Mini Ausses/Mini Americans

[AmandaNola]

A breeder in southern AL, about 2.5 hours from where I live.

First off, I'm not recommending the breed. I simply stated my experiences with him.
Second, I am not basing everything on his personality. My comment was not only on him, but the dogs behind him. I've spent hours with all the dogs his breeder owns, and they all have incredible temperaments. Energetic but spastic, friendly without being obnoxious, smart, confident and easy going. All great herders who work sheep and cows.

 

[Upendi&Mina]

A lot of the minis I'm seeing on websites have really poor rears. Or are just generally not well balanced.

I noticed this too. Very very straight in the rear, or front or both.

Based strictly on structure, I see very very very very few MAS I would bring home with me. And I have met one out of fifteen or so that had a solid temperament.

 

[iriskai]

My family's MAS that lives with my parents just turned 16 a couple weeks ago. She didn't compete in sports, have formal training, or even get walked regularly. 2 kids and a fenced backyard. Stable temperament, not bark-y, great with me and my younger sister when we were kids.

The neighbors had two MASs as well, all three were from different litters (same breeder) and the neighbor's two were raised in similar circumstances, no issues with either of them. It DOES follow lines, though. The first MAS my family got (all from the same breeder) was the product of an 'oops' breeding from what I recall. One of the gal's dogs bred a bitch that was there for training (herding I think). This resulted in a very drivey litter, a little too much in terms of nipping for my parents in a neighborhood full of kids, so she went back to the breeder. Hindsight, I don't think she would have be an issue in a more experienced home.

So, 3/4 had solid temperaments, and the 4th was an oops... but they were all from the same breeder, so there's that.

 

[Laurelin]

On the MAS front I met a lady with two very beautiful and drivey MAS this weekend. One was 14" and the other around 16".

Golly when MAS are good, they are very neat. These dogs are gorgeous and also very drivey and not shy either! They do bark like crazy.

And now I have realized that all 4 MAS that I've liked out of the bunch I've met come from the same breeder and not one I'd looked at ever. So that's something.

 

[BostonBanker]

One of our agility club members just got a mini from a breeder mentioned here; I'm interested to meet it and see what it is like! It does look more "Aussie" in the pictures I've seen than a lot of the minis I've met in the past.

Actually, edited, because I went back and the breeder isn't mentioned. Maybe it was another thread. Anyway, I will still be curious how this one grows up!

 

[Laurelin]

Let me know! I keep saying no then I meet some really cool ones and change my mind!

 

[Sekah]

And now I have realized that all 4 MAS that I've liked out of the bunch I've met come from the same breeder and not one I'd looked at ever. So that's something.

Which breeder? PM me?

 

[Grab]

My coworker has two from different breeders. Both are pretty "Aussie-like" in looks, and both are cute, drivey little things. Mind you, they don't do dog sports, but the dogs do hang out doing horse things

 

[Crazyauslady]

Www.waterfallaussies.com very aussie looking. Not toy and weird cross bred looking dogs.