Overview
The Miniature American Shepherd is a small, highly intelligent and biddable herding dog. It excels in herding, agility, obedience, freestyle and flyball.
It was formerly known as the Miniature Australian Shepherd and was recognised by the AKC in 2015 and the FCI in 2019.
History
The breed was developed in the United States in the late 1960s from small Australian Shepherds, and by the mid-1970s had reached its present size. After the AKC asked for a name change in the 1990s it became the North American Shepherd for a time, and then the Miniature American Shepherd. AKC recognition came on 1 July 2015.
Appearance
A small, athletic dog with a level topline. Males stand 36 to 46 cm and females 33 to 43 cm. The tail may be a natural bobtail, undocked or docked. Accepted colours are tricolour, blue merle, red merle and red (liver), with tan and limited white markings.
Temperament
Highly intelligent, eager to please and keen to work. It bonds closely with its family and needs both exercise and mental stimulation to stay content.
Care and exercise
A high-energy breed needing frequent exercise, training and tasks. Brush regularly, especially during seasonal shedding.
Health
Known conditions include progressive retinal atrophy, hereditary cataracts, iris coloboma, microphthalmia, the MDR1 drug-sensitivity gene, hip dysplasia and degenerative myelopathy.
