Despite the name, the Australian Shepherd is actually the only herding breed that developed in the United States. Basque sheep herders used with great success the "little blue dogs". Farmers and shepherds were impressed with the performance of these dogs, and began breeding them for their working ability, developing the Australian Shepherd we know of today. Since the original dogs accompanied Basque shepherds from Australia, the dogs were given the name "Australian Shepherd" even though the breed itself was established in the US.

I find it interesting that the Standard Breeders feel so threaten by the Miniature and Toy Australian Shepherd. I grew up on a sheep ranch in Northern Idaho. As a small child I hung out at the sheep camps most of the summers. The Aussies there were not nearly as large as what the Standard Aussie is today. Some of them had prick ears and more refined faces. These dogs came from the Basque families that worked the sheep. Once the breed was discovered by the cattle industry there was a huge push to increase the size of the breed. I believe they breed them to larger breeds to decrease the time it took to make them larger and cause the current, fashion only ear set as the ear set does not make them better or worse stock dogs.

My research has lead me to belive that first people to try to preserve the smaller version started with some of the old stock that was untouched from the original breed that the sheep herders in North America developed.

Don't overlook the smaller version of this great breed. Aussies are very active and intelligent, and are now being used by some police departments as tracking dogs. Left alone all day with nothing to do day after day makes them do things to entertain themselves you may not appreciate. They are people dogs and require human interaction, lots of exercise and mental stimulation on a regular basis. If you can provide that you will never find a more loyal and loving dog that will help you raise your kids, keep the critters in line or just herd you when ever possible. They are a joy to have around no matter what size you choose to live with you as long as you have enough time for them.

Agility is a dog sport in which a handler directs a dog through an obstacle course in a race for both time and accuracy. Dogs run off-leash with no food or toys as incentives. The handler can touch neither dog nor obstacles. Consequently, the handler's controls are limited to voice, movement, and various body signals, requiring exceptional training of the animal. Courses are complicated enough that a dog could not complete them correctly without human direction. In competition, the handler must assess the course, decide on handling strategies, and direct the dog through the course, with precision and speed equally important. Many strategies exist to compensate for the inherent difference in human and dog speeds and the strengths and weaknesses of the various dogs and handlers. Toy Australian Shepherds and Miniature Australian Shepherds as well as Classic Standard Australian Shepherd excell at agility trails.

There is now a movement to have the Toy Aussie and Mini Aussie be recognized as a separate breed. Hence the [North American Shepherd Association] is taking shape. What ever you call these little dogs, they have retained the working instinct as well as the willing companion attitude that has made them so popular in the full size.