It seems like you are interested in Shiloh Shepherds after reading the blog post of Shiloh Shepherd Dog – 11 Interesting Facts and Tips. However, you may be confused about whether the Dog will be well suited to your personality or not. To solidify your decision, you should know the following Pros and Cons about Shiloh Shepherds.
In this article, we will explore the Pros and Cons of Shiloh Shepherds and the challenges owners have faced while owning them.
Pros of Owning Shiloh Shepherd Dog
Pros 1: Good Watchdogs
If you are looking for a dog breed that will be a perfect family dog and watchdog, Shiloh Shepherds can be the perfect breed for you.
Shiloh Shepherds can work as Guard dogs, Family dogs, rescue dogs, police dogs, and much more. They can play all the roles that their owners give them. However, they needed to be trained and have enough mental stimulation and Positive Reinforcements for the best output and to ensure they remained well-behaved and potentially prevent your dog from Hyperactivities.
You can Explore: 10 Techniques to Calm a Dog Down from Hyperactive Behaviour.
An Experience
My nephew trained his Shiloh shepherd with Positive Reinforcements in a way that if my nephew says “monkey,” he looks up; if he says “Mouse” or “Cat,” he starts looking at the ground, searching for them, and if he sees, he starts chasing. Also, whenever he sees a new person encountering his owner, he remains with his owner and observes the person. If he observes any unusual behavior, he growls, and if his owner doesn’t stop him, he may potentially bite. In addition, train your Shiloh with Dog Talking Buttons to enhance their capability more.
Though individual Shiloh Shepherd’s behavior can vary, most of them are good watchdogs.
Pros 2: Good with Children
Do you think about their watchdog behavior, and do you have young children at home? Don’t worry. Shiloh Shepherds are well-behaved and playful with Children. They will never hurt Children and will behave maturely.
However, Shiloh Shepherd puppies may hurt children because they are so immature. They grow up physically so fast, but they take time to mature. Early socialization and obedience training will be the key to their good behavior. Shiloh Shepherds should be exposed to different stimuli, such as sounds, smells and other environments, from a young age. Otherwise, environmental factors can shape your Dog’s behavior.
You should start training your Dog from day one. It will benefit both you and your furry friend.
Pros 3: Less Health Issues Of Shiloh Shepherd Dog
Shiloh Shepherds are generally considered a healthy breed compared to larger breeds, such as Golden Mountain Doodles. However, they are still prone to health issues like Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia, and Degenerative Myelopathy of Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus (GDV).
However, hip and Elbow dysplasia are very common in Shiloh Shepherds. To prevent health issues, owners should ensure responsible breeding. Nowadays, breeders mostly work for money and potentially harm the breeding process.
Therefore, if you are looking for a larger breed with fewer health issues, you should go for Shiloh Shepherds. Fewer health issues also mean that first-time owners can ensure their well-being.
Pros 4: Moderate Grooming Requirements
Shiloh Shepherds are very easy to groom, but they require frequent grooming. Owners can groom them quickly, and they don’t need any professional grooming.
From my experience, one Shiloh Shepherd owner had professional grooming of his dog after 6 years of age. So, you can predict that owners are capable of grooming them.
They require regular brushing to remove loose hairs, prevent matting, and reduce shedding. Also, to avoid any discomfort and potential risks, owners have to clean their ears, clip their nails, take dental care and trim when required. For cutting, I suggest seeking professional trimming.
Pros 5: Long-term Companionship
According to the Wisdom Panel, Shiloh Shepherds can enjoy a lifespan between 9 and 13 years.
Therefore, owning a Shiloh Shepherd means you have to promise long-term companionship. This is an advantage for some people, and it is a disadvantage for some people who want to avoid taking on long-term responsibilities.
A Tip: Adopt either a senior dog or an adult dog for short-term companionship.
Cons of Owing a Shiloh Shepherd Dog
Cons 1: Can’t leave home for Long
You might read my blog about how long you can leave your Dog home alone. In it, I mentioned that larger breeds or Adult breeds can be left alone for 8 hours. But it is an entirely different scenario in terms of Shiloh Shepherds.
Shiloh Shepherds can’t be left alone; any of your family members should be with him. If you leave him alone at home, he may get anxious, leading to hyperactive behaviors.
Tips for owners: If you are caught in unavoidable circumstances, you should provide them with enough mental stimulation. Keep away from harmful things such as Human foods that are toxic to dogs and electrical cables and wires. To avoid dehydration, you should provide them with enough food and water.
Cons 2: High Exercise Requirements
Shiloh Shepherds are giant breeds. Compared to other dogs, they require more exercise to maintain their physical and mental well-being.
Shiloh Shepherd puppies and seniors require short walks and low-impact activities, while adult ones require daily exercise of 60 to 90 minutes. This can be very tough to maintain for busy people who hardly have time. If you are not able to manage that time, it’s a sign that you are not ready to adopt a dog.
One more tip: If you have a puppy, don’t go to dog parks for exercise or socialization. Dog parks and puppies don’t mix at all. Your puppy may get injured or infected with different diseases.
Cons 3: Shiloh Shepherd Dog not Hypoallergenic
Shiloh Shepherds are not considered hypoallergenic breeds, just like Chihuahuas.
Shiloh shepherds shed more and may produce more allergens and dander into the environment. They are causing allergic reactions in individuals who are allergic to dogs.
Therefore, if you are allergic to dogs, you shouldn’t get Shiloh Shepherds, as they are not hypoallergenic.
Conclusion
In conclusion, adopting a Shiloh Shepherd is an excellent option for those who like loyal, protective young children in the home, don’t want professional grooming and don’t want to deal with health issues.
In contrast, those who are allergic to dogs and remain busy for long hours shouldn’t consider them as an owner of Shiloh Shepherds.
