Australische herder

&

'Geschiedenis'

Australian Shepherds & History

The History of the Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd is a dog breed that originated in the United States, despite what its name may suggest.

The foundation of the breed was laid in North America, where working dogs from Europe and Australia were crossed.

During the same period, Merino sheep were exported from Europe first to Australia and later to the United States.

The dogs accompanying these sheep became associated with “Australian” livestock, which ultimately led to the misleading name Australian Shepherd.

The common belief that the Australian Shepherd, like the Australian Cattle Dog, originated from crosses with the dingo is incorrect.

There is no historical or genetic evidence to support this theory.

Although many theories exist regarding the exact origins of the breed, it is widely accepted that the Australian Shepherd as we know it today was fully developed in the United States.

American ranchers and stockmen selectively bred these dogs for traits essential to ranch work: versatility, sharp intelligence, strong herding instincts, endurance, and close cooperation with humans.

Following the Second World War, the popularity of the Australian Shepherd increased steadily.

This was closely linked to the rise of western horseback riding, rodeos, horse shows, and later films and television programs, which introduced the breed to a wider audience.

The Australian Shepherd quickly proved to be far more than an exceptional working dog.

Its remarkable intelligence, adaptability, and eagerness to learn made it invaluable on farms and ranches, while also paving the way for its success in dog sports, companionship, and a wide range of modern roles.

To this day, the Australian Shepherd carries this heritage with pride: an intelligent, energetic, and loyal breed shaped by work, partnership, and trust.

Although each individual Australian Shepherd is unique in colour and markings, all share an unmatched devotion to their families. These many qualities have ensured the Australian Shepherd’s enduring popularity.

The first official studbook for the Australian Shepherd was established around 1970. In 1971, the official registration of the breed was taken over by the Australian Shepherd Club of America (ASCA), founded in Arizona in 1957. The ASCA breed standard came into effect in 1977.

Since the 1990s, the American Kennel Club (AKC) has also maintained a studbook for Australian Shepherds and has developed its own breed standard, which has been in effect since 1993.

The History of the Miniature American Shepherd (MAS)

The Miniature American Shepherd (MAS) is a relatively young breed that was developed in the United States. Contrary to what is sometimes assumed, the MAS is not a “small Australian Shepherd from Australia,” but a deliberately developed breed with a clearly defined origin.

The breed emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when breeders in California began selectively breeding smaller-sized Australian Shepherds. This was done without introducing other breeds, with the goal of preserving the intelligence, work ethic, structure, and temperament of the Australian Shepherd in a more compact format.

The intention was to create a versatile herding dog that retained all the qualities of the Australian Shepherd, while being more practical for:

smaller ranches
horse shows
traveling owners
and later, active family life

For many years, these dogs were known as Miniature Australian Shepherds or Mini Aussies. However, this created confusion, as the Australian Shepherd already had an established breed standard.

In order to achieve official recognition and clearly distinguish the breed, a new name was adopted:

Miniature American Shepherd.

This name reflects both the breed’s American origin and its status as a separate, officially recognized breed.

Official recognition

2011: Accepted into the AKC Foundation Stock Service
2015: Fully recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC)
Subsequently recognized by several international kennel clubs

Relationship to the Australian Shepherd

The Miniature American Shepherd and the Australian Shepherd:

share a common ancestry
have a very similar temperament and working style
differ primarily in size, not in character or abilities

The MAS is therefore:

✔️ not a designer dog
✔️ not a mixed breed
✔️ not a trend

but a carefully developed, purpose-bred working dog in a smaller size.

Today, the Miniature American Shepherd excels as:

an active family dog
a sport dog (agility, obedience, flyball)
a therapy or assistance dog
a working dog in smaller-scale environments

Always retaining the core qualities that define the breed:
intelligence, loyalty, eagerness to work, and close cooperation with humans.