Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions
We have done a TON of research since deciding to raise and breed Mini Aussies. We have gathered even more information, so much in fact that it is too much to put on one page! So, on this page you will find answers to the questions that we are most frequently asked. If you have a question that you do not see an answer to on this page (or would like more info regarding a question that has been answered) please let us know. As we gain more knowledge and get more questions we will add to this page.
How tall will they be?
Breed standards say no shorter than 14" and no taller than 18". Most of our dogs are right near the mid point. We can not guarantee size.
I want to place a deposit on a newborn puppy, but how do I know what the eye color will be?
We get this question A LOT and unfortunately this is a gamble you will have to take. The puppies eyes typically open around 10 days to 2 weeks. We can get a pretty good idea of eye color at that point however their eyes may continue to change. Usually by 6 to 8 weeks we have a pretty good idea of what color their eyes will be BUT in some puppies they might still change. My best guess is that by 8 to 10 weeks of age, the color eyes they have is the color they will keep. Basically, if you see a puppy you like place a deposit if you have already fallen in love with it. If you know that you will be picking a puppy based on eye color you might want to wait until they are a little older and hopefully that puppy will still be available and you can place your deposit then. We can not guarantee eye color.
What is the temperament of this breed?
Typically they are a very active breed. BUT this is what we have heard from several of the owners of some of our puppies. They love to go for walks, run, hike, swim and be active but when it comes time to sit down and relax they are perfectly content to lay by your feet, or in your lap, and just relax. This breed is very smart, this is both a good thing and bad. Most of the time they are very easy to housebreak. I would never say that by 8 weeks of age they are fully housebroken, but most of the puppies we have sold in the past are very close to it by they time they go home. At 8 weeks it is typical for them to know basic commands like sit, stay, here and down. With a little extra one on one attention they should have it all mastered in a matter of weeks. The bad............ keep them occupied or they will make a mess! We have found that these dogs are typically just as happy inside as they are outside. Because of their size they are perfect in a small home, or apartment or on a ranch with 100 acres!!
The Aussie "Smile" are they actually snarling at me?
This is a "trait" found in any number of dogs that seems to be not all that uncommon in Aussies. The first time we saw it was in a family members mini Aussie. He told us his dog "smiled". We just figured either he was just spending too much time with his dog or he should maybe stand back before he loses his nose. Well, we have discovered that at least the latter is UNTRUE. His Aussie "grins" at him and he has almost gotten to the point where he has it down as another trick he does on command.
This grin or smile can be quite unnerving at first. It does look like a snarl- lips back teeth showing...but you have to take note of the rest of the body language. Ours comes running to us looking ready to play, tail wagging...with a snarl on her face!
We have two dogs so far who have decided they like to smile at us. In our experience this is not something that starts as a puppy either- so it does make you wonder what in the world is going on. Rayne loves to give us a great big toothy grin, and along with her markings can make her look quite odd. Our second "smiling Aussie" is Squish, which really struck us as odd because she is just not quite as playful and fun loving as the others-she's our more serious work oriented dog and she just started doing this a short time ago. It's almost like they can learn it from each other.
I have no idea if this is an actual smile, a sign of submission or just another quirky nuance in this wonderful breed.
We have found too many interesting sites with info to list them here. Just type "Aussie Smile" in your search engine and you too may be amazed.
We will try to catch one of our minies making this face and post it soon.
***This is my brother's Skeeter. He makes this face all of the time. If you are unfamiliar with this expression it can be a little intimidating!!***
Do they shed?
All dogs shed. If you keep them groomed it will be minimal. Honestly we brush our dogs every few weeks during the summer and they don't need much more than that.
What if I want to breed them?
All of our puppies are sold with a spay or neuter contract. Most are registrable. If you want to breed them please let us know that. Some puppies will be sold with breeding rights after careful consideration. This is not because we don't want the competition!!! We have done many hours of research and traveled all over the country to get the perfect dogs not only as additions to our family but also to breed puppies that are true to the standards. We are a breeder BUT we also understand that there are way too many dogs in pet shops, shelters, and less than adequate homes. There are many things that are important to know before deciding to breed. For more information please contact us.
Why the conditions of sale and the spay/neuter contract?
There are several reasons for this. Most importantly so we know to whom and when we sold our puppies. We are not going to track you down and harass you, chances are, with the exception of a card to say hi you will never hear from us again....unless you want to!! We also feel that when you are spending a few hundred dollars on a new family member you would probably want something stating exactly what you are getting. We strongly suggest taking your new puppy in for a regular exam within the first 72 hours. If your puppy is being sold as a PET only, you will be required to sign a spay/neuter contract. This is just an agreement that you will have this done within a given amount of time. If your puppy is registrable and you want their paperwork you will receive this when we receive proof of "alteration". **you will find these documents on the "How to purchase your puppy" page.
Is the deposit refundable?
NO! All deposits are non-refundable unless something happens on our end. Make sure you want the puppy before you place a deposit. Once we receive a deposit we "un-list" that puppy. That puppy becomes unavailable to anyone except for you. If we were to have to list that puppy again it would cost us money to relist in all areas that we advertise them and we could possibly lose a sale to someone that saw the puppy as unavailable. SO PLEASE make sure that you want the puppy before you place the deposit because we will NOT issue a refund.
