Meet Sadie, a one and a half year old Miniature Australian Shepherd. Sadie is a lively little dog who enjoys chasing birds and deer in her back yard. Her favorite activity is practicing the ‘classic shepherd’ herding technique on her big sister, a Miniature Schnauzer named Abby.

Sadie loves to jump into any available lap and curl up for a nap or some good petting. For her favorite food, a Charlee Bear Dog Treat, she will show off all her best tricks such as sit up, high five, and shake. At night she can be found on the bed, sandwiched between her owners, with her tongue slightly hanging out of her mouth, dreaming of another fun filled day.

The Miniature Australian Shepherd, also known as the Miniature Aussie, was developed in the 1960’s through the selective breeding of small Australian Shepherds. This breed is not recognized by the American Kennel Club as a variety of the Australian Shepherd, but can be registered with other registries such as the National Stock Dog Registry.

This compact breed loves to work, and excels at agility, obedience, disc dog, flyball, and herding. The Miniature Australian Shepherd is an intelligent, loyal, playful, affectionate, and courageous breed. An excellent pet for families with children, this dog loves to please and is easy to train. However, they can become easily bored, so plenty of exercise, both mental and physical, is needed to prevent a dog from becoming destructive.

As a herding breed, Miniature Australian Shepherds will herd other animals in the home. They will even attempt to herd people by nipping at heels, a behavior which should be quickly stopped.

Miniature Australian Shepherds are so adorable they stop most people in their tracks. They are perpetual puppies that fit well in today’s modern lifestyle. They are easy to groom, are average shedders, do well living in apartments with regular exercise, and they make excellent working dogs and love to have a ‘job’.

To learn more about Miniature Australian Shepherds or to rescue, please visit the North American Miniature Australian Shepherd Club of the USA at www.namascusa.com.