Heritage Shilohs

Melissa L.

Breeder of Shiloh Shepherds

  • Dover, FL
  • Responds within a day

Meet the breeder

I'm Melissa L., the breeder behind Heritage Shilohs located in Dover, FL. We breed superior quality Shiloh Shepherds with extensive health testing and excellent conformation. We breed for service dog quality temperment for.

Q. & A. with Melissa

  • Why did you start breeding?

    My breeder/ friend got me interested. I spent many years whelping litters for free for Mercy Full Projects here in Tampa so I had the skill set . Once I retired I was looking for some supplemental income and Dogs and Horses are my lifelong passion so it just made sense and here we are with a little of 14 healthy puppies!

  • What makes your program special?

    Our intense focus on health testing and quality are the hallmarks of our breeding program.

  • What are the different breed coat colors in your program?

    Our puppies include black and tan, black and silver, black and cream, black and beige, and black. Colors will vary depending on the parent dogs.

  • Where do your breeding dogs live?

    They live in my home.

Matched dogs

These dogs are already reserved or have gone home.

Getting a puppy from Melissa

Melissa has been certified by Good Dog’s screening team for responsible and trusted breeding practices. When you’re ready, reach out to ask about the puppies or anything else on your mind. You’ll get to know each other through messaging, phone, or video and pay securely, all on Good Dog.

Melissa partners with buyers to find the best match as the puppies develop and their personalities take shape. Typically, matches are finalized when the puppies reach about 7 weeks old.

“We strive to place the perfect puppy in the best possible home. An LER is completed on the puppies and an interview with potential buyers to assess their needs so we are able to determine the best puppy for each potential buyer based on their home and family environment ”

Price

Puppy prices include a $1,750 deposit and between $3,250 - $6,750 final payment, before taxes & fees.
Pay over time with Klarna.

“The price includes health testing puppies are fully health tested through Embark. An LER and or Volhard testing completed on each litter by a Canine behaviorist. Full health guarantee. First deposit required to secure a puppy, second installment due at 4 weeks, balance due upon pickup of your puppy Refunds for replacement puppies are available.”

Contract & health guarantee

Melissa may provide a written contract or health guarantee when you purchase a puppy. This helps protect both you and your breeder, ensuring that you both have a clear understanding of the terms of your puppy purchase. If Melissa offers a contract or guarantee, the details will be personalized by them. If you have any questions or want to know more, don't hesitate to reach out to Melissa directly.

All contracts are handled securely through Good Dog.

You’re protected
on Good Dog

When you pay and communicate on Good Dog, you’re covered by Payment Protection.

What's included

    • From Good Dog
      • Lifetime support from Good Dog’s Care Team
      • 10% lifetime discount on Figo pet insurance
      • Puppy Training Program & private community
    • Enrichment & socialization
      • Various sounds
      • Car rides
      • Surface & tactile stimulation
      • Socialized with children
      • Socialized in new places
      • Scent introduction
      • Daily handling
      • Socialized with other dogs
      • Introduced to people of different ages and appearances
      • Socialized with other animals
    • Puppy health practices
      • Vet check
      • First round of shots and deworming
      • Microchip
      • Vet records
    • Extras
      • Toys
      • Puppy starter kit
      • Blanket with mom & littermates’ scent
      • Food & treats
      • Initial potty training

Location & pick-up

You can drive or fly to pick up your puppy from Melissa.

Breeder's location

Meet in Dover, FL

Other pick-up locations

Meet at Tampa Airport

Meet in Tampa, FL

More about Melissa

  • Melissa has been a member of Good Dog for 4 months

    Melissa was screened for responsible practices and has been a member since 2026.

  • Melissa’s links

Melissa is a trusted Good Dog breeder

Heritage Shilohs meets or exceeds our community standards in these areas:

  • Responsible breeding practices
  • Health of breeding dogs and puppies
  • Puppy environment and enrichment
  • Buyer education and policies

Litter and program updates

Parent dogs

Parent health testing

Breeder-Reported Testing

Excellent level

Heritage Shilohs reports to performing the health tests below on their breeding dogs. Ask your breeder about the tests performed on the parents of your litter. Learn more about health testing for Shiloh Shepherds.

  • Hip Dysplasia (rDVM, not registered), Hip Dysplasia

    Hip testing reduces the chance of passing down hip dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause hip pain and the eventual loss of the function of the hip joint.

  • Elbow Dysplasia (rDVM, not registered), Elbow Dysplasia Finals (OFA, BVA, SV, FCI)

    Elbow testing reduces the chance of passing down elbow dysplasia, which is primarily found in large breed dogs and can cause arthritis in the elbow joint and front leg lameness.

  • Eye Examination (rDVM, not registered with OFA)

    Eye testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide range of hereditary eye illnesses including retinal dysplasia, lens luxation, and glaucoma, which can cause impared vision or blindness.

  • Cardiac Evaluation (rDVM, not registered with OFA), Cardiac Evaluation (registered with OFA)

    Heart testing reduces the chance of passing down congenital heart disease, which can cause a range of symptoms ranging from trouble exercising to heart failure.

  • Vet Wellness Exam

    A breeder may perform additional tests on their dogs that do not fall into these general categories. These tests may be more uncommon or very specific to a particular breed.

  • DNA Disease Panel, Degenerative Myelopathy (DM; SOD1A)

    Genetic testing reduces the chance of passing down a wide variety of hereditary diseases of differing prevalence and severity such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (an eye disease) and Von Willebrand's Disease (a blood disease).

Verified owner stories

Hear what other owners say about working with Melissa to bring home their puppies.

  • Anne J.

    Verified owner · July 2026

    After losing my beloved German Shepherd, Artax, I wasn't sure my heart was ready for another dog. He had been my best friend for 13 years, and I knew that if I ever welcomed another dog into my life, it had to be the right fit. That's when I found Melissa through Good Dog. From our very first conversations, Melissa was kind, honest, and incredibly knowledgeable. She took the time to answer every question I had and never made me feel rushed. It was obvious how deeply she cares about her dogs and about placing each puppy with the right family. Then came Kai and Kash. These two Shiloh Shepherd brothers have completely filled my home with laughter, love, and just the right amount of puppy chaos. Kai is my thoughtful, observant explorer, while Kash is my confident, goofy, food-loving little teddy bear. Watching their personalities develop has been one of the greatest joys, and every day they remind me that while no dog will ever replace Artax, our hearts truly can grow to love again. Melissa has continued to be a wonderful resource even after bringing the puppies home, and that ongoing support has meant so much as we've navigated training and puppyhood. If you're considering a Shiloh Shepherd, I can't recommend Melissa highly enough. Finding Kai and Kash wasn't just finding two puppies—it was finding hope, healing, and the beginning of a beautiful new chapter. For that, I will always be grateful. I am also very grateful that using the Good Dog website and app made the whole process extremely easy and the resources that come with bringing new puppies into my life help keep me on track with these guys’ needs from tips and tricks to training information and support.

Photos

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Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.

Health testing is one key piece of responsible breeding and is performed on breeding dogs to prevent the presence of heritable conditions in their puppies.

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