Florida Fur Babies > Dog Breeds > Mini Aussie
Mini Australian Shepherd Breed Info
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Adopt a Mini Aussie puppy today from Florida Fur Babies and get a lifetime of unconditional love. They are fun-loving, adventurous, happy-all-the-time pups. They are cuddly, sweet, and great with kids. A Mini Aussie loves to play fetch and go for hikes in the park or swim in the pool. They can play tug of war with another dog all day long. This pup is friendly and loyal to his family and is eager to please. He's a devoted friend that follows his humans wherever they go and makes sure they know how much he loves them!
BREED TYPE / MIX
Purebred
ENERGY
Moderate
SHEDDING
Average
TRAINING
Responsive
TEMPERAMENT
Calm, Loyal, Affectionate, Playful
ADULT WEIGHT
20-38 lbs
ADULT HEIGHT
14-18 in
LIFE SPAN
12-13 yrs
Characteristics
- Mini Aussies are friendly, playful, and happy-all-the-time dogs
- They are a small, compact version of the Australian Shepherd. They have the same energy and intelligence as their larger counterparts
- They are easy to train and make excellent companions for an active lifestyle
- Mini Aussies make wonderful family dogs because they are good with children and other pets
- They make great companions for hiking and adventure because they are strong, fast, agile, and athletic dogs
- Mini Aussies love to play fetch and other games that will help them get exercise
- They can live in both hot and cold climates because they are comfortable with either extreme temperature changes
- These dogs are vigilant and protective, making them efficient watchdogs
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Appearance
Mini Australian Shepherds are a small, compact, and muscular breed of dogs. They have a double coat that can be either smooth-coated (short) or rough-coated (medium to long). The outer layer of fur is straight and harsh, while the underlayer is soft and dense. Their coats are most often red or blue merle, but they can also come in black, red, or liver merle. They may also have white markings on their chest, toes, or face.
The AKC standard for Mini Aussies calls for dogs to stand between 14-18 inches tall at the withers (back of neck), and weigh up to 40 pounds, with females being slightly smaller than males.
Mini Aussies have large heads that are broad between the ears with well-developed cheeks and skull bones. Their muzzles are wide and deep with an undershot bite (meaning their bottom jaw is longer than their top jaw).
Their eyes should be almond-shaped, dark in color, and set far apart from each other on either side of the head. Ears should be droopy and set high on the head rather than low and close together like some other herding breeds such as Border Collies.
Temperament
The breed is known for its intelligence, loyalty, and energetic personality. Mini Aussies are very intelligent dogs that love to learn new things. They are quick learners who respond well to training.
The Mini Aussie makes a great companion for an active family that can provide it with lots of exercise and mental stimulation each day. These dogs tend to be quite independent, so they do better in homes where they do not have to be left alone for long periods of time.
They make good watchdogs because they are very vigilant and protective of their families. They also get along well with other pets in the house.
The Mini Aussie makes a perfect hiking and adventure companion because they are energetic, agile, and have incredible stamina.
Care
Grooming
The Mini Aussie is a very popular breed with its charm and intelligence. They are also very loyal and make great family dogs. The Mini Aussie is also very easy to groom, which makes it ideal for people with busy lifestyles or who don't have much time to spend on their dog's grooming needs.
The Mini Aussie has a double coat that sheds once or twice a year. The hair will shed for up to two weeks, then gradually become lighter until it finally ends completely about four weeks after shedding began.
If you want to avoid having to clean up as much hair around the house, you can ask your groomer about getting a "shaving cut" instead of regular grooming services. This will remove most of the loose hair from your Mini Aussies body so that you only have to pick up small amounts of shedding around the house during this time period.
Exercise Needs
Mini Australian Shepherds are active dogs that need regular exercise to keep them happy and healthy. These small dogs are energetic and are happiest when they have a job to do. They love to run around and play with other dogs, but they also make excellent companions for older children who want a dog that can keep up with their active lifestyle.
If you're thinking about bringing home a Mini Aussie, it's important to understand how much exercise this breed needs and where to take your dog for walks in the park or on hikes through the woods.
They require at least 2 good walks per day, along with some play time in a fenced yard or on-leash walks in an open area. If you have another dog at home, consider taking both of your pets out together so they can get some socialization time as well as physical activity.
If you don't have enough time to walk your dog every day (or even twice), consider hiring a pet sitter who will take care of all of these duties for you while you're away from home for an extended period of time.
Health
Miniature Australian Shepherds are very healthy dogs. They are prone to the same genetic problems as other dogs but are generally very healthy. Like many breeds, the Mini Aussie can suffer from hip dysplasia and elbow dysplasia.
The most common problem with Mini Aussies is hip dysplasia. This is a genetic condition that can cause pain and lameness in the joints.
Other than hip dysplasia, Mini Aussies are generally healthy dogs with no major problems. If you're looking for a breed that has a long lifespan and doesn't suffer from many health issues, then the Mini Aussie is a good choice.
Lifespan
The average lifespan of a Mini Australian Shepherd is 12 to 13 years. This is fairly long for a small dog breed and may be due in part to their size. Smaller dogs often live longer than larger breeds because they don't have as much muscle mass or bone mass, which puts less strain on their body systems over time.
Training
The Mini Australian Shepherd is a great choice if you are looking for a dog that you can train. These dogs are smart and ready to learn. They will be able to master complex tricks, stunts, obedience training, and even do some agility work if you have the time and space for it. Their minds are very stimulated so they will enjoy learning new things.
Mini Aussies need early socialization so they can become well-rounded adults. They are also very active so make sure that your yard is fenced in with a tall fence or other types of containment system. This breed loves to go on hikes and walks and explore new places so taking them along on trips is a good idea as well.
You can play canine puzzle games with your Mini Aussie or teach them tricks to keep their minds busy when they're not doing anything else.
Early socialization will help these dogs get along with other pets and humans as well as other dogs when they're older so it's important that you start socialization at an early age (8 weeks old or younger). You can also teach them some basic commands such as sit, stay, down and come.
History
If you're a dog-lover, chances are you've come across the term "Mini Australian Shepherd" while browsing dog photos on social media. If you're not familiar with this particular variety of wonderful creatures, don't feel bad – Mini Aussies are not the most common type of dog to have as pets. In fact, the Mini Aussie is a relatively new breed that has only been around for about 20 years. So what's the history behind these mini dogs?
Aussie Shepherds were first bred in Australia in the late 19th and early 20th century as working dogs, herding sheep and protecting their owners from predators. These shepherds were so good at their jobs that they were eventually adopted by other countries – including England and the United States.
When American soldiers returned home from World War II, they brought back a few Mini Aussies along with them. Eventually, some of these dogs were bred with other small breeds in order to create an even smaller version of the Mini Aussie Shepherd puppy. The result of this mixing was what we now know as the Mini Australian Shepherd, which was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 2015.