The Mini Aussie’s ancestor, the Australian Shepherd, is one of the most popular dog breeds in the U.S. due to its great versatility and training. The Miniature Australian Shepherd traces its origins to 1968, when people began to breed the original Aussie down in size. The intent was to produce a smaller version of the dog for house pet purposes, without sacrificing its major traits. Today, the major club for the Mini Aussie is the Miniature Australian Club of the United States of America (MACUSA).
The Miniature American Shepherd was developed by selectively breeding Australian shepherds to achieve a desired smaller size. They have athletic, muscular bodies and are slightly longer than tall. Their heads are slightly flat and they have long, pointy muzzles. Their ears are small and fold forward. Their coats are medium length, with a slight mane around the neck. The coats are easy to take care of. Brush and bathe when needed.<br><br> The Miniature Australian Shepherd has a height of 13 to 18 inches (33 to 46 centimeters) and weighs around 20 to 40 pounds (9 to 18 kilograms). The coat is of medium length, and it consists of straight or slightly wavy hairs. The hair on the head, front of the forelegs, and the outside the ears is shorter than the rest of the coat. Colors include black, red, blue merle, and red merle, and they all come with white or tan markings. The head is characterized by flappy ears; flat and clean-cut skull top; and eyes that can be brown, amber, blue, hazel or marbled.
Personality
The American Miniature Shepherd is an intelligent, agile and friendly dog breed. American Miniature Shepherds are very active and need plenty of exercise. They love to run, roam, play fetch or frisbee – anything that allows them to use their athleticism. They are eager to please and very affectionate towards their human families.<br><br> The Mini Aussie is widely regarded as an easygoing, loyal, and playful dog, with an eagerness to learn. These attributes make the dog an exceptional guardian and sports enthusiast. They are particularly affectionate with active children. However, they tend to become destructive and nervous when idle or left alone. Thus, the dog requires lots of activity and exercise to keep its active mind going.
Breed Characteristics
| Life Span: | 12-13 years |
| Nicknames: | Mini Aussie, North American Shepherd, Miniature Australian Shepherd |
Miniature American Shepherd Build Information
The Miniature American Shepherd was developed by selectively breeding Australian shepherds to achieve a desired smaller size. They have athletic, muscular bodies and are slightly longer than tall. Their heads are slightly flat and they have long, pointy muzzles. Their ears are small and fold forward. Their coats are medium length, with a slight mane around the neck. The coats are easy to take care of. Brush and bathe when needed.<br><br> The Miniature Australian Shepherd has a height of 13 to 18 inches (33 to 46 centimeters) and weighs around 20 to 40 pounds (9 to 18 kilograms). The coat is of medium length, and it consists of straight or slightly wavy hairs. The hair on the head, front of the forelegs, and the outside the ears is shorter than the rest of the coat. Colors include black, red, blue merle, and red merle, and they all come with white or tan markings. The head is characterized by flappy ears; flat and clean-cut skull top; and eyes that can be brown, amber, blue, hazel or marbled.
| Size: | Small |
Behaviour and Personality
The American Miniature Shepherd is an intelligent, agile and friendly dog breed. American Miniature Shepherds are very active and need plenty of exercise. They love to run, roam, play fetch or frisbee – anything that allows them to use their athleticism. They are eager to please and very affectionate towards their human families.<br><br> The Mini Aussie is widely regarded as an easygoing, loyal, and playful dog, with an eagerness to learn. These attributes make the dog an exceptional guardian and sports enthusiast. They are particularly affectionate with active children. However, they tend to become destructive and nervous when idle or left alone. Thus, the dog requires lots of activity and exercise to keep its active mind going.
| Activity Level: | Active |
| Affection Level: | Very affectionate |
| Kid Friendliness: | Very friendly |
Appearance
Grooming the coat of the Miniature Australian Shepherd is easy and minimal. Brushing should be done with a firm bristle brush. Also, bathing the dog should only be done when necessary.
| Shedding: | Moderate |
| Grooming: | Low maintenance |
Miniature American Shepherd Common Health Conditions
The Mini Aussie has a host of health issues, the most common of them being eye defects. They are listed as Iris Colobomas, juvenile cataracts, persistent pupillary membrane, and progressive retinal atrophy. Any of these conditions can lead to deterioration of sight or complete blindness within 2 to 5 years of the dog’s life. The merle-coated ones are usually at the greatest risk of suffering from eye defects, as well as deafness. Additionally, some dogs might carry an MDR1 gene, which makes them fatally sensitive to certain drugs. Owners are advised to take in their dogs—preferably if they are puppies—for a DNA test to ascertain the possibility of developing any of the aforementioned conditions. On average, the Miniature Australian Shepherd lives for 12 to 13 years.
Miniature American Shepherd Pet Insurance
When adding a dog or cat to your family you want to make sure your pet is happy, healthy and protected. During its lifetime your pet is exposed to many illnesses and diseases and some breeds are affected by a congenital disease which is a condition existing at birth. At these moments when your pet is ill or maybe needs surgery, you want to be protected for the unexpected and high veterinarian costs.
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Breed Talents and Facts
The Miniature Australian Shepherd is a smaller variant of the Australian Shepherd (Aussie), which was developed on ranches in the western United States. It was developed by breeding smaller Aussies. Other names for this breed include the Mini Aussie, Miniature American Shepherd, and the North American Shepherd.
| Training: | Easy to train |
