Mini Australian Shepherd Breed Info
You can't put a price on love and happiness, but you can adopt a Mini Aussie puppy from Puppy Love PR today. Experience the joy of a lifetime of wagging tails, playtime, and cuddles! They are small but strong pups. What they lack in size, they make up for in personality. These dogs are full of fun and adventures, making them great family and companion dogs. They love to cuddle up next to you as well, so you won't ever be lonely with one of these guys around!
BREED TYPE / MIX
Purebred
ENERGY
Moderate
SHEDDING
Average
TRAINING
Responsive
TEMPERAMENT
Calm, Loyal, Affectionate, Playful
ADULT WEIGHT
20-38 lbs
ADULT HEIGHT
14-18 in
LIFE SPAN
12-13 yrs
Characteristics
- The Mini Australian Shepherd is one of the most popular miniature herding dogs in the United States
- They love to play but are also extremely loyal and protective of their family
- If you’re looking for a fun pup that’s great with kids and will keep you laughing all day long, the Mini Aussie might just be your perfect fit
- They are a small version of the Australian Shepherd. They’re also known as Miniature Australian Shepherds and Mini American Shepherds or Mini Aussies
- They are smart, energetic, and affectionate dogs that make great family pets
- They have a strong desire to please their owners, so they’re easy to train
- These dogs still have most of their larger counterpart's characteristics: intelligence, agility, energy level, and protective instincts
- Mini Aussies are very loyal and protective dogs that love spending time with their families
- They make excellent watchdogs because they bark when they sense danger nearby
Appearance
Mini Australian Shepherds are sturdy, small-sized dogs with a short coat that is black or blue merle in color. They have erect ears and a square muzzle. The skull is domed with a slight stop, the nose is black and the eyes are medium-sized and dark brown. The tail is usually docked to half its original length.
They have a thick double coat that can be straight or curly in texture. The coat lies flat against the body. The Mini Aussies' muscular build has earned them their reputation as herding dogs, but they are also very sweet and affectionate family pets who love people and other animals alike!
Their playful nature makes them great companions for children, especially because of their small size. Mini Aussies are small-sized dogs that typically weigh 20 to 38 pounds and stand 14 to 18 inches tall.
Temperament
The Miniature Australian Shepherd is an energetic breed that is eager to please its owner. They are very intelligent and easy to train because they love pleasing their owners. They are also extremely loyal and protective of their family.
Mini Aussies tend to be good watchdogs as well. They will let you know if someone is approaching your home or if there is an intruder in the house. They also make good hiking companions or even agility dogs if you want to train them for competitions like obedience trials or agility competitions.
They are a small-sized working dog that is energetic, alert, and intelligent. This breed is also known to be very loyal and affectionate towards its family and friends.
Mini Australian Shepherds love to live in a country where they can run free and play in open spaces. They can adapt to living in an apartment if they get plenty of exercise each day, but they need daily walks or other activities that will tire them out.
Care
Grooming
The Mini Australian Shepherd is a popular dog breed, but their coat requires some work to keep it looking good. The hair on their back grows long and curly, and it tangles easily. The rest of the dog's coat is short and smooth. It's recommended that you brush their coat at least once per week.
Brushing them can help prevent tangles and matting in the hair. It also helps spread natural oils through the coat so that it stays healthy. In addition, brushing can help reduce shedding by removing some of the loose hair before it falls out naturally.
Start by brushing your dog along the back with a slicker brush or a wire pin brush. Work from the head down towards the tail, making sure to go over all parts of the body until he's completely brushed out. Then move onto his sides with a short-haired comb or another type of grooming tool depending on how course his coat is (some may work better on longer coats). Finally, brush his face using soft bristles.
Exercise Needs
The Mini Australian Shepherd is a friendly, energetic dog that needs plenty of exercise. They are a great dog for those who live in an apartment or condo because they can do well in a small space. However, if you have a large fenced-in yard with lots of room to run around, that would be even better.
The Mini Aussie should have at least 30 minutes of exercise every day and more than one walk per day if possible. This breed does best when they receive enough exercise so they don't get bored.
It's important to make sure your Mini Aussie gets plenty of opportunities to run off-leash in safe areas where there are no hazards like busy streets, unfenced yards, or other dangerous situations that could cause injury to your dog or another pet in the neighborhood.
You should also make sure that any park or open area where you take your dog has clean drinking water available so it doesn't get overheated during playtime outdoors on hot days.
Health
Mini Aussies are known for being extremely healthy dogs. However, like all breeds, they do have certain health problems that can affect them throughout their lives.
If you plan to bring a Mini Aussie into your home, it is important that you understand these issues and know how to prevent them from developing in your dog.
Luxating Patella (Kneecap) Disease: This disease affects many dog breeds and occurs when the kneecap doesn't sit correctly in its groove, but with a visit to the vet it’s easily fixed.
Eye Problems: Mini Aussies are prone to eye diseases such as corneal dystrophy, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), and cataracts.
Allergies: Itchy skin is one of the most common health problems for these pups.
Lifespan
The Mini Australian Shepherd is a small-sized dog that typically has a lifespan of 12 to 13 years. With proper care, nutrition and exercise, they can even live up to 15 years.
Training
The Mini Aussie is a little dog with a big heart. This breed is highly intelligent and ready to learn. They are also very energetic and playful, so they will need some form of exercise daily.
You can teach your Mini Aussie a wide range of tricks, stunts, and obedience training. He is smart enough to learn complex tricks like back flips or walking on two legs! His high energy level makes him an excellent candidate for agility training as he will naturally want to run through the obstacle course.
The Mini Aussie is also an excellent therapy dog because he loves people and will happily go up and hug anyone — even complete strangers!
Praise, treats, and positive reinforcement are all good ways to train your Mini Aussie. Rewards work best when paired with praise so that your pup knows what he did right!
Puppies should be introduced to regular training sessions starting at around six months old when they are still learning basic commands such as “sit” or “stay” — this will help them get used to being around other dogs during their socialization period.
Early socialization is also important so that your pup learns not all humans are bad news!
History
Miniature Australian Shepherds are a relatively new breed. They were first recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2015 and are still gaining popularity. All Miniature Australian Shepherds share the same history, however, there are two distinct types of Miniature Australian Shepherds: miniature and toy.
The Miniature Australian Shepherd is recognized by both the American Kennel Club and United Kennel Club as a separate breed from the Standard Australian Shepherd. In addition to being smaller than the Standard, they also have different markings on their coats and different temperaments.
The Toy Aussie is similar in appearance to the Miniature Aussie except that it has a different structure. Both breeds are descended from herding dogs developed in Australia in the late 1800s by crossing various breeds including German Shepherds, Border Collies, and others with local dingoes (a wild dog species native to Australia). Both types have been used for sheepherding and have also been used as service dogs.