Add a loving, loyal member to your family with an American Australian Shepherd puppy.
The American Australian Shepherd was bred to be a smaller and slightly more laid back version of the original Australian Shepherd while still maintaining the Aussie’s unique personality and herding ability. Also known as the Miniature American Shepherd, these dogs are known for their extreme devotion to their family. Like their bigger counterparts they are athletic, highly energetic and eager to please. They love nothing more than completing tasks for their owner and require a good bit of both physical and mental stimulation to keep them happy. They stand from 13-18 inches and weigh 20-40 pounds and have a medium length double coat which comes in many colors including blue merle, red merle, red, tri-color, and black.
History
A relatively recent breed, the American Australian Shepherd was first introduced in California in the 1960s when breeders were looking to produce a smaller version of the standard Australian Shepherd while maintaining the original breed’s intelligence, herding ability and loyalty. In the 1980s the American Australian Shepherd had caught on particularly on the rodeo circuit where their smaller size made them easier to travel with. The breed was officially recognized by the AKC as the Miniature American Shepherd in 2010.
Temperament
Like their larger cousin, the American Australian Shepherd is known for its intelligence, loyalty and devotion to its family. Their extraordinary intelligence and eagerness to please makes them easy to train and they do well with both obedience and agility training. Despite their small size, they have a distinct courageous streak which can be an asset when it comes to protecting their family. Their innate herding instinct means they have a tendency to nip and chase, which can become an issue with small children and other pets but can be easily overcome with the right training.
Environment
While they are quite energetic, their small size makes the American Australian Shepherd adaptable to many environments, so they can just as easily live in an apartment or a house with a small yard. They like a lot of regular activity, making them perfect for individuals or families with an active lifestyle but if they get the proper amount of exercise they can also settle down and relax indoors. The key for this devoted breed is being near their family. They form strong bonds, showing plenty of love and affection, and can be quite gentle with children when properly socialized.
Exercise
As a breed with a strong herding instinct, the American Australian Shepherd requires regular exercise in order to keep him happy. Expect to provide him with at least a half hour to an hour of stimulating daily activity, which can include anything from a rigorous game of Frisbee to a long run or an extensive session of agility or obedience training. Obedience classes can help to curb your Aussie’s natural herding behavior, which can include nipping and chasing. If you’re taking your Aussie outside, be sure to have a yard with a fence they can’t get over or under or keep them on a leash when you go for walks to counter their instinct to chase.
Grooming
Their medium length water-resistant coat is perfect for fighting the elements but will require some regular grooming. They shed year round and will shed more heavily in the spring as they lose their winter coat. Weekly brushing will help to keep matts to a minimum and you may need to brush more frequently during shedding season. Mats can be more common behind the ears so be sure to pay particular attention to this area. As long as he is regularly brushed, your American Australian Shepherd should only need to be bathed when he is dirty, which is usually only a couple of times a year.
