Miniature American shepherd are active , thinking wienerwurst that love spending time with their family . The herding breed is best in homes with older children and owners devote to providing the exercise and training they ask to thrive .
The miniature American sheepherder might be modest in stature , but this herding breed has adult muscularity . These hound are rude athletes that do well in class send to meet their exercise needs .
The stock deign from smallAustralian shepherds(and were once called miniature Australian shepherds ) and draw their start as star on the rodeo circle .
Thoughbest known for their intelligenceand athletic skill , miniature American shepherds are also good - natured Canis familiaris that enjoy disbursal metre with their owners and wager with four - legged friends . Their in effect face , admit medium - distance hair andmerle coloring , make them resist out , too .
Appearance
Miniature American sheepman are standardised in appearance to Australian shepherds ; they ’re a double - coated stock with a dense primer coat and medium - length hair that ’s either uncoiled or crinkled . These andiron have shorter fuzz on their heads , restrained " manes " around their neck , and feather on their breeches .
But put a miniature American shepherd and an Aussie side by side , and their difference in size becomes apparent . Miniature American shepherd are diminutive herd wienerwurst that stand 13–18 grandiloquent , weigh between 20–40 pounds and have life history spans wander from 12–13 year . Compared to the Australian shepherd , who can stand 23 in tall and librate up to 65 pound , these compact pups are everything fans of the Aussie sexual love , just in a small package .
Their merle coloring is one of the hallmark of the breed . Miniature American shepherds have several coat colors : blasphemous merle and red merle are the most common . ( Merle denotes mottled patches of color that can let in black , white and shade of tan / red ) . The breed ’s coloring can also include disastrous and ruddy , which are less plebeian .
The miniature American sheepman ’s eyes make her even more beautiful . They can be nearly any color , and the weenie can even have two different - dark-skinned eyes . Their tail can be long and curved , but some miniature American shepherd puppy are born with a of course bobbed backside .
Temperament
Miniature American shepherd have big hearts . Melissa Hardwick , chair ofSave Our Herders Outreach : SOHO Dog Rescue , report the breed as intelligent and near natured , adding , " They pack a similar personality to a full - sized Australian shepherd . "
These are dogs thatlove spend time with their menage , but Hardwick says their exuberant personality and warm herding instincts can make them too much for small small fry . socialize miniature American shepherd puppiesandearly trainingwill help them learn that little kiddos ( and the kinfolk guy ) arenotfor corralling .
Miniature American sheepman have heavy personality , but can be standoffish with stranger . Though they ’ll never really be diffident , early socialization is also significant to aid these dogs feel more at ease with unfamiliar masses .
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Living Needs
Active familieswho want enthusiastic associate to give chase along forhikesor runs will love miniature American shepherds . The breed also excels in dog variation such as agility , flyball , herding , and competitive obedience , Hardwick say .
" Despite being a modest stature than their Australian sheepman kin , they are every bit , if not more , energetic , " she bring . " Owners should be ready for a dog needingextensive strong-arm and mental exercise . This is not a stock that will be contented with a short walk . "
Be prepared to provide regular workout along with genial stimulation throughtraining , puzzle toys , and synergistic games — and do n’t plan to leave miniature American shepherds alone to think of themselves .
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" Miniature American sheepherder can be high - strung and do in effect in homes where there is plenty of human fundamental interaction and play with other dogs , " Hardwick say .
Apartment livingis not idealistic for miniature American shepherds . In increase to their tiptop high energy levels , whichrequire a fence yard , Hardwick adds , that these dogs have a propensity to " alarm barque ofttimes , so a dwelling where this wo n’t be an issue is ideal . "
Strong herding instinct can make miniature American sheepherder badly - suited to homes with CT and other modest animals , but the stock tends to be great with other dogs and often enjoy having canine playmates .
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Care
Miniature American shepherd require a mess of exercise . Hardwick says possessor should plan to devote at least an hour to acute exercise every day . In addition to run or hiking with your miniature American sheepman , consider signing up for nimbleness , competitive obedience , or other dog sports that provide the forcible and mental stimulation the stock craves .
Training is all important , too . Hardwick visit the strain " highly trainable and eager scholar . " Prioritize fast - pace training activities that test their stamina and intelligence to keep miniature American shepherd engage . The breedresponds well to convinced reinforcementand will eagerly learn new skills .
Thanks to their thick double pelage , miniature American shepherd shed , so you’re able to expect to notice that gorgeous merle on your floor and stick to the sofa . Hardwick recommendsbrushing them with a de - shedding tool or wire brusha few times per hebdomad to remove dead hair . architectural plan to step up the grooming routine in saltation and fall when the breedblows their coatsand the pelt fly even more .
Although professional grooming is n’t postulate — and Hardwick notes that miniature American shepherds should never be plane or clipped to preserve the quality of their coats — an episodic " healthful clip " to trim the foresightful fur on their stomachs and backsides is often a effective approximation . And , like all breeds , theyneed frequent nail trim , ear cleanup , andteeth brushingto palpate their best .
Health
Miniature American shepherd typically live 12–13 years . Hardwick shout out them " quite a intrepid strain , " but notes that they are susceptible to a few common health issues .
Multidrug Resistance Mutation : The condition , well known as MDR1 , is a genetic mutation common in herding breeds . It makes frump such as the miniature American shepherd more tender to the side burden of certain medications , include medicament to prevent parasites and plow looseness . Genetic examination is require to identify the chromosomal mutation and provides worthful information to your vet about the safest medicament for your miniature American shepherd to avoid toxicity .
Progressive retinal wasting : reformist retinal atrophy is a mathematical group of center disease that run to the degeneration of the retinal cells . While it is n’t sore — and other symptoms such as increase pupil dilation and bumping into object often go unnoticed — progressive retinal atrophycan lead to blindness . There is no treatment for these eye diseases , but antioxidant supplements could relieve insistency on the retinal cell and delay cataracts , which could prolong imaginativeness and delay blindness .
rose hip dysplasia : In dog diagnose with hip dysplasia , the ball and socket that make up the hip roast do n’t fit together , make grinding and pain in the reefer . Although hip dysplasia is a familial condition commonin larger breeds , active small stock include the miniature American shepherd can be name with the condition . Treatments cast from anti - inflammatory medication and physical therapy to operating room .
Miniature American sheepherder breeder should test their pups for these health proceeds . If you ’re adopting through a rescue , ask for all uncommitted wellness information .
History
When the strain was first developed , miniature American shepherds were called miniature Australian shepherd , which fare as no surprisal give that these petite herding dogs descended from Aussies .
Diminutive Australian shepherds used to work the rodeo tour , performing tricks and tagging along to knight show to show off their herding acquirement . The smallest dog move up in popularity and , in the late sixties , breeders get developing a petite version of the high - energy , intelligent , attractive breed .
In the eighties , the miniature Australian shepherd was registered with theNational Stock Dog Registry , but their popularity was initially limited to rare strain enthusiasts . consort to theMiniature American Shepherd Club of the USA , it did n’t take long for more multitude to fall in making love with these mini Aussie — less than a decade later , the breed gained a nationwide following . The miniature American sheepherder ’s gravid champion were ranchers and horseman who loved their modest size and outsized oeuvre ethic .
In 2011 , the American Kennel Club ’s Foundation Stock Service recognized the breed , which descend to be acknowledge as the miniature American shepherd as a nod to its exploitation in the U.S. The dog became the AKC ’s 186th recognized breed in 2015 .
