What makes the Miniature Australian Shepherd Unique?
Despite their small size and fluffy exterior,Miniature Australian Shepherds are kid-friendly bundles of energy that excel at a wide range of performance based tasks.
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Is the Miniature Australian Shepherd Right For You?
Miniature Australian Shepherds are known for their sweet, easygoing personalities and their busy, athletic natures. These dogs are great for households that contain a lot of active youngsters because they like nothing better than to spend time with their human family members. Australian Shepherds additionally make devoted, affectionate family members. These dogs will not only watch over the children in their household, they will also play gently with them.
In 5 Words
- Calm
- Dependable
- Intelligent
- Protective
- Playful
Characteristics
Learn About the Miniature Australian Shepherd
Description
General Description
Known for their lush coats, Australian Shepherds come in a variety of sizes but the dogs’ build remain similar. Members of this breed have sturdy, furry bodies. They also possess flat skulls and triangular ears. Brown, amber, blue, or bi-colored eyes may be present on members of this breed as eye coloration varies between individuals. Compact, oval shaped feet are yet another breed feature.
Size
Members of this breed average between 13 and 18 inches (33 and 46 centimeters) in height. Miniature Australian Shepherds also typically weigh somewhere between 15 and 35 pounds (6 and 16 kilograms). However, hefty Toy Australian Shepherds may sometimes weigh more than the Miniature ones do.
Coat
Australian Shepherds have moderately long, double coats with a thick under layer. Their fur can be anywhere from perfectly straight to somewhat wavy in texture. These individuals also have thicker fur around their necks and feathering is often present on the back of their legs. Acceptable colors for this breed include black tricolor, red tricolor, blue merle, and red merle. It is typical for these dogs to also have tan and/or white markings on their bodies as well.
Short History of the Miniature Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds were originally developed in the United States. However, some of the breed’s ancestors are thought to have been brought to California from Australia by way of the Basque region in Spain. Even so, the dogs were likely created from a variety of different breeds. It is additionally possible that these individuals were used to look after Australian sheep breeds, hence their name. The smaller specimens were eventually used to form a breed of their own during the 1960s, which was supposed to reduce the animals’ overall size without spoiling their personality. For the most part, the breeders succeeded in their goals. Miniature Australian Shepherds even became part of the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) Foundation Stock Service as recently as 2011.
Temperament
Miniature Australian Shepherds are known for their sweet, easygoing personalities and their busy, athletic natures. These dogs are great for households that contain a lot of active youngsters because they like nothing better than to spend time with their human family members. Australian Shepherds additionally make devoted, affectionate family members. These dogs will not only watch over the children in their household, they will also play gently with them. Members of this breed also get along well with other canines. Miniature Australian Shepherds make good watchdogs and they are easy to train. Although these dogs are small enough to be a companion dog, they are active individuals that will also enjoy watching over smaller livestock or playing endless games of fetch. They also make good therapy animals.
Caring for Your Miniature Australian Shepherd
General Health
Miniature Australian Shepherds are a fairly healthy breed with an average lifespan of 11 to 13 years. However, owners should be on the lookout for certain ailments such as hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, and collie eye anomaly which may occur in members of this this breed from time to time. These dogs may additionally be prone to allergies.
Owners should be aware that a large number of herding dog varieties, including the Miniature Australian Shepherd, may carry the MDR1 gene which will cause them to react badly to medications that are commonly given to other dogs. It’s a good idea to have the vet test for this factor before this before members of this breed undergo any sort of major surgical procedures. Merle dog owners that plan on breeding their pets need to be especially vigilant because these individuals carry a recessive gene that can lead to blindness or deafness in puppies if two carriers are bred together. Of course, anyone buying a puppy should be see certificates attesting to the fact that the parents are free from this problem before a purchase is completed.
Care
Daily
Like all dogs, members of this breed will definitely need regular workout sessions. However, Miniature Australian Shepherds are more active than most of their contemporaries. Long daily walks are recommended for members of this breed but they may also enjoy hiking, swimming, and playing long games of fetch. Miniature Australian Shepherds will also benefit from regular obedience lessons or competition practice, as these pastimes will keep their minds as active as their bodies. After all, dogs that do not receive sufficient exercise and mental stimulation are more likely to exhibit destructive behaviors than other canines.
Weekly
Miniature Australian Shepherds have to have their coat combed out a couple of times per week. Making sure the dogs’ teeth get brushed on a regular basis is also crucial to their wellbeing.
Monthly
To keep pets from falling victim to avoidable illnesses, owners should give their dogs’ parasite prevention medicine at least once a month.
Grooming & Bathing
These dogs shed a moderate amount of fur on a regular basis but keeping them well-groomed is easy procedure. All pet owners need is some free time and a slicker brush to accomplish this feat. This is not a breed that requires regular baths. In fact, Australian Shepherds only have to be bathed when they get dirty. However, their toenails will need to be kept trimmed and their ears kept clean in order to prevent otherwise avoidable health issue from arising.
Exercise & Training
Being an incredibly smart breed, Miniature Australian Shepherds are known for their trainability. However, these highly energetic dogs also get bored easily and typically need a job to perform in order to be at their best. Miniature Australian Shepherds are particularly great at managing small livestock without making too much noise in the process. Owners should make sure their Miniature Australian Shepherd is exposed to a variety of individuals when it is young to prevent it from becoming wary of unfamiliar people later in its’ life. While this breed gets along quite well with children, the dogs may attempt to herd them by nipping at their heels. Of course, the Australian Shepherd needs to be taught this behavior is unacceptable but this habit might make it a poor choice for households that contain youngsters who are not old enough to realize the dog in question isn’t trying to hurt them.
Miniature Australian Shepherd Picture Gallery
