Frequently asked questions

Do Mini Aussies make good family dogs?

Mini Aussies make great family dogs! They become incredibly devoted to their owners and like to be involved in everything. They are good with children, good with other pets and highly trainable. Mini Aussies tend to do best in families willing to spend time providing obedience training and exercising and who permit the dog to be part of their family. The standard calls for a dog of "strong herding and guardian instincts" and a "reserved" temperament. Because mini Aussies tend to be extremely loyal to their families, not all should be expected to be outgoing toward strangers. Early socialization is of the utmost importance in the Miniature Australian Shepherd.

What health issues are of concern in the mini Aussie?

The most common problem currently recognized in the Aussie and mini Aussie are various hereditary eye anomalies, like iris and retinal colobomas and juvenile cataracts, the more severe of which can lead to blindness. The common approach to preventing these conditions is through certification of unaffected breeding stock by the Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF). Potential owners should search for a breeder who has cleared both sire and dam of a litter and, ideally, the puppies at around 8 weeks of age. Trinity and the sire will both have had their eyes tested before breeding. We are also testing Trinity for PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) and CEA (collie eye anomally).

Hip dysplasia, a crippling defect of the hip joint, has been recognized in almost every single breed of dog and is found in mini Aussies. Most breeders perform radiographs and seek certification from the Orthopedic Foundation of America (OFA) or PennHIP. It is necessary that all breeders cooperate in the effort to certify breeding stock in order to secure a successful future of the Miniature Australian Shepherd. We are in the process of having Trinity's hips scored by OFA and will publish both the eye and hip results as soon as we have them on Trinity's page.

Do Mini Aussies respond well to obedience / agility training?

Mini Aussies are well known for their intelligence, eagerness to please and trainability. They are highly motivated and are quick to learn. Not only do they respond well to obedience and agility training but it is highly recommended in order to direct their natural herding ability and inquisitive minds. Trinity has just started her agility career and I have found her to be incredibely easy to train and so eager to please. She has yet to be measured but we are hoping she will be a medium as she is roughly 16" tall.

Do they shed much? How much grooming is required?

The Miniature Australian Shepherd wears a moderately thick double coat. The undercoat is shed twice yearly and shedding is moderate between these periods, although degree will vary with individual. Regular brushing once or twice a week will help to minimize shedding and keep the skin and coat healthy. The mini Aussie’s coat is not long enough to require heavy daily attention. They may also need the fur around their feet trimmed as it can become long and overgrown and look untidy. Generally though they are verty esy to maintain and even I who am hopeless when it comes to grooming manage Trinity fine.

How big will a mini Aussie grow?

Males typically range from 15 to 18 inches (25 to 40 pounds) and females are proportionately smaller, although dogs will occasionally mature over the preferred size. A responsible breeder will be able to estimate approximate mature size. Trinity is 16" tall at the withers.

Why even breed mini Aussies? What’s wrong with the Australian Shepherd?

There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Australian Shepherd! In fact, the miniature Aussies ARE Australian Shepherds and likewise make excellent stock, show and performance dogs as well as companions. The smaller lines have been around for as long as the Australian Shepherd itself, becoming unfashionable in the 1970’s, around the same time at which the certain smaller lines gained the "miniature" label. The "miniature" applies only to size when compared with the Australian Shepherd, and should not imply diminished working ability or a "toy" size. Mini Aussies have no advantage or disadvantage over the Aussie. I personally went for a miniature aussie as I loved the breed but with two large dogs already my house couldn't fit another one!