Miniature American Shepherd
A small Australian shepherd, bred down on the American horse show circuit where a dog had to fit in the trailer. Same drive, same coat, two thirds the size.
Photo by Jugabe3b, CC BY-SA 4.0
Overview
The Miniature American Shepherd was bred down from small Australian Shepherds in California in the 1960s, specifically to be a herding dog that fitted in a horse trailer on the rodeo circuit. It is a full herding dog at thirteen to eighteen inches rather than a toy version of one.
It is a separate breed from the Australian Shepherd now, though the two share almost everything including the merle coat and the warning that goes with it.
Temperament
Bright, biddable and busy. Miniature American Shepherds are affectionate with their families, reserved with strangers, and they are among the most trainable small dogs there is.
The herding drive is fully intact. They circle, they nip at heels, and they will herd children and cyclists. They are sensitive, they need mental work, and they are not a small calm pet despite the size.
Care and grooming
A medium double coat that needs brushing twice a week and daily during the two heavy moults.
The MDR1 drug sensitivity variant is common in this breed as in the Australian Shepherd, and it matters practically: an affected dog can be harmed by ordinary doses of several common drugs. It has a cheap DNA test. Merle to merle breeding produces deaf and blind puppies and is the hard question for any breeder.
Living and exercise
Ninety minutes to two hours a day plus training. They excel at agility, obedience and herding.
They suit an active household that wants a small dog with a working brain, and they are a poor fit for anyone who chose them for the size alone.
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