The Miniature American Shepherd, Miniature Australian Shepherd or Mini Aussie, as it is also known, is a small dog that originated from Australian sheepdogs. If we go back to the origin of their main ancestors, the Australian shepherds, we see that they were created from European dogs, mainly Spanish. Due to the enormous resemblance of both dogs, it is often believed that the Mini Aussie is a variety of the Australian Shepherd breed, however, the different cynological organizations, such as the International Cynological Federation (FCI), register them as totally independent breeds.
Origin of the Miniature American Shepherd
The Miniature American Shepherd was developed from smaller Australian Shepherds to produce an equally active and intelligent sheepdog, but much smaller than its parents to be able to take care of smaller livestock, such as sheep or goats. According to data provided by official cynological organizations, such as the FCI [1] and the American Kennel Club (AKC) [2], breeding of the breed began in California in the late 1960s, however, it was not registered officially as an independent breed by the National Cattle Dog Registry until 1980.
Originally, the breed was known as the "Miniature Australian Shepherd" due to its close resemblance to its ancestors, however, to the Over time, the name changed to "Miniature American Shepherd", which is why we can currently find it with both nomenclatures. Likewise, given that its predecessor is the Australian shepherd, which was developed from European shepherd dogs, especially Spanish ones (possibly the Leonese carea and the English shepherd), we can say that these dogs are also among its origins.
Despite being a breed that has been with us since the 20th century, it was not until 2011 that the AKC officially recognized it, while it entered the FCI in 2019. Currently, It is one of the most popular dog breeds, not only among shepherds, but also among horsemen, especially because they are excellent travel companions, and, of course, among all those who are looking for a loyal, affectionate and active companion.
Characteristics of the Miniature American Shepherd
The Miniature Australian Shepherd is longer than it is tall and has powerful muscles. It is a small dog, with a weight of 9 to 14 kg and a height at the withers that ranges from 30-43 cm in females and 35-45 cm in males. The general lines of his entire body are stylized.
The Miniature American Shepherd has a strong neck, a tucked-up belly, and a broad chest. Being longer, the limbs are shorter in this breed than in the previous breed. Likewise, they are strong and well balanced. Naturally, the tail of this breed is long and looks like a duster due to the amount of hair that is concentrated on it. However, and unfortunately, for many years it has been amputated, something that today is prohibited in many countries for being a cruel and unnecessary practice.
Continuing with the characteristics of the miniature Australian Shepherd, the head of this dog is small, with a nose that matches its hair, being black in the darker colored specimens and liver in the reddish ones. The ears are medium, set high and triangular, bending sideways or forward. The eyes are almond-shaped and can be amber, blue, hazel, speckled or even streaked, since they usually match the color of the coat.
Miniature Australian Shepherd Colors
The Mini Aussie's hair is double-layered, medium-long, straight or wavy, dense and abundant. It is characterized by presenting more quantity in the legs and tail. As for the colors, those allowed in this breed are:
- Black
- Blackbird Blue
- Red
- Liver
- Blackbird Red
- Blackbird Liver
These shades can occur in different patterns and combinations between them, so there are many colors that we can see in the American Shepherd miniature. For example, the blackbird can appear in a marbled pattern, with spots or small specks, the rest of the colors can be solid or combined with each other, offering a bicolor or tricolor coat. Likewise, all the colors mentioned can appear combined with white spots, although this last color should not be the predominant one. In fact, the abundant white color in these dogs may be associated with genetic problems such as deafness or microphthalmia, so it is not a good idea to combine two Miniature Australian Shepherds because they are both white.
Miniature American Shepherd Character
The Miniature Australian is a very sociable, active, intelligent, affectionate, kind and hard-working dog He is also very energetic and does not tolerate anything either inactivity or being idle for a long time, so he needs an active caregiver who gives him long walks every day and dedicates time to play in the park or outings in nature.
Equally, the Mini Aussie is a very affectionate dog and loves to be caressed by his handlers. They get along well with children and adults, however, they are somewhat distrustful of strangers at first, although they are not too shy for that. Like all herding dogs, he is very protective, loyal, good-natured, with an incredible guarding instinctand a quick learner
Miniature American Shepherd Education
The great intelligence, attitude and energy of this dog make education and training very easy. Of course, as with any dog, it is necessary to socialize the Miniature American Shepherd from puppyhood to ensure that he learns to relate to all kinds of people, animals and environments and thus avoid fearful or aggressive behavior in adulthood. Likewise, it is necessary to get him used to different types of activities and environments so that he does not become an unstable dog or with a difficult character, although by nature he does not have it.
On the other hand, from puppyhood you should start with his education using positive reinforcement Positive reinforcement that consists of rewarding desired behaviors with food or caresses, without using punishment of any kind when he does not perform the desired behaviors or performs the undesired ones. In this way, learning is less traumatic and more pleasant, fast and effective for the dog and for us. In this article we explain how to educate a puppy correctly, don't miss it!
Due to its strong instinct as a shepherd dog, that is, guard, protector and active, it is very important to also carry out training sessions outside, as well as to practice different exercises with it. Not only will this keep his mind on his toes, but it will also allow us to strengthen the bond
Miniature American Shepherd Care
The Miniature Australian Shepherd dog needs assertive hair care that consists of brushing it several times a week and bathing it when necessary, to keep your hair clean, untangled and prevent the accumulation of dirt and debris that can predispose your skin to infections, inflammation and other dermatological problems.
Hygiene of the ears, eyes and teeth is essential to keep these structures in good he alth, preventing infections, inflammations or diseases such as otitis, conjunctivitis, periodontal disease, tartar or cavities, among others.
As we have mentioned, the mini aussie has a lot of energy and vitality and does not like to sit still for a long time, so he needs human companions to keep him active through games, walks, exercises and outdoor activities where you can release all your energy. For this reason, it is advisable to practice agility or simply make routes through the mountains. Likewise, it is more than advisable to offer adequate environmental enrichment in the home with a variety of toys, among which those for intelligence and smell stand out.
Finally, regarding feeding, the American Miniature Shepherd must follow a complete and balanced diet, based on quality food through which it obtains all the nutrients in their correct proportions for the maintaining your he alth and quality of life. The daily amount should be adjusted according to the individual conditions of each dog in question, but it depends on its age, activity level, physiological state, climate or diseases, among others. Depending on the type of diet you want to follow, we recommend consulting these articles:
- The best feed for dogs
- Natural dog food
Miniature American Sheepdog He alth
Miniature Australian Shepherds are he althy dogs that can live up to 14 yearsprovided they are properly cared for, control through veterinary check-ups and correct preventive medicine is carried out through vaccination, deworming and sterilization. However, they seem predisposed to the following diseases that you should be aware of:
- Von Willebrand disease: there is a deficiency of von Willebrand factor, which is a glycoprotein responsible for prolonging the life of the factor VII of coagulation, joining it, and allowing the adhesion of platelets to exposed surfaces after damage to the blood vessel. This therefore results in a failure of primary hemostasis causing gingival bleeding, nosebleeds, blood in the stool or urine, and bloody vomiting.
- Collie Eye Anomaly – This breed can also suffer from this condition, in which eye damage occurs. It can present in a mild form, in which small changes occur in the vascular layer of the eye (choroid) that will not affect the dog's vision too much, or it can appear in a more serious form in which the following alterations can occur: development inadequacy of the choroid, a coloboma or defect in or adjacent to the optic disc, a staphyloma or thinning of the sclerotic layer adjacent to the choroid layer, or a retinal detachment.
- Progressive retinal atrophy: is a disease in which the photoreceptors of the retina (rods and cones) gradually deteriorate. both eyes gradually, leading to blindness.
Where to adopt a Miniature Australian Shepherd?
The American Miniature Shepherd is common in the American continent, and its adoption is not too difficult. In other locations it can be more complicated, but all you have to do is ask and investigate in protectors or rescue associations Likewise, it is possible to find mestizo specimens in these adoption centers, equally valid and deserving of your company, so we encourage you to visit them to choose the best companion regardless of whether or not it is purebred.
You have to bear in mind that these dogs require committed and active caregivers to be happy and release all their energy without falling into boredom or frustration. If this is not the case, it is best to opt for another breed or a more inactive mestizo.
