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The Australian Shepherd:
The history of the North American/Miniature
Australian Shepherd actually begins with the history
of the Australian Shepherd. Though most facts are
shrouded in time, the most commonly held belief on
the origins of the Aussie begin in the late 1800’s
when western ranchers were importing sheep from
Australia. During this period the most popular sheep
were being imported into Australia from the Basque
regions of Spain. When the herds were shipped, their
shepherds were sent with them to manage and care for
the flocks on the journey. As the Australian’s
reputation for quality sheep grew, the demand for
their sheep grew also and American ranchers began
importing them. The livestock were shipped to the
Americas, again accompanied by the Basque shepherds
and their herding dogs. Ranchers of the American
west were reportedly very impressed with the working
ability of these "little blue dogs" and began
interbreeding them with their own shepherd dogs. The
result was the Australian Shepherd.
In 1976, a single Breed Standard for the
Australian Shepherd was adopted and in 1980 the two
major breed clubs consolidated to become the
Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA).
Unrecognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) at
that time, ASCA not only provided a registry for the
Aussie, but held conformation, obedience, agility,
and working trials. Although the AKC now recognizes
the Australian Shepherd, ASCA continues to provide
these activities to the Australian Shepherd and is
currently the largest single breed registry in the
United States. |
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The Miniature Australian Shepherd
was developed directly from the Australian Shepherd. Throughout the history of
the Aussie, small (under 18") dogs can be seen in historical photographs.
Many believe that the original Aussie was selectively bred larger as sheep
ranching decreased and cattle ranching increased. Cattle ranchers preferred a
larger dog to work the larger stock. Some Aussie owners have continued to prefer
the smaller sized Aussie while others prefer the larger.
In 1968 a horse woman in Norco,
California, began a breeding program specifically to produce very small
Australian Shepherds. Her name was Doris Cordova, and the most well known dog
from her kennel is Cordova’s Spike. Spike was placed with Bill and Sally
Kennedy, also of Norco, California, to continue to develop a line of miniature
Aussies under the B/S kennel name. Another horseman, Chas Lasater of Valhalla
Kennels soon joined the ranks of mini breeders.
The Miniature Australian Shepherd
was developed directly from the Australian Shepherd. Throughout the history of
the Aussie, small (under 18") dogs can be seen in historical photographs.
Many believe that the original Aussie was selectively bred larger as sheep
ranching decreased and cattle ranching increased. Cattle ranchers preferred a
larger dog to work the larger stock. Some Aussie owners have continued to prefer
the smaller sized Aussie while others prefer the larger.
In 1968 a horse woman in Norco,
California, began a breeding program specifically to produce very small
Australian Shepherds. Her name was Doris Cordova, and the most well known dog
from her kennel is Cordova’s Spike. Spike was placed with Bill and Sally
Kennedy, also of Norco, California, to continue to develop a line of miniature
Aussies under the B/S kennel name. Another horseman, Chas Lasater of Valhalla
Kennels soon joined the ranks of mini breeders.
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Cordova, Lasater and the Kennedy’s
together attempted to form the first parent club for the miniatures. Although
the club never quite got off the ground, their stated purpose for developing the
miniatures was to produce an Australian Shepherd under 17" who had the
heart, intelligence and drive to work stock, and yet be small enough to travel
easily to stock shows and be a "house" dog.
Cordova’s dogs were registered
through the National Stock Dog Registry (NSDR) and eventually NSDR came to be
the first registry to recognize and register the mini as a size variety of the
Australian Shepherd.
Originally recognized in (1989
- 1990) they were shown with the RBKC of Southern California (Rare
Breed Kennel Club) as Miniature Australian Shepherds. The miniature gained
in popularity and the owners and breeders missed 
the cohesive nature of a parent club dedicated to the miniature, so in 1990, the
Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of the USA (MASCUSA) was formed. Kathy
Croswhite (Munson), Jeanine Perron, Florence Toombs, Susan Sinclair and Richard
VanBurkleo served as the first Board of Directors, and one of MASCUSA’s
most notable early achievements during that time, was to gain recognition of the
miniature by the American Rare Breeds Assc. (ARBA) to provide a Nationally
recognized conformation show venue.
Now with the
recognition of the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) the Miniature
Australian Shepherds showed along side the Australian Shepherd until 1993, when
the AKC officially recognized the Australian Shepherd.
The American Rare Breed Association's policy at that time was not to
allow any breed of dog to show with them (except in exhibition) that had the
same name as an AKC affiliated breed and suggested that we change our name.
Amid mixed reactions MASCUSA opted to change the name of our dogs from
Miniature Australian Shepherd to North American Shepherd, for the sole purpose
of keeping ARBA as one of our main show venues.
At the same time, the club amended its name to North American Miniature
Australian Club, USA, while also retaining the name Miniature Australian Club,
USA as an a.k.a.
The breed
flourished over the next five years and grew under this name both in the US and
Canada.
In
the beginning of 1998, ARBA changed their breed name policy and through much
consideration and discussion on the part of our club members and the Board of
Directors of NASCUSA, formerly MASCUSA, Miniature Australian Shepherd was
incorporated back into the name of our dogs, thus becoming the North
American "Miniature Australian Shepherd".
Today, breeders of the Miniature
Australian Shepherd continue to strive to produce Aussies of a smaller stature.
Preservation of the herding instinct as well as the intelligence and athleticism
of the mini is a priority in breeding programs, as well as continuing the
reputation for health and easy companionship that the mini enjoys.
Miniatures are quickly gaining in
popularity among Agility, Flyball and Disc competition enthusiasts as their
attributes of small size and amazing athletic ability makes them very
competitive and easy to travel with. In the suburbs and cities, families wanting
a big dog are attracted to the "big dog" qualities of the miniature
Australian Shepherd, in a smaller package.
Vive la miniature!
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