Miniature American Shepherds come from same bloodlines as the Australian Shepherds, and from the 1960's until 2015, these smaller Aussies were known as Miniature Australian Shepherds, or Mini Aussies, as Australian Shepherds are often called. When breeding Mini Aussies to Standard Aussies, they were not considered a mixed breed when they were called Mini Aussies or Miniature Australian Shepherds. This changed in 2015 when AKC recognized Miniature American Shepherds as their own breed, While very similar in many ways and having the same bloodlines, the breed standards are unique to each breed. The transition has not been without challenge, on paper, but the Miniature American Shepherd breed remains the same delightful family dog that the beloved Aussie is known for. Both are loyal, sensitive, unbelievably intelligent dogs that are easy to train. In all my years, having had and loved a range of dogs from poodles and Maltese, to German Shepherds, when I met the Aussies -- regardless of their name -- I fell in love at a whole new level. Their brilliant minds and trainability, their gentleness and deep affection and their undying loyalty... what is not to love? 

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