Lori & Gottabe
Small, exclusive, health first.
How a Schipperke breeder fell for a blue merle puppy on a calendar, and built one of the first AKC Breeder of Merit programs for Miniature American Shepherds.
How it started
Gottabe started in 1994
Gottabe started in 1994 when I purchased my first Aussie. I had been showing and breeding Schipperkes for over 10 years and decided that I wanted another breed: a dog that was a little less independent, one that wanted to do what I wanted to do. I also wanted to expand into other fields of competition, and a dog my daughter could do junior handling with. I checked out Corgis, Shetland Sheepdogs and Australian Cattle Dogs before I realized I was drawn to the Herding Group.
A friend had suggested Aussies, but I dismissed them as “those muddy spotted dogs” I had seen on ranches. Then one day I flipped my calendar and fell in love. There was a blue merle puppy with two blue eyes. It’s a shame to say I fell in love with a picture and not a dog, but the more I investigated, the more I felt this breed was “the one.”
Jazmin, Katie and Sam
The first Aussies
After contacting several breeders I bought my first Aussie, “Jazmin”, from Sunshine Kennels (thank you, Lynn Cobb). Jazmin was a black tri who never got into trouble, never chewed up the hose, never barked too much and was very easy to housebreak. One problem: she hated to show.
I then purchased Katie from Windfall Kennels. Katie loved to show, wiggled her butt so much she slapped her cheeks, and thought people were here just for her. Due to an unknown deadly bacteria, I lost Jazmin at the age of 3. Katie missed Jazmin so much that Lynn gave me Sam. Sam was also a black tri and thought the world was here for her to herd, guard or kiss.
From Aussies to Mini Americans
I loved my Aussies, but I soon found out that a 50-pound dog takes a LOT more time to groom for show, takes up lots more space, needs larger crates, more heartworm medicine, more food… In 1998 I was surfing the web and came upon a Mini Aussie site. These dogs looked just like what I felt a smaller Aussie should look like! I followed the links to several other sites and realized that these dogs were just the size I had been looking for: a smaller version of the dogs I had come to love.
I purchased my first mini in January 1999. Her temperament was exactly like that of my Aussies, she exhibited great herding instinct, and she is a ball fiend! But she was not the type that I wanted, so I decided to breed my own. My first breeding, in 2000, produced Must. CH Gottabe’s Spot The Winner, Must. CH Simon Sez Fairplay, OTCH MACH7 Gottabe’s Sparkling Cider (with multiple agility titles) and our wonderful Gottabe’s Ima Mak’n U C Red. These crosses started the foundation of my kennel, and my relationship with Miniature American Shepherds.
The goals
Three goals since day one
My idea of what I wanted in a breeding program was to be small, exclusive, and to breed always with better health. I wanted to acquire more knowledge, and I had a desire to produce dogs that could:
Wonderful companions
First and always: dogs that fit into a family’s life.
Athletes in the ring and on the field
Structure and drive for conformation and every performance sport.
A healthier breed
Multi-generation health clearances and better temperament, generation after generation.
In the 30-plus years I have had Aussies, Mini Aussies and now Mini Americans, I believe I have stayed true to these goals.
Today
Five to six generations on
My goal: wonderful, healthy, affectionate, intelligent, biddable dogs with a height range of 16 to 18 inches (although we don’t always get what we want: ask any parent of a teenager!).
We are now on our 5th–6th generation and have produced many multi-titled conformation, agility, herding, obedience, Rally and lure coursing dogs, and family companions extraordinaire. In addition, all of our breeding dogs have multi-generation health clearances.
We are located in Nevada but have dogs across the US, in Alaska, and even “across the pond” in the UK.
Recognition
AKC Breeder of Merit, and a judge for the breed
One of the first AKC Miniature American Shepherd breeders, Gottabe has been awarded the coveted title of Breeder of Merit by the AKC. Lori is the first MAS breeder to become a permanent-status AKC judge for the breed (2016).
Blue Ribbon Breeder since 2000, with extensive health clearances on every litter.
Timeline
Gottabe, year by year
- Before 1994
Ten-plus years showing and breeding Schipperkes.
- 1994
Gottabe begins with “Jazmin”, a black tri Aussie from Sunshine Kennels. Then Katie from Windfall Kennels, and Sam.
- 1998
A web search turns up Mini Aussies: “just the size I had been looking for.”
- 1999
January: Lori’s first mini comes home. Great temperament, real herding instinct, a ball fiend.
- 2000
The first Gottabe litter: two champions, an OTCH MACH7 agility star and “Ima Mak’n U C Red”.
- 2015
The AKC recognizes the Miniature American Shepherd in the Herding Group.
- 2016
Lori becomes the first MAS breeder to hold permanent-status AKC judging approval for the breed.
- Today
Five to six generations on, AKC Breeder of Merit, with dogs across the US and in the UK.
Thinking about a Gottabe puppy?
Tell Lori a little about you and your plans. She’ll get back to you, litter or not.