Chris Taylor | From King to Calm Companions: One Breeder’s Mission to Raise Exceptional Mini American and Mini Australian Shepherds
Updated on Jun 9, 2025 1:31 PM UTC
Becoming a Breeder
When she was just seven years old, a young girl came home from school every day to an eager companion, a German Shepherd named King. Her parents, both working full time, thought a dog would be a good presence in the home while they were away. What they might not have expected was how deeply their daughter would bond with that puppy. By the time King was four months old, she had already started teaching him basic commands. It was the beginning of a lifelong journey in understanding, training, and eventually breeding dogs with purpose and passion.As she grew older, dogs remained a central part of her life, primarily German Shepherds. But it was as an adult that she began her first official breeding program, choosing the intelligent and eager-to-please Belgian Shepherd. She admired their trainability and drive. Still, it wasn’t until a dog show that she had her “aha” moment: there, she encountered a Miniature American Shepherd, a small but mighty dog bursting with charm, smarts, and personality. She was hooked.
But she knew from the start that her breeding program would be different. She had seen far too many Mini Aussies with nervous energy and unstable temperaments. So, she searched carefully for foundation dogs with calm dispositions, solid conformation, and good structure. She even imported her original breeding dogs from the U.S. to ensure they aligned with her vision of the breed: calm, balanced, and beautiful dogs that reflect the breed standard inside and out. Chris now runs her breeding program out of Renaissance Farms.
Ethics, Standards, and Gut Instincts
For this breeder, being ethical isn’t optional - it’s fundamental. “A good breeder,” she says, “wants to produce happy, confident, and healthy dogs—dogs that look and behave like the breed should.” That means no shortcuts. Health testing before breeding is non-negotiable, and if a dog doesn’t pass, they don’t breed. Period.Support doesn't end when a puppy goes home. She’s committed to being there for buyers for the life of the dog, and she’ll take a dog back at any age, for any reason. But not all breeders operate this way. One of the biggest misconceptions she wants to correct? That anyone who calls themselves a breeder is a good one. “There’s a difference between a breeder and a producer,” she explains. “A breeder works to improve the breed with each litter. A producer just makes puppies.”
And while she tries her best to prepare families, sometimes things don’t go as planned. She recalls one puppy that was placed with a family where the young child was too rough, despite repeated conversations and multiple visits. On the final visit, she had a bad feeling. “I’ve since learned to trust my gut,” she says. The puppy was returned and placed with a gentle family where he thrived. Now, she doesn’t hesitate to cancel a placement if her instincts say no.
Setting Expectations for a Successful Start
Raising a Mini American Shepherd is a commitment—not a casual undertaking. These dogs are intelligent, energetic, and crave purpose. She’s candid with buyers: expect sleepless nights, house training accidents, and a need for patience. She advises new owners to expose their pups to new experiences, avoid dog parks until at least six months, and consider dog daycare for socialization.
Three questions she wishes more buyers would ask?
The true cost of a “cheap” puppy can surface months later in the form of health issues or difficult temperaments. Often, those breeders don’t provide guidance or take the dog back, leaving the new owners to manage mounting vet bills and behavior problems. Other breeders have similar opinions on this issue ( see Breeder Spotlight: “How Much?”).
Three questions she wishes more buyers would ask?
- Do these dogs make good apartment pets? Generally, no.
- How much time will I need for training? At least 30–60 minutes daily.
- Is crate training important? Absolutely more than most people realize.
Why “Cheap” Can Be Costly
Many first-time buyers experience sticker shock when shopping for a puppy from a reputable breeder. But she explains that the price reflects the behind-the-scenes work: expensive health testing, time off work to care for litters, and constant monitoring of newborns to ensure they thrive. “You’re not just paying for a puppy—you’re investing in peace of mind, support, and a dog that has the best possible start in life.”The true cost of a “cheap” puppy can surface months later in the form of health issues or difficult temperaments. Often, those breeders don’t provide guidance or take the dog back, leaving the new owners to manage mounting vet bills and behavior problems. Other breeders have similar opinions on this issue ( see Breeder Spotlight: “How Much?”).