ORIGIN : United States of America

PATRONAGE : Hungary

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE OFFICIAL STANDARD IN FORCE : 04.09.2019.

PURPOSE : Herding dog used on farms and ranches

FCI CLASSIFICATION : Group 1 - Sheepdogs and Cattle Dogs (except Swiss Cattle Dogs)
                                        Section 1 - Sheepdogs
                                        Without working trial.

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BRIEF HISTORICAL OVERVIEW : Born in California in the late 1960s, the Miniature American Shepherd originated from small Australian Shepherds selectively bred to favor their small size, dynamic temperament, and intelligence. The breed was first registered with the American Stock Dog Registry in 1980 under the name Miniature Australian Shepherd. By the early 1990s, the Miniature Australian Shepherd had already gained national popularity, being featured in numerous rare breed exhibitions.

MASCUSA, the first club and registry dedicated to the Miniature Australian Shepherd, was created in 1990 and legally established in 1993. In May 2011, the breed was recorded in the American Kennel Club's Foundation Stock Service under the name Miniature American Shepherd. The “Miniature American Shepherd Club of the USA” (MASCUSA), affiliated with the American Kennel Club, is the official national club of the breed.

The Miniature American Shepherd is used for herding small livestock, such as sheep and goats, but also has the ability to handle larger livestock. Additionally, its small size is highly valued as it makes the Miniature American Shepherd an excellent companion dog. The intelligence, loyalty, and size of the Miniature American Shepherd make it an ideal travel companion, particularly favored by equestrian enthusiasts.

This has led to the breed’s growing popularity across the country. Today, the Miniature American Shepherd is well-established in the United States and abroad. The versatility and remarkable appearance of this small shepherd, equally comfortable on a ranch or in the city, give it a unique identity.

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GENERAL APPEARANCE

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The Miniature American Shepherd is a small herding dog originally from the United States, neither too tall nor too short, with a body slightly longer than it is tall and moderate bone structure proportionate to its size. Its movements are smooth, easy, and well-balanced. Exceptionally agile, strong, and enduring, it is capable of working on various terrains.

Its energy and great versatility make the Miniature American Shepherd a highly athletic dog, remarkably intelligent, and eager to please its owners. It proves to be a loyal companion and an obedient worker, as reflected in its attentive expression. The double coat, moderately long and coarse, can be solid or merle, with or without white and/or tan (copper) markings. It is customary for the Miniature American Shepherd to have a docked tail or a naturally short tail.

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IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS

 

The body length, measured from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttock, is slightly greater than the height at the withers, from the top of the shoulder blade to the ground. Morphology: solid build with moderate bone structure, proportionate to the size and format of the individual. A robust but not coarse constitution is a sign of masculinity in males. Females should display a feminine appearance without showing light bone structure. Overall, the Miniature American Shepherd’s build should convey an impression of depth and strength without heaviness.

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BEHAVIOR / CHARACTER 

 

Highly intelligent, the Miniature American Shepherd is primarily a working dog with a strong instinct for herding and guarding livestock. An ideal companion, its versatility and learning abilities allow it to perform assigned tasks with enthusiasm and excellence. Although reserved with strangers, the Miniature American Shepherd should never appear shy. A resilient and persistent worker, it knows how to adapt its behavior and energy level according to the task at hand. The Miniature American Shepherd is a protective, kind, devoted, and loyal companion to its family.

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HEAD

 

CRANIAL REGION :

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Skull: The top of the skull is flat or slightly rounded, sometimes revealing the occipital protuberance. The skull is as wide as it is long.

Stop (Frontal-nasal depression) : Moderate but distinct.

 

FACIAL REGION :​

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Nose : Red in dogs with red-merle or red coats, black in dogs with blue-merle or black coats. The nose should preferably be fully pigmented. Any partial depigmentation of the nose is a fault, and it becomes a serious fault when depigmentation affects 25 to 50% of the nose.

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Muzzle : Moderately wide and thick, it tapers gradually toward its rounded tip without appearing heavy, square, snipey, or receding. Its length is equal to that of the skull. Viewed in profile, the superior longitudinal axes of the skull and muzzle are slightly convergent, with the anterior part of the skull sloping slightly toward the nose.

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Lips : Match the coat color and are well-fitted.

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Jaws/Teeth: Complete and regular scissor bite. Dogs with teeth that are broken, missing, or discolored due to an accident should not be penalized. Any undershot or overshot bite is a disqualifying fault.

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EYES

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Set obliquely, almond-shaped, and proportionate to the size of the head, the eyes are neither protruding nor sunken in their sockets. The eyes may be either of the same color or different colors. The following colors are permitted regardless of coat: brown, blue, hazel, amber, or any combination of these colors, including speckles and marbling. The rims of the eyelids are fully pigmented red in red or red-merle dogs and strictly black in black or blue-merle dogs. The expression is lively, attentive, and intelligent. The gaze may be reserved or even wary toward strangers.

EARS

 

Triangular, of moderate size, set high on the head. When the dog is alert, the ears fold forward or are rose-shaped on the sides. Fully erect or fully pendant ears are a serious fault.

NECK

 

Strong, well-defined, and proportionate to the body. Moderately long and slightly arched at the top; well set between the shoulders.

 

BODY

 

Firm and toned.

 

Topline​ : The back is firm and straight from the withers to the hips, both when standing and in motion

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Withers : The shoulder blades are long, flat, fairly close together at their attachment to the withers, and well relaxed.

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Back : Firm and straight from the withers to the hips, both when standing and in motion.

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Loin : Strong and broad when viewed from above.​​​

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Croup : Moderately sloping.

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Chest : Full and deep, reaching down to the elbows, with well-sprung ribs.

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Underline and Belly : Underline moderately tucked up.

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TAIL

 

The tail is preferably naturally short or docked. When docked, a straight stump must remain, with a length not exceeding three (3) inches (in countries where this practice is not prohibited by law). When left natural, the tail hangs with a slight curve when the dog is at rest. When the dog is excited or in motion, the tail is carried high and strongly curved.

 

 LIMBS 

 

FOREQUARTERS :

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Generale appearance : The forequarters are well conditioned and balanced with the hindquarters. Forelegs The forelegs drop straight and perpendicular to the ground. The legs are straight and strong. The bone is oval rather than round.

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Shoulder : Shoulder blades (scapula) are long, flat, fairly close set at the withers, and well laid back.

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Upper arm : The upper arm (humerus) is equal in length to the shoulder blade and meets the shoulder blade at an approximate right angle.

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Elbow : The elbow joint is equidistant from the ground to the withers. Viewed from the side, the elbow should be directly under the withers. The elbows should be close to the ribs without looseness

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Forearm : : The legs are straight and strong. The bone is oval rather than round.

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Metacarpus (Pastern): Short, thick and strong, but still flexible, showing a slight angle when viewed from the side.

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Pieds antérieurs : Ovales et compacts, avec des doigts bien serrés et bien cambrés, des coussinets épais et coriaces, des ongles courts et durs. Les ongles admettent toute combinaison de couleur. L’ablation des ergots est recommandée (sauf dans les pays où cette pratique est interdite par la loi).

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HINDQUARTERS :

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General appearance : Width of hindquarters is approximately equal to the width of the forequarters at the shoulders. Angulation - The angulation of the pelvis and upper thigh (femur) mirrors the angulation of the shoulder blade and upper arm, forming an approximate right angle

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Thigh : The thigh is well muscled, but not overly so

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Stifle (knee) : Stifles are clearly defined.

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Hock joint: The hocks are short, moderately bent to allow the metatarsal to fall perpendicular to the ground.

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Métatarses : : The metatarsals are short, perpendicular to the ground when viewed from the side and parallel to each other when viewed from the rear.

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Forefeet : Feet are oval, compact, with close knit, well arched toes. Pads are thick and resilient; nails are short and strong. The nails may be any colour combination. Rear dewclaws should be removed (in countries where it is not forbidden by law).

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GAIT / MOVEMENT​

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The gait is smooth, free and easy exhibiting agility of movement with a well-balanced, ground-covering stride. The fore and hind legs move straight and parallel with the center line of the body; as speed increases, the feet, both front and rear, converge toward the center line of gravity of the dog while the back remains firm and level. When traveling at a trot, the head is carried in a natural position with the neck extended forward and head nearly level or slightly above the topline. He must be agile and able to turn direction or alter gait instantly.

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SKIN

 

Skin is of typical moderate thickness and laxiety.

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COAT

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Moderation is the overall impression of the coat. Hair is of medium texture, straight to wavy, weather resistant, and of medium length. The undercoat varies in quantity with variations in climate.

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Hair :Hair is short and smooth on the head and front of the legs. The backs of forelegs and breeches are moderately feathered. There is a moderate mane and frill, more pronounced in dogs than in bitches. Hair may be trimmed on the ears, feet, back of hocks, pasterns, and tail, otherwise he is to be shown in a natural coat. Untrimmed whiskers are preferred. Severe Fault - Non-typical coats.

Color :

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Body Color : The coloring offers variety and individuality. With no order of preference, the recognized colors are black, blue merle, red, liver and red or liver merle. The merle will exhibit in any amount, marbling, flecks or blotches. Undercoats may be somewhat lighter in color than the topcoat. Asymmetrical markings are not to be faulted.

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Tan Markings : Tan markings are not required but when present are acceptable in any or all of the following areas: around the eyes, on the feet, legs, chest, muzzle, underside of neck, face, underside of ear, underline of body, under the base of the tail and the breeches. Tan markings vary in shades from creamy beige to dark rust, with no preference. Blending with the base color or merle pattern may be present on the face, legs, feet, and breeches.

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Marques blanches : White markings are not required but when present do not dominate. Ticking may be present in white markings. White on the head does not predominate, and the eyes are fully surrounded by color and pigment. Red merles and reds have red (liver) pigmentation on the eye rims. Blue merles and blacks have black pigmentation on the eye rims. Ears fully covered by color are preferred. White markings may be in any combination and are restricted to the muzzle, cheeks, crown, blaze on head, the neck in a partial or full collar, chest, belly, front legs, hind legs up the hock and may extend in a thin outline of the stifle.

 

A small amount of white extending from the underline may be visible from the side, not to exceed one inch above the elbow. The hairline of a white collar does not exceed the withers at the skin. If a natural undocked tail is present, the tip of the tail may have white.

 

 

SIZE AND WEIGHT

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Height at the withers : Males: 35.5 cm up to 46 cm at the top of the withers Females: 33 cm up to and including 43.5 cm at the top of the withers.

Weight : Healthy weight will vary based on individual size, sex and substance.

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FAULTS

 

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault is regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog and its ability to perform its traditional work.

SEVERE FAULTS

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   • Non -typical coats.

   • Prick ears and ears that hang with no lift.

   • Between 25 and 50% unpigmented nose leather.

   • White markings covering over 25 % of an ear.

 

DISQUALIFYING FAULTS

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   • Aggressive or extremely shy dogs

   • Any dog clearly showing physical or behavioral abnormalities.

   • Under 35.5 cm and over 46 cm for dogs; under 33 cm and over 43.5 cm for bitches. The minimum heights set forth in this breed        standard shall not apply to dogs or bitches under six months of age

   • Over 50 percent un-pigmented nose leather.

   • Undershot or overshot bite.

   • Other than recognized colors. White body splashes, which means any conspicuous, isolated spot or patch of white on the area          between withers and tail, on back, or sides between elbows and back of hindquarters.

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N.B. :

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   • Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum

   • Only functionally and clinically healthy dogs, with breed typical conformation should be used for breeding

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