[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Mini Australian Shepard? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 7/28/2016 4:10:07 PM EDT
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so my gf is on my ass for a dog. Some people we know have some mini ausie puppy's and will sell us one for $100. Supposedly the go for upwards of 1k but price doesn't really matter, I just don't want a dog that's going to be hard to take care of. I don't know much about dogs, especialy a mini Australian Shepard other than what I have read on a little bit of Google. Should I FO? |
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I have one. Defended me in my home invasion incident. He's quite possibly my best friend ever and one of the best dogs I've ever had.
Insanely smart and LOVES his family to death. Listens to every word we say unless he's just being stubborn. That includes if you tell him to get a specific color toy and bring it somewhere, or to go tell one of the kids goodnight. He knows exactly what to do. However we can't tell if it's due to the home invasion/shooting or just because Aussies are sometimes difficult around people they don't know, he's not interested in becoming friends with ANYONE else outside of the family. He's nipped at a few heels and we have to be very mindful of him i we invite people over. He's very protective of the kids too. If he even thinks they are about to get hurt he'll get in between them and the person messing with them. (Their bio father comes to mind.) In regards to training, he's very quick to learn things. He also knows that he isn't supposed to go inside the house, he's well potty trained. We can leave him at home for 12-14 hours with no accidents. Though we don't do that often, just on a rare occasion. On the occasion he does have to go, it'll be near the door and for some reason he'll make sure it's on a mat or towel nearby so it's easily cleaned. He also shows his emotions. We swear he's frowned at us on occasion. He knows when he's in trouble or we're upset just by a glance in his direction. You can see when he's happy and smiling or anything. Absolutely great dog. |
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Quoted:
Dated a chick for a bit a few months ago that had one. It wasn't very well behaved, but that isn't the breed's fault. Dog itself was high energy, and it shed a ton and had that annoying fine fur that floats around very easily and gets everywhere, like cat hair. And what was her dog like? 
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Quoted:
And what was her dog like? Quoted:
Quoted:
Dated a chick for a bit a few months ago that had one. It wasn't very well behaved, but that isn't the breed's fault. Dog itself was high energy, and it shed a ton and had that annoying fine fur that floats around very easily and gets everywhere, like cat hair. And what was her dog like? 
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Quoted: And what was her dog like? Quoted: Quoted: Dated a chick for a bit a few months ago that had one. It wasn't very well behaved, but that isn't the breed's fault. Dog itself was high energy, and it shed a ton and had that annoying fine fur that floats around very easily and gets everywhere, like cat hair. And what was her dog like? |
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Why is it your problem if your gf wants one? You're not married. Is it going to be your dog together out of wedlock? It just seems weird to me for her to ask you.
As for mini ausies, the ones I met were wonderful but had a dad with a real backbone and who was devoted to parenting good dogs. Very high energy and potential for destruction. If you're lazy or she's lazy, you shouldn't get a dog period, but if you must, at least get a real 'pet' like a lapsized asshole or a shih tzu. |
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I paid $750 for mine. Worth every penny. He's a total bad ass. Extremely intelligent and trained easier than any dog I've ever known. Ours is very protective over our family though and is borderline aggressive towards others. However he's never bit anyone.
We are getting our second later this year. ETA- I didn't believe people when they said these dogs would nip at your heels and try to heard you. But ours definitely did when he was younger. Everyday when I'd get home from work he'd do it while I walked down the hall. |
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Have one and great dog. Extremely smart. As others have said, they actually recognize words after awhile. And crazy jumpers! If you get her fired up and chasing you through the yard she will jump up nip your shoulder....and I am 6'3"!  They shed a bit, but nothing close to our corgi |
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My fiancé has one. This might turn into a wall of text.
They are very bipolar when it comes to energy. Some days he likes holding me on the couch some days he likes to run around like a manic. Very protective but that may be because of other reasons I'm going to get into. They typically have two different eyes. We call it his crazy eye. And yes it is the good one. Does not really shed. We shave him every couple months in the summer or he gets really hot. When I first started going out with my fiancé he wanted to kill me (bark and growl with the one time biting my ankles as I left). It took me 4 months of sitting on the kitchen floor to get him to even eat treats that I touched. After 6 months I could sit on the couch and around 8 months I could stand and he was still on edge. Two this day 3 years later he barks anytime I touch his mom. He's like our little chaperone. Now a bit of a back history. I am a mechanic. She used to be a manager for a chain of shops ( she managed 3 at once). And would take the Aussie and her Chihuahua to work. She is pretty sure that one of the techs their fucked with him pretty bad. If I don't change out of my uniform when I leave work he will loose it and be very aggressive when I get home. It has taken a long time to get him to warm up to me but now we are best buds. I don't know if it's specific to the bread but he does have seizure problems that are related to anxiety issues. I believe this all goes back to when she managed the shops. If I ever find the sob that messed with him they will die very slowly |
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Quoted: Her money, you guys are not married. I don't think you have a say in this really. I think we are going to go for it. The pup will be ready to come home on 8/15. |
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Everything has been covered pretty well by others. High energy, can be nippy, smart, and loyal. $100 sounds like a backyard breeder 'oopsy ' to me, so for that reason I'd be out.
And to they guy that mentioned a Jack Russell.....  ! Yeah, no. Every single one I've known, met, and owned were complete psycho assholes.
Listen to Bigeasysnow....she is wise. |
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Quoted:
Everything has been covered pretty well by others. High energy, can be nippy, smart, and loyal. $100 sounds like a backyard breeder 'oopsy ' to me, so for that reason I'd be out. And to they guy that mentioned a Jack Russell..... ! Yeah, no. Every single one I've known, met, and owned were complete psycho assholes.
Listen to Bigeasysnow....she is wise. I grew up with Jack Russels, most people are not up for the task and in adulthood I realized I wasn't either. Aussies are a totally different breed (no pun intended).
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While I don't have a mini, I do have a blue heeler. Extremely smart, wants to please you, extremely attentive, and also extremely stubborn.
These dogs demand lots of your time. If you don't have time get another breed. I've had 2, both are extremely protective of family members. Best dogs ever, left alone for long periods they tend to get very mischievous, both love to dig very large holes or dens to lay in. 
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Quoted:
Why is it your problem if your gf wants one? You're not married. Is it going to be your dog together out of wedlock? It just seems weird to me for her to ask you. As for mini ausies, the ones I met were wonderful but had a dad with a real backbone and who was devoted to parenting good dogs. Very high energy and potential for destruction. If you're lazy or she's lazy, you shouldn't get a dog period, but if you must, at least get a real 'pet' like a lapsized asshole or a shih tzu. Real men have Pomeranians. 
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Quoted: Real men have Pomeranians. http://img.wennermedia.com/620-width/hafprr-07ddd199-974f-4cda-a457-1f73e40dce74.jpg Quoted: Real men have Pomeranians. http://img.wennermedia.com/620-width/hafprr-07ddd199-974f-4cda-a457-1f73e40dce74.jpg |
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My uncle has one. Seems like an ok dog but more high energy than a full-sized Aussie, not quite as intelligent (though by no means is it stupid) and needing more stringent training than a full-sized. They do shed a lot just like the full-sized ones. So if you don't want a dog that is "hard" to take care of you may want to think about a different breed. |
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we have two.
amazing dogs. you need a yard to play Frisbee in. They are hyper..and need to be worked. they are extremely loyal. Extremely smart be prepared to be challenged....they are extremely smart..and will test you. You have to keep them interested ..... we love em. Here is Winchester 
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My Dad picked up a toy Australian Shepherd this past March that was 8 weeks old. He had it potty trained in a couple of weeks. My Dachshund took almost a year. Also be aware of the sizes. The miniatures can get pretty big. The toy that he has just weighed in at 11 lbs. last week and is about 14-15" or so tall at the shoulders. It's the perfect size for him. There is a "tea cup" version that is smaller yet. He's pretty skinny and is all fur or so it seems. He's almost got a cat-like body. He's faster than shit.
It has plenty of energy and jumps off of the sofa just fine. He's kind of afraid/unsure of jumping up so we have to pull him up by the butt. He does like to nip on my fingers when I go over. The dog is always thinking. . . Whenever I look at it, you can tell that his wheels are turning. |
I would love to have a mini and often wish my Aussie was smaller. Suppose to be 40-50 and ended up 70!!!!! I have friends and neighbors that have minis ranging from 5lb up to 20lbs. All cool dogs and about like their big brothers and sisters. My Aussie is the greatest dog I have ever owned 
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Quoted: so my gf is on my ass for a dog. Some people we know have some mini ausie puppy's and will sell us one for $100. Supposedly the go for upwards of 1k but price doesn't really matter, I just don't want a dog that's going to be hard to take care of. I don't know much about dogs, especialy a mini Australian Shepard other than what I have read on a little bit of Google. Should I FO? Dogs aren't like boxes of cereal. It's not deciding between corn flakes, cheerios, and fruity pebbles then once you decide fruity pebbles is for you going to a store and grabbing box knowing that all fruity pebbles are the same. You can't decide between a lab, beagle, and poodle then once you decide on beagle buy any beagle expecting them all to be the same. That's why sentences like 'they go upwards of 1K...but this one is $100 so that's like a $900 savings!' It's like saying 'I see a house painted blue for sale, for $100,000....I hear some houses painted bluesell for $1 million or more, so this one has to be a good deal, right?...GD should I buy a blue house?" Look, I realize you say price doesn't matter. And believe it or not I'm not trying to be a dick towards you. The statement just shows a fundamental misunderstanding of where you should be. Is the Mini Aussie a great breed? ABSOLUTELY. Should you go? ABSOLUTELY NOT. What do you want the dog for? General family pet? Mini Aussie can often be a good fit. Hunting pheasants? Hunting hogs? No. bad fit. What kind of general family pet? One that you plan on spending 1 hour a day EVERY DAY giving physical and mental exercise? Yes. Mini Aussie can be a good pet. A dog to keep indoors except for short potty walks, with minimal time investment? Probably no breed, but generally small toy breeds like Yorkies are better minimal exercise dogs. Now, let's talk about 'type' of dog...and while I'll include breed, it's really not breed related. Is a Mini Aussie born of super-hyper parents, who will bounce of the walls, be a good dog for you? Probably not. Will a Mini Aussie born of calm, mentally stable parents be a good dog for you? Probably yes. Will a Mini Aussie to parents on a working ranch, whose only desire is to herd, and to herd all day long, be a good dog for you? Probably not. Will a Mini Aussie born to a puppy mill kept in a cage where it got very little exposure to other dogs, humans, and other animals, and got used to living in it's own shit, making it very difficult to housebreak and very difficult to interact with other family pets you might have be a good fit for you? Probably not. Will a Mini Aussie born to a professional breeder, who at a very early age exposes pup to many different sounds, many different people, many different animals, so it can adapt well to whatever life it finds itself in when it is sold to a new owner be a good fit for you? Probably Yes. And if you think price tag isn't important, realize that it should be. To get a good dog you have to be willing to pay, either time or money, or usually both. The difference between a $100 Mini Aussie and a $1000 Mini Aussie is sometimes nothing but flash and lies and gullibility. However MOST time the difference between a $100 Mini Aussie and a $1000 Mini Aussie is the more expensive dog was produced from parents who were tested for genetic heath defects, who were selected because they had good calm temperaments, and were raised by a breeder who understands the stages of puppy development and has exposed the pups to the world in a way that will allow them to be good well rounded dogs when they grow up. Finding such a breeder, and often having to wait for them to have puppies to sell is where you pay in 'time'. Accepting they are going to charge more than a pup someone is selling outside the local Walmart is the other cost. You really want a dog? Contact Joker1. He's Arfcom's dog expert and dog saint. He'll help you understand what you want, and he'll try and find a dog from his local shelter that matches what you want, and he'll take it in and give it some training and give it a critical appraisal, before passing it off (provided he has the space) And then we'll set up a relay to move the dog cross country to you. |
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Quoted: Great breed, as is the Miniature American Shepherd. http://www.doglib.com/wp-content/uploads/mi/miniature-miniature-american-shepherd-wikipedia-breed.jpg Not mine, but how I do want one. I met a disabled lady in AZ who had a mini American Shepherd as her work/companion dog. That dog was literally brilliant. And of course, dogs don't care one way or the other. Good dog is Good Dog, regardless of breed name, or if a mutt. |
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show us the breeder's webpage, tell us what questions the breeder is asking about you and your lifestyle. That will help us determine if this is likely a $1000 dog due to the time and effort humans put into it through parent selection and early training....or if this is a $100 dog that someone thinks they can pass as a $1000 dogs with some nice pictures. |
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Why are they offering it to you for so cheap? That's a very good question. A very, very good question. That always raises a red flag to me. Anyway, they aren't exactly low maintenance dogs, though they are smart and very cool. Most will have lots of energy, though there are exceptions of course. And an intelligent dog is both a boon and a difficulty. Sometimes they are too smart for their own good, and sometimes they inadvertently learn things you don't necessarily want them to learn. And there is the hair care and maintenance. |