When you acquire a puppy from an ISSA breeder, you’re choosing to support a breeding program that is really one of a kind. Focused on breeder support and unity, education, genetic science, and information sharing for the good of all, the ISSA believes that breeding a beautiful dog isn’t enough–just as much effort should go into breeding a healthy one. 

FOCUS ON BREED HEALTH AND LONGEVITY

To help us accomplish this, 100% of our breeders utilize the tools provided by the UC-Davis canine genetic diversity project. Every breeding dog in our gene pool has been sequenced, and we use these tools to make matches to maintain diversity in our dogs. Doing this gives us a better chance to be able to breed away from potential issues over the long run. 

The ISSA also utilizes outcrossing to other breeds in order to add more of that diversity into our dogs—something we are able to do as a non-AKC breed. We focus on breeds that possess very different genetics from ours, which don’t carry the same genetic disorders and which are known for longer lifespans. We use UC-Davis and other genetic tools, like Embark, to try to preserve the diversity we receive from these matches while breeding back to Shiloh Shepherds to regain breed type. 

Health testing is not optional in the ISSA—both parents must complete all ISSA health testing in order to be approved for breeding. Mandatory health testing includes: 

·      Both hip and elbow x-rays;

·      Holter (heart EKG) testing within a specific time window;

·      Heart auscultation completed by a veterinarian or heart specialist. If anything is found, an echocardiogram is the following step;

·      DNA testing for degenerative myelopathy (the only genetic disorder in Shilohs where a DNA test is available);

·      Adult temperament testing (either a Canine Good Citizen title accompanied by a noise sensitivity test, or the specialized testing done by the ISSA at its events). 

·      In addition, outcross dogs from the first two generations must pass an OFA Eye Certification exam (previously called CERF).  

Shilohs are now an OFA-CHIC breed, which was facilitated by the ISSA. 

The ISSA’s overall goal is to reduce genetic disorders over time, while retaining more fresh genetic material to improve overall breed health, and keeping track of all of it in real time with the aid of DNA and our health risk database.

A CULTURE OF TRANSPARENCY

Breeders in many other breeds often exist in a culture of secrecy or ignorance. “Backyard breeders” don’t have any idea of what issues the ancestors of their dogs produced, so they are unable to make good decisions about breeding healthier pups. In some other breeding cultures, if a breeder’s own dog produces something, the impulse is to hide the information. Otherwise, people might not want their puppies, or to breed to their dogs. This is a very hard habit to break when you learn to work this way as a new breeder. 

Recognizing these difficulties, the ISSA created our Breeder Training Program (BTP). Our breeders are trained from day one to embrace a culture of openness.

THE BREEDER TRAINING PROGRAM

Years of experience turned into over a year of writing to create this unique program, which covers everything from breed history and genetics to the nuts and bolts of contracts and how to breed and whelp a Shiloh Shepherd litter. 

In the ISSA, sharing information on what our dogs produce isn’t optional, and there’s no stigma attached. Only with all breeders working together can we make real progress on combating genetic disorders. The Breeder Training Program teaches every new ISSA breeder that every dog is a carrier for something; smart breeding means matching dogs with high risk to low risk, to conscientiously health test and to breed away from issues so that we can all produce healthier pups. 

The BTP is offered in a spirit of support and mentorship. Once they complete the program, a new breeder has the tools and knowledge to make good decisions and to move forward with confidence in their breeding journey. This is combined with the continuing support that each trainee can always call upon from their own breeder mentor, as well as our other breeders.

BREED WARDENS

The ISSA gathers 100% of the information on what our dogs produce, and that information is shared with three Breed Wardens. These Wardens possess a combined 50+ years of experience with Shiloh Shepherds, a tremendous knowledge pool that is directed into big-picture thinking and helping to guide the direction of the breed. 

The Breed Wardens review every upcoming ISSA breeding, and serve to double-check the work each breeder has already done to discern that these two dogs are a good match. The Wardens also utilize the gathered health information in the ISSA Disease Risk Database, our custom Registry program, and the Betterbred system (which pulls from the UC-Davis genetic reports) to support breeders when they need help seeking a good mate for their dog. 

To the best of our knowledge, our Breed Wardens, the Breeder Training Program, outcrossing to other breeds for genetic health, and having 100% of our dogs enrolled in the UC-Davis Genetic Diversity testing are absolutely unique to the ISSA organization. If you want to support a canine breed organization that’s trying to breed smarter to breed better, the ISSA is for you!