Breed History of Miniature Australian Shepherds

The Miniature Australian Shepherd began as a breed in 1968 from a group of small select Australian Shepherds. The size  was achieved over 10 years of breeding, crossing the smallest standard size Australian Shepherds. Scarce, they were smaller Aussies to be sought out and used in this breeding program.

The ideal Miniature Aussie is the mirror image of the "Standard Australian Shepherd," only in a small package. Size ranges from 13" to 18" tall, measured at the top of the withers. It is in the "Herding Group" and is seen in the Breed and Obedience Ring, as well as in the home as a supremely devoted companion and pet.

A Miniature Australian Shepherd has all the attributes of the larger Aussie but the advantages of a smaller dog, weighing between 15 to 35 pounds at maturity. They come in coat colors of blue merle, red merle, black or red tri or bi. All come with or without copper/tan and white trim. Their eyes maybe blue, brown, hazel (amber) or one blue, one brown, and freckled or marbled. Their tails are sometimes naturally bobbed and longer ones are docked.

The Miniature Aussie's temperament is that of the larger Aussie-sensitive, easily trained, excellent natural guardians of t he home and processing strong herding instincts. They are calm and confident, but suspicious of strangers. They are entirely devoted to their master and will go to great lengths to please. Their unique size makes traveling companions.