Aussies vs. Mini Aussies
- Thread starter Paige
- Start date
My understanding is that aussies always came in a range of sizes. When the breed was recognized by the AKC, the standard excluded the smaller ones. The "mini-Aussies" called "North American Shepherds" as well, are the result of a breed split, not of delibrate breeding of a "miniature" variety of regular aussies.
I looked into it after I was horrified of the idea of creating toy aussies . . . I thought the puppy mills were up to something. Well, they ARE, but they didn't invent them.
I looked into it after I was horrified of the idea of creating toy aussies . . . I thought the puppy mills were up to something. Well, they ARE, but they didn't invent them.
More info:
http://www.australianshepherds.org/miniaussieILP.html
IMO, it seems like some of the mini aussie folks are trying to pass their dogs of as australian shepherds with the AKC in order to compete. That doesn't make any sense to me if they want to actually be recognized - why not do it legit and work for approval instead of tip toeing around?
Paige, sorry if I'm going off topic.
http://www.australianshepherds.org/miniaussieILP.html
IMO, it seems like some of the mini aussie folks are trying to pass their dogs of as australian shepherds with the AKC in order to compete. That doesn't make any sense to me if they want to actually be recognized - why not do it legit and work for approval instead of tip toeing around?
Paige, sorry if I'm going off topic.
Someone with an Aussie told me that the mini's were being bred more and more so they could have height dogs for flyball and also be in the smaller divisions for agility, and not have to always be competing with the border collies.
I don't know if thats true or not, but that was what the aussie owner told me.
I don't know if thats true or not, but that was what the aussie owner told me.
Here is their side of the story, I've heard the same from some agility people.
http://www.namascusa.com/about.htm
http://www.namascusa.com/about.htm
I read that.
The only thing I've seen "mini" aussies being good at is agility/flyball and that's where they are frequently seen - and isn't herding the the one thing they SHOULD have to back up the size difference? It seems like most are breeding them to be small and fast, and that's that.
If someone wants to own a "mini" aussie or breed them, then that is their right. But when they misidentify them to the AKC as an aussie (which several do), that's when I disagree entirely and question the ethics of most of those who own and breed them. You would think that the club would crack down on those who do it, but I haven't seen anything like that...
Look at the "Aussie" Willow and her owner! Awful IMO.
The only thing I've seen "mini" aussies being good at is agility/flyball and that's where they are frequently seen - and isn't herding the the one thing they SHOULD have to back up the size difference? It seems like most are breeding them to be small and fast, and that's that.
If someone wants to own a "mini" aussie or breed them, then that is their right. But when they misidentify them to the AKC as an aussie (which several do), that's when I disagree entirely and question the ethics of most of those who own and breed them. You would think that the club would crack down on those who do it, but I haven't seen anything like that...
Look at the "Aussie" Willow and her owner! Awful IMO.
Or Pygmy goats . . . and how about the little Highland Cattle? http://www.rockisland.com/~mhildegard/cattle.html
OH! http://www.minicattle.com/index.cfm?select=irishjersey
OH! http://www.minicattle.com/index.cfm?select=irishjersey
Hehe...these are cute...I want one..
http://www.miniaturebull.com/bull2.html
ETA: OMG...this is where those little mini Whitecastles come from!
http://www.miniaturebull.com/bull2.html
ETA: OMG...this is where those little mini Whitecastles come from!
There was some talk on agile-L a month ago maybe.. I don't play AKC, and I don't have one so I didn't pay the utmost attention, but due to the min/ reg aussie issue/ problem it seemed the AKC refused to crack down harder on ILPs, so the AKCs answer was a fixed jump height. I think it was Aussie club members that were going to get to vote on the issue..
But.. if you have an undersized aussie, or an oversized one, then you are in the wrong height.. Sure would eliminate really undersized ones.. but I think it's a weird move.
They already have rules about not being able to be registered as two breeds.. But I think it applies to ILPs only. Maybe they need to do something about breeders breeding under the AKC and mini aussie orgs at the same time, rather than do funny things to the agility rules.
But.. if you have an undersized aussie, or an oversized one, then you are in the wrong height.. Sure would eliminate really undersized ones.. but I think it's a weird move.
They already have rules about not being able to be registered as two breeds.. But I think it applies to ILPs only. Maybe they need to do something about breeders breeding under the AKC and mini aussie orgs at the same time, rather than do funny things to the agility rules.
Scary thing about the mini cattle is that it's the same thing as the teacup breeding phenomena in dogs . . . Back in the day, an undersized bull was called a "gomer" and was kept with the herd of cows to alert the farmer to when he needed to put the bull in with the cows. Gomers were never, ever purposely bred.
