I have a Mini. He'll be nine this month. Still is as energetic as a pup. We play frisbee a couple of times a day. I swear he understands most of what I say to him.
I am so glad you said that! Me and my Aussie Jersey who is 6months old , we’re outside I was on the phone with my sister telling her I don’t know what happens to JERSEYS balls I never let her bring in so they have to be around here but I have looked everywhere so she was laying under my chair after I get off the phone she has slipped away and here she comes with her ball! my sister said coincidence. Well Jersey get a little respiratory infection and she had not pooped in a couple of days because she wasn’t eating well so after the vet visit she had antibiotics and something for her sore throat but still hadn’t pooped , well her and I were laying on my bed I called my vet and told him those exact words he says come back so before I can get up and put my shoes on Jersey rings the bells on the door so I taker out where she pooped and peed. cowikidink? I think not!!!!! Lol. They know what your sayin and some things you don’t say
You will be fine. Mini aussies are actually much more calm and less work driven than a standard Aussie and were bred that way...still they need lots of attention and something to do but a super rewarding and fun dog to have
@@gabriela3430 From all my experience Aussies are generally a very healthy breed, There are some things they can screen for early especially ones with their hips. I do recommend spaying a female if you are getting one from my experience.
When you said , if you ever get a chance to pat him one day", i got tingles down my spine from excitement!! ive watched all of your videos, and i love you and Frankie!!!!
My mini aussie weighs 40 lbs. She's a blue merle just like Frankie and has one blue and one brown eye! She's my stimulus puppy and I'm so happy I found your channel when I did lol. You and Frankie have given us so much insight and helped me be a better paw-rent. 😜
Minis were created by breeding pomeranians and Pamplona to full size aussies, so the possibility of full size or true size are there. Som will argue this But 30 yrs ago this started and many times had people wanting to buy my working stock pups for this purpose. No Sale only to ranches or trials. Mini aussies or amercian shepherd as they call them now. I'm still waiting to see them title A.S.C.A not accepted
Awww Frankie is soooo cute... my minis are a lot smaller, and people always tell me they are toys but they are minis. I love how you addressed this topic, thank you!!!
Fantastic you found the right food for Frankie Just like people, you are what you eat Dogs are not different. Could have just been an ingredient in the old food that did not agree with Frankie Smart move to change it up. Joey you are on top of things with Frankie, nice to see the beautiful relationship between man and friend. You are both blessed to have each other.
I'm getting my mini this week they told me 20 to 30lbs. I don't really care though I'm just excited to have a puppy again after loosing both of mine to old age just days apart. You guys are awesome!
My guess was 35 lbs. Frankie is clearly not overweight, his shape is just perfect ! :D My aussies's dad is a big mini and the mother is a small standard. My pup is the biggest of her litter with a 52 lbs at 12 months, her smallest sister is about 30 lbs. She completely outgrew her parents. When she was born she already looked twice as big as the other puppies. Anyway no matter the size of the aussie, the energy level remains the same ! :D
Its feb of 2024 and i just came across this video and comments, our male mini aussie was born in 2021 to some friends of ours and was the only blue merle out of 5 males other 4 were black and white, was the biggest from birth, he will be 3 in march and was 40lbs by 7 months and is 47-50 lbs now, super good dog, his mom is around 17 lbs and dad ( dont know his dad) is around 23-27 lbs, guess we got the recessive gene dog lol,
My mini is like a toy. He’s 10 months and weighs 9.5 lbs and the vet thinks he might get 12-13 lbs. did a DNA test too. 60 something percent mini Aussie, 30 something percent Aussie and 3 percent border collie.
We’re getting a mini Aussie poodle mix (Aussie doodle) to join the family. Appreciate the high quality videos that are enjoyable to watch. Frankie looks like an amazing dog.
I have an Aussiedoodle also. She had a litter of 10 puppies before I got her from rescue. She is just a beatiful, tall, slim, silly girl now...no more puppies for her. She is 43 pounds and 18" tall at the shoulders. Her pups ranged from 23 to 43 pounds, some of them are much shorter than mama. We are careful to brush her at least twice a week as that fur can easily start getting tangles and mats in it. People always are surprised that her coat is wiry feeling when longer, instead of soft like when it is shorter (after groomed).
The food my mini aussie puppy is on right now is Orijen small breed puppy mix, and I honestly highly recommend it. My puppy is highly food motivated, but won't eat what he doesn't love, so it was difficult for me to find a brand that was good quality, but was also "good enough" for my dog. He's pretty healthy right now, and I know I've got Orijen to partly thank for that.
Can you make a video on the food you have been feeding Frankie from a puppy until now? I have a 5 month old Australian Shepherd / Border Collie and am interested in what brands produce good, high-quality kibbles!
You should check out this video that's of a pet nutritionalist ranking the best kibble ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ekx6WGBFVak.html I'm personally feeding my puppy TLC dog kibble and plan to incorporate raw goat milk and some pureed pumpkin soon
We love watching Frankie's videos. Our mini aussie is 9 months, 14" and 15 lbs. I guess he is on the smaller end of the mini range. My husband had been wondering Frankie's size. Our Blue and Frankie look so much alike!!! Thanks for the update!
My aussie/border mix is 55lbs and hasn't gained any. I honestly thought he has mini-aussie in there instead. He looks exactly like Frankie with the build
Very good points! Muscle is heavier than fat! Every dog, and every person, is built differently. Being over the "average" weight doesn't mean your overweight, it could be due to different body structure and muscle tone. It's all about the body condition! How much the dog eats depends on how much exercise the dog eats, their age (puppies need more!), and their weight.
I have a 13 y/o mini black tri female who is 28 lbs. Her mama is 16 yrs. and is a standard at 45 lbs. She looks to be Frankie's size. Love my Aussies!! Very healthy, too! Thanks for your suggestion of kibble. I've been searching for a better food.
I have a Toy Aussie. He will be 11 months on the 3rd of June. His name is Huckleberry Finn, he is a red merle about half the size of Frankie at right at 15 pounds. He is full of it. The weather is finally starting to get better hear in New Mexico so hopefully we start getting out and exercise more.
It used to be cut because back in the day when they were chasing cows the cows would bite or step on the tails which would cause more pain. Now a days it's both esthetic and functional for ranchers. But also some are born without tails
Gotta calculate and take off the fluffy buns which adds about 5 lbs haha jk. But glad to hear Frankie is better! My mini Aussie is a cute little gal she’s 23 lbs but everyone says she’s too small. That just shows the range mini aussies have!
Love your Aussie... he's adorable! Just a sidebar: a pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat... 1 pound. Muscle is more dense than fat, however. So, your little fur baby doesn't look fat, but he weighs an impressive amount due to his lean body mass. Good job on raising a beautiful, active/athletic fur baby. ❤
I have a female Aussie who is 21” tall and 48lbs. She is a big girl but still within the standard size of an Aussie. Not overweight. He is definitely a Mini American Shepherd aka Mini Aussie. Male Aussies can be up to 60 lbs. My first Aussie was a 19” female who weighed about 40lbs. Love Frankie’s half smile. My Willow does that when she wants something lol!
Frankie is beautiful! We have a four year old male"mini" Aussie…. His mother was large, his father small. Riley is 48 lbs! A female litter mate is half his size. Riley’s not overweight either, gets lots of exercise and mental stimulation, fun stuff. We just quit saying he’s a mini. Like those little sponges you drop in water and they just keep growing and growing.
I did a lot of research on the breed - the difference between a miniature Aussie compared to other « miniature » breeds is that Aussies are not cross-bred with a smaller breed of dog - the smallest dogs from the breed were bred in order to produce dogs on the smaller size but genetically they are the same as regular sized Australian shepherds. But just like humans, you can have two 5’2 parents somehow produce a 6 ft kid or also have two 6’ parents produce a kid who is 5’2 in adulthood. So at this point he’s not really a « mini » he’s just an Aussie. My Aussie’s parents were in the 40 lb range and considered as « small standards ». At the end of the day unless you’re competing it doesn’t really matter - that 5 lb difference from 35 to 40 lbs that people use to separate minis from standards is negligible compared to the variability in the breed between 40-80 lbs.
Omg I love that name!!!! Was considering it for my puppy as well. Have fun with her!!!! My puppy is now 10 weeks old (almost 11 omg time flies) and he’s a handful but so sweet and I love him so much already. You’ll love your Dakota!!! I ended up calling mine Pinto :)
@@noozart9911 ahhh thank you!! i'm super excited lol. its been about 2 years since my two cavaliers from the same litter died, and i'd had them since i was in 1st grade (8 or 9 i think). I initially wanted a rescue, but since we are living in my moms boyfriend's home, there was a size limit and 98% of the dogs in shelters or rescue are big.
So happy I found this!! My big "mini" is 50lbs hahaha. He needs to drop a wii bit (approx 3lbs.) But he is soo active, 3 hours a day, and full of muscle.
My first Mini Aussie hung around that 40lb mark. He would gain a couple pounds in winter from the lower activity level, and then run it off in the spring. My current 2 Mini American Shepherds are at about 30 and 32lbs. From my older dogs litter, the smallest pup is about 16-18lbs and they are 16 months old. So they are all sizes
My standard Australian Shepherd is 55lbs! He’s a big healthy boy!! He’s taller and longer than Frankie. Frankie looks so healthy for size and honestly could pass for a standard 😂
I too have a big mini aussie, she's super fit at 33 pounds and is almost 20 inches at the withers! She was the biggest of her litter too. I call her my maxi mini :D
So what was the bag lol you didn’t tell us I been looking for some good hiking gear I plan on taking my girl on hikes etc out is all on leash and all my girl Aussie looks like Frankie but 16 weeks old this weekend :) what’s a good leash for on leash hikes ? Would u suggest the one you use for Frankie now? I got my girl the Arcadia Trail harness.
Could you do a video on your leash walking techniques? I'm interested in what you did and didn't do for Frankie and what your experience was like teaching him to walk on a loose leash
A trick to know if your dog is overweight is: Make a fist and feel your knuckles, if your dog's ribs feel the same your dog is underweight. If you stretch your hand and you feel your knuckles and normally if your dog is fit your dog ribs should feel the same. If you can't feel your dog ribs he/she is obviously overweight. (Sorry for my English, not my first language)
very informative, thanks for sharing your experience with a mini aussie shepard!! did you taped the ears? If so, how often and for how long & in which age gap?
My mini-Ausie Mick is 15 + yrs. and he has gotten where he cannot get up without help. I knew he probably had arthritis, but I also thought he was WAY overweight. 2yrs ago he weighed 52 lbs. and he was very overweight. I didn't put him on a strict diet but just tried to be more aware of what he was eating. I also changed his food to one for overweight older dogs. He just in the last few months got to where he couldn't get up and it turns out that he has pretty severe arthritis in his back hips, but he is weighing only 43.5 lbs. and the vet said he was not too overweight but that if he lost a couple more lbs. it would be ok and probably help. I am putting him on a medicine for his arthritis too while we wait for his blood work results. He seems to be doing ok for being over 15 yrs. which is great news since the AKC say's the average life span of a mini-Ausie is 12-13 yrs. I happened across Frankie To The Moon looking up info on weight for his breed and enjoyed some of the videos that are giving good advice and accurate information. Thanks!
Hi I have a one year old Miniature Australian Shepherd. He is so active he likes to play all the time but he is not eating so much thats why I'm taking him to the vet next week. I really like your Miniature Australian Shepherd.
I have a mini female she's 16 months old and weights 39 pounds It's a great size! I also have a standard female 8 years old at 57 pounds and there is a definite difference between them.
My 3 year old Standard Aussie Red merle "Loki" is huge, he's tall and sturdy 70lbs ,His dad "Tuff" and Mom "Ziggy" are Standard Aussies and big as well.
I guessed 41 pounds 😂! My mini Aussie is only 7 month-old but he’s already almost as big as Frankie! I think he weighs 38 pounds. His siblings are much much smaller though... When did Frankie stop growing?
My mini is overweight by a lot, she is 46 pounds and she should be 38 pounds. Unfortunately where I live the dogs have no where to run and must be leashed. I feel terrible about her weight as it is my fault from too many treats and little pieces of people food when I eat. I am limited as far as running or jogging and can only take her on short walks because of my bad knee. The dog park up the road has aggressive dogs and I am not keen on taking her there. I have been giving her a 1/2 cup of Royal Canin Gastrointestinal kibble as the fat content is low. I chop up celery, carrots and cucumber to fill the cup. My dogs name is Chloe and she's a mini Aussie black tri. Any help you can suggest would be appreciated, thank you.
My aussie is 39 lbs as well! She's a standard blue merle. On the smaller side, for a standard I think. For walks, I use a "MalsiPree Dog Water Bottle" found on amazon. Pretty convenient, then I don't have to bring a water bowl or pour water into my hands for them to drink. :D
My mini Aussie ended up at nearly 80 pounds, your dog is closer to a standard. Mine it would say she was a Maxi, but I just lost her. The worst pain and grief One can feel. But on a good note I just 2 puppies, one blew Merle, and the other a red Merle. It helps to patch my heart.
Can anybody please share their thoughts on TLC pet food? I've seen some high-quality breeders recommend it on their websites, but it contains both lamb and chicken meal as the main ingredients. Those breeders have good reputations, but i was already aware that "meals" are not good. I'm considering getting a standard Australian Shepherd in a few months/years. It's one of the only pet foods that fits my budget and I like the convenience that kibble provides. All advice is welcome!😊❤
love your doggo outdoor adventures! I'm looking to adopt a mini Aussie, I need a camping/outdoor partner besides my gf haha.. aaaand you def need a collapsible silicone water bowl with a carabiner. keep the videos up!
Important things to look at in dog food (everyone has their own opinions, these are mine based on the ton of research I have done, and speaking with several canine nutritionists!): 1) Like you said, no "meals" or "by-products". These are non human grade meats sourced from diseased animals for example. 2) Avoid excessive grains in the food. Grains themselves are not dangerous for dogs, but they do not have a super high digestive rate (corn is around 50%) and do not have a lot of nutritional value, but they do have their benefits. They are used as fillers by many companies. The key is, grains should not be within the first 5 ingredients of the dog food or even 10 if possible, as dogs need meat more than any other ingredient. Grain should not come before meat, or even be equal to the amount of meat. Think about it, dogs should not be eating more corn or the same amount of corn as meat. They are omnivores, but meat is where they get their main nutrients and should make up the majority of their diets. 3) Look for diets that are balanced to AAFCO and/or NRC standards. Any company can use the word "balanced" but not actually meet the real "balanced" requirements. If you do choose a food that's not balanced, that's ok! Just supplement and add in some fresh foods (cooked or raw meats, eggs, veggies) and oils (fish oils, hemp oil, etc...). 4) Look at the amount of recalls in the past. A lot of recalls is a bad sign. Also look at the reviews and past studies. 5) When looking for nutritional advice, consult canine nutritionists not vets (unless they specialize in nutrition). Vets are not nutrition experts, they know the basics, but just like human doctors, they do not specialize. They also get a lot of their education on nutrition from dog food companies like Purina and Royal Canin which obviously leaves room for bias. They have market deals that benefit both of them.
Don't understand why people get so snobby about size variations or toys or minis are not Australian shepherds and must be mixed. You can get a toy and a standard in a same litter, genetics can be quirky like that, all breeds vary outside of the show ring you're never going to get every single puppy show quality. The original Aussie was never a big dog anyway. Or how people are like oh nooo that's a mini americian not an Australian shepherd, which is hilarious to me because genetically at this point in time they're exactly the same, all mini americians parents or gparents will be Aussies, heck I could register my Aussie right now as a mini americian if I wanted too 🤷🤷 ... Climbs off rantbox.
Agree! Our Aussie is on the small side, he’s 19 inches and 44 lbs. The only real determination that would disqualify them from the breed standard is height. A mini Aussie is counted as a full Aussie as soon as they are over 18 inches at the haunches for males and 17” for girls. Other than that, same dog. No biggie. An Aussie is an Aussie in my opinion no matter what size it is. And they are the cue test, smartest darn dogs!! Love them!!!
@@FrankieToTheMoon ahaha sorry. I always get triggered when size topic within the Aussie breed is mentioned. It just annoys me incredibly when people are so narrow minded. My Aussie technically came from a toy litter , some were and some ended up being minis, mines 14inch so right on the border of either but I've seen litters where theyve been all 3 sizes, But regardless his behaviour and exact mannerisms I see within the entire spectrum of sizes, when they're an Aussie, you know they're an Aussie 😂 chatty& no impulse control anyone? & If you have a small dog, guess what ! They're going to have facial structure of a small dog, doesn't mean they're half Pom or whatever people like to say.
My mini is 49lbs and 21” at the shoulder and just turned 2. All of his litter mates average 15” and 20-30 lbs. Vet says he is in excellent health but would like to see him down to 45lbs.
My mini blue Merle is 40lb and he’s about 10 months. We also have his older brother that came from litter before we got the blue Merle, and he is 34lbs but he was the runt of the litter. Blue Merle name is Mauka( towards the mountain in hawaiian) and the tri red name is Makai ( towards the sea)
Ciao have you tried to put some kibbles in a glass of water and see if they completely melt? This was one thing an old vet told me years ago it is a very good way to check the quality of the food..I've done this test with lots of kibbles and found out the ones that melt this is a sign of what happens in the stomach of the dog if the food melt it means it will be digested completely in case the kibble acts like a spong and remains like a "marshmellon" for hours it is not a good sign because the same will happen in dog's stomach and it won't be digested properly ..hugs from Italy and my 3 Aussie 🤗
dehydrated chicken and chicken meal are the same thing. Chicken meal is just dehydated and ground up chicken. Chicken meal byproduct is just dehydrated and ground up parts of the chicken that are used often (like necks, liver, feet).
Wow! So I always thought my Aussie looked similar in size to Frankie. My Aussie is a female (and full size) but I guess I was wrong!! My pup is 50lbs and 2 1/2 years old
I am getting a Mini Australian Shepherd Border Collie mix in about 6 weeks, the mother is a red/white AKC show quality Mini Australian Shepherd the dad is a Black and White Border Collie (mellow energy level). The puppies are 2 weeks old now, the lady is a Trainer of dogs, she breeds show quality AKC Australian Shepherds and Show Quality AKC Border Collies. The Momma is around 30lbs and Dad around 55 lbs, about how big will the puppies grow up to be?
I have a standard Aussie, 11 months old last weighed in at 43 pounds. And we feed 2 cups a day she gets about a 1 hour exercise daily. When we go on a long hike or play longer should she get a little more food that day?
Thats so interesting! My pup is like 10 months now, and he weighs around 50 pounds (22 kg). But the „rib“-test is normal, i can feel his ribs and the vet says hes normal too. In Denmark the standard range for this breed is between 25-32 kg for male dogs. I would even feel like, Frankie is a light weight! Mine is also a very light eater and his kibble gets untouched for a while over a couple of days. (He gets allthough natural snacks - which might cause in him not being hungry) I remember talking on your channel about the difference between a mini and a standard. Since we dont label our aussies here in Denmark after that, I might actually think I got a standard aussie then... who knows 😂
Loved your video. Thank you! We are considering adopting a mini Australian Shepherd from a rescue. We have 13 stairs in our house, and our Sheltie had trouble going up and down the stairs. Are the mini Aussie's taller than a Sheltie?
It is tough to say because they vary. I would say that Frankie is a little bigger and both him and Indie have no problem with the stairs. He grew up in an apartment that had an entrance of 50 steps ahha
He’s a cutie. Love your journey with him. But muscle doesn’t weigh more than fat. 1lb of fat is the same as 1 lb of muscle. However, muscle is leaner than fat. If he had the same amount of fat instead of muscle, he would weigh the same. But no, he’s not overweight. And he’s also super healthy. You can tell. I absolutely love the bond you have with him. I can’t wait to get my girl.
