Pastoral group · United States
Miniature American Shepherd
Also called MAS, Mini Aussie, Miniature Australian Shepherd.
What makes them remarkable
This small herder began in California, developed from smaller Australian Shepherds.
- Intelligent
- Devoted
- Energetic
- Versatile
- Loyal
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 9 to 18 kg20 to 40 lb
- Lives
- 12 to 13 years
- Energy
- High
- Trains
- Very High
- Barks
- Moderate
Training
Training a Miniature American Shepherd
Pastoral breeds. Give the brain a job or it will find one. Chasing, nipping and fixating are the breed doing its work.
Small But Mighty
Start here
Don't let size fool you, needs same mental and physical challenges as full-size Aussies.
Excel at Dog Sports
Perfect size for agility, flyball, and disc dog competitions.
Herding Drive
May try to herd children and pets, redirect this natural instinct appropriately.
The app turns this into five to fifteen minutes a day.
Add your Miniature American Shepherd and it builds the plan around their age, where they came from and what they already know, one step at a time.
Free to start. iPhone. No card needed.
At home
Living with one
Bred to herd and guard livestock. Watchful, responsive, and wired to control movement.
Gets on with
- ChildrenHigh
- Other dogsHigh
- StrangersModerate
- CatsModerate
Breed averages. Early socialisation and the individual dog matter more.
- Exercise
- 1-1.5 hours daily. Active exercise and mental stimulation required.
- Grooming
- Moderate to heavy shedding. Regular brushing needed.
- Drool
- Low
- Coat
- Double coat, Medium length, WavyBlack, Blue Merle, Red, Red Merle, All with White Markings
- In a flat
- Can work, with enough exercise outside it.
Health
Things to ask a breeder or vet about
Hip Dysplasia
Moderate
Joint condition despite smaller size
MDR1 Gene Mutation
Moderate
Drug sensitivity. DNA testing recommended
Progressive Retinal Atrophy
Moderate
Inherited eye disease
Where they come from
History
Developed in California in the 1960s by selectively breeding smaller Australian Shepherds. Originally called Miniature Australian Shepherd, renamed to gain AKC recognition in 2015.
Similar breeds
All breeds
Pyrenean Shepherd
A working partnership: the small Pyrenean Shepherd moved the flock while the much larger Great Pyrenees guarded it.
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Shetland Sheepdog
A small herder for small islands: the Sheltie developed around Shetland’s limited grazing and smaller livestock.
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Australian Cattle Dog
Dingoes are part of this cattle dog’s ancestry, alongside imported herding dogs.
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Border Collie
Its name marks its birthplace: the sheep country along the border between Scotland and England.
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