Our Story
Deep in the heart of Tucson, Arizona, Outlaw Minis began with a simple but profound mission: to breed Miniature American Shepherds that are as capable in the competition ring as they are cherished on the family sofa. Founded by a professional dog trainer, our program is rooted in the belief that a dog's mind is just as important as its movement. Every puppy we raise is a testament to our commitment to health, stability, and the adventurous spirit of the West.
The Outlaw Philosophy
Confident enough to explore the world, stable enough to settle at home, and adaptable enough to thrive in whatever life throws their way. Our program prioritizes Miniature American Shepherds with sound temperaments, functional structure, and the ability to seamlessly shift between adventure, sport, and everyday family life. Every puppy is intentionally raised with early behavioral development, thoughtful socialization, and real-world preparation so they leave here ready for more than just a title... they’re ready for life.
The Heart Behind Outlaw
Ally | Founder & Lead Behavior Consultant
CDBC, KPA CTP, CSAT, Dynamic Dog Practitioner
Ally Verba is a certified behavior consultant specializing in separation-related behaviors, complex behavior cases, and whole-dog wellness. She is the founder of Training with Ally, where she works with families worldwide to create sustainable behavior change through ethical, evidence-based training rooted in both emotional and physical wellbeing.
With over 15 years of shelter behavior experience, Ally has worked extensively within animal welfare organizations in both hands-on and leadership roles. Her background includes behavioral assessments, enrichment planning, adoption matching, behavior modification for at-risk dogs, staff education, and helping improve welfare outcomes for dogs navigating high-stress shelter environments. Her shelter work shaped her deep understanding of behavior under stress and continues to influence her practical, compassionate approach with clients today.
Ally holds multiple advanced credentials in the behavior field, including:
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CDBC (Certified Dog Behavior Consultant)
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KPA CTP (Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner)
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CSAT (Certified Separation Anxiety Trainer)
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Dynamic Dog Practitioner
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Fear Free professional handling experience
She previously worked with Virginia Tech’s Animal Behavior and Welfare Lab, where she gained additional experience evaluating canine behavior through a scientific and welfare-centered lens.
While Ally is best known for her work with separation anxiety, her expertise extends beyond alone-time training. She frequently helps clients navigate behavior challenges involving:
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Anxiety and fear-based behaviors
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Puppy development and early socialization
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Family transitions involving babies and young children
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Shelter and rescue dog transitions
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Behavior concerns impacted by pain, movement limitations, or physical discomfort
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Multi-dog household dynamics
As a Dynamic Dog Practitioner, Ally takes a whole-dog approach that examines how movement, posture, pain, sleep, environment, and daily routines can influence behavior. She regularly collaborates with veterinarians and veterinary behaviorists to help identify contributing factors that may be impacting a dog’s emotional wellbeing and training progress.
In addition to her behavior consulting work, Ally is also the founder of Outlaw Minis, an ethical Miniature American Shepherd breeding program focused on producing stable, resilient, well-socialized dogs through thoughtful genetics, early neurological development, raw nutrition foundations, and purposeful puppy raising.
Across all areas of her work, Ally is known for blending science-backed behavior expertise with practical real-world solutions that help both dogs and their people thrive. Her philosophy centers on creating lasting change by addressing the dog in front of her as a whole individual, not just their behavior symptoms.
The Outlaw Family
At Outlaw Minis, our dogs are first and foremost beloved family members. They live in our home, participate in our daily lives, and are thoughtfully evaluated not just for how they look, but for who they are as individuals.
As a professional behavior consultant, I approach breeding through a lens that goes far beyond pedigrees or appearance alone. Every dog in our program is selected based on the traits that truly matter for long-term success as both family companions and performance partners: stable temperaments, sound genetics, strong nerve, environmental resilience, trainability, athleticism, and the ability to settle within the home.
We believe exceptional puppies begin with exceptional parents. That means prioritizing dogs who can confidently navigate the real world while also possessing the natural off-switch needed to thrive in everyday family life. Our dogs are expected to be capable of both. They should be able to hike, train, compete, explore, and work when asked, while also being calm, thoughtful companions in the home.
Every breeding dog in our program undergoes extensive health testing to help ensure we are producing puppies with the strongest possible foundation. This includes evaluations for genetic health, structural soundness, and overall long-term wellbeing because temperament and health should never be separated.
Beyond health testing, our dogs are intentionally chosen for:
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Stable, resilient temperaments
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Confidence in novel environments
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Strong social skills with humans and other dogs
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Biddability and willingness to work
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Athletic structure and sound movement
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Emotional recovery after stress
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Ability to settle and relax in everyday life
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Strong genetic lineage and proven parentage
As someone who has spent over 15 years working in behavior and animal welfare, I have seen firsthand how genetics, early development, and environment shape the adult dog. That experience heavily influences every breeding decision I make.
Our goal is to produce puppies that are not only beautiful representatives of the breed, but dogs that can seamlessly integrate into a variety of lifestyles whether that means being an active family companion, sport prospect, adventure partner, therapy prospect, or simply someone’s best friend.
Why Our Puppies Are Different
Our puppies benefit from intentional early development long before they ever go home. They are raised with:
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Early neurological development
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Extensive age-appropriate socialization
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Exposure to novel environments and surfaces
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Confidence-building experiences
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Puppy foundation training
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Early crate and independence exposure
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Raw nutrition foundations for gut health and development
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Thoughtful matching based on temperament and lifestyle compatibility
We do not breed simply to produce puppies. We breed to thoughtfully produce dogs that are set up to thrive for a lifetime.
That starts with parents who consistently prove they deserve to be part of that future.
The Heart of Our Program
Located in the beautiful desert landscape of Tucson, AZ, Outlaw Minis is a home-raised program built around intentional early development. Our puppies are born and raised right in our home, allowing them to be fully integrated into everyday family life from day one. From the smell of the kitchen and the sound of the vacuum to doorbells, visitors, household routines, and the natural rhythm of daily life, they are thoughtfully exposed to the experiences that help shape confident, adaptable dogs.
As they grow, their world expands in age-appropriate ways through novel surfaces, enrichment activities, outdoor adventures, safe socialization opportunities, and carefully curated experiences designed to build resilience without overwhelming them. We prioritize raising puppies that can confidently navigate both the excitement of the real world and the quiet moments at home. By the time they leave for their new families, they’ve already begun learning how to recover from new experiences, adapt to change, and settle into everyday life with confidence.
What Sets Outlaw Minis Apart
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Genetic Excellence
We utilize rigorous health and genetic testing to ensure your puppy has a strong foundation for a long, vibrant life.
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Trainer-Led Raising
Our puppies are raised using the most up to date science based approaches to build confidence and social resilience from birth.
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Lifetime Support
When you take home an Outlaw Mini, you join our family. We provide ongoing support for every puppy placed.
Life at Outlaw Minis
A glimpse into the daily life of our dogs and puppies in the heart of Tucson, AZ.
