Mini Australian Shepherds?! New photo 8/13 (last page)

[aurealiaann]

I like the name sparky, to. Here are some links that might help you:

http://www.mascaonline.net/standard.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_Australian_Shepherd

http://www.tasaa.org/TASAA_about_the_breed.html

http://www.galenaaussies.com/mini-aussie-breed-info.html

Both of my aussies ( 1 minature and 1 toy ) are very gentle and loving dogs.

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

Thank you for posting those links, I have been sitting here going through them and saving them to favorites!!

What does your mini wiegh?

Do people look at you like you have lost your mind when you tell them you have mini aussies?

I called the vet to make an appt for him and they acted like I was a fool lol

He goes the 26th for shots, then Aug. 23rd to be neutered and microchipped!

 

[embkm]

I know of someone in CA who has a mini Aussie. He's adorable and SMART. I think she does agility with him and he goes to work with her a lot (she works at a nursing home). His name is Huck... she also has a JRT named Wyatt!

Your new pup is adorable!

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

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How funny is that with the names!! lol

I am in love with this lil fella, he has only had one potty accident in the house so I am impressed!!

We have to work with him on door darting though, even though our front and back yards are fenced in, the front is in picket fencing and he fits through the pickets!!!

 

[LostNation]

Hey, peeps! (to make my blathering "species appropriate", y'know, LOL) - just a little hopefully helpful info abt the Aussie debate:

Aussies were a "created" breed, just like all other breeds of dogs. To add to the confusion, they were created here in the U.S., believe it or not, LOL.

Long story (hopefully) short: Back in the pioneering days, various herding dogs came to the U.S. w/ their flocks of sheep that were imported - along w/ their shepherds who came along to ensure their well-being. The U.S. farmers importing those sheep were extremely impressed w/ the abilities of those stockdogs (often described as "little blue dogs" in the various historical reports - "w/ short, tight coats & minimal to no white" . . .(my own little guess: what ended up being recognized as Australian Cattle Dogs (a/k/a: "Heelers"), maybe?)), so started breeding them for their own purposes, crossing w/ the working stockdogs they already had, many of which were collie types. (hence the coat) The resulting "original Aussies" were NOT large dogs, but as raising cattle became more popular, along came the necessity for breeding more size into those dogs to better work larger stock. So, the sheep farmers were just fine w/ their smaller "Aussies" & . . . the cattle farmers just created bigger "Aussies" to fulfill their needs purposes - pretty logical, huh?

Oops, rambling, so here's The Point: there were all sizes of "Aussies" before ANY of the registries were formed, conjured up their own Breed Standards to which the dogs needed to conform in order to be accepted, etc., etc., etc..

The ASCA (Australian Shepherd Club of America) was, if I'm not mistaken, the original Aussie registry, formed in the 50's. They're known as being fairly "Purist" in their philosophies &, unlike the other registries, are quite concerned with preserving the working ability of the breed. Here's a snippet copied/pasted from their Breed Standard regarding size: http://www.asca.org/aboutaussies/breedstandard
SIZE: Preferred height at the withers for males is 20 to 23 inches; that for females is 18 to 21 inches, however, quality is not to be sacrificed in favor of size.

Here's a snippet abt what they have to say abt the various registries that've been popping up, w/ the goal of intentionally breeding for "less than preferred size" Aussies:

'To encourage members and breeders to accept one breed standard for the Australian Shepherd as approved by the Club as the only standard of excellence by which Australian Shepherds shall be judged.' It is the mission of this club and the mission of its members to preserve the breed rather than
change it."

So. While they're not ANTI-smaller Aussie, they are quite adamant abt conforming to THEIR version of the Breed Standard.


AKC didn't even accept Aussies into their registry until 1991. Here's a snippet copied/pasted from their Breed Standard regarding size: http://www.akc.org/breeds/australian_shepherd/
"Size--The preferred height for males is 20-23 inches, females 18-21 inches. Quality is not to be sacrificed in favor of size"

AKC's regarded as the "conformation/show dog" registry, seemingly more concerned w/ the breeds of dogs conforming to a particular LOOK than whether or not they ALso exhibit the traits that indicate the original purpose that particular breed was created/intended. . . herding, guarding, hunting, etc.

Okay, so now that you guys are all snoring & drooling on your keyboards w/ TMI Overload: I've always wanted a mini-Aussie. Done dog (& other specie) rescue my entire life, specialized in the herders for the past 10 or so years, ending up w/ many-an-Aussie - & Aussie-Xes - whom we just LOVVVVED! So when I found out there WAS such a thing as an actual "Mini-Aussie", I thought aaaaHA! PERfect dog for this goat farmer chick! BUT. As a few have mentioned, here - good quality true Mini-Aussies are hard to come by! B/c . . . as someone else mentioned, here: too many people are just crossing Aussies w/ a "little breed Something-or-other" & calling them "Mini-Aussies" to make a buck. (that's actually a much more common issue in the TOY Aussies than in the Minis, but . . . it is an issue, nevertheless - esp. w/ certain registries only requiring pictures in order to "register" a dog as X Breed) So I got into Corgis instead, LOL. Now, Corgis totally rock, too, don't get me wrong! (Well, if you can FIND a true, working Corgi, since they're the most ruined of the herding breeds, thanks to little dogs becoming so popular) Butttttttt . . . they're just not Aussies. (right, people who've had both breeds?) Not to mention: GOOD quality, true Mini-Aussies are usually $$$$. &, even if you DID happen to be independently wealthy, try getting a "serious breeder" to sell a mere peon goat farmer who has no inclination to show her dogs, a breeding quality pup w/ full breeding rights registration. *snort*

ANyway, another long-story-not-so-short: finally got a good quality Mini-Aussie girl - from an actual working farm, no less! - for my 42nd birthday. Pippi's a lovely red-bi w/ very good conformation, a beautiful coat & the gentlest demeanor. I have a friend who breeds show AKC Standard Aussies who has a *gasp* 18" stud (who's derived of at least a couple of generations of smaller-statured but excellent quality Aussies) who's also a good, proven worker & . . .who'll be my Pippi's "intended suitor" when we decide to breed her. *clicking heels*

Okay! So I rarely get on this forum & look what happens when I DO! (blame it on Google Alerts b/c I have one for Mini Aussies, LOL) Sorry!

But anyway, Shelli - I'm guessing your Sparky might be a Toy, if he's "maybe 12"" at 6 months old (14" is the minimum for Mini Aussies - which those registries ARE very particular abt). But like you said: Who Really Cares if he conforms to a particular Breed Standard, right? He's adorable & smart & is your special baby & THAT's what's important!

Best wishes,
Sarah/MI
(who actually does have poultry, LOL - a pretty extensive flock of what we fondly refer to as "Darwin Chickens" - Survival of the Fittest derived of the fancy/heritage/etc. breeds we started out w/ over a decade ago, LOL!)

Sarah Sanders - south-central Michigan
Lost Nation Farm
ADGA LaMancha, Toggenburg & Experimental Dairy Goats
Working AKC Welsh Pembroke Corgis & Komondorok
(& one very pampered Guernsey Cow)
www.lost-nation.com

 

[HenThymes]

MomtoSyd&Emma :

Anyone familiar with them?

During our cookout yesterday (I stopped counting people at 35) a friend brought her friend (a girl in the Navy) with her, she had her pup with her, freaking out because she has just been sent to another area (after being told she would stay where she is for 4 more years) Well where she is moving she cant take the pup with her. My husband said he would take him (I nearly fell over in the floor as he NEVER agrees to pets that easy)

So we now have a TINY mini aussie. She cant remember the breeders name, but they arent real far from Norfolk Va. He MIGHT weigh 8 to 10 pounds, and is 6 months old. I am calling our Vet tomorrow to get him in for shots and an appt. to be neutered.

He is 95% house trained, not crate trained YET, never been on a leash. He LOVES my girls, tries to play with our other dogs and cats, but they are not in love yet lol

His name WAS Bear, but we are changing that to we THINK Sparky (in honor of the 4th of July)

I cant think of any other male names that are Patriotic. If you all have any ideas, PLEASE share them with us!

Here are some photos of him:
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/mommy4syd/july4th2010017.jpg

Him and our Chihuahua:
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/mommy4syd/july4th2010007.jpg

Him looking at me thinking, PLEASE lady leave me and the bone alone! lol
http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm300/mommy4syd/july4th2010016.jpg

Hi, he is very good looking and small, that is a bonus when it comes to mini aussies. I have been looking for one just like him for quite awhile to add to our family.

I have mini aussies so if you have any questions please pm me. I am not that far from you either only being in NC. They are great dogs and very loyal. Congrats!

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

I want to tell all of you THANK YOU, for the info on our sweet boy!

If I can curb his taste for litter box crunchies I believe we shall be ok! lol

I am looking at a huge litter box with a ramp, and curve (its 40.00) in the hopes it will keep him from getting in there!

I am trying to get him to do downs, so far its a no go, he sits, shakes, comes great, but downs nope!

I would like to have all the basics down with him before getting into obedience training this fall, so training has begun!!

He had never been on a leash before yesterday, and since his shots are not done, I dont feel comfortable taking him out of the yard yet, so we walked the back yard on leash and he did superb!

Smart lil dogs I tell ya!!!!

 

[MomtoSyd&Emma]

Thought I would update with a new photo of Sparky, he is lying on the couch with our ancient Boxer Rally. Rally is a tiny Boxer (he MIGHT weigh 40 pounds) so dont let the size fool ya, Sparky only weighed 12 pounds at the Vet.

 

[Payette]

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I love Aussies, but they have too much energy, so I was considering a mini aussie. Could you tell me a bit about the breed?

 

[turney31]

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Welcome to Byc!