Creature Feature: A Lamb In Wolf's Clothing

"This is definitely my breed of dog," said Randy Handwerger of Springs.

The object of her affections, Sylvester, a large dog of wolfish appearance and lamblike demeanor, demonstrated his sociability by kissing a curious horse on the nose and then charming the resident collies into play.

Sylvester is a Shiloh shepherd, a rare breed derived from the more familiar German shepherd. Wendy Fullerton, secretary of the International Shiloh Shepherd Dog Club, said the breed was founded by the Shiloh Kennel in western New York State.

Over several decades, German shepherds with big bones, mellow temperaments, and physical soundness were selectively bred to create a guardian-type dog. In 1990 Shiloh shepherds were recognized as a separate breed independent of the German shepherd.

Sylvester is a big dog, but at 110 pounds he's about medium size for a male Shiloh shepherd. A really big male will weigh in at 130 pounds.

Shilohs have either a smooth-hair coat or a plush coat like Sylvester's. The coats can be an array of colors but are usually a variant on a black-and-silver or black-and-tan theme.

Shiloh shepherds are an affable lot. Ms. Fullerton said they've been bred to have a "soft" temperament, dog-person parlance for easygoing, mild, and sensitive.

Ms. Handwerger concurred. "Syl vester's so sensitive. Any time I get emotional, he picks up on it and gets upset."

She has owned Sylvester for three years. She was initially attracted to the breed, she said, because of the wolfish appearance, but it was the dogs' good nature that made her a convert.

Since Ms. Handwerger is a professional animal photographer, she needed a dog that could accompany her to shoots and not cause a commotion, or, God forbid, pick a fight with one of her clients.

And Intelligent

Intrigued by what she'd read and heard about the breed, she attended a Shiloh shepherd show in upstate New York. She was very impressed.

"People knew I was interested in getting one, and they'd hand their dog to me and say, 'Here, take him for a walk in the woods, play with him.' I couldn't believe that people were comfortable just handing over a big show dog to a stranger, but it soon made sense - the dogs were all so mellow and friendly."

Sylvester is a highly intelligent dog who responds to 20 different commands. He often helps out Ms. Handwerger on shoots by carrying photographic equipment in his backpack. "He travels everywhere with me," she said. "He's stayed in hotels. The only thing he hasn't done yet is travel in a plane."

Aside from aiding Ms. Handwerger with her accomplishments, Syl vester has many accomplishments of his own. He's a certified Canine Good Citizen, having passed the American Kennel Club test for reliable behavior in public settings. He has also distinguished himself in the show ring and has points toward his championship.

Though they can excel at many different disciplines, Shiloh shepherds have been bred specifically to be companion dogs. Tractable, adaptable, and highly intelligent, they are a breed that adjusts well to almost any lifestyle, said Ms. Fullerton.

There are only around 1,000 Shilohs in the world today, but if Sylvester is a typical example, it is likely that we shall see far more of them. Information about Shilohs can be obtained from The International Shiloh Shepherd Club, Box 909, DuBois, Pa. 15801.