Will the real mini Aussie please stand up?

Right now there is the real mini Aussie registered with MASCA; who will diligently work to protect the integrity of the MASCA registry and the dog known as a smaller sized Aussie, the mini Aussie. Then there is the other dog, the Miniature American Shepherd that NAMASCUSA/MASCUSA is taking into FSS/AKC as a breed separated from the AKC Australian Shepherd by name and registration.

MASCA’s essential mission is to “Preserve, Protect and Work” the Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety. This mission equally preserves the Aussie’s integrity as the most versatile, healthy, highly intelligent, loyal and affectionate companion, or working dog you will ever find… the real Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety

So what then are these “other” dogs we hear about today…. The Miniature American Shepherd, North American Shepherd, and who knows what else? They are simply variants of the Real Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety becoming a new breed through either FSS/AKC or CDHPR/UKC… a dog taken from within portions of the Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety breed standard to suit the whims of special interest groups/individuals.

What happens when all of these variants, with eventually a different gene pool (in 2 years the Miniature American cannot be bred to AKC Aussies), are bred together to “perfect” this new breed with a different standard? Eventually they will change and become an animal that will look very different from the original Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety. Breeding for the AKC show ring will change the physical and mental structure of the dog. It will lose its purpose and its original character, as well as its mental and physical soundness, and will become something entirely different… whatever suits the whim of those controlling the new breed.

It is history repeating itself… it is how the AKC Aussie of today once evolved from the original working ASCA Aussie or how the AKC Border Collie of today once evolved from the ABCA Border Collie, a true sheepdog. If this information isn’t enough, Google the AKC Aussie and the ASCA working line Aussie, or the AKC Border Collie and the ABCA Border collie to see the extreme differences in type.

In closing, remember that the original type of Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety will continue on with the Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of America as its protector. So please consider the consequences and help us ensure that the REAL Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety will be here for another 200 years!

Thank you for your support as we move into the future,

MASCA Board of Directors