Fun Miniature American Shepherd Facts For Kids

Miniature American Shepherds are a smart and agile breed of dogs that originated in California in the 1940s. They were originally known as the Miniature Australian Shepherds. They are calm and cute domestic dogs which have a double coat of fur of medium length. The coat of this animal comes in a variety of colors and markings that are blue merle, red, black, and red merle. The AKC is one of the many clubs that promoted Miniature American Shepherds to be registered and is also shown with various rare-breed organizations. Read on to discover more.

For more relatable content, check out these golden retriever pitbull mix facts and pitbull basset hound mix facts for kids.

What type of animal is a Miniature American Shepherd?

The Miniature American Shepherd is a domestic breed of dog. It was bred between small, unregistered dogs, which were thought to be Australian Shepherds. The breeding was done in hopes of getting a dog that will have a smaller size, active character, and increased intelligence. They were registered in American Kennel Club (AKC) Foundation Stock Service in May 2011. Some other types of dogs like this are the white German shepherd, Anatolian shepherd dog, and black German shepherd.

What class of animal does a Miniature American Shepherd belong to?

The Miniature American Shepherd is a breed of dog, and like all other dogs, it belongs to the class Mammalia.

How many Miniature American Shepherds are there in the world?

The Miniature American Shepherd is a domestic dog breed. The total number of this dog is not available, but it has a stable population. They are available in pet stores, and a puppy costs roughly between $800-$1500. They are even found in rescue shelters sometimes.

Where does a Miniature American Shepherd live?

The Miniature American Shepherd is mostly found in America and is quite a famous domestic animal. You can find them in many households as they are cute and calm dogs and make for great watchdogs. Breeders too adopt them for their intelligence.

What is a Miniature American Shepherd's habitat?

A Miniature American Shepherd is a dog suitable for the common household. It lives with humans in their house as pets. They have a coat of medium length, so it is preferred to keep them in a cooler environment.

Who do Miniature American Shepherds live with?

The Miniature American Shepherd lives with humans. They are bred for their excellent agility, behavior, intelligence, and loyalty. They are quite easy to train and very enthusiastic about mental stimulation and persistent toward their responsibilities, and owners often take them to dog shows or dog sports for the same reason.

How long does a Miniature American Shepherd live?

Like other dogs, the Miniature American Shepherd has an average life span of 13-15 years. This depends completely on how they are taken care of. If given proper exercise, a balanced and nutritious diet, adequate training, and proper grooming, they can live well up to 15-16 years.

How do they reproduce?

This dog breed's predecessors were closely related to the Australian Shepherd which is why the breed was originally called Mini Aussies. They reproduce like any other breed of dog and give birth to two to six puppies at a time. These puppies have their parent's characteristics and are active and energetic like them.

What is their conservation status?

The Miniature American Shepherd (MAS) is a domestic dog famously found in many American households. It has a stable population as it does not face any danger other than health issues, so it has the conservation status of Not Evaluated.

What do Miniature American Shepherds look like?

The Miniature American Shepherd (MAS) was bred between small, unregistered dogs, which were thought to be Australian Shepherds in California in the 1960s. The breeding was done to get a dog that will have a small size, active character, and intelligence. They are good-natured domestic dogs that have a double coat of fur, which is of medium length. This animal coat comes in a variety of colors and markings: blue merle, red, black, and red merle. They are truly eye-catching dogs.

Both males and females have a moderate mane and frill. Their tail appears in a natural bobtail, and they have tan markings around the eyes and face.

How cute are they?

The Miniature American Shepherd is a really cute dog. It is energetic, versatile, and really bright, which makes it a real herding dog. They are adorable and playable dogs, and you can play with them for hours, and their merle coloration makes them adorable.

How do they communicate?

Like any other dog, a Miniature American Shepherd barks to communicate with each other or gain its owner's attention. It might also produce a 'whining' sound when feeling sad or hurt. Despite its small size, it is a great herding dog and uses its strong instincts for herding and protecting the flocks. It will bark and nip at the herd to move them in the direction the shepherd wants.

How big is a Miniature American Shepherd?

The Miniature American Shepherd comes under the breed of small dogs with a breed standard according to which their average length ranges from 13-18 in (33-45.7 cm) at the shoulder. There is a difference between the size of the male and the female. The male ranges 14-18 in (36-46 cm) at the shoulder, while the female ranges 13-17 in (33–43 cm) at the shoulder.

How fast can a Miniature American Shepherd run?

Miniature American Shepherds have great stamina and speed. They love running and doing exercises. This animal might not be as fast as the Australian Shepherds but are really good runners and are also good at sports. Australian Shepherds can run as fast as 35 mph (56 kph), and MASs are their smaller version, so we can assume that they may reach around 25-30 mph (40-48 kph).

How much does a Miniature American Shepherd weigh?

As per their breed standard, Miniature American Shepherds are small and light-weight dogs with a weight of 20-40 lb (9-18 kg). They are smaller versions of the Australian Shepherd dog. Their small and lightweight body helps them in running faster and for a longer duration.

What are the male and female names of the species?

A male Miniature American Shepherd is called a dog, and the female is called a bitch like any breed of dog. Males are generally larger than females in size, but other than that, there is no significant difference between them.

What would you call a baby Miniature American Shepherd?

Baby Miniature American Shepherds are called puppies. A Miniature American Shepherd puppy costs around $800-$1500. A MAS puppy, much like the Mini Aussies puppy, will fully grow in about one to one and a half years, but their coat will continue to grow and develop until they reach two years of age. So at about nine months, you can estimate just how big a puppy is going to get.

What do they eat?

Miniature American Shepherds are intelligent and energetic animals. They can often be seen in TV dog shows and various other competitions. However, they require high-quality dog food for proper nourishment. You could get commercially manufactured food or prepare it at home under a vet's supervision so that they do not get any health issues.

You should keep in mind that you should feed them using a proper measuring cup to portion out the food, and you shouldn't leave food out all day as this might make them gain excess weight, which is bad for their health. On the other hand, Mini Aussies that are very hyper or active and performance dogs require more healthy food than usual as they burn calories faster.

Are they slobbery?

Like their parent Australian Shepherd, Miniature American Shepherds may also drool as it is common for their breed to drool. They are a bit slobbery, but if they drool a lot, there can be various reasons, such as when it smells its food. However, their drooling might also indicate that they might be poisoned or are unable to swallow food.

Would they make a good pet?

Miniature American Shepherds make great pets as they are an intelligent breed. This dog has amazing agility and loves to exercise, and its training is also very easy. They come under the herding group in American Kennel Club (AKC). As per the American Kennel Club, these herding dogs are high-energy or hyperactive dogs. They require a lot of exercise and should be given enough space so that they can run freely.

As they have a double coat that is medium length, this breed generally sheds a fair amount, but the shedding increases during the shedding season, which comes once or twice a year. Proper grooming practices, including daily brushing to remove dirt and loose fur, will go a long way in this breed maintaining a glowing coat. You could always use the appropriate brush or metal comb to remove tangles. Also, you should regularly trim or cut their nails as big nails might cause them discomfort and might give them certain health issues.

Did you know...

The Miniature American Shepherd Club of the USA (MASCUSA) was formed in 1990 as a parent club for the Miniature Australian Shepherd. It was later added in the AKC in May 2011 as the national parent club for Miniature American Shepherds. It was the first parent breed club and registry.

Even though Miniature American Shepherds were registered with the National Stock Dog Registry in 1983, and they entered the AKC only in May 2011.

MASCUSA, which stands for Miniature American Shepherd Club of the USA, is one of the best resources when you want to adopt a mini Aussie. You could look up the MASCUSA website as they keep a breeder directory there and have a lot of information to get you along the process. It would be wise to always research the breeder from whom you are planning to buy a puppy. When you inquire, a reputable breeder may not have any puppies with them as they breed only a few litters a year. Sometimes these dogs do end up in a rescue, so you should also check the information and support listed on MASCUSA's website as these are verified resources.

This dog gets along with any other pets they are raised with. They usually do not bark a lot and are patient and playful, but they may bark and nip at their heels to get everyone in a line. They are excellent herding dogs if they get proper training when they are young.

What is the difference between Mini Australian Shepherd and Mini American Shepherd?

The Miniature Australian Shepherd is actually bigger than the Miniature American Shepherd. The Miniature American Shepherd only weighs around 20-40 lb (9-18 kg), while the Miniature Australian Shepherd weighs around 40-60 lb (18-27 kg). Their lengths are also different. Miniature Australian Shepherd is about 18-23 in (45.7-58.4 cm) in length, where the Miniature American Shepherd is only 13-18 in (33-45.7 cm). Apart from these, they do not have any key differences. They both have a merle coat which is medium length.

Are Mini Aussies hyper?

Mini Aussies have a really calm temperament. They are intelligent and use their instincts for herding and protecting the flocks. They are energetic, protective, and loyal towards their family. They consider their master as their alpha, and for this reason, they will follow and protect them and their families throughout. This is the main reason you should not leave them alone for hours as they need human interaction, and if they are left alone for a good while, they get disappointed and may develop destructive behaviors like barking excessively.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly animal facts for everyone to discover! Learn more about some other mammals from our Miki dog facts and Greenland dog facts pages.

You can even occupy yourself at home by coloring in one of our free printable Miniature American shepherd coloring pages.