SHAKTI, CGC, Advanced Trick Dog
("Dayspring's Spirit of SHAKTI")

When I go somewhere with my pack we are stopped by strangers and asked a lot of different questions. That was one of the reasons I decided to create my own website so people can visit it after meeting me and read some more about me and the Shiloh Shepherd breed. I thought that creating a website would be a fantastic way to share all the information with people who showed interest in me and my breed.

 

Is it a boy or a girl?

I'm a girl!

Note: I don't know why, but people assume that I'm a boy...Maybe It's because I'm big or something...Anyway, I'm a girl.

What’s her name?  
Shakti. (click to view the movie about my name and its meaning)

 
What kind of dog is that?  

I'm a Shiloh Shepherd. 

Is she a (long-haired) German Shepherd? (People also ask: Is she a Belgian Shepherd, or a Tervuren or a Collie..We even were asked if I was an Afghan Hound! )

No, I am a Shiloh Shepherd. Before my pack got me they did research about different breeds. They knew exactly what they wanted in a dog. They wanted a perfect family companion, a large gentle dog who was a good protector, with high intelligence and good health. Shiloh Shepherds are bred for a number of specific characteristics:

• Good family temperament. Shiloh Shepherds are bred to be family dogs and to have a very soft, easy to manage personality. They are generally excellent with kids.
• High intelligence. Shiloh Shepherds can typically understand up to 100 words. I learn without being taught. I learn things just by observing. If a pack member does something the same way three times, I will remember the pattern and respond accordingly whether they were trying to train me or not.
• Good hips. The breeders of Shiloh Shepherds keep careful records of the genetic history of the dogs and they breed them specifically to eliminate hip dysplasia.
• Large size. The minimum size for a registered Shiloh male is 120 pounds. For a female, the minimum is 100 pounds.

 
Is she friendly?
Yes. I am very friendly towards both big and small humans and big and small animals. I especially like polite dogs and humans who respect me just as much as I respect them.

Can I pet her?
Yes, please and thank you for asking. I really appreciate you asking if you can pet me before you are going to do that. I am very happy to shake paws with humans and for those who like big kisses I always have some special ones to give!

Can I give her a treat?

Sorry, but no thank you. I do not accept treats from anybody but my pack members. I get plenty of treats from my pack and I am not allowed to take anything from strangers. Also, I always have to work for my rewards and giving me a treat “just because” does not do me any good. You are welcome to greet me though and I’ll be happy to show you some of my tricks.

Is she a police dog?
No, I'm not, but I always take it as a compliment. Those dogs do a wonderful job and are very obedient and well-trained. It's very flattering to be considered a police dog.

Does she shed a lot?
At times I shed quite a bit, but my mom brushes me frequently and we both love it. It's our bonding time. I also get Brewers Yeast and that helps with shedding too. Plush coated Shiloh Shepherds are said to actually shed LESS then short coated ones. I'm a plush coated Shiloh Shepherd. My fur is long and has 2 coats. My "mom" brushes me with Furminator (the brush which limits shedding) and it works GREAT!

Where did you get her?
I drove from Tennessee to Florida with my human "mom" and "papa". They came to do a temperament test and to pick me up. 

Did you get her from a breeder?
Yes, I came to my human "mom" and "papa" from a very responsible, knowledgeable breeder and a wonderful person, Lilli Anglin at her kennel "Dayspring Dogs" in Maryville, TN. 

Does Shakti do any canine sports?
Yes, I do. It'd be a waste if my pack didn't encourage me to develop my various skills and challenge my body, mind and spirit. I was trained by my "mom" since I was a young puppy, I have basic and advanced obedience skills, I do agility, trick training and canine freestyle. I'd do great at herding and would love to learn about that, but I didn't have a chance to find a place where I could do that. Anyway, I'm a very busy girl and I love doing all kinds of activities.

Do you have a big fenced yard for her?
At the moment, we do have a big yard, but it's not fenced. When I came to live with my human pack we lived in an apartment, then we moved to a house (without a fenced yard) and then to another house (again - no fenced yard) and now we live in our own "den" with a big yard but no fence. I cherish interacting with my pack more than anything and going for long walks, running next to a bicycle, being trained, playing together with me on a 20ft or 50ft long leash is MUCH better for me than having a fenced area. I mean - it'd be nice, especially for some of my advanced training, because my pack wouldn't have to use a long leash, but that's not a problem. If we lived in a small apartment (which we did at one point) with no fence at all, I'd be happy too as long as I had both physical and mental stimulation provided by my humans. Big fenced yards don't make dogs happy unless they can share the fun with their human pack instead of being left there alone, bored and unsupervised. We're SOCIAL animals and nothing's better than interacting with other pack members and doing things together in an active way.

 

 

 

Do you have any other questions about me? If so, please feel free to ask and send your questions to me. I'll be happy to post the replies here! Thank you!

Click to email your questions