Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd: The Differences (With Pictures) – Dogster (2024)

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Visual Differences
At a Glance
Miniature Australian Shepherd Pet Breed Overview
Australian Shepherd Pet Breed Overview

Australian Shepherds and Miniature Australian Shepherds are undeniably similar, but a few key differences set them apart, despite their shared history. The Australian Shepherd is smart, agile, and full of energy. The Mini Australian Shepherd is all of the above but in a pint-sized body (which makes a big difference when owning one).

We will compare these two popular breeds to show which is most suitable for your family, which one can incorporate seamlessly into your home and any other must-know information about the two stunning breeds.

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Visual Differences

Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd: The Differences (With Pictures) – Dogster (2)

At a Glance

Miniature Australian Shepherd

  • Average height (adult): 14–18 inches
  • Average weight (adult): 20–40 pounds
  • Lifespan: 14–16 years
  • Exercise: 1+ hours a day
  • Grooming needs: Moderate
  • Family-friendly: Yes
  • Other pet-friendly: Sometimes
  • Trainability: Intelligent, loyal, doesn’t easily forget

Australian Shepherd

  • Average height (adult): 18–23 inches
  • Average weight (adult): 40–65 pounds
  • Lifespan: 12–15 years
  • Exercise: 5+ hours a day
  • Grooming needs: Moderate
  • Family-friendly: Yes
  • Other pet-friendly: Sometimes
  • Trainability: Smart, work-focused

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Miniature Australian Shepherd Pet Breed Overview

The miniature Australian Shepherd is one of a kind when it comes to scaled-down dog breeds. Its beautiful, swirled-merle coatis one of its most distinctive features, as are its piercing blue eyes, but looks aren’t all that this plucky little puppy has to offer. Despite being smaller, this intelligent herder still loves nothing more than a job well done.

Personality / Character

The mini-Aussie has a strong, intelligent, and quick-witted character that’s always high-energy and ready for any challenge they have to face. This is only one of the incredible traits they inherit from the (full-size) Australian Shepherd, as these mini versions retain the herding instinct and drive to work.

They are good with children and families and are often gentle and not as intimidating as their bigger counterparts, but they are still known to herd children and other pets on occasion.

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Exercise

The miniature Australian Shepherd needs regular exercise to remain happy and healthy, which is something to consider before adopting one. They require less exercise than their larger cousins, but it must be of the same quality. These dogs need the chance to stretch their legs and run around, or they may give in to destructive behavior to burn some excess energy off.

Training

Intelligence is the name of the game with mini-Aussies. They love to engage with their owners and learn new tricks: they excel in agility and obedience competitions for this reason. In addition, they are still working dogs, so they can be trained quickly and follow instructions closely and accurately.

Early obedience training is incredibly beneficial for these dogs; because they’re smaller, they’re more likely to be kept in places that don’t offer as much stimulation as large spaces would, e.g., in an apartment.

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Health & Care

The mini–Australian Shepherd is by no means a toy breed, and they don’t suffer from some of the common problems plaguing the tiny dogs. They sometimes have dwarfism, however, which is how some of them are bred to be much smaller than the original Aussies.

Because many mini-Aussies are merle-colored, being mindful of the deafness and blindness that can occur with this color is essential. They also share the possibility of carrying the MDR1 gene (that causes sensitivity to some drugs) with their larger namesakes, the Australian Shepherds.

Grooming

Mini Australian Shepherds have a beautiful double coat that’s coarse on the outside and has a fluffy and thick underlayer beneath. They are also known to shed a lot throughout the year, so regular grooming (with a thorough brushing out at least twice a week) will help to reduce any tangling and prevent painful matting of the coat. Nail clipping and ear cleaning are also recommended; however, because the mini Aussie is such an active breed, their nails are often worn down on their own, so a check every now and again may be all that’s needed.

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Suitable for:

The miniature Australian Shepherd is suitable for families wishing for an Australian shepherd’s intelligence, friendliness, and energy without worrying about the size. This pint-sized pup delivers, with its need for exercise slightly reduced due to its smaller size.

This makes them suitable for families or singles living in smaller accommodations such as apartments. However, ensuring they get the exercise outside they need is important, as destructive behavior and separation anxiety can occur if they’re not stimulated enough.

Pros

  • Friendly
  • Very intelligent
  • Full of energy
  • Smaller, so suitable for larger apartments

Cons

  • Needs plenty of attention
  • Can sometimes suffer from health problems due to coat color
  • Requires a lot of exercise

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Australian Shepherd Pet Breed Overview

The Australian Shepherd is one of America’s most beloved dog breeds for a good reason. They’re loyal and intelligent and skilled at agility and obedience trials. These dogs were bred in America, with their name hailing from the shepherd dog stock used to form the breed.

Personality / Character

Aussies are protective and no-nonsense and have penetrating stares that are used in their working lives as cattle dogs. These are the favorites of ranchers across the country, partly due to their intellect. Australian Shepherds are bright and full of boundless energy, which is amazing when channeled correctly, but it can become destructive if given to boredom.

This breed also has a strong herding instinct and will often herd people, other pets, and children. Socialization is vital for Aussies, as they can sometimes be wary of strangers.

Exercise

The Aussie shepherd is a very active canine that needs 2 hours of daily exercise. This will ideally be spread into several good walks and running sessions in a large yard. For this reason, the Aussie Shepherd won’t fare well in an apartment or home without a backyard.

However, they do well in agility classes and competitions and are talented at flyball, so consider this if you need extra exercise for your bounding shepherd.

Training

Aussies are ranked as one of the most intelligent breeds in the world, and training comes easily to them. Aussie shepherds are highly focused dogs that learn tasks and commands quickly and will remember them. This serves them well in obedience classes.

Finding your Aussie’s motivator (food, for example) can make training this breed a breeze, and it’ll undoubtedly be enjoyable for you and your pet.

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Health & Care

The Australian Shepherd has relatively few health problems they’re genetically predisposed to. As they’re very active, problems such as obesity shouldn’t be an issue if they are fed an adequate amount.

Aussie shepherds share the same tendency to inherit the MDR1 gene, which can cause sensitivity to certain medications (like the common anti-parasite medication Ivermectin), which they share with other Shepherd breeds.

They have beautiful coat combinations which often express the merle coloring, but Aussie Shepherds that show merle coloring may be either totally or partially blind or deaf due to genetic defects.

Grooming

The Australian Shepherd has an insulating double coat consisting of a soft, downy undercoat topped with a harsh, protective overlayer. Owners should brush out this coat twice weekly to prevent matting, and because these layers shed, thorough grooming once a month can ensure no excess hair causes problems for your Aussie (or a mess on your floor). Nail clips and ear cleaning are also essential for the active breed.

Suitable for:

The Australian Shepherd is suitable for active families with the time and space to give to a loyal, hard-working, and family-oriented dog. People living in apartments may struggle to provide the exercise they need to stay happy and healthy, so it’s recommended that they have a home with outdoor space that they can explore, such as a yard.

Pros

  • Active and energetic
  • Loyal
  • Friendly and great with children

Cons

  • Needs large amounts of exercise
  • Can be wary of strangers
  • Can be disruptive if not exercised enough

Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd: The Differences (With Pictures) – Dogster (9)

Which Breed Is Right For You?

These two breeds answer the question many potential Aussie Shepherd owners ask: do I have room for an Australian Shepherd? The Miniature breed is everything the standard size is, just in a smaller package, so it is ideal for families with more limited space. Full-size Aussies are more suitable for owners with large backyards. Both varieties need the same levels of mental stimulation, as both have a high herding instinct and high intelligence that can become destructive if not channeled correctly.

Featured Image Credit: Miniature Australian Shepherd (Danielle W Press, Shutterstock) | Australian Shepherd (VKarlov, Shutterstock)

Miniature Australian Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd: The Differences (With Pictures) – Dogster (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between an Australian shepherd and a Mini Australian Shepherd? ›

The Miniature breed is everything the standard size is, just in a smaller package, so it is ideal for families with more limited space. Full-size Aussies are more suitable for owners with large backyards.

How do you tell if my Aussie is a mini? ›

Height and Weight Differences

Females range from 18 to 21 inches. The average weight is 50 to 65 pounds for males and 40 to 55 pounds for females. Miniature Australian Shepherd males are between 14 to 18 inches tall and females are from 13 to 17 inches tall. The weight range is from 20 to 40 pounds.

What does a Mini Australian Shepherd look like? ›

Miniature Australian Shepherd Appearance

You'll most often find their fluffy double-coats in shades of black, blue merle, red, and red merle. Miniature Australian Shepherds are medium-sized, though males almost always are larger than females, and some even have blue eyes (which only add to the dramatic good looks).

Why not to get a Mini Aussie? ›

Mini Aussies are highly intelligent and need daily stimulation and playtime. Mini Aussies are a healthy breed but are predisposed to hip dysplasia, cataracts, epilepsy, spinal defects, and vision and hearing problems for merles specifically.

How big will a Mini Aussie get? ›

Standard Australian Shepherds are 18 to 23 inches tall, while the Mini Australian Shepherd size is between 13 to 18 inches tall. In addition, the large breed weighs between 35 to 65 pounds, whereas the smaller version will be between 20 and 35 pounds, so they can be up to half the size.

What color eyes do Mini Aussies have? ›

Aussies might have any combination of brown, blue, hazel, amber, or green eyes. Some Aussies even display more than one color within the same eye.

Do mini Australian shepherds have hair or fur? ›

Keeping your miniature Australian shepherd looking cute is all about tending to their fur. These are big shedders thanks to their double coats, so their fur requires some serious attention. To keep shedding under control, it's essential to brush them often.

What does a purebred Australian Shepherd look like? ›

Solid, muscular and robust, the Australian Shepherd size is medium, and this is an athletic dog who looks like they are built to work. Slightly longer than they are tall, Aussies have a medium length coat, that should be straight or very slightly waved, with a thick weather resistant undercoat.

What is the rarest color of Mini Aussie? ›

1. Solid Red. Solid red is the rarest color of official AKC-recognized Australian Shepherds, which only makes them more precious.

Do all Mini Aussies have blue eyes? ›

The Toy and Mini Aussie breed standard allow eyes of any pigment color or combination of pigment colors. Aussie eyes have been seen that are golden, lemon yellow, amber, light brown, dark brown, green, orange, and blue.

What are the rarest mini Australian shepherd colors? ›

Which Mini Aussie colors are the rarest? Solid black and red coats are the least common coats among Aussie dogs, with solid red being the absolute rarest. The red-colored gene is recessive in dogs, meaning red fur must be present in both parents to make a red-colored pup.

Are Mini Aussies good house dogs? ›

Yes! Like most dogs, Aussies (and Mini Aussies) are active and outdoorsy, but still best suited to indoor living. Medium-large-sized homes with gardens are best, but they can do well in smaller homes, too. Just so long as they get everything they need to be happy and healthy!

Do Aussies attach to one person? ›

Strong guardian instincts Aussies are protective watchdogs. Reserved with strangers Aussies are closely attached to their family but do not tend to seek contact with strangers, or easily accept strangers as “friends.” This does not mean they are shy or aggressive. Aussies are selective in their social interactions.

Do mini Australian shepherds like to be held? ›

The Aussie's desire to cuddle

Some breeds are, by nature, more affectionate than others. While the Aussie will typically reserve cuddling for one person or a group of trusted people, sometimes he won't want to cuddle at all. Let's take a look at some reasons this might be the case. Their age.

What are the pros and cons of miniature Australian shepherds? ›

Yet some are more challenging to train than others. The Miniature Australian Shepherd is exactly as its name implies: a small Aussie. Miniature Australian Shepherds can sometimes get by with less physical exercise than their full-size brothers, but need just as much mental stimulation.

Do Mini Australian Shepherds like to be held? ›

The Aussie's desire to cuddle

Some breeds are, by nature, more affectionate than others. While the Aussie will typically reserve cuddling for one person or a group of trusted people, sometimes he won't want to cuddle at all. Let's take a look at some reasons this might be the case. Their age.

Are Mini Aussies good inside dogs? ›

Yes! Like most dogs, Aussies (and Mini Aussies) are active and outdoorsy, but still best suited to indoor living. Medium-large-sized homes with gardens are best, but they can do well in smaller homes, too. Just so long as they get everything they need to be happy and healthy!

How long do Mini Aussies live? ›

Day-to-day, you will need to make sure you are not away from your home too long, so your Mini Aussie won't get lonely or have an accident in the house. Long term, these dogs can live around 13 years.

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