Toy Australian Shepherds

 

Toy Australian Shepherds are small version of Standard Australian Shepherds. Despite their name, it is a breed that comes from the United States, hence the name of my breeding, Perles Americaines (American Pearls). They are between 25 and 35.5 cm at the withers, and between 3.5 and 8 kg but their weight varies according to their bone structure and size. Despite their small size, Toys are as smart and active as miniature and standard Aussies. If the dogs are coming from good lines, like mine do, they were not crossed with smaller breeds to obtain this size, it just took generations and generations to reduce the size by taking the smallest puppies from litters. You can see it in the family trees of each of my dogs (links in their pages).

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Fun Fact:

Standard Australian Shepherds weren't as tall back in the day as they are today. They were on the larger size of our actual Mini American/Australian Shepherds. Thus, Humans reduced but also increased the size of the breed. Therefore, genetically standard Aussies can produce minis and vice versa. This also applies to Minis and Toys.

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Character:

Toy Australian Shepherds (as well as all sizes) are very close to their owner and love to please them. They are very intelligent and require physical as well as mental stimulation. They are shepherds, so you must occupy them for them to get bored. If they have no actual work to do, you can teach them tricks, do daily obedience/training sessions at home and on your outings, play board games, or even do activities like agility, cani cross or even go to herding class. They are good family dogs; they are loving and protective. Socialization is very important the first year for the dog to be well-balanced.

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Coat & Colors:

Australian Shepherds have medium to long fur and shed, like most dogs, so you have to brush them to maintain their fur, but above all never shave them, only sanitary cuts! They have a double coat, which protects them from cold and hot. There are three main coat types, Blue Merle Blue, Red Merle, Red Tricolor and Black Tricolor. There are also Bicolor (no copper), minimal white, self-merles (extremely rare, just merle without any white or copper) but also non-standard colors such as diluted and yellow.

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Register & Health tested:

My dogs are registered with American Stock Dog Registry (ASDR), which is an American registry. Thus, they will have American papers, as the breed is not recognized in Europe yet. They will be registered at birth, and you will just have to send the papers in to register your address and the dog’s name. Their parents are also health tested for genetic diseases. However, I advice that even if they are not MDR1 affected (cannot take every medication) you always treat them as they were affected not to take any risk by giving them a medication that could potentially kill them..!