Shep Hamman

Shep Hamman, a handsome King German Shepherd boy of Tammy and Todd Hamman of Markleville, Indiana, passed over the Rainbow Bridge on Saturday, December 14, 2024. Shep was born in Virginia and became a part of the Hamman family in December of 2015. King German Shepherds are beautiful and rare. According to an article based on King German Shepherds by Christina Donnelly, King Shepherds were developed in the United States in the early 1990s by breeders Shelley Watts-Cross and David Turkheimer. They were bred to be similar to German Shepherds, but without some of the health and structural issues that were becoming common in the breed at the time. King Shepherds are a mix of American and European German Shepherds, Alaskan Malamutes, Great Pyrenees, and Shiloh Shepherds. Although King Shepherds are not recognized by the American Kennel Club, they are recognized by the American Rare Breed Association and the American King Shepherd Club. King Shepherds, also known as Giant German Shepherds, are known for their calm, loyal, and affectionate temperaments. They are generally good with children and other pets and are often described as gentle giants. They are known for being friendly, loyal, and protective. Tammy and Todd described Shep as attentive, loving, and curious, continuing that Shep was “a laid-back old soul.” He had his own unique style and always walked backwards from the utility room to enter the kitchen. Shep loved playing with any squeaky toys and plastic water bottles. He wasn’t a picky eater and enjoyed any kind of treats and especially looked forward to any table scraps. He absolutely was a gentle giant and let his little dachshund fur sister, Esther, run the show, even though she was about 150 pounds lighter than he was. Shep liked going for walks in the park with his family. He loved playing in the snow, especially when his dad, Todd, was shoveling the snow off of the sidewalk. Shep loved both Tammy and Todd, but Shep was Todd’s shadow and followed him everywhere, even accompanying him to the bathroom. Tammy and Todd loved their sweet boy beyond measure. He will be forever missed, but his sweet memory will remain in their hearts. In addition to Tammy and Todd, also mourning the loss of Shep is his fur sibling, Esther.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Always & Furever In Our Hearts Pet Cremation in association with Liming Family Funeral Home, located in Shirley, Indiana. We are honored to serve the family of Shep Hamman.

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