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https://web.archive.org/web/20191030094815/http://www.akingscastleminiaussies.com/brags.html

Dog Show
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Doc 2014 MASCA Nationals

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A Kings Castle's Liberty Bell earning her obdeience title at MASCA nationals 2016.  Also pictured in agility and tunnels.

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MASCA Blue Ribbon Breeder

A Kings Castle Miniature Australian shepherds, which are a miniature variety of the AKC Australian shepherd and not to be confused
with miniature American shepherds, is located in Marana, AZ. We have quality working standard and miniature Australian shepherds
and strive to produce mini Australian shepherd puppies with sound structure, good temperaments, and correct aussie type in order to
perform their job accurately.  Our  puppies are handled daily on an individual basis, so we get to know their personalities and can help
place them in a suitable family. Our puppies are well socialized, up to date on immunizations and worming, healthy, raised with
children and come with a health guarantee.
Our dogs enjoy 4 acres to run and play on as well as going camping, hiking and going to barrel races.  Our mini Australian shepherd
puppies are registered with the IMASC,  MASCA, ASDR, and/or AKC.

Mini Australian shepherds retain the same traits and working ability as the standard Australian shepherd but
in a smaller package. They range in height from 14 to 18 inches and generally weigh between 17 and 35 pounds.  Our dogs can do a
full days work, compete in agility, showing, herding, flyball, and therapy as well as be your constant shadow and best friend.
Whatever venue you choose, your mini Australian puppy should excel.  

This breed was developed by breeding smaller Australian Shepherds for the desired size. They are increasing in popularity among
those interested in a compact dog with a strong work ethic. They can also serve well as service or therapy dogs.

AKC has accepted the recognition of a new breed recently.  Some breeders decided to take their dogs into AKC as an entirely new
breed: Miniature American Shepherd.  They have forfeited their heritage and are becoming a new breed of dog all together.  We chose
to stay with our past heritage as an Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety. Mini Aussies are supported by many breeders and
can still be registered with MASCA, IMASC, NSDR, AKC, and ASDR.  Show venues include ICKC, IABCA, ARBA, and ASDR.

Inqeuiries to: 520-780-9029

 

 

 

 

Where and Why

The Australian Shepherd:  The history of the North American/Miniature Australian Shepherd actually begins with the history of the Australian Shepherd.  Though most facts are shrouded in time, the most commonly held belief on the origins of the Aussie begin in the late 1800’s when western ranchers were importing sheep from Australian.  During this period the most poplular sheep were being imported in to Australian from the Basque regions of Spain.  When the herds were shipped, their shepherds were sent with them to manage and care for the flocks on the journey.  As the Australian’s reputation for quality sheep grew, the demand for their sheep grew also and American ranchers began importing them.  The livestock were shipped to the Americas, again accompanied by the Basque shepherds and their herding dogs.  Ranchgers of the American west were reportedly very impressed with the working ability of these “little blue dogs” and began interbreeding them with their own shepherd dogs.  The result was the Australian shepherd.

 

In 1976, a single breed standard for the Australian shepherd was adopted and in 1980 the two major breed clubs consolidated to become the Australian shepherd Club of America (ASCA).  Unrecognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) at the time, ASCA not only provided a registry for the Aussie, but held comformation, obedience, agility, and working trials.  Although the AKC now recognizes the Australian Shepherd, ASCA continues to provide these activities to the Australian Shepherd and is currently the largest single breed registry in the United States.

 

The Miniature Australian Shepherd was developed directly from the Australian Shepherd.  Throughout the history of the Aussie, small (under 18”) dogs can be seen in historical photographs.  Many believe that the original Aussie was selectively bred larger as sheep ranching decreased and cattle ranching increased.  Cattle ranchers preferred a larger dog to work the larger stock.  Some Aussie owners have continued to prefer the smaller sized Aussie while others prefer the larger.

 

In 1968 a horse woman in Norco, California, began a breeding program specifically to produce very small Australian Shepherds.  Her name was Doris Cordova, and the most well known dog from her kennel is Cordova’s Spike.  Spike was placed with Bill and Sally Kennedy, also of Norco, California, to continue to develop a line of miniature Aussies under the B/S kennel name.  Another horseman, Chas Lasater of Valhalla Kennels soon joined the ranks of mini breeders.

 

Cordova, Lasater and the Kennedy’s together attempted to form the first parent club for the miniatures.  Although the club never quite got off the ground, their stated purpose to developing the miniatures was to produce an Australin Shepherd under 17” who had the heart, intelligence and drive to work stock, and yet be small enough to travel easily to stock shows and be a “house” dog.

 

Originally recognized in (1989 – 1990) they were shown with the RBKC of Southern California (Rare Breed Kennel Club) as Miniature Australian Shepherds.  The miniature gained in popularity and the owners and breders missed the cohesive nature of a parent club dedicated to the miniature, so in 1990, the Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of the USA (MASCUSA) was formed.  Kathy Croswhite (Munson), Jeanine Perron, Florence Toombs, Susan Sinclair and Richard VanBurkleo served as the first Board of Directors, and one of MASCUSA’s most notable early achievements during that time, was to gain recognition of the miniature by the American Rare Breeds Assc.  (ARBA) to provide a Nationally recognized conformation show venue.

 

Now that  the recognition of the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) the Miniature Australian Shepherds showed along side the Australian Shepherds until 1993, when the AKC officially recognized the Australian Shepherd.  The American Rare Breed Association’s policy at the time was not to allow any breed of dog to show with them (except in exhibition) that had the same name as an AKC affiliated breed and suggested that we change our name.  Amid mixed reactions MASCUSA opted to change the name of our dogs from Miniature Australian Shepherd to North American Shepherd, for the sold purpose of keeping ARBA as one of our main show venues.  At the same time, the club amended its name to North American Miniature Australian Club, USA, while also retaining the name Minaiture Australian Club, USA as an a.k.a.  The breed flourished over the next five years and grew under this name both in the US and Cananda.

 

In the beginning of 1998, ARBA changed their breed name policy and through much consideration and discussion on the part of our club members and the Board of Directors of NASCUSA, formerly MASCUSA, Miniature Australian Shepherd was incorporated back into the name of our dogs, thus becoming the North American “Minaiture Australian Shepherd.”

 

Today, breeders of the Miniature Australian Shepherd continue to strive to produce Aussies of a smaller stature.  Preservation of the herding instinct as well as the intelligence and athleticism of the mini is a priority in breeding programs, as well as continuing the reputation for health and easy companionship that the mini enjoys.

 

Miniatures are quickly gaining in popularity among Agility, Flyball and Disc competition enthusiasts as their attributes of small size and amazing athletic ability makes them very competitive and easy to travel with.  In the suburbs and cities, families wanting a big dog are attracted to the “big dog” qualities of the miniature Australian Shepherd, in a smaller package.

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