Hi, I’m Kiana.
I’m the breeder behind Shamayim Acres. What began with a love for the Miniature American Shepherd has grown into a preservation-minded breeding program, built around our family, our home, and a deep commitment to the dogs we love.
A love that turned into a life’s work.
My love for animals runs deep and has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. From the time I was a young girl, I have felt a deep connection to nurturing, raising, and caring for animals, and it has been such a meaningful part of my life.
I have always loved the Miniature American Shepherd, but they truly stole our hearts when we brought our first Minis home in 2023. It was a pivotal moment for our family, and a true butterfly effect. What began simply as bringing these wonderful dogs into our lives quickly became something much bigger. Before long, all we could think about was showing them, learning everything we could about the breed, and raising the very best dogs we possibly could. It lit a flame in us, and almost immediately, that love grew into a deep and lasting passion.
Today, my heart’s purpose is to dedicate myself to this breed and to continually learn, grow, and do better with every generation. I am committed to raising dogs that are beautiful, well bred, sound, and wonderful to live with, while honoring all the qualities that make the Miniature American Shepherd so special.
These dogs have become such a cherished part of our lives. They bring us so much joy, and I feel incredibly blessed to spend my days surrounded by them, raising them alongside my family and building something I truly love.
It lit a flame in us, and almost immediately, that love grew into a deep and lasting passion.
Until you’ve been loved by one, you just don’t know.
The dogs
Every moment with my dogs is a reminder of why I do this. There is something incredibly special about being loved so deeply by a dog who gives you their whole heart. That kind of love is what made me fall so deeply in love with this breed and what inspires me to dedicate myself to raising them. Miniature American Shepherds have such a unique way of loving their people. They bond deeply, they become part of your life in such a meaningful way, and once you experience that kind of connection, it is hard to imagine your life without it.
New life
There is something deeply special about bringing new life into the world and being entrusted with those first precious moments. It is incredibly rewarding to witness each birth and to be there as these tiny lives take their very first breaths. To hold them, care for them, and watch them grow from those first quiet moments into the dogs they are meant to become is a gift I never take for granted.
Our puppies carry a little piece of Shamayim Acres with them wherever they go.
Our community
One of the most beautiful parts of this journey has been the incredible people it has brought into our lives. There is something so special about connecting with families who love their dogs as deeply as we love ours, and knowing that a puppy raised in our home is becoming such an important part of someone else’s life.
We get to watch these little dogs grow from tiny puppies into beloved companions, adventure partners, best friends, and treasured members of their families. There is something incredibly rewarding about seeing the bond unfold, knowing that the same little puppy we once held in our arms is now sleeping beside someone’s bed, following their children around the house, going on adventures, and bringing joy into their everyday lives.
Our hope has never been simply to place puppies in homes. We want to build something that lasts beyond the day they leave us. We want our families to feel like they have become part of the Shamayim Acres family, connected by a shared love for these extraordinary dogs. We love hearing the stories, seeing the pictures, celebrating the milestones, and watching the relationships between our puppies and their people deepen over the years.
These dogs have given us so much joy, and one of the greatest gifts is getting to watch that joy continue in the lives of the families who welcome them home. In many ways, our puppies carry a little piece of Shamayim Acres with them wherever they go, and knowing they are loved as deeply as we love them is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
Temperament first and foremost.
Then health, structure and breed type. We are breeding for the future of the breed, so every pairing has a purpose and every generation should be a step forward.
Temperament
First and foremost. Confident, stable, affectionate dogs who are a joy to live with.
Health
OFA hips and elbows and a full DNA panel, published by name for each of our breeding dogs.
Structure
Sound, balanced dogs, measured against the breed standard in every pairing we plan.
Breed type
Dogs that look and move like what they are: Miniature American Shepherds, faithful to the standard.
This is Shamayim Acres: the place where my dreams, my family, and my dogs all come together. This is my little piece of heaven on earth.
My wildest dreams come true.
My breeding program is small and special, and it has become the life I once could only imagine. I spend my days surrounded by my dogs, and because they are such a deeply woven part of our family, they are completely comfortable in the warmth, rhythm, and everyday life of our home. Our puppies are born and raised right in my bedroom, just steps away from me, so from their very first moments, I am there to care for them, watch over them, and make sure they are growing and thriving.
From the very beginning, our puppies are surrounded by love and by the people and animals who make up our everyday life. They are raised with our children, exposed to the sounds and activity of our home, and grow up alongside the other animals who share our farm. They experience so much of the world simply by being part of our family, giving them a beautiful foundation for becoming confident, well adjusted companions and wonderful family and farm dogs.
There is something incredibly special about waking up each day and knowing that this is my life. Beautiful, well bred dogs filling our home, puppies taking their first breaths in my bedroom, children growing up alongside them, and generations of dogs developing right here on our farm. I get to spend my days doing something I genuinely love, surrounded by the animals who have captured my heart.
This is more than a breeding program to me. It is the life I dreamed about, and to be able to dedicate myself to these dogs, to watch each generation grow, and to build something I am so deeply passionate about is one of the greatest blessings of my life.
Proven against the standard.
Showing is an important part of how we evaluate our dogs against the breed standard. It gives us the opportunity to have our dogs examined by knowledgeable judges who understand the structure, movement, temperament, and overall qualities the Miniature American Shepherd was bred to possess.
For us, showing is about more than ribbons. It is one of the ways we measure the dogs we are producing, learn from experienced judges, and make thoughtful decisions about the future of our program. We are proud members of MASCUSA, the AKC parent club for the Miniature American Shepherd, and remain committed to preserving and furthering the qualities that define this wonderful breed.
Lapis Lazuli
AKC Grand Champion. Awarded Select Dog at the Peninsula Dog Fanciers Club show in March 2026.
Laddie
AKC Champion. Winners Dog and Best of Winners for a major win at the Superstition Kennel Club show, March 2024.
Diamond
One of our own, by Lapis out of Catalina, and already out in the AKC show ring.
How we choose families.
Choosing the right family for each puppy is one of the most important parts of what we do. Because our puppies are raised right here in our home, we have the opportunity to watch their personalities unfold every day. We get to know their temperaments, their energy, their confidence, their sensitivities, and the little qualities that make each one uniquely themselves.
We take the time to learn about each family as well, including their lifestyle, hopes, experience, and what they are looking for in a companion. Our goal is to bring the right puppy and the right family together, creating a relationship that is meant to last a lifetime.
And when a puppy leaves our home, our relationship with that family does not end. Our puppy families become part of the Shamayim Acres family, and we are here to support them, celebrate their milestones, answer questions, and share in the joy of watching their dog grow throughout its life.
What our families say.
Real words from real puppy families, exactly as they wrote them.
“Kiana was wonderful to work with. She answered all my questions about temperament, vaccines, and what to expect. She accommodated my travel to Seattle to pick up “Pie” and was so thoughtful about the transfer of my new puppy, giving me a binder with all the information, some toys, food, and a cuddly blanket with mom’s scent. Now that we have Pie home (now Maisie) we see that she is a smart, cuddly, wonderful companion who will be a great part of our family. She has taken very swiftly to potty and crate training and loves our kids and older dog. We feel so lucky to have her and to have found Kiana and Shamayim Shepherds!”
“I can’t say enough good things about adopting through Shamayim Shepherds. We adopted our puppy, Gimli, on May 15, 2026, and the entire experience was wonderful from start to finish. Throughout the process, Kiana was incredibly kind, responsive, and patient in answering all of my questions. Pickup day was smooth and well organized, which made bringing Gimli home stress-free and exciting. Even after the adoption, Kiana continued to be quick to respond and offered genuinely helpful advice during our first week with him.”
“Runa is such a joy! She’s incredibly calm, SMART, and cozy-sweet… always eager to please and full of quiet wisdom. Her name fits her perfectly. Working with Kiana was wonderful; she was so knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely cared about finding the right match. We couldn’t be happier with our sweet Runa and feel so lucky to have her in our family.”
“Kiana was very kind and not pushy when I initially inquired about our puppy. She was happy to answer questions. At the exchange she had such a warm presence towards me and in exchanging the puppy. The pup we received was well cared for and has been such a sharp whit and a joy in the family.”
“Kiana was very responsive and sent updated pictures and videos regularly. She was also very easy to work with. We are enjoying our pup so much and she’s adjusting very well to our home. She’s so smart and sweet. Thank you so much Shamayim Shepherds.”
“Kiana and her family are amazing and very understanding. I had a situation that they were very accommodating to so that I could adopt one of their adorable puppies! They are very compassionate and communicated with me regularly. After I adopted Bilbo from their litter he is settling in very well with my female senior dog and he’s such a pleasure to be around. They helped me understand the breed and how wonderful Miniature American Shepherds are as family dogs. Their transparency and compassion to their pups sets them apart from other breeders. I would highly recommend them! I’m so grateful for their support in helping me adopt Bilbo! He’s very well loved and a great addition to my four-legged family.”
“We loved our experience getting our boy from Shamayim she was always very responsive and willing to work with us through the entire process. Our puppy came in perfect health as expected and with a base foundation of potty and leash training. He is the best behaved puppy we have had yet so sweet! He loves everything and everybody! Training him has also been a breeze he is the perfect family dog with an amazing drive to work and learn.”
Become part of the program.
The application tells us about your home and family, so we can make a thoughtful match.
