Meet the Miniature American Shepherd
Best Fur Friend

Best Fur Friend

High Doggy I.Q.

High Doggy I.Q.

Top Working Dog

Top Working Dog

Looking for a small dog with a big dog personality? I’m the breed for you! Don’t let our size fool you – we Miniature American Shepherds are a hard-working, high-energy herding breed and we are built tough just like our Australian Shepherd cousins! I love kids and other dogs, but my playful energy can be too much for tiny humans – socialize me early so I learn not to herd your babies! I need an active family (1-2 hours of physical activity a day is a must for me). While my small size is apartment-friendly, I need lots of outside time. I’m athletic and eager to please which makes me easy to train, and I’m a superstar at dog sports like agility and flyball! Because I’m so smart, I need lots of mental stimulation as well as exercise, so I don’t do well when left alone for long periods of time. My furbulous looks aren’t super high maintenance – I just need regular brushing and occasional baths. I’m a loyal and loving pup, which makes me a great watchdog, and if you’ve got the time and energy to tire me out, I’ll be the best cuddle buddy ever!
My Many Looks

My Many Looks

 My Breed Characteristics

My Breed Characteristics

 Furbulous Fact

Furbulous Fact

 As I Grow Up

As I Grow Up

 History of My Breed

History of My Breed

 Care Tips

Care Tips

 Training Tips

Training Tips
关于我

Personality

Lively

Loyal

Smart

Group

Herding Group

Origin

California, United States

Life Span

12-13 Years

Breed Popularity

#31 of 195

Height Range

13-18 Inches

Weight Range

20-40 Lbs

Coat Details

Type

Medium-Length

Texture

Straight or Wavy Outer Coat and Dense Undercoat

Features

Double Coat; Feathering on legs

Colors

Black, Blue Merle, Red, Red Merle +/- White Markings and/or Tan Points

Hypoallergenic

Cost to Buy

$450-$1,500

Lifetime Care Cost

$19,120

My Many Looks

My Many Looks

Black

Blue Merle

Red

Red Merle
My Breed Characteristics

My Breed Characteristics

Training Ability：
Intelligence：
Exercise Needs：
Health Issues：
Affection Level：
Grooming Effort：
Pet-Friendly：
Shedding：
Kid-Friendly：
Barking：
Furbulous Fact

Furbulous Fact

We Miniature American Shepherds may be small, but we are just as athletic as our bigger herding dog cousins! Our intelligence, high energy, and love of hard work make us great at all dog sports, but we are especially great at agility training! Agility competitions are becoming much more popular in the US, and we Mini Aussies are dominating the competition! One of us – a super talented MAS pup named Pixel – even won back-to-back championships in the 12-inch division of Westminster Kennel Club Master’s Agility Championship in 2019 and 2020!
As I Grow Up

As I Grow Up

We Miniature American Shepherds age pretty gracefully. Here are a few key milestones in my growth and development to be aware of as I grow up from a pupper, to an adult, to a senior!
Puppy 3-9 Months
I need early socialization & obedience training so I can learn how to channel my herding skills properly! (Just make sure I’ve had all my vaccines first, pawlease)!
Adult 1-1.5 Years
I’m at my best when I have a job to do so I need lots of mental stimulation and exercise in order to stay happy & healthy.
Senior 10-11 Years
I’m prone to joint problems so switch to a senior-friendly dog food so I can maintain a healthy weight.
History of My Breed

History of My Breed

We Miniature American Shepherds are a new breed and are very closely related to our cousin, the Australian Shepherd. In fact, we used to be called Miniature Australian Shepherds, and even today some people call us Mini Australian Shepherds or Mini Aussies! My Australian Shepherd cousins were first bred in the American West by farmers and ranchers who used them as sheepdogs and cattle herders. By the mid-20th century, smaller Aussies were working on the rodeo circuit in the American West. In the 1960s, a group of Aussie lovers in California decided they wanted to create a small dog with Aussie traits and they used only these small Australian Shepherds (who were below the AKC breed standard size) to create my breed! We were originally called Miniature Australian Shepherds but the Aussie breeders didn’t like that too much, so our name was changed first to North American Shepherd and finally to Miniature American Shepherd. We became super popular with equestrians in the U.S. since our comp
Care Tips

Care Tips

from Dr. Jessica Greenberg, Associate Veterinarian
1

Purchase from a responsible breeder.

While well bred and cared for Mini Aussies can be very healthy, this breed is susceptible to hip dysplasia, which can cause pain and loss of mobility. In addition to heritable joint conditions, some mini Aussies are predisposed to a variety of genetic eye conditions that can cause blindness, including progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), cataracts, detached retinas, Collie eye anomaly, and more. Avoid heartbreak and veterinary expenses by purchasing puppies from responsible breeders who only breed dogs that are free of heritable disorders and provide health guarantees.

2

Provide lots of exercise and mental stimulation.

To be at their best and minimize behavioral problems and anxiety, Mini Aussies need to spend lots of time with their family, 30-60 minutes of exercise every day, and daily mental stimulation with food puzzles, training, and problem solving.

3

Avoid ivermectin.

Some Mini Aussies may have a hypersensitivity to ivermectin due to a MDR1 genetic mutation, leading to the phrase ‘white feet, don’t treat’. To be safe, do not give Mini Aussies ivermectin. This includes heartworm prevention that uses ivermectin as an active ingredient.

Training Tips

Training Tips

from Dr. Jessica Greenberg, Associate Veterinarian
1

Exercise is key for good behavior.

Like other herding dogs, the Miniature American Shepherd needs heaps of exercise. Running in particular is important, so be ready to play a lot of fetch or take them for runs.

2

Give them a job!

A highly intelligent breed, shepherds thrive when they have a task to do. They will quickly absorb any training you throw at them, so keep it coming and they will be happy and healthy as can be.

3

Socialize them early.

Mini Aussies are highly social dogs, but they can exhibit behavior issues if they don’t get socialized early. Make sure you introduce them to lots of people and animals. The earliest months of their puppyhood are the most important, so throughout their first year make sure they meet lots of friends.

My Many Looks

My Many Looks

 My Breed Characteristics

My Breed Characteristics

 Furbulous Fact

Furbulous Fact

 As I Grow Up

As I Grow Up

 History of My Breed

History of My Breed

 Care Tips

Care Tips

 Training Tips

Training Tips
关于我

  • Personality

    Lively

    Loyal

    Smart

  • Group

    Herding Group

  • Origin

    California, United States

  • Life Span

    12-13 Years

  • Breed Popularity

    #31 of 195

  • Height Range

    13-18 Inches

  • Weight Range

    20-40 Lbs

  • 动物皮毛

    Type

    Medium-Length

    Texture

    Straight or Wavy Outer Coat and Dense Undercoat

    Features

    Double Coat; Feathering on legs

    Colors

    Black, Blue Merle, Red, Red Merle +/- White Markings and/or Tan Points

  • Hypoallergenic

  • Cost to Buy

    $450-$1,500

  • Lifetime Care Cost

    $19,120