Wilderness Kennels
Discovering the Shiloh Shepherd
The Shiloh Shepherd is a courageous, self-confident, gentle giant, which possesses superior intelligence wrapped in a heart of gold. This extremely versatile and easily trained companion loves to swim, carry packs for the mountain climber, endure long trail rides, or pull heavy sleds.
Their excellent Air Scenting ability can be utilized in various ways, including Search & Rescue, Tracking, and sent detection work. As loyal Flock Guardian descendants, they are steady and bold, without undue aggression.
In 1962 Tina Barber was inspired by her childhood memories of the great Shepherds she had grown up with back in Germany circa the 1940's. Carefully selecting for intelligence, child-safe temperaments, and fluid movement, she built the foundation for this beautiful new breed.
Then in 1991 she deliberately began to slowly introduce a small handful of outcross' to genetically diversify her line. This created the distinct "Shiloh" qualities we know and love today, while also improving breed health and longevity at the same time.
Health Testing
Here at Wilderness Kennels all of our amazing Shilohs will be fully health tested to this amazing standard. We believe that foundation health is the key to a long and happy life with your companion.
More DetailsTitles and Competition
Our Shilohs don't just compete in Conformation shows. Mixal is also being trained in search and rescue. She has shown an aptitude for tracking as well as agility!!
Temperment Testing
Learn all about our amazing LER program and how we ensure every Shiloh has a stable, reliable, and family-friendly temperament.
More DetailsProudly Raising Shiloh Shepherds
on the West Coast with Love & Science!
At Wilderness Kennels, we specialize in breeding for more than just looks; we focus on intelligent, family-friendly companions. I hand-select each of our dogs for superior problem-solving, dexterity, and focus. These are the unique qualities that I love to see and nurture in all my Shilohs, young and old!
Striving for the Ideal Shiloh
I believe that to produce the ideal Shiloh Shepherd, a breeder must strive for excellence in every litter. This means balancing optimum health and temperament with intelligence and conformation. This careful balance gives our dogs the potential to succeed in many roles—whether as a loyal family companion, a competitor in canine sports, or even a dedicated service dog.
Proven Pedigrees & Our Community
Our dogs come from outstanding bloodlines that maximize biodiversity and are backed by pedigrees full of health testing and titles. I spend a great deal of time researching these lines to truly understand the dogs we are producing today. But a great pedigree isn't enough! Our dogs must prove themselves through conformation shows, temperament testing, and our mandatory health program.
Our puppies are raised within our Culture program, surrounded by a wide circle of dog-loving family and friends, and introduced to varied indoor and outdoor environments from an early age.
Our Passion and Commitment
Wilderness Kennels is a small, home-run facility. We intentionally limit the number of dogs and litters we have so that we can spend quality time with each one individually. For me, breeding beautiful, healthy puppies is more than a hobby—it is a lifelong passion. We are committed to producing amazing new generations of Shilohs based on groundbreaking science and proven bloodlines, ensuring every puppy is conformationally sound and true to the breed standard.
Our Promise
We know our adoptive families are counting on us to bring beauty, character, and health to every puppy. As breeders, we prove our commitment through standardized temperament and health testing, as well as in the conformation show ring.
Unbeatable Health Testing!
Health testing every dog for the benefit of the future, and so we can learn from our past. Mandatory OFA/PennHip, Holter testing, Genetic testing for DM, and lots more! (Just click on the heart logo to see the full list)
Backed by Betterbred,
UC Davis, and Embark
DNA testing is one of the most powerful tools available to all breeders! Testing for over 200 genetic illnesses and profiling biodiversity of every individual dog helps to make smart breeding choices that lower the COI’s and maintain the valuable biodiversity in the breed.
Registered Breeder
Graduate of the International Shiloh Shepherd Association's Breeders Training program and mentored by Vanessa Dutton of Guardian Kennels. We take pride in our education and the health of our dogs.