MINIATURE AMERICAN SHEPHERD: BACKSTORY OF THE BREED
BREED STANDARDS AND BREED DIVISION AGREEMENTS BREED STANDARDS Breed Standards are vital in order to define breeds. MASCUSA has a Breed Standard that was voted and approved by its membership, is in line with our long history and objectives, and has been approved by the Board of Directors of the American Kennel Club. BREED DIVISION AGREEMENT Although the Australian Shepherd has a pre- ferred size, the Miniature American Shepherd was split-off from the Australian Shepherd with very specific requirements. One of these was the allow- ance of Australian Shepherds to move from the Australian Shepherd stud book over to the Min- iature American Shepherds stud book for a period of time. The Breed Division Agreement was very clear; to have a Disqualification in the Breed Standard for Miniature American Shepherds over 17 inches tall at the shoulder for females and over 18 inches tall at the shoulder for males. AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD SIZE: http://www.australianshepherds.org/about-aus- sies/breed-standard Size: The preferred height for males is 20 to 23 inches, females 18 to 21 inches. Quality is not to be sacrificed in favor of size. MINIATURE AMERICAN SHEPHERD SIZE: http://mascusa.org/breed/standard.html Size: Height for dogs is 14 inches up to and including 18 inches at the top of the withers. Height for bitches is 13 inches up to and includ- ing 17 inches at the top of withers. Disqualifi- cation —under 14 inches and over 18 inches for dogs; under 13 inches and over 17 inches for bitches. The minimum heights set forth in this breed standard shall not apply to dogs or bitches under six months of age. The responsibility to uphold the Breed Stan- dard as well as the agreements of Breed Division first rests with the Breeders . Breeders should know the Breed Standard and History of the breed, and understand the disqualifications of the breed that they are advancing in the Sport of Dogs. Dogs with disqualifications should not be in the breed ring, but may (at the discretion of the breeder) continue to be used in breeding programs. The last line of defense to uphold the Breed Standard falls on the Judge —if exhibitors are too afraid to call for a wicket. Judges must not consider dogs over or under the Breed Standard sizes, as they would then violate a member-voted Breed Standard and, in our case, a Breed Divi- sion Agreement. MASCUSA’s Breed Standard is clearly stated, defined, and measurable, with no room for interpretation regarding size.
MAS on left: GCHG BISS Timeless Slice Of Life, “Chloe” Aussie on right: BISS GCHS CH Empyreans Blurred Lines At Copperridge RN CGCA TKN, “Marcus”
Judges must not consider dogs over or under the Breed Standard sizes, as they would then violate a member-voted Breed Standard and, in our case, a Breed Division Agreement. MASCUSA’s Breed Standard is clearly stated, defined, and measurable, with no room for interpretation regarding size. ATTENTION JUDGES
204 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, JANUARY 2021
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