA Secretary

RE:  UKC Breed Acceptance Committee and the Travesty that is about to occur!

INTRODUCTION:
         I have been involved with the original Shiloh Shepherd since 1996.

         I am a licensed breeder with the International Shiloh Shepherd Registry, Inc. (original registry) with 18 original Shiloh Shepherds in my kennel.
         I am a member in good standing of the Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club of America ,           Inc. (parent club)
         I am a member of the Advisory Board of Directors for the SSDCA, Inc.

         I am a member of our Genetic Task Force.

It has been brought to my attention, that your organization is considering Breed recognition of the Shiloh Shepherd.  Before you is an application/request from a group of "NON-ISSR, INC." breeders, with long haired GSD mixes.  Their dogs are brought to you under the auspices of the ISSC. This is a "joke" right?  These individuals have taken upon themselves the "right" to lay claim to the Shiloh Shepherd Breed?

The Original Shiloh Shepherd dog was founded by Tina Barber.  In 1991 the International Shiloh Shepherd Registry, INC., was implemented from her 30 plus years of diligent breedings and record keeping in developing this breed.  The Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club of America, Inc., was also started and has always been recognized as the parent club for these dogs.

To the best of my knowledge, the Original Shiloh Shepherd, is still a breed under development.  The ultimate Shiloh is still in the making.  The only one I know of that has that "grand" plan is the breed founder.
 

If these people, TSSR, want to take credit for their creation, then so be it.  But to lay claim that their breed is the Shiloh Shepherd is a travesty.  To allow them to be recognized as the true representatives for this magnificent animal would be a gross error on your part and an injustice to all  breeders, fanciers and friends of the original Shiloh Shepherd.

If they insist on wanting their dogs recognized, have them use a different name, as I am insulted to think that they want their GSD "mixes" to be recognized under the same name as my diligently bred Original Shiloh Shepherds!!!

Lynette A Segee
Mount Morris  NY
Highlander Shepherds

 Highlander Shepherds is no longer associated with the ISSR/SSDCA.  This letter is reprinted for historical purposes only and was submitted for publication on this website in October 2004.  

To Whom It May Concern:

I would like to present my support for Tina Barber "The Breed Founder" of the Original Shiloh Shepherd. There is only one true registry for the Shiloh Shepherd and that is the ISSR (International Shiloh Shepherd Registry ). And there is only one Shiloh Shepherd Club and that is the SSDCA ( Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club of America).

You have recently been contacted by four people wishing to have the Shiloh Shepherd accepted as a new breed. These people have left the ISSR and the SSDCA and have started their own registry and club. They have their own breeding guidelines that do not follow the guidelines that the breed founder Tina Barber has set up. This breed is still under construction and the stud books are still open, so how can the UKC accept this as a new breed?

 As a Shiloh Shepherd owner I do not feel that this group that has broken away from the ISSR, the one an only true registry for Shiloh Shepherds, should be given recognition with the UKC as a new breed. If they want to be recognized then they should not be allowed to use the name of Shiloh Shepherd. They do not follow the breeding guides of the ISSR, and from what I have read it appears that each kennel will be using their own guidelines. It is my understanding that they will be out crossing  with the German Shepherd and any other breed they choose. I feel that if the UKC gives them recognition for their dogs as a new breed they should be made to give their dogs another name. Their future progeny will not have the same genetics as the ISSR Shilohs have, therefore they will not be true Shiloh Shepherds.

I own three Shiloh Shepherds and will only own an ISSR registered Shiloh. This breed is still under construction and the stud books are still open. Tina Barber has a goal, and those of us who are breeders, owners, future buyers and friends will never purchase a so called Shiloh Shepherd that the UKC is considering as a new breed. And we will educate everyone we come in contact with about the Shiloh Shepherds that the UKC are recognizing.

Thank you for your time and I sincerely hope that you will reconsider accepting the Shiloh Shepherd as a new breed. As previously stated the people who have approached you do not follow the guidelines of breeding as set up by Tina Barber the breed founder. Their dogs do not represent the true Shiloh Shepherd and their progeny will not have the same genetics as the true Shiloh Shepherd does.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.

Sincerely,
Michelle Wirrell
Abba's Shilohs
Bluemont, VA
 
 Abbas Shilohs is no longer associated with the ISSR/SSDCA.  This letter is reprinted for historical purposes only and was submitted for publication on this website in October 2004.  

Dear Mr. Cavanaugh:

It has come to my attention that you and the UKC have been approached by a group of individuals seeking breed recognition for their breed.  They are calling their breed Shiloh Shepherds, but in reality that is NOT what they are.  The only true Shiloh Shepherds are the dogs registered with the International Shiloh Shepherd Registry.  These are the dogs that are bred according to the strict breeding program outlined by the Shiloh Shepherd’s breed founder Tina Barber.  We rely on LMX data and conduct various health and temperament testing before we will even allow a dog/bitch to enter our breeding programs.

 I don’t think this other group can claim this. 

I am a Licensed Breeder with the ISSR, a member of the SSDCA and I am the Secretary of my local club chapter, SSDCA-Mid Atlantic Chapter.  I am the proud owner of five Shiloh Shepherds.  My dogs excel in the show ring, the sheep pen and the agility ring.  Most of my dogs are champion pointed, hold herding titles and passed their temperament tests and are canine good citizens.  All in all, they are a great representative of what a true Shiloh Shepherd should be “The Total Dog”.  Should you and the UKC grant these imitation Shiloh Shepherds breed recognition you would be doing a horrible disservice to not only the public but to the dog world in general.  

At a time where large breeds are under such intense scrutiny for being unstable and vicious it is very important that any breed under consideration for recognition be of stable temperament.  These imitation Shiloh Shepherds are being bred to a myriad of different breeds and mixes and these so called breeders who are breeding them have no way of knowing what type of temperaments  they will have.  This puts communities in the possible danger of dog maulings and bitings.  I have always considered the UKC to be a reputable dog registry and I believe in good conscience you can and will not, allow this imitation breed to become recognized

I appreciate you taking the time to read this and I also thank you for doing the right thing by NOT granting these dogs breed recognition. 

Sincerely,

Nancy A Schmidt
Bearpaw Shilohs

Bearpaw Shilohs is no longer associated with the ISSR/SSDCA.  This letter is reprinted for historical purposes only and was submitted for publication on this website in October 2004.