The Miniature Australian Shepherd has developed parallel to the Australian Shepherd. It almost resembles its big brother – but is much smaller. Despite its compactness, the Mini Australian Shepherd is a robust herding dog that can also take on large cattle. Accordingly, you should challenge and encourage your four-legged companion!

Mini Australian Shepherd or Mini American Shepherd – What’s the difference?

Parallel to the Australian Shepherd breed, which was also popular in Germany, the miniature Australian Shepherd developed in California. While many cattle breeders preferred the “original” Australians to drive large livestock, the “miniature edition” was used to herd sheep and goats. Their small size also had the advantage that these dogs could be kept more easily than pets. Their intelligence and loyalty also quickly made them popular companions at equestrian events and rodeos.

Officially, the American Kennel Club (AKC) finally included the breed in the breed establishment process in May 2011 under the name Miniature American Shepherd, and in 2015 it received full recognition. In May 2019, the Miniature American Shepherd also obtained registration with the Association for the German Canine Society (VDH), and in September of the same year that with the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI). In Germany, the breed is looked after by the Club for Australian Shepherd Germany (CASD).

Although the official name of the breed is Miniature American Shepherd, which can be traced back to its origin in the USA, the smart herding dogs are still known in German-speaking countries under the name Mini Australian Shepherd or Mini Aussie for short. So Miniature Australian Shepherd and Miniature American Shepherd are in fact the same dog breed.

Mini Australian Shepherd: size and weight

The Mini Australian Shepherd is one of the small dog breeds. According to the breed standard, males must not exceed a height at the withers of 46 cm, should not be taller than 43.5 cm. The weight of a Mini Australian Shepherd depends heavily on the actual size and should be between 9 and 14 kg for a healthy dog.

ProfileMiniature Australian Shepherd

Character and characteristics of the Mini Australian Shepherd

Small, but mighty! Even though the Mini Australian Shepherds are significantly smaller than their relatives, the Australian Shepherds, you should not underestimate the dog. He is a full-fledged and assertive herding dog that can also take on large cattle. The Mini Australian Shepherd is intelligent and has a quick grasp, he is persistent and can also work in a concentrated manner over a longer period of time. Due to his breed, he has a herding or hunting instinct. He also has a certain guard and protective instinct. He reacts reservedly to strangers, but not hostilely.

Is the Mini Australian Shepherd a beginner dog?

If you are intensively involved in the education of your four-legged friend and invest enough time in training, the Mini Australian Shepherd is quite suitable as a beginner dog. He has a pronounced will to please, which means that he wants to please his human and work with him. This basically makes him a loyal and obedient companion. However, due to its original breeding as a herding dog, the breed has also been selected to act independently. The Mini Aussie therefore needs your consistent leadership and clear commands. In addition, you should definitely offer him a meaningful activity if you cannot use him as a herding dog.

Training and keeping of the Mini Australian Shepherd

Despite its size, the Mini Australian Shepherd is a working dog that needs a meaningful and species-appropriate physical and mental exercise. Ideally, it finds this in herding livestock. In addition, it is suitable for dog sports, such as obedience, agility or mantrailing. Even though the Miniature Australian Shepherd is an intelligent dog with a lot of will to please, you should give it a thorough upbringing and education: Attend both puppy lessons and a dog school with your furry friend. There, your Mini Aussie not only practices the basic commands, but also learns how to deal with other dogs. In addition, regular training in dog sports is a good idea from an appropriate age to keep the four-legged friend sufficiently occupied. Underemployed Mini Australian Shepherds may look for their own tasks – and then look after children, cyclists or joggers.

As with all herding dogs with a low stimulus threshold and a high energy level, however, you should make sure that your animal observes rest periods and relaxes as early as puppyhood. It is important to find the right balance between activity and relaxation for your Mini Aussie.

Is a Mini Australian Shepherd suitable as a family dog?

Miniature Australian Shepherds always want to be with them, they are not suitable for pure kennel keeping. Their lively and loyal nature makes them loyal companions for families. As a family dog, the Mini Aussie is affectionate and friendly. However, it is important to ensure that the small herding dog can control its protective instinct so that it does not see its human “herd” constantly threatened. You should also make sure to give the four-legged friend enough rest in the hustle and bustle of everyday family life so that he does not get too excited. The Mini Aussie is highly social and compatible with other dogs, loves most contact with dogs of the same breed. It is therefore well suited for multi-dog ownership.

How long can you leave a mini Aussie alone?

As a herding dog, the Mini Australian Shepherd is used to working with its caregivers. In doing so, it acts confidently and independently when necessary. Nevertheless, the Mini Aussie is one of the affectionate dog breeds that greatly appreciate the attention and affection of their human companions. You should therefore not leave your Mini Australian Shepherd alone for too long. Apart from loneliness or the feeling of neglect that can arise when you are away for a long time, the Mini Aussie simply needs enough activity to avoid being bored. It is therefore neither suitable for extended periods of alone nor as a regular companion dog for everyday office life, when it is to lie quietly in its place for up to eight hours.

Care: How much does a Mini Australian Shepherd shed?

The coat of the Mini Australian Shepherd consists of longer top coat and a woolly undercoat. The breed loses a comparatively large amount of hair, especially during the moulting season, which occurs once or twice a year. You should therefore brush your Mini Aussie once a week, daily at the time of moulting, to remove dirt and loose hair. You can remove matting and knotting with a brush or a metal comb.

Health of the Mini Australian Shepherd

The Mini Australian Shepherd is considered a breed with good basic health. However, it is prone to the MDR1 defect, a hereditary disease that leads to hypersensitivity to certain drugs. In the Club for Australian Shepherd Germany (CASD), in addition to the determination of MDR status, examinations for HD (hip dysplasia), patellar dysplasia (change in the kneecap), as well as the annual or biennial eye examination are mandatory for affiliated breeding farms. In addition, the CASD recommends the genetic test for HSF 4 (Heat Shock Factor Protein 4, which can lead to cataracts). Other recommended examinations are a genetic test for CEA (Collie Eye Anomaly), PRA (Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Eye Disease) and DM (Degenerative Myelopathy, Spinal Cord Disease).

Another aspect that you should be aware of in relation to the health of a Mini Australian Shepherd is the so-called merle factor. The merle factor describes a gene mutation that causes the pigmentation of the coat to be disturbed. The coat of a merle dog accordingly has irregularities in color, the dog appears marbled. Gray or even white fur areas often mix with the original coat color. Depending on the severity, a distinction is made between Blue Merle and Red Merle in the Mini Australian Shepherd. Dogs without merle factor typically come in the colors Black Tri or Red Tri, with the “Tri” standing for the tricolor of the Mini Aussies. The popular merle spotting of the coat is often accompanied by one or two blue eyes, which further underlines the extraordinary appearance of the dog.

Although the merle effect gives the Mini Australian Shepherd a pretty appearance, as a responsible dog owner you should be aware that the unusual coat coloration can also have disadvantages for the animal. The pigmentation disorder responsible for the merle coloration affects not only the coat color, but also the development of the hair cells in general. Since, for example, the inner ear also transmits acoustic signals to the brain via hair cells, a growth disorder of the hair cells can lead to hearing not developing properly. For dogs with merle factor, there is therefore an increased risk of developing deafness, just like for pure white dogs. Limitations in vision up to complete blindness can also be favored by the merle factor.

Due to these health hazards for the offspring, the mating of two Merle dogs is considered torture breeding in Germany and is prohibited. If a Merle dog is mated to a classic three-coloured Mini Australian Shepherd, the risk of the puppies being born deaf or blind is lower, but still affects an average of one in four puppies. A mating of two healthy, normal-coloured Mini Aussies is considered harmless in comparison and can also produce very beautiful, three-coloured puppies.

So when buying puppies, be sure to look for responsible breeders who care about keeping their dogs healthy.

Life expectancy: How old does a Mini Aussie get?

The average life expectancy of a Mini Australian Shepherd is 12 years. Keep in mind that this age is usually only reached by healthy dogs that are not affected by hereditary or life-related diseases. Age- and species-appropriate husbandry with sufficient exercise, mental stimulation and a balanced diet will help to give your Mini Aussie the longest and happiest possible dog life.

Buying a Mini Aussie: How much does a Mini Australian Shepherd cost?

Depending on the kennel and ancestors, a healthy Mini Australian Shepherd puppy usually costs between 1500 and 2500 euros. Responsible breeders only mate healthy dogs and ensure that the puppies receive all recommended examinations and vaccinations after birth. Appropriate proof should be given to you together with the puppy. Apart from these formalities, it is best to get your own picture of the kennel on site. The Mini Australian Shepherd puppies should grow up together in a clean and puppy-friendly environment. It is also recommended that the little ones are already accustomed to everyday noises such as vacuum cleaners, telephone ringing and the like. During various visits, you can observe in advance how the puppies behave and what character traits your future Mini Aussie may show from an early age.

These herding dogs could also win your heart:

• Bobtail: The Old English Sheepdog – better known as Bobtail – is one of the oldest German Shepherd breeds in England. The German Shepherd in XXL coat, which loves to work and move, remains calm and confident even in stressful moments.
• Harz fox: The Harz fox was originally bred to work with cattle. Today it is mainly used for flocks of sheep. It is a brave and assertive herding dog with a mind of its own.
• Komondor: At first glance, the Hungarian Komondor gives the impression of a large cuddly toy. But don’t be fooled: he is an incorruptible protector of his territory and his herds.
• Mudi: The Mudi is an extremely talented herding dog, which is wonderful as a family dog thanks to its friendly nature and playfulness. It is open-minded and affectionate towards its humans and a wonderful playmate for children.
• Czechoslovak Wolfhound: The Czechoslovak Wolfhound is a cross between the German Shepherd and the Carpathian Wolf. He presents himself suspiciously towards strangers, sometimes even aggressively. For his owner, however, he goes through fire.
• Corgi: The Welsh Corgi is largely unknown in this country. The dog became known above all for the fact that Queen Elizabeth II kept and bred Pembrokes for decades. In order to master their task as herding dogs for cows and ponies, corgis have a lot of courage and endurance.