Miniature Australian Shepherd 117

The Mini Australian Shepherd, abbreviated as MAS, and also referred to as a Miniature American Shepherd or Mini Aussie, is considered a small herding breed. The dog breed originated during the late 1960s in California when they were crossed with smaller, unregistered dogs thought to be Australian Shepherds.

One of the facts about Miniature Australian Shepherds is they are known by a few names. When they were registered with the National Stock Dog Registry in 1980, they were registered as Miniature Australian Shepherds. Although they attained nationwide popularity by the 1990s, they weren’t entered into the AKC Foundation Stock Service until 2011. At that time, the AKC recognized them as the Miniature American Shepherd.

These dogs are often a little longer than they are tall and are a little stocky. They are a hardy and rustic dog breed that finds themselves at home as a working dog and as a family companion. Due to their high energy, intelligence, and desire for a job, they are often used in agility training and other dog sports.