Miniature Australian Shepherd (Our Perfect Companion)

As with all pure breed dogs good breeding makes all the difference in making the right decision for your family and lifestyle. Once established with your breed of choice, you are well on your way .The Aussie ticked every box for you as it did for us.

All breeds have their potential health concerns, I learned. Aussie’s have some hip and joint issues and some allergy and eye problems that have come to light in their history.

Once we began training (and loving) our new family member, we invested in some pet stairs and portable dog ramps to protect our 4-legged friend’s joints on the home front, while giving him easy access to his favorite sofa locations next to his family. We know he will be active and engaged in vigorous play for a long time, but we can minimize some stress on his joints at the same time.

Sid has proven to be everything we had wanted in a pet: highly intelligent, alert and eager to learn and be challenged. We have only a small fenced yard, but we spend just as much time on our long walks and participating in strenuous activities we all enjoy. Agility has been part of his regular training; he has also taken to obedience training by all of us, with his great eagerness to please. Firm “pack leadership” has laid the foundation for our bonding. We began to socialize him early so he would be comfortable with other animals and humans; this has paid off at every turn.

When he exhausts himself with his many forms of physical and mental stimulation outside, he continues inside with his antics, until finally heading for his indoor pet ramps that take him to his final resting place on the couch.

He’s rather predictable that way. When he finds his perfect spot, one of us gives him a good brushing; he does shed quite a bit, but doesn’t require many baths. While he relishes his version of dog heaven with all of us together, we are just grateful to be his caregivers and best friends.