Quick Facts about the Miniature Australian Shepherd
- Active
- Outdoorsy
- Not ideal for families with toddlers or small children
- Long haired-double coated dog breed that sheds. Click HERE for more information on Proper Grooming Requirements and Heath Risks associated with shaving dogs with double-coats.
Temperament
Mini Aussies are very easily trained, but their intelligence and drive require that they be engaged in obedience training and plenty of interesting activities. They are easily trainable because they crave approval. They will thrive in a variety of environments, provided they have an adequate outlet for both physical and mental energy. Because of their herding background, they also may have the tendency to try to herd people, especially small children, nipping at their heels. They are social dogs and form close attachments to their owner. Miniature Australian Shepherds (affectionately called "mini"s) function well as a family dog, but their excessive energy may need to be checked around small children. They are generally great house dogs but do require a large amount of exercise. They are particularly apprehensive with strangers.1
Character
The Australian Shepherd of the miniature variety is intelligent, primarily a working dog of strong herding and guardian instincts, he is an exceptional companion. He is versatile and easily trained, performing his assigned tasks with great style and enthusiasm. He is reserved with strangers but does not exhibit shyness. Although an aggressive, authoritative worker, viciousness toward people or animals is intolerable.2
Size
Miniature Australian Shepherds are determined by height not weight. Preferred height at the withers for males is fourteen (14) to eighteen (18) inches; that for females is fourteen (14) up to but not including eighteen (18) inches. Dogs or bitches above these measurements should be faulted to the degree of variance, however, quality is not to be sacrificed in favor of size.2
Color
The Miniature Australian Shepherd breed has a variety of coat and eye colors. Lisa McDonald maintains the color portion of the website for ASHGI. It is a wonderful resource for learning about the coat and eye coloration varieties in Aussies and Mini Aussies. For more information please refer to the following link http://color.ashgi.org/color/index.html. 4
Possible Health Conditions
Possible Health Conditions Eye defects of varying severity are the most common disorder in Australian Shepherds of all size varieties. The following disorders have been recognized in the Australian Shepherd of all sizes:
Iris Colobomas (IC): A cleft in the iris of the eye. If large, it will impair vision. A dog with a small IC may be sensitive to bright light. While the exact mode of inheritance is unknown, it is probably polygenetic. They may also be the result of abnormal development in puppies from merle to merle breeding.
Juvenile cataracts: A congenital opacity of the lens of the eye due to abnormal early degeneration of the lens tissue. This can result in gradual and painless deterioration of sight, resulting in partial or complete blindness by 2 to 5 years of age.
Persistent pupillary membrane (PPM): PPM is rare, but possible. During normal development, a puppy's eyes are enveloped by a membrane which stretches and breaks away by 8 weeks of age. In an affected dog, the membranes fail to break free, whether on the front of the eye, or behind it. It causes varying degrees of vision impairment depending on placement and concentration of the strands. Diagnosis can be mild to severe. If strands have not broken free by 8 weeks, the dog is inclined to carry them for the rest of its life.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): PRA is common in many breeds of dogs and has been identified in Australian Shepherds. It affects the entire retina and is the canine equivalent of retinitis pigmentosa. The disease is recognized first in early adolescence or early adulthood. Puppies may be blind by six to eight months. All dogs affected with PRA eventually go blind. Carriers show no clinical symptoms. Symptoms are subtle, starting with night blindness, some eye dilation, progressing to complete blindness. It is quite common not to notice anything wrong until the dog is nearly completely blind.3
Iris Colobomas (IC): A cleft in the iris of the eye. If large, it will impair vision. A dog with a small IC may be sensitive to bright light. While the exact mode of inheritance is unknown, it is probably polygenetic. They may also be the result of abnormal development in puppies from merle to merle breeding.
Juvenile cataracts: A congenital opacity of the lens of the eye due to abnormal early degeneration of the lens tissue. This can result in gradual and painless deterioration of sight, resulting in partial or complete blindness by 2 to 5 years of age.
Persistent pupillary membrane (PPM): PPM is rare, but possible. During normal development, a puppy's eyes are enveloped by a membrane which stretches and breaks away by 8 weeks of age. In an affected dog, the membranes fail to break free, whether on the front of the eye, or behind it. It causes varying degrees of vision impairment depending on placement and concentration of the strands. Diagnosis can be mild to severe. If strands have not broken free by 8 weeks, the dog is inclined to carry them for the rest of its life.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): PRA is common in many breeds of dogs and has been identified in Australian Shepherds. It affects the entire retina and is the canine equivalent of retinitis pigmentosa. The disease is recognized first in early adolescence or early adulthood. Puppies may be blind by six to eight months. All dogs affected with PRA eventually go blind. Carriers show no clinical symptoms. Symptoms are subtle, starting with night blindness, some eye dilation, progressing to complete blindness. It is quite common not to notice anything wrong until the dog is nearly completely blind.3