An Internet sensation of the 21st century, thanks to their beautiful face, intelligence, and amazing personality, Mini Aussies have become one of the world’s most popular dogs. Mini Aussies are highly trainable and are always happy to please and impress their owners. So does that mean they would make good therapy dogs?
Mini Aussies make good therapy dogs because they’re highly trainable, sociable, and supportive. Despite their smaller stature, they’re similar to their Australian Shepherd cousins. In addition, Mini Aussies’ loving and supportive nature make them perfect for schools or nursing homes.
There are so many things to love about Mini Aussies. Not only are they good as service dogs, but they are also great as therapy dogs. However, not all Mini Aussies are equal, so here are 10 things you should know before choosing a Mini Aussie as your companion.
1. Mini Aussies Are Highly Intelligent Dogs
Like their taller cousins, the Australian Shepherds, Mini Aussies have high intelligence. That’s good news. However, you must have the time to train your Mini Aussie because this breed needs constant mental stimulation.
Mini Aussies pick up new tricks quickly, and they’re always happy and excited to learn new things. Since Mini Aussies are always craving attention, they always want to please and impress their owners. When trained correctly, Mini Aussies can give emotional support to you, your family, or anyone who needs it.
2. They Stick to You Like a Glue
Mini Aussies are affectionate and loyal dogs, and they don’t like to be far from the people they love. That means Mini Aussies will become good friends to people struggling with loneliness. According to a global survey by Statista, about 33% of adults suffer from loneliness.
Even if you don’t need your MIni Aussie to fight loneliness, others with loneliness can benefit from your dog’s loving and supportive nature. Mini Aussies love being outdoors, which is good for people with anxiety or loneliness; Mini Aussies can motivate them to go out and exercise together. In their relaxed time, Mini Aussies love to spend time and snuggle with the people they love.
3. Mini Aussies Are a Small Herding Breed
Since Mini Aussies are herding dogs, some people think Mini Aussies won’t make good therapy dogs. That’s because Mini Aussies have high energies, so they will always want to be on the go and work. That’s not necessarily the case, though.
Even though Mini Aussies were mostly bred as herding dogs, some of them weren’t. Mini Aussies who do not come from a bloodline of working Mini Aussies will not be as workaholic as those who do. So if you want a Mini Aussie as a therapy dog, do not get one from a working line — your dog breeder can provide the information to you.
4. Not All Mini Aussies Like Being Around Strangers
Mini Aussies are excellent companions to their owners, but they’re not always as comfortable with strangers. Like Australian Shepherds, Mini Aussies can be quite reserved. That’s why early socialization is essential to ensure that your Mini Aussie will make a good therapy dog for others.
If your Mini Aussie gets stressed out around people, it cannot be certified as a therapy dog. Your Mini Aussie has to be friendly with people, like being pet by others, and show no aggression, especially towards older people and children. It’s also necessary for your Mini Aussie to be able to be left alone with another handler when you’re out of sight for a short while.
5. Mini Aussies Are Highly Energetic Dogs
Mini Aussies are like Australian Shepherds, highly energetic, and love to play. Unfortunately, like their larger cousins, Mini Aussies also tend to maintain orders, so if they see children running, they might try to nip the kids as they would with sheep. This kind of behavior is unacceptable, so you must train your Mini Aussie not to do this.
On the bright side, since Mini Aussies are smaller than Australian Shepherds, they tend to be less rough on people, especially children, and older adults. Even so, they need to control their energy levels to qualify as therapy dogs. So you’ll want a Mini Aussie that is sociable but not overly enthusiastic so that they’ll be especially great for older folks or certain patients.
6. Mini Aussies Like To Work
Since Mini Aussies are a herding breed, they like to work. However, that doesn’t mean you should get a Mini Aussie from a working line. Mini Aussies from a working dog bloodline are not suitable to become therapy dogs because they’re overly enthusiastic.
Mini Aussies that aren’t from working lines are less workaholic, but you can surely rely on them to keep an eye on you or the people they’re supporting — that’s a job, too. So even if your Mini Aussie cannot run around guarding livestock as their Australian Shepherd cousins do, it’ll still be happy to support the people they serve. Just make sure your Mini Aussie always gets their daily exercise.
7. Mini Aussies Will Train You if You Don’t Train Them Well
Mini Aussies can be just as bossy as their Australian Shepherd cousins if not properly trained. That’s because these breeds have high intelligence, so if their owners don’t train them properly, they will try to train their owners. Mini Aussies may be small, but the size of their intelligence isn’t.
It’s important to teach your Mini Aussie to respect other people. What’s great about Mini Aussies is their ability to understand others. So, for example, a Mini Aussie would know if their owner or those they serve are sad or suffering, and it’s their loving, kind, and supportive nature that makes them the perfect therapy dog.
8. Mini Aussies Are Emotional Dogs
Even though Mini Aussies are hard workers, they’re also emotional creatures. Mini Aussies may present themselves as strong, intelligent, and independent dogs, but deep inside, they’re emotionally soft, too. Their sensitivity helps them to connect with people and create strong bonds.
9. They Need To Be Trained by Positive Trainers
Positive trainers should best train mini Aussies because these dogs don’t only have high IQs but also high EQs. In addition, it’s common for Mini Aussies to be in tune with their owners, so when their owners are sad, they’re sad, too. That’s why Mini Aussies must get trained by positive trainers so that they can serve people with anxiety with their positive energies.
10. Mini Aussies Are Also Known As the Mini American Shepherd
Many people don’t know that Mini Aussies are also known as the Mini American Shepherd, some calling them the Miniature Australian Shepherd. Mini Aussies are called the Mini American Shepherd to avoid confusion between the breed and the Australian Shepherd breed. Still, many dog breeders continue to call them Miniature Australian Shepherd up to this day.
Final Thoughts
Mini Aussies make good therapy dogs, thanks to their wonderful temperament. People who have anxiety or suffer from loneliness can benefit from the companionship that Mini Aussies can offer. Generally, Mini Aussies are happy dogs and always happy to please the people they love and serve.
If you want your Mini Aussie to become a therapy dog, you must train them to be good with people and have high discipline, especially around children and older adults. Avoid Mini Aussies from a working line. Therapy dogs have to be gentle, so a relaxed Mini Aussie is preferable.