Miniature Australian Shepherd
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| Miniature Australian Shepherd | ||
|---|---|---|
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| Alternative names | ||
| North American Shepherd (obsolete) | ||
| Country of origin | ||
| United States | ||
| Common nicknames | ||
| Mini Aussie | ||
| Classification and breed standards | ||
| Not recognized by any major kennel club |
The miniature Australian Shepherd was developed by selectively breeding small Australian Shepherds.
The dogs are rapidly increasing in popularity among those interested in a compact dog with a strong work ethic. They are especially popular in dog agility, and do well in other dog sports including herding, obedience, frisbee, and many other activities.
Contents |
[edit] Appearance
Miniature Aussies ranges in height from 14 to 18 inches (35 to 46 cm) at the withers and weighs between 20 and 40 pounds (9 to 18 kg).
Coat colors are the same as those for Australian Shepherds, which are blue merle, red merle, black tricolor, red tricolor, black bicolor, and red bicolor.
[edit] Temperament
Miniature Australian Shepherds are eager to work, which makes training and interacting with them a pleasure, but their intelligence and drive require obedience training and plenty of interesting activity. Mini Aussie's are versatile and easily trained. Because they are herding dogs, they make good guard dogs and excellent companion dogs for those who provide an adequate outlet for the mini Aussie's physical and mental energy.
[edit] History
The history of the miniature Australian Shepherd is the same as that of the Australian Shepherd until approximately the 1960s. Thereafter, fanciers formed member clubs and registries to promote the smaller dogs in particular. While there were at one point in the past a few enthusiasts who wanted to pursue recognition as a separate breed, the fancy as a whole and the clubs that focus on the smaller sized aussies consider the dogs merely a size variety of the Australian Shepherd. The parent clubs of the Australian Shepherd however do not recognize a size variety of the Australian Shepherd.
Miniature Australian Shepherds can be registered with the National Stock Dog Registry (NSDR), MASCA, NAMASCUSA and a variety of other registeries.
[edit] Miscellaneous
Recent studies suggest that Miniature Australian Shepherds are more likely than their full-sized counterparts to carry the mutated MDR1 gene. Read here for more information about the dangers and risk of death caused by MDR1 mutation. [1]
[edit] External links
- Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of America
- North American Miniature Australian Shepherd Club
- Mini Aussie Rescue & Support (MARS)
- Miniature Australian Shepherd Dog Breed Information Page
- Miniature Australian Shepherd Puppy Breeders Directory
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