Australian Shepherd Dog - Everything You Want to Know

One of the responsibilities of having a miniature Aussie is teaching him to obey some basic commands like “sit”, “stay”, and “lie down”.  Here are a few ways you can use in teaching your miniature Australian Shepherd dog new tricks.

Teaching your dog to follow the command “sit”.

Take your miniature Aussie to a place where there is not as much distraction.  Get his attention by saying his name or by showing a treat in your hand. Now choose a gesture that you want to associate with the command “sit”, like clicks, a short whistle, or a certain hand gesture.  When you’re doing this gesture, say the word “sit” then move the treat you’re holding over your mini Aussie’s head and let him follow it with his eyes.  The dog’s normal reaction to this is to sit so he would to be able to lean his head back further.  When your dog is doing the “sit” position praise him and give your miniature Aussie his treat.

Teaching your dog to follow the command “lie down”.

Show the treat in your hand and then lay the treat on the ground just in front of your miniature Aussie as you say the word “lie down”.  Now use a hand gesture while saying the word “lie down”.  Your dog won’t like to sprain his back and neck when reaching straight down so close to his body.  When your miniature Aussie is able to follow your command properly give him a treat.

Teaching your dog to follow the command “stay”.

It is important that your miniature Aussie is able to follow the “sit” and “lie down” command before you can teach him to follow the “stay” command.  Put a leash on your dog then gently pull it straight to send him the signal you don’t want him to walk.  Right away use a hand gesture for the “stay” command while saying the word “stay” then slowly allow the leash to loosen.  If your dog stands up, say the word “no” then begin again. If your miniature Aussie does not get up, try to walk away and don’t look back at your dog.  When your dog follows you, say the word “no” then begin again.  After a few practices your miniature Aussie will surely understand what the command “stay” means.

Repetition is the secret in teaching your miniature Australian Shepherd dog new tricks.  Use the new trick always when your dog is able to follow it.  Otherwise, the dog will probably forget what to do.

There have been arguments involving the Miniature Australian Shepherd, claiming that it isn’t actually a real dog breed.  To put an end to these arguments, let me share with you a short history of how this dog breed was developed.

Back in the 1960’s, a woman from the state of California became interested with breeding small sized Australian Shepherds, which she did by selecting small sized Aussies and she was able to come up with Aussies that were below 17” in size.  This is how Doris Cordova started the so called miniature breed of the Australian Shepherd.  Aside from Doris, Billy and Sally Kennedy and Chas Lasater also got interested in breeding these miniatures and we can say they are the people who pioneered this dog breed.

The Mini Aussie is moderately active, so it is perfectly okay to have one in an apartment.  If you own one, just make sure that your dog gets sufficient exercise.  This dog is somewhat active, and it would be best to have a small backyard where it can play be able to exercise.  Enough exercise helps them stay in shape.  Its characteristics are fairly the same as that of an Australian Shepherd.

Now that I have shared with you a short history of the Miniature Australian Shepherd breed of dog, perhaps you may agree that it isn’t really another real dog breed as it is just what I can understand to be just a petite version of the real breed.

If you are looking to bring home a great pet…then one of the top ten breeds are the Miniature Australian Shepherd.  They are like a puppy that never grows up, they love to play.  They are very loyal, courageous and very affectionate, making a great companion for small children.  They love to be active with their child companions.  Because they are naturally protective, they make a great guardian and friend. 

The Miniature Australian Shepherd is a very attentive dog, so eager to please his owner, almost having a 6^th sense of some sort, able to predict what the owner wants before he asks.  He is very lively and agile, making him so fun to have around.  They are very easy to train because of their high intelligence.  If they are left alone too much, they can become nervous and destructive.  They need a lot of exercise and something to keep them busy…such as a job.  They become bored quite easily, so plan on giving this dog a lot of attention, keeping him busy. 

They are not fond of strangers, so socialization while a puppy is very important.  They have a natural instinct to nip people in the heel as if to herd them.  The Miniature Australian Shepherd makes a wonderful and loving companion whether he is there for play or work.

There are some working dog breeds that love to bark, the Miniature Australian Shepherd is not one of them.  They are quiet when they work, and are not very aggressive.  They will work out in an apartment if you are taking them out to walk and exercise every day.  They also do well in a small yard and do great in cold temperatures.

The Miniature Australian Shepherd has a life expectancy of 12 to 13 years.  The only health problems they seem to be prone to are deafness and blindness, especially in the merle puppies.  If your puppy has one merle parent, and one solid color parent, their health issues are fewer.  Those that are pure merle, will have more health issues. 

The smallest of the Miniature Australian Shepherd is the Tea Cup, weighing under 12 pounds.  The Toy weighs 12 to 17 pounds, and 10 to 14 inches tall.  The Miniature height is 13 to 18 inches and weighing anywhere from 20 to 40 pounds. 

The Miniature Australian Shepherd is a great choice for a family pet, especially if you have some active kids who will play with him.  They love and need a lot of attention, they need to be kept busy, and are easy to train.  When you have all of these benefits, how can you go wrong?