🦴 Updated on July 8th, 2023
I wanted the devotion, high trainability, and passionate energy that the Australian Shepherd breed brings without the exercise requirements and expenses that come with it. Luckily, the Australian Shepherd has a loveable little brother breed in the miniature Aussie.
Knowing what to expect when considering introducing a new breed to your household is important. Here is a breakdown of how big mini Aussies can get in height and weight and which influences impact a mini Aussie’s growth and development.
Miniature Australian Shepherd Size Chart
For our miniature Australian Shepherd size charts, let’s start at the very beginning. Mini Australian Shepherds go through important development stages from birth to adolescence that shape their overall growth.
For our mini Aussie growth chart, It’s important to note that there is a variable difference between the growth rates of male and female mini Aussies.
0-2 weeks
Mini Aussie puppies are born extremely tiny. They weigh about half a pound. Then, the puppy’s eyes and ears begin to open. It’s a gradual process that takes until the second week to complete.
2-4 weeks
Puppies enter the transitional development phase, where they begin to gain motor skills and awareness of their littermates. Social interactions begin with the other puppies and the mother. Next, crawling starts to transition into walking. By the end of week four, the puppies weigh around three pounds.
4-8 weeks
After the first month of their life, puppies enter the exploration stage. They can have small separation periods from the mother and begin house training. By week eight, the puppies weigh close to seven pounds.
8-10 weeks
In this development phase, mini Aussie puppies weigh about ten pounds. They begin to react to unknown sounds, people, and experiences and can sleep through the night.
10-12 weeks
This age is the socialization phase. It is the window where a puppy is the most trainable. It is now safe to give your mini Aussie puppy vaccinations. It also marks a rapid increase in the growth rate. By twelve weeks, a mini Australian Shepherd weighs about fourteen pounds.
3-6 months
Puppies enter the juvenile development stage during this time. It is an exploratory period of independence. Experts recommend enduring more obedience training during this stage.
The puppy is usually halfway toward its adult weight and height by four months. By the end of six months, a mini Aussie puppy reaches two-thirds of its adult size at around nineteen pounds.
6-18 months
Puppies hit adolescence during this developmental stage. It is a time of unpredictable and moody behavior until the mini Aussie arrives at full mental maturity. Around nine months, you will get a pretty accurate look at how tall your mini Aussie will be because that’s when they reach their final height.
It is also time to transition the puppies to eating adult dog food. Their weight will still fluctuate until around twelve months, but your miniature Australian Shepherd stops physically growing after that first year of life. However, their brain continues to develop and mature until around two years.
How Big Do Mini Aussies Get?
The mini Australian Shepherd size varies between dogs, but the average full-grown mini Aussie measures 12-18 inches tall from the ground to the top of the shoulder. Mini Aussies are longer than they are tall.
Male mini Aussies tend to have taller heights than female mini Aussies. A mini Aussie full-grown female typically reaches only 17 inches tall at maximum. Both male and female miniature Australian Shepherds come in around half the height of their standard Australian Shepherd counterparts.
How Much Do Mini Aussies Weigh?
A full-grown mini Australian Shepherd weighs 20-40 pounds. 30 pounds is the typical weight, with some female mini Aussies coming in under and some male mini Aussies weighing in higher.
Genetics play a role in a mini Australian Shepherds full-grown weight. Other determining factors include the amount of regular exercise the dog gets and its food quality and intake.
Mini Aussies are susceptible to obesity, so it’s important to maintain proper nutrition in their diet and limit treats and fat intake. Seek out dog food with high fiber content to prevent overeating, a lot of easily-digestible protein, and antioxidants.
Miniature Australian Shepherds don’t require as much intensive exercise as the standard Australian Shepherds. A long walk every day and ample playtime will sufficiently maintain a healthy full-grown mini Aussie weight.
How Fast Do Mini Aussies Grow?
Mini Aussies tend to grow rapidly, reaching their full-grown adult mini Aussie size by around nine months. However, their weight will vary between this time and their first birthday, depending on their diet and exercise levels contributing to muscle growth and development.
The influencing factors on a miniature Australian Shepherd’s growth rate include nutrient consumption, health status, and genetics. Medical conditions like intestinal worms or other parasites, malnutrition, and growth disorders are the most common growth-stunting health problems.
When Do Mini Aussies Stop Growing?
While most full-grown mini Aussies reach their final height and weight at twelve months, it is not uncommon for dogs to come in a little above or below the breed standards and timelines.
Suppose your full-grown mini Aussie is eating a consistent and nutrient-rich diet, maintaining regular energy levels, and experiencing normal functions but still coming in at a significantly smaller height and weight than expected. If this is the case, you might not have a mini Aussie at all.
You might have a toy Aussie, an Australian Shepherd breed that is tiny compared to the standard and mini breeds. Your mini Aussie should fall within the breed’s average height and weight range.
FAQ
Here are a few more commonly asked questions regarding miniature Australian Shepherds’ sizes and details about what happens as they grow from puppies to full-grown mini Australian Shepherds.
Do Mini Australian Shepherds experience growing pain?
Most miniature Aussies do not suffer from growing pains, as this condition is most common in large-breed dogs. Symptoms of growing pains include a reluctance to stand or walk, a painful reaction to touch, depression, weakness and lethargy, sudden or shifting lameness, inexplicable whining, and fever or appetite loss.
If your mini Aussie exhibits any of these symptoms, it might indicate an orthopedic disorder.
Will neutering or spaying my mini Australian Shepherd affect its growth?
A spay or neuter can impact your dog’s size, making them grow slightly larger because its growth plates stay open longer. The age your mini Aussie is when they undergo the spay or neuter can reduce this.
How to properly weigh and measure my mini Australian Shepherd?
Measure from the highest point of your dog’s back down to the floor while it stands on all four legs. To weigh your dog at home, weigh yourself alone, then weigh yourself while holding the dog, and subtract the first weight from the second.
Final Thoughts
So, you’ve chosen the energetic, loving, and intelligent miniature Australian Shepherd to join your family. These miniature Australian shepherd size charts should help with what to expect from a dog breed that doesn’t grow larger than around forty pounds and eighteen inches.
With proper health and care, your puppy will rapidly grow within the first few months of its life and reach its mini Australian Shepherd full-size height and weight around twelve months. Mini Aussies are half the size of standard Australian Shepherds but one hundred percent of the fun!
