🐕 Miniature American Shepherd (Miniature American Shepherd)
The Miniature American Shepherd was developed in California in the late 1960s, derived from the Australian Shepherd. The goal was to create a small dog with the exceptional qualities of the Aussie: intelligence, loyalty, and ability for herding and guarding work. With its smaller size, it has become an increasingly popular companion in the United States and other countries.
✨ Breed Characteristics
- Name: Miniature American Shepherd (Miniature American Shepherd)
- Origin: United States
- Type: Working dog, companion dog
- Hypoallergenic? No
📊 Quick Facts
- Weight:
- Male: 9-14 kg
- Female: 9-14 kg
- Height:
- Male: 33-46 cm
- Female: 33-43 cm
- Life expectancy: 13-15 years
- Exercise needs: 2 to 3 hours per day
- Apartment living: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (needs space)
🧠 Personality (out of 5 stars)
- Intelligent: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Affectionate: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
- Protective: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
- Playful: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Vocalizations: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
- Obedient: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
- Hunter: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
- Calm: ⭐☆☆☆☆
- Athletic: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Independent: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🐾 Compatibility with
- Children: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (very affectionate and sociable with children)
- Other animals: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (good with other animals, but can be a bit territorial)
- Strangers: ⭐☆☆☆☆ (reserved with strangers)
- Apartment living: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (requires a lot of exercise and outdoor space)
🧼 Maintenance & care
- Ease of maintenance: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (requires moderate maintenance)
- Maintenance cost: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (standard maintenance)
- Care frequency:
- Brushing: Weekly, but more frequent during shedding.
- Additional care: Check ears and nails regularly, maintain good dental hygiene.
💰 Budget
- Purchase price: 1500-2500 €
- Average annual cost (veterinary, accessories, food): 1000-1400 €
🏡 Important note
The Miniature American Shepherd has a high need for exercise, space, and mental stimulation. It thrives in outdoor environments like farms or homes with spacious gardens, where it can run and play freely. It is not recommended for apartment living unless there are long daily outings to expend energy. Its intelligence and energy make it a very active and interactive dog, perfect for a dynamic family. 🌟
