• Are Mini Australian Shepherds and Mini American Shepherds Different?

The simple answer is "No." Genetically, they are the same breed. However, like divided families, enthusiasts and registries have split Australian Shepherds into different categories, creating some confusion.

• A Brief History of the Breeds

The Australian Shepherd originated from various herding breeds in the American Old West, with dogs of different sizes due to diverse genetic influences. Initially, there wasn't an official breed standard for the Australian Shepherd.

In 1956, the National Stock Dog Registry (NSDR) was the first to recognize the "little blue dog" as an Australian Shepherd, without distinguishing size varieties. In 1968, the NSDR registered its first Miniature Australian Shepherd, allowing dogs under 18 inches tall to be classified as Miniature. This established the Miniature Australian Shepherd as a size variation of the Australian Shepherd, with all sizes tracing back to the original NSDR registry.

• Evolution of the Registry

The National Stock Dog Registry (NSDR) was initially the official registry for Australian Shepherds, but the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA) took over in the 1970s, establishing the current breed description in 1977.

In the 1980s, the now-defunct Rare Breed Kennel Club (RBKC) recognized the breed, followed by the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) in the early 1990s. ARBA regulations required that breeds competing for Group and Best in Show could not share a name with an American Kennel Club (AKC) breed. When the AKC granted the Australian Shepherd full show privileges in 1993, a split occurred.

• The Schism and Its Impact

Some breeders of small-sized Aussies chose to separate from the parent breed, creating the North American Shepherd or Mini American Shepherd. This caused confusion in the dog world and among the public.

Further complicating things, AKC offered breeders the choice to remain as Australian Shepherds (with all size variations) or switch to the new Mini American Shepherd. Many breeders, including Laudrick Aussies, chose to stay with the Australian Shepherd, maintaining a continuous gene pool with the breed's heritage, instincts, temperament, and type.

• Conclusion

Despite the different names and registries, Mini Australian Shepherds and Mini American Shepherds are genetically the same. Understanding the history and registry evolution helps clarify the distinction and the reasons behind the different names.

Mini Aussie vs Mini American Shepherd...

Understanding the Difference and the Confusion