About Toy and Miniature Australian Shepherds
Miniature Australian Shepherds range in size from approximately 20-40 pounds and 13" - 18" (ours are on the smaller side; up to approx 33 lbs)
Toy Australian Shepherds range from 10" - 14" and up to about 17 pounds (ours are about 12-20 lbs)
Toys and Minis are great pets. They are easy to train and calm down well once they are inside. They love to join you in your daily activities and just as happy to curl up in your lap at night to watch TV. When properly socialized and exercised, they get along with other dogs, cats, kids...just about everyone. They excel at obedience, flyball, agility, rally. Just about anything you want to teach them. They bond very closely with their families. They want to be part of your pack at all times. As with all puppies, we HIGHLY recommend crate training them. This keeps them safe when you can not watch them 24/7...and keeps you sane. All dogs should also be restrained in the car. Either by a harness or a crate. Our aussies ride in fleece lined booster seats that they are harnessed into. They love it because they can see out and it's comfy...not too spoiled...
They are an active breed that responds VERY well to training. We STRONGLY recommend you obedience train your aussie puppy. Find a local group class (they are less expensive and your puppy gets more socialization that way). Take as many levels as you can, the results are well worth it. Your aussie will respond so much better to you and know what is expected from you. This is not a breed that can be allowed to figure things out on their own because they are very creative and the things they think they are doing to "help" you are really not (like herding the vaccuum!). Before you know it, the aussie will be running the house and be in charge and you will be wondering how that happened. Remember to start the training at 8 weeks, they are very receptive to learning right from the get go so start at home even before classes start. When house breaking them, do NOT allow them the full run of the house until they are reliably trained. This could be months but it is the only way for them to learn. You need to be watching them at all times so you can correct them with a firm "NO!".
They come in several colors including blue merle (the gray, black, copper, white color), black tri (black, brown, white), red tri (red, brown, white), red merle (mottled shades of red w/white).
The breed is just recently being recognized by the American Kennel Club but they are calling them "Miniature North American Shepherds".
Aussies and all herding breeds can carry a mutant gene known as MDR1 which makes certain medications deadly to them. If you purchase ANY herding breed whether here or from anyone, you should have your dog tested. Unfortunately, it is VERY common in herding dogs and you can not always avoid it. Please email us for add'l info. We would be glad to send you the link for the test and addition information. Ivermectin such as in Heartguard is the most common medication that SHOULD BE AVOIDED.
We have tested our dogs, so please make sure to ask if you get one of our puppies. At the present time, all of our breeding stock is clear BUT from what our research shows, MDR1 can be mutated and skip generations so TEST your aussies for that even if the parents are clear!! Our current breeding stock has also been tested for Pra/Prcd (the progressive eye disease that causes blindness) as well as tested for genetic cataracts. They cannot pass this onto their offspring as they are all clear or if one is a carrier, their mate is not (only 2 carriers can produce it in their puppies). Whichever breeder you use, you should ask if they have tested their dogs. The testing is pretty expensive but worth it in the long run.
These little aussies LOVE to smile. They literally curl their lips back when they are happy and grin. It's the cutest thing. Don't confuse it with snarling, they definately are NOT. Some are bigger smilers than others.
They are also prone to singing. They will throw their heads back and join in, it's hilarious. Again, not all do it, but don't be surprised if yours does.
Here is Louie singing away (Louie does all the odd aussie things..lol!)
Mini & toy aussies go through a gangly stage at around 5 months of age and it can last for several months. Don't be concerned if your pup looks a little "funny" for a while. They may look a bit skinny w/longer limbs and a thinner coat. He/she will grow into him/herself and become a beautiful dog, just give it a little time! We thought we should mention this because when we got our first aussie, we contacted our breeder to see what the "problem" was...lol!Here is Carli "Before" (on right) in her gawky stage and "After" when she has blossomed into a beautiful little aussie.
