Miniature American Shepherd Puppies for Sale in South Dakota, SD
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Reviews
Jessica W.
03/02/2021
Miniature American Shepherd
A bit pricey, but my experience was great! Customer service was on point and the pet taxi that delivered to my door obviously cared about pets
Miniature American Shepherd Characteristics
Miniature American Shepherds are smart, self-motivated workers and extremely loyal companion dogs who have an affinity for horses and herding in general. These purebreds share many visual similarities with the Australian Shepherd, but on a smaller scale. These are dogs who live to herd but can also make great family companions with proper training and socialization.
Fast Facts
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Energy High
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Size Medium
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Trainability Accommodating
The Miniature American Shepherd stands quite a bit shorter than the Australian Shepherd at around 13-18 inches to the shoulder. These dogs come with thick double coats and shed a good deal. Mini Aussie owners should plan frequent grooming and regular brushing to keep their coats healthy and shedding to a minimum.
The Miniature American Shepherd has abundant energy and a personality of playful joy. If you decide to adopt one of these extraverted pups, plan for plenty of exercise, whether through long walks and running, herding, ranch work, or canine performance sports training. Keeping your Mini cooped up in the house all day while you're at work will likely result in her feeling distressed and potential escape attempts. As long as their exercise needs are met, the Miniature American Shepherd is small enough to make a good apartment companion and tolerates smaller spaces well.
Nearly all purebred dogs are predisposed to developing certain genetically linked health conditions. The Miniature American Shepherd inherited some conditions from its ancestor, the Australian Shepherd. Owners should be prepared to help prevent hip dysplasia and a number of eye diseases. It is important to research your breeder before purchase to ensure healthy and ethical breeding. Make sure you keep regular visits to the vet and care well for your Aussie.
The Miniature American Shepherd remains a top choice for those looking for a running buddy, potential ranch-hand, and family friend in a more portable frame than its Australian ancestor.
How dog-friendly is South Dakota?
South Dakota is a great state for traveling with your dog and has strong animal welfare laws. Though it has some room to grow, South Dakota ranks pretty well for dog-friendliness.
We evaluated two major studies to understand how each state accommodates pets. Both studies surveyed all 50 states and ranked them for pet-friendly factors like access to pet care and services, animal cruelty laws, dog parks, outdoor spaces, and more.
The first was conducted by an animal welfare group called Pawsafe. Pawsafe ranked South Dakota as the 23rd most pet-friendly state. In this study, the state scored well for its animal welfare laws related to abuse, neglect, fighting, or pet care standards.
The second study comes from a safety review site called Safewise. They had a harsher view of South Dakota and ranked the state as 38th most pet-friendly in the country.
But if we put these two studies together, South Dakota ranks pretty well in the middle of the pack.
A few more facts for dog-lovers in South Dakota
BringFido lists South Dakota as a pet-friendly travel destination with over 500 verified pet-friendly hotels and motels. The site also lists Reptile Gardens and Custer State Park as popular dog-friendly attractions in the area.
Thirty-two percent of South Dakota residents own a dog. This is below the national dog ownership rate of 40% but still shows that the state loves dogs.
What kinds of dogs do South Dakotans love? According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the most popular dogs in South Dakota are Labradors, Retrievers, and Huskies. Other popular breeds include Beagles, Basset Hounds, and Collies.
Animal welfare & dog shelters in South Dakota
South Dakota saved 10,836 dogs and cats during 2020. However, 1,824 animals were reported killed over this same period.
Six out of 23 of the animal shelters within South Dakota are no-kill shelters. The percentage of no-kill shelters is low, and the state has a below-average save rate of 77%. This is below the 90% mark needed to be considered a no-kill state. Improving this percentage will go a long way to ranking South Dakota higher compared to other states.
Miniature American Shepherds Everywhere in South Dakota
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