Is an Aussie or Mini American Right For You?
Buying a puppy of any breed can be a 12-15 year commitment. So often people fall in love with a cute puppy for all the wrong reasons and end up with a lot of heartache or a dog that is not suitable for their lifestyle. If you are considering buying or adopting an Australian Shepherd or Miniature American Shepherd, you first need to learn as much as possible about the breed and then decide if it is the right kind of dog for you. We hope the following will help you with your decision.
The Aussie/Mini American were both developed as a farm and ranch dog, not only to work livestock, but also to be a companion and guardian of the family and the family's possessions. He is equally happy whether working or simply being with his owner or family, to whom he is very devoted. Because the Aussie must be able to take his masters command in order to control livestock, he is highly trainable, intelligent and willing to please - without these traits he would be useless as a livestock working dog. A versatile working dog, he is used across America to work cattle, sheep, goats and even poultry. Aussies have long been popular with small farmers who need a dog to help them, but don't have enough work to keep the dog continually busy.The Aussies' bond with his owner is a part of his heritage. Early day Aussies were often depended upon to guard the children while both parents were in the field. Valuable equipment and livestock were safe when the family Aussie was there.
Many Aussies are friendly with everyone, but the Australian Shepherd generally tends to be reserved and cautious with strangers. Reserved dogs can be encouraged to accept people with some success, but some never accept strangers. Aussies tend to form a stronger bond with their family and owners than some other breeds. This trait causes some dogs to become protective against what they perceive as a threat. Remember that dogs of any breed may become aggressive if they are poorly socialized and untrained.
Because these dogs were developed to manage livestock, their intelligence and energy needs to be used elsewhere if they are not to be worked. Obedience training is highly recommended, and Aussies will learn quickly. When raised with children, Aussies love kids and quickly become a playmate. Aussies don't necessarily need a farm to exercise on, but they do need daily exercise and attention. Young dogs of any breed will require more exercise the first year of their life than an older dog. Most Aussies love to play ball and Frisbee, and many love water and swimming.
If you are looking for a dog with an intense desire to please and who is very loyal to you and your family, the Aussie will make you a wonderful companion as well as a great working partner if you have livestock. You should be aware of his territorial instincts and that he may be naturally possessive and protective of his owners and home. You and your environment will greatly determine the dog you end up with.
"The Australian Shepherd is intelligent, primarily a working dog of strong herding and guardian instincts. He is and exceptional companion. He is versatile and easily trained, performing his assigned tasks with great style and enthusiasm. He is reserved with strangers but does not exhibit shyness. Although an aggressive, authoritative worker, viciousness toward people or animals is intolerable." This says it all. If this dog fits your lifestyle, enjoy your Aussie!
Miniature American Shepherds share many of the traits people love about Australian Shepherds...intelligence, loyalty, athleticism and a strong desire to be with their people...in a smaller package. While they are their own recognized breed with their own breed standard, families who love the Aussie personality but prefer a smaller dog often find the Mini American to be a great fit.
For The Breed Standard on Australian Shepherds or Miniature American Shepherds
Please Visit AKC at the links below:
A Responsible Breeder...Is a Responsible Choice...
What Goes Into a Copper Sky Puppy?
Sometimes people see the price of a puppy and think, “Wait...how much?!” 😂 And I get it. From the outside, breeding can look like cute puppies, puppy pictures, and eight weeks of snuggles.
There is definitely plenty of that. ❤️ But there is also a whole lot that happens long before...and long after...a litter is born.
Responsible breeding starts years before those puppies ever exist. We spend countless hours researching pedigrees, choosing breeding pairs, completing health and genetic testing, caring for our adult dogs, and making decisions about which dogs should, and sometimes shouldn't, be part of our breeding program.
I breed for beautiful dogs, of course, but health and temperament will always matter more to me than producing a certain color or marking. My goal is a healthy, confident, people-oriented dog that can go do all the things with their family and then come home and have that all-important off switch.
Then the puppies arrive...
And for the next eight weeks, they pretty much run our lives. 😂
Those first days mean around-the-clock monitoring, weighing puppies, checking mom constantly, making sure everyone is nursing and gaining appropriately, changing bedding approximately 97 times a day, and waking up for every suspicious little puppy noise in the middle of the night.
As they grow, so does the workload.
There is cleaning. So. Much. Cleaning. Laundry that never ends. Feeding and weaning. Deworming. Vaccinations. Veterinary exams. Nail trims. Baths. Puppy-proofing. More cleaning. And somehow, immediately after everything is spotless, somebody poops again.
But raising puppies well is about much more than keeping them fed and clean.
We begin Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) when they're just days old and continue intentionally exposing them to different sounds, surfaces, environments, people and experiences as they grow. We spend a tremendous amount of time handling, playing with and simply observing our puppies.
That last part is important...
By the time they're ready to leave, I don't just know which puppy is the blue merle or which one has blue eyes. I know who barrels into everything without a second thought, who likes to sit back and figure things out first, who follows me everywhere, who lives for belly rubs, who's independent, who's cuddly, who's confident and who's a little more thoughtful.
That's why temperament is such a big part of how I help families choose their puppy.
There are also a lot of things you don't see.
Health and genetic testing. OFA evaluations. Stud fees and breeding expenses. Prenatal and veterinary care. Quality food. Registration expenses. Medications and preventatives. Whelping supplies. Puppy pens, crates, bedding, toys and enrichment equipment. Vaccinations and deworming. Emergency veterinary care when something doesn't go according to plan. And dogs have an incredible talent for making sure something eventually doesn't go according to plan.
Then there's the time. Answering applications and emails. Talking with families. Updating the website. Taking pictures and videos. Keeping records. Cleaning. Socializing. Evaluating temperaments. Vet appointments. Preparing puppies to go home. Answering approximately 700 questions, and genuinely being happy to answer them because I want families to feel prepared. And yes, taking 87 pictures of one puppy to get the three where they're looking at me instead of attacking the backdrop.
And it doesn't end at eight weeks.
This may actually be the biggest part people don't see. When you take home a Copper Sky puppy, I'm not finished with that dog.
I'm still here when they're 10 weeks old and you want to know why they're suddenly acting like a tiny land shark. I'm here for training questions, food questions, health questions and the “Is this normal?!” texts. I love getting birthday pictures years later and seeing the dogs they grow into.
And if life ever changes and one of my dogs needs somewhere to go, a Copper Sky dog always has a home here.
So yes, breeding is a business. I'm not going to pretend there isn't money involved or that I don't expect to be paid for the enormous amount of work that goes into doing this well.
But puppies aren't products coming off an assembly line.
They're living little beings that I've planned for, worried over, lost sleep over, raised in my home and loved before they ever become yours.
When you purchase a puppy from a responsible breeder, you're not simply paying for the eight-week-old puppy you're carrying out the door.
You're paying for the years of knowledge, planning, health testing, care and generations of thoughtful breeding that made that puppy possible.
And at the end of those crazy eight weeks, when I get to hand a healthy, happy puppy to the family who has been watching and waiting for them...
Yeah. That's still the best part. ❤️