迷你澳牧和標準型澳牧差別在哪呢? 答案就只有體型!
因為我家寶貝，開始對這種犬種產生興趣，進而瀏覽了數百網站和書籍，在此分享些犬種資訊;)
迷你澳洲牧羊犬(Miniature Australian Shepherd)是近50年來美國所繁殖的犬種，其培育目的是使人見人愛的澳牧成為更適合各種環境飼養的犬種。澳牧在歷史上也是源自於美國，在19世紀是由許多犬種交配培育出的牧羊工作犬。當時為了保護羊群不受狼襲擊，刻意將體型較大的澳牧用於繁殖，使其後代愈來愈大。時至今日，人類已不再以功能性來區分犬種，任何工作犬、警犬都可以單純的只是寵物，所以開始有了迷你雪納瑞、迷你貴賓和迷你澳洲牧羊犬等犬種的誕生。
迷你澳牧原先歸類於澳洲牧羊犬的一種，雖然受到部分標準型繁殖業者的反對，但AKC仍然在近50年的觀察下肯定了迷你澳牧的優良繁殖，逐將其列為"迷你美國牧羊犬"(Miniature American Shepherd)。
其他俱樂部(MASCUSA、NSDR、MASCA、ASDR等)依然使用迷你澳洲牧羊犬這個名字，所以當你看到這兩個名字時，不要懷疑，是同一種狗;D
當然，標準型繁殖業者的疑慮的確是該被重視的，體型大小的演進不能急躁，所以玩具型(Toy)和茶杯型(Tea Cup)的澳牧仍然不被AKC接受(除非父母是迷你型，卻生出過小的寶寶)，其只有10多年的育種歷程，不足以使一個犬種大小穩定，若有不肖業者，在體型上也容易操之過急。不過迷你型經過近50年的培育，許多繁殖業者比起體型外表，更注重遺傳疾病的預防和該犬種應有的性格特徵，終獲得AKC的認可。
判定的標準是以肩高來算，
標準型(Standard): 18 - 23 英吋
迷你型(Miniature): 14 - 18 英吋
玩具型(Toy): 10 - 14 英吋
茶杯型(Tea Cup): 10 英吋以下
在美國是體型愈小愈貴，茶杯型的要價3000~5000美金一隻，不過業者都有規定茶杯型的一律不賣繁殖權，也就是你必須要結紮，原因是茶杯型的基因還不穩定，萬一寶寶過大會使母犬難產。所以目前茶杯型的澳牧都是玩具型的寶寶，沒辦法指定繁殖，可遇不可求，這也就是價格貴還很搶手的原因。總而言之，目前我還是不鼓勵購買茶杯澳牧唷!
回歸正題，澳牧最吸引人的不外乎是那忠實樂天的性格，加上有著適合陪伴主人上山下海的體力，這些特質應該在任何一種體型上看見。
http://www.mascusa.org/standard.php
這個網站有迷你澳牧的標準、花色等許多介紹。
以下是迷你澳牧的介紹和歷史~
Breed Info
History...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 for developing the miniatures was to produce an Australian 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.
Cordova’s dogs were registered through the National Stock Dog Registry (NSDR) and eventually NSDR came to be the first registry to recognize and register the mini as a size variety of the Australian Shepherd.
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 breeders 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 with the recognition of the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) the Miniature Australian Shepherds showed along side the Australian Shepherd until 1993, when the AKC officially recognized the Australian Shepherd. The American Rare Breed Association's policy at that 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 sole 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 Miniature 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 Canada.
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 "Miniature 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.
Vive la miniature!
About...Miniature Australian Shepherds are easy going, perpetual puppies that love to play. Courageous, loyal and affectionate, they are excellent children's companions that are great with active children. A devoted friend and guardian. Very lively, agile, and attentive, they are eager to please with a sixth sense about what the owner wants. Miniature Australian Shepherds are highly intelligent and easy to train. They can become nervous and destructive if left alone too much without enough mental and physical exercise. They need a job to do, as the breed is very intelligent, active and easily bored. Socialize them well when they are a puppy to avoid them becoming suspicious of strangers. Some like to nip peoples heels in an attempt to herd them. They need to be taught herding humans is not acceptable. A fine companion, it also enjoys working small stock. They are quiet workers. This breed is not usually dog aggressive. Make sure you are this dog's firm, confident, consistent pack leader to avoid Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behavior problems. Always remember, dogs are canines, not humans. Be sure to meet their natural instincts as animals.
The Miniature Australian Shepherd will do okay in an apartment if they are sufficiently exercised. They are moderately active indoors and will do okay with a small yard. This breed will do well in cold climates as well.
Health...Australian Shepherds of the miniature variety suffer from relatively few genetic disorders. However, defects recognized in the Australian Shepherd can also occur in its smaller counterpart. The Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of America is working to preserve the health of the mini Aussie and strongly encourages breeders to clear eyes and hips on all breeding stock.
To read more about Eye Clearances & Hip Clearances click on the link below: http://mascaonline.com/breed-info/health/
The Miniature American Shepherd was recently recognized in May of 2011 by the American Kennel Club. The breed was formed by a split of the Australian Shepherd breed in AKC, and the incorporation of dogs previously known as Miniature Australian Shepherds and also known as North American Shepherds. The Miniature American Shepherd Club of the USA (MASCUSA) is the parent club for the Miniature American Shepherd and was originally known as the Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of the USA, and then the North American Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of the USA, and was founded in 1990 as the original parent club for the Miniature Australian Shepherd. The move to have these dogs recognized by AKC and to be further developed as Miniature American Shepherds is a monumental era in the history of these dogs. They will have a bright and permanent future in AKC and can compete alongside their fellow herding breeds in AKC Herding events and will be a big influence in both the performance and companion events offered by AKC. The Miniature American Shepherd will now be seen at many different AKC venues and will be working toward the day they are to be fully recognized and entered in the AKC Conformation shows.
另外，維基百科也有迷你澳牧的資訊唷http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_Australian_Shepherd
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