It's cool. I don't think this thread was really going anywhere, and we *are* talking about dog breeds after all!

NAS's have the same temperament, drive, appearance, etc. There are definitely poorly bred dogs out there who look more like an Aussie x Pomeranian, but KissMe is one of the best breeders in my area. Their dogs are all shown & work goats and sheep every day on their farm, they are *wonderful* and very versatile working dogs. I feel that a lot of breeders of show Aussies are breeding much, much larger fluffier dogs for the look (think 60-75 lbs, just no practical for the breed) which is why I really like where many NAS breeders are going. Reputable breeders stick to dogs who are a nice size (14-18" and 20-40 lbs), retain excellent herding ability on small and large stock, and are also sound pets. Part of the reason I was drawn to Mini's is because, when I went to herding lessons, I noticed that whenever I saw an Aussie it was over-stimulated, barking, snapping, and basically doing nothing but driving; the Mini's were actually working in the manner that an Aussie should work. I definitely feel this is due to the emphasis on working dogs that MASCA/NAMASCUSA upholds. I actually wanted a 16-18" working Aussie puppy, but I found a breeder of that kind of Aussie virtually non-existant in my area!