Miniature Aussie Info Please
- Thread starter Bodi's Mom
- Start date
:banghead: *deep breath*
Ok, first off, there is NO SUCH THING as a "toy/teacup" Aussie. Those who try to tell you so are typically covering up the fact that they have crossed wildly out of standard Aussies with either super-small Shelties or Pomeranians. They have nothing that makes them an Aussie besides a docked tail.
Neither the ASCA nor the AKC recognize "miniature Aussies". In fact, even the "Mini Aussie Club" is now in the process of changing it's name to "North American Shepherd" because they know they are not breeding Aussies anymore, but something different.
The new addition is probably going to be a very small dog. I wouldn't call it an Aussie though.
Ok, first off, there is NO SUCH THING as a "toy/teacup" Aussie. Those who try to tell you so are typically covering up the fact that they have crossed wildly out of standard Aussies with either super-small Shelties or Pomeranians. They have nothing that makes them an Aussie besides a docked tail.
Neither the ASCA nor the AKC recognize "miniature Aussies". In fact, even the "Mini Aussie Club" is now in the process of changing it's name to "North American Shepherd" because they know they are not breeding Aussies anymore, but something different.
The new addition is probably going to be a very small dog. I wouldn't call it an Aussie though.
I agree. I see this all too often at the DP. Oh check out my new mini aussie!
I dont understand why people are breeding minis and toys. Well I get that the demand is there. But these breeds were bred specifically for a purpose, and I would think that changing the size of the dog is going to hinder that original purpose.
Bailey is a pocket beagle. When I got her 5 yrs ago (as a rescue sort of- I was her 4th home in her short one year. Her 2nd owner got her from a guy who paid $750.00 for her from a pocket beagle breeder. He didnt like her I guess, and this girl bought her from him, kept her crated 12 hrs a day, and then thought she was too hyper with her jack russell, so she gave her to my ex and his roommate, who then gave her to me when he moved back here. Dont worry shes staying put.) She is 20 pounds, has toothpick legs. Her body is too big for her teeny tiny legs to if you pick her up by her armpits she yelps. Her ears also do not reach her nose as a well bred beagls would. (This actually works to my advantage because Kodys ears need to be cleaned ALL the time and Bailey's stay clean.) She also has bug-eyes lol. I think somewhere she may have been mixed with chihuahua. But who knows- her first owner claimed she was akc certified, but who even knows lol.
I dont understand why people are breeding minis and toys. Well I get that the demand is there. But these breeds were bred specifically for a purpose, and I would think that changing the size of the dog is going to hinder that original purpose.
Bailey is a pocket beagle. When I got her 5 yrs ago (as a rescue sort of- I was her 4th home in her short one year. Her 2nd owner got her from a guy who paid $750.00 for her from a pocket beagle breeder. He didnt like her I guess, and this girl bought her from him, kept her crated 12 hrs a day, and then thought she was too hyper with her jack russell, so she gave her to my ex and his roommate, who then gave her to me when he moved back here. Dont worry shes staying put.) She is 20 pounds, has toothpick legs. Her body is too big for her teeny tiny legs to if you pick her up by her armpits she yelps. Her ears also do not reach her nose as a well bred beagls would. (This actually works to my advantage because Kodys ears need to be cleaned ALL the time and Bailey's stay clean.) She also has bug-eyes lol. I think somewhere she may have been mixed with chihuahua. But who knows- her first owner claimed she was akc certified, but who even knows lol.
the 22lb aussie sounds like a mini to me as well...The 'new' puppy,,well, she may be a mini and even tho technically there aren't "toy" aussies,,there are people peddling "toy" aussies..to get that small size they seem to be throwing pomeranian/pap/ and whatever else "small" dog to get that small size. Do they look like toy aussies (tiny aussies)? the ones I've seen DO look more like whatever they were mixed with to get that size,,long snipey noses, small heads, buggy eyes,,
Do I condone them? I myself, certainly wouldn't mind a "mini" at some point,,I have alot of friends with them, and I like them
) The toys,,no,,to many variables as to what they are mixed with..just my 2 cents
Do I condone them? I myself, certainly wouldn't mind a "mini" at some point,,I have alot of friends with them, and I like them
) The toys,,no,,to many variables as to what they are mixed with..just my 2 cents
There are "true" Mini Aussies... Australian Shepherds who are simply under standard. But when you get under 15"/25 lbs it becomes evident that the dogs are nothing more than designer mixes who money-grubbing breeders try (and fail) to pass as purebred, undersized Aussies.
An under standard "Mini Aussie":
An Aussie mixed with Pom/Chi/whatever and passed off as a "Toy Aussie":
If the dog has a domed head, bulgy eyes, snippy muzzle, fly-away ears, fine bone, and/or a generally flighty, nervous temperament and no signs of herding instinct or a biddable temperament... you can rest assured that "Toy Aussie" is just a cute name for a mixed breed. 7 lbs at 16 weeks is about the weight of a large Pomeranian! IMHO, a 12 lb dog is going to have some trouble working cattle. Why do people do this?! Why not get a freakin' toy dog and leave working breeds alone?
An under standard "Mini Aussie":
An Aussie mixed with Pom/Chi/whatever and passed off as a "Toy Aussie":
If the dog has a domed head, bulgy eyes, snippy muzzle, fly-away ears, fine bone, and/or a generally flighty, nervous temperament and no signs of herding instinct or a biddable temperament... you can rest assured that "Toy Aussie" is just a cute name for a mixed breed. 7 lbs at 16 weeks is about the weight of a large Pomeranian! IMHO, a 12 lb dog is going to have some trouble working cattle. Why do people do this?! Why not get a freakin' toy dog and leave working breeds alone?
Umm... every single day!!!
Many people see animals as disposable, just like a couch that has gone out of style or lost it's newness. Price is often irrelevant. Purebreds, presumably purchased for $100's, make up a huge percentage of abandoned dogs. Pet store dogs cost $1000's and I'm sure many (if not MOST) of them end up re-homed, abandoned, or euthanized. Anyone who purchases a living creature out of impulse or fad is much, much, much more likely to abandon them, while puppies produced for impulsive buyers and fads are often higher priced than well-bred show/working quality puppies who have been planned for and reserved long before being bought.
Many people see animals as disposable, just like a couch that has gone out of style or lost it's newness. Price is often irrelevant. Purebreds, presumably purchased for $100's, make up a huge percentage of abandoned dogs. Pet store dogs cost $1000's and I'm sure many (if not MOST) of them end up re-homed, abandoned, or euthanized. Anyone who purchases a living creature out of impulse or fad is much, much, much more likely to abandon them, while puppies produced for impulsive buyers and fads are often higher priced than well-bred show/working quality puppies who have been planned for and reserved long before being bought.
Unfortuantely it doesn't seem very hard to make a skittish or snappy herding breed dog. A LOT of aussies, bcs, collies and shelties I see in the shelter have those kinds of temperament issues. A lot more than other dogs it seems. And considering a lot of the breeders of toy aussies are using toy breeds to cross into, you can find some nasty nasty toy dogs. They are without a doubt one of the most overbred groups of dogs.
Most toy aussies I see look like someone's crossed in a papillon, pom, or sheltie. I've seen many that just look like tricolor shelties or paps with docked tails. I'm not totally opposed to the idea, imo there may be a niche for a small, fast, responsive sports type dog. I really like the idea of a small breed of that nature, but the dogs being produced are not aussies. Shelties of course are an option but there is a big difference between a sheltie and an aussie temperament wise.
Most toy aussies I see look like someone's crossed in a papillon, pom, or sheltie. I've seen many that just look like tricolor shelties or paps with docked tails. I'm not totally opposed to the idea, imo there may be a niche for a small, fast, responsive sports type dog. I really like the idea of a small breed of that nature, but the dogs being produced are not aussies. Shelties of course are an option but there is a big difference between a sheltie and an aussie temperament wise.