Gottabe Reno–Sparks, Nevada Since 1994

Miniature American Shepherds that do it all.

Small, exclusive and health-first. Lori McClelland has bred Mini Americans since 1999: wonderful companions at home, athletes in the ring and on the field.

Ask about puppies Meet our dogs

Next litter: ask Lori

AKC Breeder of Merit
One of the first AKC Miniature American Shepherd breeders to earn it.
AKC judge for the breed
Lori was the first MAS breeder with permanent-status AKC judging approval (2016).
Health clearances, every litter
All our breeding dogs have multi-generation health clearances.
Blue Ribbon Breeder since 2000
Champions, performance stars and family companions extraordinaire.

Our dogs

Meet the dogs behind the name

Champions in the ring, stars on the field, and family dogs first. Every one of our breeding dogs has multi-generation health clearances.

Winnie, a blue merle Miniature American Shepherd, standing in a show stack

Dam

AKC CH/UKC GRCH/INT CH Rebelsoul’s Winning Colors @ Gottabe, CGC, TKN, IT, DCAT, CA, FDC

Winnie

A petite 15½ inches of spunky, can-do attitude.

Jordie, a black tri Mini American, sitting on a blue mat

At stud

UKC CH Gottabe’s Thorn in My Side

Jordie

Born here. Loves people, toys and Winnie’s puppies, and sires lovely litters.

Maybel, a blue merle puppy with copper points, stacked on a grey backdrop

Up’n comer

Gottabe’s Maybe She Was Born With It, “Maey-Balline”

Maybel

Born here in July 2024: a confident step and an outgoing attitude.

Ozzie, a black tri Mini American with copper points, lying on the grass

Sire of Maybel

Gottabe’s Spellbound

Ozzie

Fun-loving and outgoing; rides the quad and chases bunnies in Northern California.

All our dogs

32 yearswith Aussies and Mini Americans
26 yearsbreeding Gottabe litters
6 generationsof Gottabe dogs, health-tested
17 yearsPumpkin, our longest-lived Gottabe dog

The breed

What’s a Miniature American Shepherd?

All the brains, heart and herding drive of the Australian Shepherd in a smaller, easier-to-live-with size. Lori fell for them in 1998: “just the size I had been looking for.”

Group: Herding. Recognized by the AKC in 2015.
Roots: Developed in the United States from small Australian Shepherds.
Size: Males 14–18 in., females 13–17 in. at the withers. Our goal is 16–18 in.
Colours: Black, blue merle, red and red merle, with or without white and copper trim.
Temperament: Smart, biddable and devoted: a dog that wants to do what you want to do.

No two merles are alike.

Measured at the withers with a wicket. The standard allows 13–17 in. for females (♀) and 14–18 in. for males (♂).

Do it all

Show ring, sports field, sofa

What sets a Gottabe Mini American apart? Multi-generational, extensive health clearances, and our dogs’ ability to do it all.

Conformation
The show ring: judged on how closely a dog matches the breed standard. Winnie, Ivy, Jordie, Bowie and Phaedra are all champions or major winners.
Agility
Jumps, tunnels, weave poles and the A-frame against the clock. Our first litter produced an OTCH MACH7.
Herding
The work the breed was made for. Winnie started herding lessons and is going back to it.
Obedience & Rally
Heeling, recalls and a course of signs. Gottabe dogs have Obedience Trial Champion and Rally titles.
Lure coursing & Fast CAT
Running flat out after a lure. Winnie holds CA and Fast CAT titles.
Barn hunt
Finding the rat (safe in a tube) in a straw-bale maze. Sterling earned his RATI; Jordie may try it next.
Tricks & good manners
Canine Good Citizen and Trick Dog titles: the everyday stuff that makes a great house dog.
Family companion
The job that matters most. Most Gottabe dogs live as much-loved pets across the US and in the UK.

Course map · Standard

An agility course the way the judge draws it. Seven obstacles, one dog, against the clock.

Family tree

Six generations, one family

Maybel, our up’n comer, is by Ozzie out of Winnie. Ozzie and Jordie are brothers out of Ivy, and Ivy is Phaedra’s daughter. Tap a name to meet the dog.

Our up’n comerMaybelGottabe’s Maybe She Was Born With It

SireOzzieGottabe’s Spellbound

DamWinnieAKC CH/UKC GRCH/INT CH Rebelsoul’s Winning Colors @ Gottabe

GrandsireBowieUKC CH Too Mini’s Gottabe the One

GranddamIvyUKC CH/BISS Gottabe’s My Spots Have Gone Dark, FDC

Winnie’s breederRebel Soul MinisBred by Julia, a good friend of Gottabe

Great-grandsireSterlingAKC/UKC/INT CH Sapphire’s I’ve Been Spotted @ Gottabe, CGC, TKN, RATI

Great-granddamPhaedraUKC CH Gottabe’s Brew’n Irish Red With Rebel Soul

Meet the whole family

A little bit about Gottabe

From Schipperkes to Mini Americans

Lori McClelland showed and bred Schipperkes for more than ten years before her first Aussie came home in 1994. A smaller Aussie followed in 1999, and the first Gottabe litter in 2000.