Are you familiar with the breed and the exercise requirements? This is a working dog and I don't think the energy has been bred out of the smaller version, so it's not just about how cute the puppy is :) I know you are the type of pet owner who understand thats. I just cringe when folks choose dogs based on appearances. That's what so often leads to trouble. Glad your kitty is doing well.

And one wonders why the push to produce dogs outside the size standard for the breed? I would run from this breeder based on this alone. Furthermore, eye color genetics are linked to coat color genetics. And in many cases, the dog will be deaf. Mating 2 merle Aussies results in 25% of the offspring being "lethal white" or double merle. Breeders out for the almighty buck will breed 2 merles trying to get blue eyed dogs and end up with dogs that have serious defects. Be very cautious with any breeder bragging about a white coat or blue eyes.
The only color you should be concerned with is healthy

A toy Australian shepherd???

This is person is not breeding to the standard. Therefore, the dogs are not showable. And they're probably too small to be working animals. So they're merely in it for the profit, or because it seems like "fun" to be a breeder. That idea sickens me.

I think I remember being told that Sheltie had been bred into them to produce the small size. If you really like the dogs consider trying to find one thru rescue first.

Lisa

If you are in the Pacific NW, there is a very active mini-aussie rescue. They have dozens of dogs available. Most are older pups or young adults. Reading their profiles you'll see a pattern for why they were surrendered: owners picked them for their beauty without being prepared for the herding dog drive and activity level.

If you're ready for life with a herding dog, it is very rewarding though a 24x7 commitment. :)

Personally, I'm quite suspicious as forthedogs already stated of breeders breeding for size and fancy colors. The United States Australian Shepherd Association has publicly taken a stand against the breeding of mini and toy aussies in a statement you can read on their website:
http://www.australianshepherds.org/miniaussie.html

Aussie are fabulous dogs, but any aussie breeder (standard or otherwise) need to take extra care developing their lines because of the wide range of genetic issues in aussies: deafness, eye defects, epilepsy, hip dysplasia, Von Willebrands, etc. If you do go to a breeder, insist they provide genetic testings results on the parents and puppies, and provide health guarantees.

I appreciate your straightforwardness. FWIW, the dog was merle, not white.
WHEN I am ready for another pet, I don't want a high energy one. I want a toy that can get enough activity in the yard and house. The reason this dog struck me is because I love the look of Aussies.
Thanks for the recommendation of the rescue. I've also decided that next time I do get a pet, I'm going to enlist the help of our vet, I trust her a lot. Our Peke a Poo had cherry eyes and required surgery, so I don't want anymore genetic problems. The best dog I ever had was my corgi. We went to the breeder's house and could see the sire and dam and the other puppies and how they lived. He was smart and loyal. I miss him so. I'm happy with kitty though and she is healthy.

Thanks all,
Carla

That's great news that your little kitty has gotten over his problems...He's lucky to have you as his person.

L

lfnyc, I was thinking of you when I posted. Kitty is fine. I also think she gorges her kibble at night although I am feeding small amounts of Wellness chicken. I bought her a new brush that gets the hair out. I just love animals but know my limit right now and I'm not getting younger!
Thanks for asking about kitty. Oh, BTW, her official name is Dolce.

Carla

I agree those mini and the toy aussies are beautiful especially the blue merles. I hope you get a rescue and that the pup makes a fine addition to your clan. YOu should be aware that the aussie is an off shoot of the dalmatian and does require lots of physical stimulus

All kibble will cause dental issues, sooner or later. I would stick to canned, grain free foods. Or better yet a raw diet

However I too feel the urge to buy more pets then is smart or reasonable yesterday I was at a LFS, ( World of fish) they were selling blue angel rams, $30 a pair. They were drop dead BEAUTIFUL!, locally bred by a breeder, In RO water Ph 6.0 - It was the same water they were selling too!.

I think every pet owner gets those wild urges to buy too many pets, or just ones they fall in love with. We just have to control them the best we can.

It seems when anyone ever talks about breeding dogs, someone always questions if it is 'showable'. Who cares???? I would never put any of my children in a beauty contest and look at showing animals in the same way. They are being used to satisfy the silly whims of people.

If someone wants to raise minatures of a breed, why is that any different than the way dogs have been bred for centuries. Why do you think we have such a variety of dogs?

*sigh* The point of bringing up whether or not a dog is "showable" is because a) it is being bred for a purpose (whether or not you agree that's a worthy purpose is a different issue), and b) it's being held to a breed standard -- you're not just throwing together a couple of crappy examples of the same breed together, and saying "Garsh, look at these puppies I got."

As for why you should only breed for a purpose (such as showing or working dogs) -- duh, that should be obvious. There's millions of unwanted animals in shelters being euthanized yearly. You should not be producing animals unless you have a very good reason for doing so.

I regret starting this post. I thought this forum was helpful at first but now it seems more like Hot Topics. Not everyone has the same experience and opinions. To me a true professional explains things in a kinder, more mature way.
I think I am through here. This type of posts will probably discourage a new person with questions.

Carla

carla, my apologies if my response seemed harsh. But carmen has had this issue explained to her multiple times in other threads. The only reason she is arguing for breeding is because she wants to breed her own dog...in essence, becoming a backyard breeder herself. There are some of us here that are not exactly thrilled with her plans, hence my impatience. Again, my apologies towards you if my reply seemed harsh -- it was not targeted towards you.

rivkadr, apology accepted. If there is one thing I don't like it is individuals who breed and shouldn't, just for the money. We need more advocates for animal's rights. Those poor babies can't speak. I think breeders need to be responsible and held accountable. There are too many puppy and kitty mills now.

Carla

Exactly, rivkadr.

What is the purpose of a toy aussie? Herding miniature cows? Personally, I've always thought a mini Great Dane would be wonderful, so I'll just breed my way through 1000's of litters until i get what i want.
(that was sarcasm, btw)

Also, "lethal white" is not a white Aussie, it's a "double merle" - resulting when a merle is bred to a merle.

Here is a link that might be useful: if you're constantly asking questions, you probably shouldn't be considering breeding

Granted, it IS very interesting (fun?) to see the results of the mixing and matching of genetics, but not at the cost of the lives involved.... and the lives to be. If the subject of color combinations and looks appeals to someone, they should take up arts-n-crafts and THEN go to the shelter to adopt the results of someone else's curiousity (irresponsibility). For me (and anyone I can nag), the gene stops here!
p.s. No disrespect intended, but please, please think about this issue, the killing of thousands & thousands of "companion" animals.

Yep... but I don't think the breeders are going to stop anytime soon.

I have a purebred though( Somali), some breeders DO care, its just few and far between. I think if CFA, CBL had standards like you must never de claw, or feed regular cat foods, or sell kittens to some buddy elderly( who will probably be dead before the cat is/ and is at risk from the cat itself) it would help. Same with dogs too.

if they make codes you must able to conform if you want to be a part of the org it would help. of course it could just have the oppisite effects and make more BYB but there's so many BYB its silly to not do it for this reason alone just like its silly for animal rights people to ban an end to de clawing because more cats would be pts.. thats dumb, MILLIONS OFTHEM ARE ALREADY PTS EACH YEAR, and honestly thats better IMHO then a painful surgery, needless suffering, the animal becomes a biting cat that goes to a shelter to be PTS anyway.

You don't want a high energy dog, and you want a lap dog, so the Aussie of any size is straight out. They are beautiful, but are VERY high energy. I haven't known them to be particularly cuddly either. Nice dogs, but not the type to be content sitting on your lap. In fact, they wouldn't be content playing in the yard either- they need jobs or things (furniture, yards, fences, plants, grass, blankets, etc.) get destroyed. I have huskies, another beautiful breed that people get before doing research. And they wonder why the dog won't listen to them (among the most stubborn breeds) and keep escaping (they run- it's their job) and dig holes in the yard or carpet (it's instinct, to stay warm or cool). Even I think Aussies are more difficult to own than Huskies though, which is why I don't have any. Because like you, I think Aussies are gorgeous dogs. But they are not for everyone. I'm sure you'll find the perfect dog when you really start searching, and any dog will be lucky to have you. But don't set yourself up for frustration or worse failure by choosing a breed that doesn't fit your needs.

I hate it when people are breeding these beautiful breeds into tiny dogs, good grief, don't they know the health issues that are caused when they breed them with other breeds together?

Yes, you need to check into what is the best breed for what you want?

If you want a calm quiet dog and don't plan on walking it or doing anything with it, then look for that kind of dog that won't mind being inside with you and running around in the house and wearing it out that way.

Do you want one that is yappy, barks constantly at everything?

I don't like how so many people have bought those full size Australian shepherd dogs and say oh, but they are so nice. Yes, they are but they are working dogs, they aren't meant to lay there all day long and night. They are meant to be on the go and work. That is what they are bred for.
Not for city or house dogs.

You don't go for cute, there are tons out that are cute but you go for what is best for you and your lifestyle.

Would you like to live in a house, be very active and not be taken outside, walked, thrown a ball, taken for car rides to see things and just be stuck inside and for many they are put into crates for 13-15 hours a day. Unreal that is.

I LOVE Australian Shepherds (and Border Collies), but I would never get either one because of their high activity needs. I know myself, and I wouldn't be able to work with a high energy dog enough.

As others have said, if you want a dog that is not high energy, an Aussie is NOT the dog for you. Just because what you saw was a smaller version, does not mean they have any less energy or will be any less destructive without the proper amount of activity and training.

The Aussie (as he is lovingly nicknamed) is a very active dog that needs a great deal of exercise on a daily basis to prevent him from become bored or frustrated and developing destructive habits. Because of their high energy level, combined with high intelligence, Aussies need to be given a "job" to perform, be it shepherding the children, herding livestock or competing in dog events.

One of the most frequent reasons Aussies are turned over to rescue groups is because their owners didn't realize how much energy the breed has, and weren't willing to channel that energy through training. Aussies are also quite demanding of their owners' time and attention and want to be constantly with them, following them from room to room in the house, and going along in the car or truck on errands. They can be highly territorial and protective of their masters' possessions, which can cause serious difficulties unless controlled with proper training.