this month
Dog & Puppy Search
Navigation
Popular Breeds
More About ...
Miniature Australian Shepherds
Miniature Australian Shepherds
The Miniature Australian Shepherd (also known as the North American Miniature Australian Shepherd), is either black, blue, red, merle, or tri-coloured, with a white or tan base. There are three variations of the "Miniature" Australian Shepherd: the "Tea Cup" (under 12 pounds, 6-10 inches), the "Toy" (10-14 inches, 12-17 pounds), and the "Miniature" (13-18 inches, 20-40 pounds). These are playful dogs who love children of any age. They are highly trainable but can become destructive if undisciplined or left alone for long periods. This is a quiet breed, dog barking only when necessary, noted for its talents in agility and herding. Miniature Australian Shepherds are suited to life in an apartment and are happiest in cool climates. These are active dogs that require daily exercise and benefit form being given the occasional chore.Strangely enough, the Miniature Australian Shepherd was not developed in Australia, rather, the United States. One theory to the origin of its name is that it relates to one of the dog's distant ancestors. They are related to the Collie and Australian Shepherds were used to herd livestock on farms and ranches. The Miniature Australian Shepherd made its debut in 1968, when dog enthusiasts began crossing Australian Shepherds with smaller dogs. Today, the Miniature Australian Shepherd is recognized as a separate breed from the Australian Shepherd. This breed excels in police work and narcotics detection, herding, guarding, retrieving, search and rescue, obedience, and can perform tricks.
Miniature Australian Shepherds
Miniature Australian Shepherds are wonderful companions and they are protective of their families. Although they are generally good with people and children, they sometime have a tendency to gently nip people's heels and feet. There is no malice intended on the part of the dog, and the nips will not hurt. It is simply the dog attempting to act out her herding instincts.Miniature Australian ShepherdsThis breed is extremely easy to groom, requiring baths and brushes only occasionally, and is considered an average shedder. The average lifespan for this breed is 12-13 years. Sadly, the gene which causes the beautiful merle colour coloration in some Miniature Australian Shepherds can also be responsible for blindness and deafness. This is only a problem for merle/merle crosses. Luckily, most Miniature Australian Shepherds with merle markings are a cross between a mereled parent and a solid. Dogs with this ancestry are not at risk. Because of potential health problems with this breed is it imperative that you receive full health clearance from potential breeders. Like most breeds, the Miniature Australian Shepherd is prone to hip dysplasia
Miniature Australian Shepherd Puppies
Deafness/blindness can occur for merled pups at birth, or it may take hold later on in life. When searching for potential pups, examine them carefully and check for signs of weakened hearing and eyesight. Although this breed is generally bred responsibility, it is best to err on the side of caution. Training the Miniature Australian Shepherd puppies for sale or Miniature Australian Shepherds for sale which you have purchased will be a breeze - it aims to please and will happily follow commands. That said, you still need to have a "take charge" roll. While you will not need to be harsh with this dog, it is best to assume a leadership role with pets
Katrina 
