Hi Neighbors,

Do any of you have or know about the breed "Toy miniture Australian Blue Sheppard"???

Where can they be purchased?

Thanks for your help.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), January 07, 2001

Answers

Miniature Aussies are just under-sized regular Aussies. They can't be shown because they don't meet the breed standard, but they should be as healthy and active as a regular sized one, otherwise. When I asked the breeder of one why she did it, she said "Apartment dwellers deserve Aussies, too." I'm not sure I agree with this logic. They (the entire breed) are very high energy dogs, and wouldn't generally seem suited to apartment living. If you are willing to give it a job and don't want a medium sized dog, go for it. And please spay or neuter it. By the way, I have two Aussies, both regular size.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), January 07, 2001.

I've only seen the one. But the dog I saw was a cross bred that resulted in a TOY miniture Australian Sheppard. It had the greatest blue tinted coat. Since then I've thought often that I would like to have one for a pet.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), January 08, 2001.

Oddly enough from what I hear...minis are actually a cross between pomerian and small aussie...one well-known breeder admitted this to a friend of mine who then told me. That breeder does not want this fact to be known.

Ted

-- Ted Hart (tedhart71@hotmail.com), January 08, 2001.

I'll bet the breeder didn't want it to be known. Mini aussies can be registered if they have two registered parents who are both aussies. If you are getting something that only has one aussie parent, then you aren't getting an aussie. You are getting a half aussie and you shouldn't have had to pay anything for it. You will only be getting half the instincts, and who knows what else. I'm sorry if I sound a little critical, but those of us who breed aussies to improve the breed and preserve the instincts and "type" would shudder that this practice. I would suggest that if you want a smaller dog with the blue merle coloration, get a blue Sheltie. They are small, blue, have some herding instincts, and you aren't encouraging the breeding of crossbred dogs.

-- melina b. (goatgalmjb1@hotmail.com), January 08, 2001.

The AKC is very careless about registration. One of the news magazines (20/20, I think) did a piece on it. They registered a litter of kittens (or something equally ridiculous, I don't really remember), claiming as the parents two golden retrievers. The dogs were, indeed, real and AKC registered, but one was deceased for quite a few years and the other had been neutered. When the news show pointed this out to the AKC, they fined them for a false registration. But they never would have known if not for the show contacting them. So, AKC registration is only as good as the honesty and/or intelligence of the dog owners!

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), January 10, 2001.

I looked into the Mini-Aussies but could find no breeders who knew whether the parents were herding dogs, or even tested for instinct. All seem to care about type and coat. As a curiosity, I have a Jack Russell Terrier who has some unfortunate mutt pups right now (blame Hubby, I do:) and we have a perfectly miniature Blue Heeler!! He is a doll, and will be neutered before he goes to his new home(he's sold, as are the other 4) The loose incident was brief, we are very isolated, and know the sire is a Chihuahua. Go figure the coloring, the rest make sense!

Jill

-- Jill Schreiber (schreiber@alaska.com), January 11, 2001.

Hey there. In my local paper today, Mini Aussie pups 270-324-3965

Maybe someone will be driving your way and can bring you one.

-- Cindy in Ky (solidrockranch@msn.com), February 01, 2001.

I have a full size aussie and a TOY mini aussie. He is full aussie, has two mini aussie parents.He stands about "11" inches and weighs about twelve pounds. He looks just like his "big brother" and herds my kids the same way. The little one doesn't rip the shirts off the kids backs like the big one does. He has a blue merle coat with blue eyes. He is the love of our life and goes everywhere with us as he crates easily. He is smart, full of love and highly michevious. Call mini aussie breeders and explain what you are looking for. Temperment and breeding are important, more so than size.

-- Tami (admin@dys.org), May 03, 2001.