Dog
Pronunciation:
min-ee-uh-cher aw-streyl-yuhn shep-erd]
Breed Description:
The Miniature Australian Shepherd breed of dog looks exactly like an Australian Shepherd only smaller. They should be a small to medium sized breed of dog that should be muscular and athletic in appearance. They should have an agile appearance while still being quite solid in build. The top line of the dog should be level and the dog should be slightly longer than they are tall. The wedge shaped head should be full of character and the ears are usually folded forward.
The coat of the Miniature Australian Shepherd should have a double coat with a soft, thick undercoat and a medium length top coat. There should be feathering on the britches, frill, forelegs and main and the hair on the head, ears, and front of the forelegs should be short and smooth. The colors are red merle, tan, red, blue merle, black and they can be found with or without white markings including a white collar, blaze, muzzle and white legs.
Temperament:
The Miniature Australian Shepherd breed of dog an exceptional family dog that is patient and loving with children and generally gets along well with other dogs. They may herd small children and animals, however, they are usually very friendly and gentle. They can be very active at times and this is definitely a breed that thrives when they have something to do. They are usually a very affectionate breed that is happiest when they are with their family.
Height:
The average height for a Miniature Australian Shepherd is between 14 to 18 inches.
Weight:
The average weight for a Miniature Australian Shepherd is between 20 to 35 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Miniature Australian Shepherd breed of dog is considered to be a healthy breed, however, they can be prone to a number of diseases. Health problems that affect the breed are Cataracts, Elbow Dysplasia, Blindness, Nasal Solar Dermatitis, Allergies, Progressive Retinal Atrophy, Hip Dysplasia, Distichiasis, Osteochondrosis Dissecans, Cancer, Deafness, Hypothyroidism, Detached Retina, Epilepsy, Collie Eye Anomaly, Drug Sensitivity and Persistent Pupillary Membranes.
Living Conditions:
The Miniature Australian Shepherd breed of dog can do well in apartments if they are properly exercised, however, the ideal is a home with a yard.
Exercise:
The Miniature Australian Shepherd breed of dog is a medium sized dog but that doesn't mean that they have moderate exercise needs. They are very active so expect to give your Miniature Australian Shepherd about 60 minutes of exercise each day and make sure that you offer them a large amount of intellectual stimulation as well.
Life Expectancy:
12 to 15 years
Grooming:
The Miniature Australian Shepherd breed of dog is an easy breed to groom and they don't require a lot of maintenance. brushing the coat once a week should keep it free from mats and dirt. Bathing only needs to be done when it is necessary and the Miniature Australian Shepherd can go several months without a bath. Nails should be trimmed once a month and the ears should be cleaned on a weekly basis.
Origin:
The Miniature Australian Shepherd breed of dog is not recognized as an official breed and is often considered to be a designer breed, despite the fact that the breed was not crossed with any other breeds. The Miniature Australian Shepherd was created in the late 1960's by only breeding the smallest Australian Shepherds in the hope of creating a smaller version of the breed. It has been successful, however, breeders of standard Australian Shepherds feel the breed is not a true Australian Shepherd and at this time, it has not been accepted by breed clubs. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
