Miniature Australian Shepherd Dog Breed Facts & Information

By Heather Logue

The Miniature Australian Shepherd is both beauty and brains, which is what makes them such a special breed. However, they are infamous for their incredibly high energy and activity level, which is important to note when you’re trying to find the perfect canine fit for your family. Ideal for a more experienced (and also high energy) human, these pups are smart as a whip and quick as one too.

Is a Miniature Australian Shepherd the right kind of dog for you? There are a lot of things to consider when adding a dog to your life, so we’ve covered just about everything you’ll need to know in this in-depth breed profile.

Breed Characteristics

Key

Low
Medium
High

Origin: United States
Size:
Weight: 20-40 pounds
Lifespan: 12-13 years
Breed group: Herding
Activity level:
Barking/howling level:
Good with dogs: yes
Good with kids: yes
Good with cats:
Shedding:
Easy to groom:
Easy to train:
Protective:

Miniature Australian Shepherd Appearance

There’s no question that this breed is a beauty, with a gorgeous coat that boasts a plethora of colors and a silky, soft texture. You’ll most often find their fluffy double-coats in shades of black, blue merle, red, and red merle.

Miniature Australian Shepherds are medium-sized, though males almost always are larger than females, and some even have blue eyes (which only add to the dramatic good looks).

Miniature Australian Shepherd Personality

The Miniature Australian Shepherd is a bustling, busy body – which makes sense considering their history as a herding dog. They’re incredibly bright and good-spirited, though they have a LOT of energy, which needs to be considered before you add one to the family.

They get along wonderfully with other dogs and with children, though smaller kids may get “herded” if the Shepherd’s natural instincts kick in. They’re also generally fine with cats, since many of them live and work in barns with felines.

This breed tends to be protective of their family (again, due to their herding instincts), though they don’t bark excessively, unless they aren’t getting enough exercise, attention, or mental stimulation.

Ideal Environment for a Miniature Australian Shepherd

Since Miniature Australian Shepherds are on the high-strung, high-energy side, they thrive in a busy environment that allows them to be themselves. This means that their home should be a place of activity, with plenty to keep them entertained, stimulated, and working.

Ideal Human for a Miniature Australian Shepherd

This is most definitely not a dog for a first time dog owner since they’ll require plenty of attention and training. They prefer not to be left alone, and would rather spend the day being active by your side.

This means that their ideal human would have plenty of time to spend with them, and even better, would be active in dog sports, or wants a partner to join them for hiking, running, agility, frisbee, or other exciting activities.

Miniature Australian Shepherd Dog Training

This incredibly intelligent breed loves to train, so get started as early as possible. From dog diving to agility and frisbee, Miniature Australian Shepherds can do it all, especially since they constantly strive to please you and make you happy. Plus if you don’t spend time training them and challenging that clever mind, they’re bound to act out in unpleasant ways (barking, chewing, destroying your favorite slippers).

You just have to understand how active and hard-working these pups are, and prepare an assortment of stimulating and interesting activities for them to partake in frequently. You’re also going to want to crate train them early on, since Miniature Australian Shepherds are prone to separation anxiety.

It’s also imperative to socialize this breed early on by introducing them to a variety of situations, people, animals, and locations. By showing them the world around them, and making them feel comfortable and safe with you as they explore it, they’ll gain the confidence to be the well-adjusted, well-behaved pup you know that they can be. Above all this breed really just wants to please their loved ones, and their smarts and charm mean that any effort you put into training them will be well worth it.

Miniature Australian Shepherd Grooming

It probably comes as no surprise that this is a breed that sheds (have you looked at that fluffy coat?). But the good news is, that shedding can actually improve with plenty of brushing, which is why you should brush their coat at least three times a week to get rid of shedding hair. They will also blow their coat once or twice a year, which means an uptick in fur on your furniture for short periods of time. You never want to shave a Miniature Australian Shepherd since their double coat is designed to keep them cool in the heat, and warm in colder months.

Generally if their coat gets dirty you can just brush it out, but you’ll also want to give your dog a bath occasionally, along with a nail trim, to keep them looking and feeling their best.

Miniature Australian Shepherd Health

Though these pups are generally healthy, they are prone to the same health conditions that can afflict Australian Shepherds, including cataracts, hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, epilepsy, collie eye abnormality (along with several other eye diseases), and spinal defects.

Miniature Australian Shepherds generally live from 12 to 13 years, and with the proper exercise, food, and regular trips to the vet, your pup will have a good chance at a long and happy life.

Miniature Australian Shepherd Breed History

Similar to the larger Australian Shepherd, this Miniature Australian Shepherd came to be in the 1960s in California. Much loved by cowboys and ranchers, these pups often travelled with equestrians working the rodeo circuit, and to this day are popular with that crowd.

Getting a Miniature Australian Shepherd

Miniature Australian Shepherd breeders

It’s always a good idea to meet the parents of your puppy, and to see how the litter interacts with each other. A good, trustworthy breeder should have records of the parents’ lineage, too and should be able to tell you more about the specific litter.

This breed is actually referred to as the Miniature American Shepherd on the American Kennel Club website – which is a great place to start your search for a reputable breeder. Make sure you wise up on puppy mills and internet scams—following some simple steps can help avoid further funding of this terrible practice, and help you end up with a pet whose breeding and early-life experience will more reliably result in a well-adjusted dog.

Adopting a Miniature Australian Shepherd

As with many highly popular breeds, Miniature Australian Shepherds often find their way to rescue centers for a variety of reasons, including dogs being rescued from puppy mills, but often it’s the simple fact that their previous owners simply felt unable to care for them any longer, particularly when they realize how much exercise and time is required when it comes to this breed. You also should check Australian Shepherd rescues, Petfinder, and Facebook groups for possibilities.

A surrendered dog will often already be well trained and simply in need of a new, loving home. You can find rescue centers local to you with a quick internet search. A Miniature Australian Shepherd can make for a wonderful friend and they’re sure to be a source of joy, with plenty of laughs and perhaps a little bit of mischief along the way. So whether you’re planning on adopting or finding a breeder to find a puppy, prepare yourself, your home and your heart to welcome a dog with plenty of personality and energy

Whether you’re planning on adopting or finding a breeder to find a puppy, prepare yourself, your home and your heart to welcome a dog with plenty of personality and energy.

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