The Miniature American Shepherd was developed in California during the late 1960's with the breeding of small, unregistered dogs that were thought to be Australian Shepherds. These dogs were bred with a goal of maintaining their small size, active character and intelligence.
The breed was first registered with the National Stock Dog Registry in 1980 and was originally called the Miniature Australian Shepherd. By the early 1990's, they had attained nationwide popularity. Several clubs promoted these small dogs, as they were registered and shown with various rare-breed organizations. The first parent breed club and registry, MASCUSA, was formed in 1990 and incorporated in 1993. The breed entered the AKC Foundation Stock Service as the Miniature American Shepherd in May 2011. The Miniature American Shepherd Club of the USA (MASCUSA) is the designated national parent club of the American Kennel Club.
The breed has been used for herding smaller stock such as sheep and goats, although they have the heart to tackle larger stock as well. Their small size was looked upon with favor, as they could more easily double as a household pet. They became especially popular with equestrians traveling to horse shows, as their intelligence, loyalty, and size made them an excellent travel companion. In this way their popularity spread across the country. Today, the Miniature American Shepherd is established across the U.S. and internationally. It is a breed with a unique identity - an eye catching, versatile little herding dog, equally at home on a ranch or in the city.
A Rose By Any Other Name
What's in a name? Not much, it turns out. The Miniature American Shepherd may have once been called the Miniature Australian Shepherd, but the change was purposeful as fanciers felt it muddied the waters between the MAS and the Australian Shepherd, and was ultimately deemed misleading. The modern MAS is not a miniature Aussie, though many people still refer to them as such. Most people who do so are breeders who capitalize on the name recognition of the Aussie, and/or breeders who either can't or won't register their breeding stock with the AKC. To be perfectly clear, there are only two differences between the Mini American Shepherd and the Miniature Australian Shepherd:
the Mini American can be registered with the AKC, the Miniature Australian Shepherd cannot.
The Miniature Australian Shepherd does not exist, the Miniature American Shepherd does.
Health
The MAS has an expected lifespan of 13–15 years. Several chronic diseases and detrimental genetic traits are known to exist within the MAS gene pool, including progressive retinal atrophy (PRA-prcd), hereditary cataracts, iris coloboma, micropthalmia, multi-drug resistance gene (MDR1), hip dysplasia, and degenerative myelopathy. This breed should undergo all available health testing as recommended by the parent club. Given the high potential for health concerns, we strongly recommend being very familiar with the health testing process and everything it takes to be an ethical breeder.
Recommended Health Tests From the National Breed Club:
Hip Evaluation
Progressive Retinal Atrophy, PRCD (PRA-prcd, PRCD) - DNA Test
Multidrug Sensitivity (MDR1) - DNA Test
Ophthalmologist Evaluation
*They are classified as a high-energy breed, and require frequent exercise and mental stimulation. Do not take this dog under your care unless you are sure you can provide these essential care aspects. These are breed attributes and will (should) be present in all individuals. Any individual breaking from this norm and not exhibiting a level of hyperactivity and requirement for copious amounts of mental stimulation are not bred to standard and should be avoided.
**A final notation on breed standard; adult Miniature American Shepherds should weigh (depending on sex) between 20-40 lbs., and stand between 14-17 inches tall. This is not without reason. Breeding for extremes, such as producing "toy" American Shepherds (which is a size not recognized by the AKC or the parent club, and if you see them advertised consider avoiding that breeder) contributes to health issues down the line.
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