Timeless Miniature American Shepherds: A Legacy of Excellence

A Family Tradition in Breeding

Our family has raised and shown Australian Shepherds since the early 1970s. My grandmother, Jeanine Perron of Taycin, was approached by Kathy Crosswhite Munson to be the first Vice President of MASCUSA when it first formed in the early 1990s. She offered me Taycins Cassiopeia, my first Miniature Aussie. Cassie went on to become the first Best in Show Miniature with the American Rare Breed Association in 1999.

The foundation of our family kennel name, Taycin, was Taycins Chupanako. Generations later, Taycins Indiscrete Affair, known as “Indy,” heavily influenced the type, movement, and temperament my kennel prides itself on. Indy was an AKC/ASCA registered Australian Shepherd bred to my Miniatures. His Australian Shepherd and Miniature American Shepherd offspring were very consistent.

Building Trust Through Collaboration

I have co-bred with very few kennels. Unfortunately, some individuals have taken advantage of me and my lines over the years. However, I have had great experiences with a few trusted partners. Kim Gardner of Treasures Miniature American Shepherds and I shared knowledge and lines before AKC recognition. Julky Lenoci of Rebel Soul Kennels is a dear friend. I trust her completely with my lines. She is thorough in her research and has a deep love for the breed.

Deb Shambaugh of 4Paws has co-owned dogs with me for many years. Together, we co-bred BISS GCHP Timeless Slice of Life, known as “Chloe.” Chloe was the top-winning MAS in 2020 and 2021, achieving numerous accolades. Recently, Krista Keel and Shaye Lynn Denman of Kajun Kreek began co-owning Timeless Dogs with me. They are a terrific mother-daughter team with so much to offer the MAS breed. Nicole Dalton of Brassy Acres generously offered me one of her stud dogs. I bred him to one of my girls, producing a lovely litter. Nicole got one of the puppies, and I look forward to her future show career. Cooperation is vital, and trust is key!

Mentorship and Inspiration

I am a third-generation breeder. My mother, Cindy Taylor of Taycin, and my grandmother, Jeanine Perron, are my biggest inspirations. My grandmother was always clear about what she liked and didn’t like. She studied pedigrees and was excellent at choosing head type. My mom encouraged my sister, Gina Blair (Tandem Aussies), and me to show when we were young. She is skilled at picking great rear ends and would give input on which puppy to keep from the litter and why. I consider them my mentors. Early on, I offered to mentor new breeders. I loved sharing what I know!

Producing Versatile Dogs

The main characteristics of the dogs I breed were taught to me when I was young. Our family has always had the motto, “We produce dogs that can and will do it all!” My goal is to produce dogs that are genetically sound, structurally sound, and have temperaments that enable them to excel in both working and family environments. I aim to continue what my family instilled in me by producing quality dogs that can and will do it all!

Our family has been involved in breeding Australian Shepherds since 1971 and Miniatures since 1993. Our type has remained consistent over the years. Taycin and Timeless bred dogs appear in up to 15-17 generations of pedigrees.

The Evolution of the Miniature American Shepherd

The MAS breed type has significantly improved over the years. When I first got involved, the MAS tended to be slight of bone, straight in stifle, and forward in the front assemblies. I would like to see breeder education, perhaps through symposiums, to help improve the breed in general.

Before AKC recognition, I achieved the first Hall of Fame Kennel. Since then, I have received the first Hall of Fame Breeder Award and the only Hall of Fame Excellent Breeder Award to date through MASCUSA.

Recognizing Contributions to the Breed

Taycins Black Bear of Thistlecreek, known as “Bear,” contributed to this breed in the early years by helping breeders set breed type. There are several dogs I admire in our breed. GCHP CH Treasures Lookin4booty on the Wild Side@Cedarvalley is well-made and adheres nicely to the breed standard. He is balanced, has lovely movement, and possesses a great temperament with beautiful breed type.

GCHP CH Alta Oceans Symphony of the Seas is a lovely, well-made bitch. She has excellent breed type, outstanding movement, and is very correct structurally. GCHS CH Crimson’s Caught Red Handed is moderate and correct. She has lovely proportions with an excellent head type. She is athletic and versatile.

The Importance of Proper Movement

I work hard on producing proper movement in my dogs. I see that our breed needs to improve in this area. It’s been challenging to find proper movement videos for our Canine College project that the club is currently working on.

Judges need to remember we are a DQ breed. When in doubt… wicket! Judges must not consider dogs over or under the MASCUSA breed standard sizes. Doing so would violate a member-voted breed standard and, in our case, a breed division agreement. MASCUSA’s breed standard is clearly stated, defined, and measurable, leaving no room for interpretation regarding size.

Advocating for Good Sportsmanship

If I were in charge of everything regarding dog shows, I would enforce the Code of Conduct Policy AKC has published. There are individuals within the dog show world who do not exhibit good sportsmanship, taking the fun out of dog showing. People leave this sport because of others’ bad behavior!

Advice for Aspiring Breeders

My advice would be to find multiple breeders you look up to and reach out to them. Don’t let the behavior of a few define you or your breeding goals. Have a 3, 5, or 7-year breeding goal mapped out. Most importantly, have fun with your dogs!