Location: Georgia
Years In The Breed: 20+
MASCUSA Member: Fran was a long-time member prior to her death then granted Honorary Membership by MASCUSA BOD & Kim has re-applied
Program Type: Hobby Breeder
Pictured Left to Right; Fran Withers, Kim Johnson, & Lorri Gordon
1. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background in breeding Miniature American Shepherds?
Fran founded Dynasty Aussies and moved to downsize with her smaller Aussies. We met in Georgia at her training facility and a few years later we became partners. Xena was our first co-own dog.
2. What drew you to the Miniature American Shepherd breed, and what do you love most about them?
Intelligence and Versatility
3. How do you approach the breeding process to ensure the health and well-being of your dogs?
As smaller breeders we know the dog’s health history, how long they lived, what they died from and what problems they had in their lives.. Health testing is done before they enter our breeding program. We are fortunate to have an extensive database of pedigrees that allow us to see what matches produced the best outcome.
4. What are the most important qualities you look for in a Miniature American Shepherd when considering breeding?
Temperament is number one for Dynasty Mini’s the vast majority of the puppies live in pet homes, and we want to have dogs that are sound in mind and body. A strong front assembly and the ability to use it correctly. Movement is a key to our breeding side gait and the ability to converge.
5. What challenges have you faced as a breeder, and how have you overcome them?
Size was an issue at the start it was all over the place, I think as we have progressed it has stabilized. People upholding contracts, they can be hard to enforce but it can be done with a well written contract, have an attorney review your contract and when you need to enforce it. One thing that people don’t plan for is death, with Fran’s passing I learned how much you need to have plans in place for the papers to be signed, stored semen to be transferred and even your kennel name. Make sure you have this written down and your family knows what to do and where to find it.
6. Can you describe your kennel’s environment and how you ensure that your dogs are well-socialized?
All of our dogs live in homes; we don’t have a kennel. Luckily, we have several co-owners that we work with either send the girls to us when it is time to whelp or whelp the litters with my assistance. Our puppies are raised in our homes exposed to the other dogs, cats, kids and different environments in the home. The adult dogs that live with us do lots of different activities from conformation, rally, obedience and FAST CAT. We go out to lots of dog events in our community.
7. How do you select prospective owners for your puppies? What qualities do you look for?
Our website has been our best tool; we have an application that is reviewed before we contact our prospective owners. We look for owners who have done the research of owning a herding dog and who are aware of the challenges that can come. I want people to understand the lifelong commitment they are making.
8. What advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a breeder of Miniature American Shepherds?
Diversity in your lines, don’t become kennel blind. Some of our best dogs come from line we worked hard to integrate in our breeding program. Find a good mentor or two, meet people in the breed and learn to trust your judgement on them. Don’t listen to all of those who will tell you not to work with others based on their history.
9. Can you tell us about any notable successes or achievements you’ve had with your dogs (titles, recognition, etc.)?
Three Best in Show Winners bred by Dynasty MAS, the first AKC Champion of the breed, the first Group Placement at Westminster Kennel Club. Multiple Best in Specialty and National Specialty winners. BIS GCHG CH Dynasty’s Triple Crown, CM6, CA, BCAT, RATN, CGCA, TKN, FITB “Remi” first AKC Champion in the Breed, First Westminster Kennel Club winner and cut in the group, first male Best in Show Winner in the breed. ROM X and ROMC I, II, III awards BIS MBISS Group Winning GCHP Dynasty’s Epic Adventure at Sunpeak, DCAT, CGCA, CGCU, TKN “Epic” Group Placement at Westminster Kennel Club 2021. 2021 National Specialty Winner. MBIS BISS MRBIS GCHP Dynasty’s Ember’s Living Legend, CGCU, TKI, VHMA, FITB “Dax” Multiple Best in Show Winner, 2023 National Preshow Best in Specialty Winner Group Winning GCHB Dynasty’s Swish and Flick, CD, RE, AX, MXJ, MFB, DCAT, SWM, RATS, DE, DM, DDU, CGC ” Leviosa” was the Most Versatile MAS for 2023 and a Top Ten Owner Handler for 2023 and 2024 BISS GCHB Dynasty’s Not Throwing Away My Shot, FDC, DCAT, CGCA, CGCU, TKA, ATT, VHMA, FITG “Xander” Winner of 2023 National Specialty and Owner Handler Top Ten Owner Handler 2022 and 2023 Several MASCUSA ROM C and ROM X awards for our dogs. I should add that our latest WKC winner GCHS Flying M’s Modern Day Warrior “Sawyer” is bred by Flying M (Heather Mabrey). He won a Group 2 at the Garden in 2026 and comes from Dynasty’s pedigree on both sides. He is a great example of having your lines showcased by working with other breeders. He is a Blaze grandson and great grandson!
10. How do you stay updated on new developments in the breed and the dog world in general?
Attending a National is the best way to stay up to date on the breed, talk to people and find out what issues they are seeing in the breed. Review any new testing that comes up for the breed and ask questions to get a good understanding of it. Read the AKC Gazette, podcasts and talk with other breeders in other breeds.
11. What are your thoughts on the future of the Miniature American Shepherd breed and how do you see it evolving?
The future worries me, so many people in this breed won’t work together and bash other breeders. We need more diversity in the gene pool and if we can’t get the stud book open then we need to work together to. You simply learn that you can’t contract generation after generation of your pedigrees allow newcomers to have an opportunity to have a good dog. Don’t sell your subpar dogs to other countries sell them good dogs that you are proud to have as a reflection of your kennel. Teamwork is the key to having a successful program and I am lucky to have an amazing team with my handler and co-breeder Arvind and the other breeders we work with.
12. Is there anything else you’d like to share about your journey as a breeder or any special stories about your dogs?
By far for me the best decision we made was to allow Remi to be bred to several outside girls, it has cemented his legacy in this breed. To this day you can almost always spot a Remi kid or grandkid out there. He was one of the smartest and best temperaments we had ever bred, and it is a joy to see it generations later. I know his legacy is secure and the eyebrows continue on! My favorite story is that a few months before Fran passed away Arvind, Dax and I made a journey to Michigan to show. Fran’s children and grandchildren had never seen any of her dogs show except on video. Dax had an amazing weekend winning the herding group twice and going on to win a Best in Show with Fran and her family there to watch. For Arvind and me it was a special memory we will always hold as she got to see her vision come true and to share it with her family.