| Miniature Australian Shepherds, Miniature Aussie Shepherd, Miniature Aussie, Mini Aussie, Miniature American Shepherd, Miniature Australian Shepherd puppies, Miniature Aussie for sale, natural-rearing, natural diet for dogs, SARF diet, species-appropriate raw food for dogs. |
| Miniature Australian Shepherd; Miniature Aussie; Mini Aussie; North American Shepherd, Miniature American Shepherd |
| 208-669-0594 |
| The Miniature Australian Shepherd goes by many names: Miniature Aussie, Mini Aussie, and North American Shepherd. It will soon be recognized by AKC as the Miniature American Shepherd. |
| LITTER ANNOUNCEMENTS Naturally-reared Australian Shepherd puppies - Champion lines! Photos & information: LIL' RUSTLERS |
| "Everything has been amazing! She has yet to have an accident, slept through the night, has been eating up all her food and is fitting in perfectly with our family. She is such a lover and we are enjoying every moment with her. Thanks for raising such a great dog! She will be very loved! Gina" |
| A "RunAmok" puppy! |
| Laus Deo! Praise be to God! |
| Interested in a RunAmok Aussie puppy? Please fill out our QUESTIONNAIRE Trouble with the form? Send a quick email, or give us a call. We'll be happy to help you! |
© 2012 RunAmok Farm | Copyright © 2001-2012 RunAmok Farm. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: Information contained in RunAmok Farm's site, or found in the links provided, is meant for educational
purposes only, and is not to be construed as medical or legal advice. Any recommendations are derived from our personal experiences and from years of study, however the decisions concerning feeding, vaccinations
and regular veterinary care - and how you implement those decisions - are yours and yours alone. Site owners, author, and contributors accept no responsibility for your decisions.
purposes only, and is not to be construed as medical or legal advice. Any recommendations are derived from our personal experiences and from years of study, however the decisions concerning feeding, vaccinations
and regular veterinary care - and how you implement those decisions - are yours and yours alone. Site owners, author, and contributors accept no responsibility for your decisions.
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| LITTER ANNOUNCEMENTS Naturally-reared Australian Terrier puppies! More info LIL' RUSTLERS |
IMPORTANT AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD INFORMATION
First, there are many questions regarding the differences between the Australian
Shepherd and the Miniature Australian Shepherd. Often even the validity of the breed is
questioned, so we have taken the time to write a rather extensive article covering the
facts. If you are already familiar with the Aussie size variations, are familiar with our
breeding program, or are simply looking for basic breed information which is common to
the Australian Shepherd and its smaller counterpart, then you may skip the article. For
those interested in what we have to say regarding the Miniature Aussie, please follow this
link:
THE AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD VS THE MINIATURE AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD
COMMON GROUND
Many people are fascinated with the unusual appearance of the Australian Shepherd. A
wide variety of rich color combinations delight Aussie lovers worldwide! Gorgeous coats
in COLORS of blue merle, red (liver) merle, solid black or red (liver); with or without
copper and/or white trim make each dog unique. Eye color is particularly delightful, as
eyes may be blue, brown, amber, yellow, gold, green, even hazel... Or they may have a
combination with one eye one color and the other eye another; it is also common to have
"flecked" or "marbled" eyes...
While discussing the Aussie "look" one cannot neglect comment on the Aussie tail, which,
according to breed standard, is to be less than 3 inches long. Though some lines are
naturally "bobbed", others must be "docked" shortly after birth. For those who would
like more information, an explanation concerning the procedure of TAIL DOCKING may
be found here.
If you are considering an Australian Shepherd (or Miniature Australian Shepherd) to be
part of your home, please research carefully, as there are certain health conditions that
may affect these breeds. Testing may be done to help rule out health problems in
breeding animals.
OFA TESTING
In some cases, dogs are prone to flaws in their hips that can cause problems for the
animals as they age. This condition, called canine hip dysplasia, is most common in the
large breeds, but may also be found in varying degrees in the smaller breeds. Dogs with
this condition may suffer with mild "joint pain" similar to that of arthritis, or in severe
cases the hip joint is so faulty that the dog will actually become crippled.
OFA testing is usually performed by a licensed vet. An X-ray, or several X-rays are
taken, then sent to specialists for review. The specialists give a rating for both hips - for
example: "Excellent", "Good", "Fair", or one of 5 "dysplastic" ratings... Testing can be
helpful to determine or rule out the cause of suspected hip problems but we believe there
is more to this problem than just genetic codes... After 27 years of breeding, we are
convinced that nutrition plays a key factor in the proper formation of hips, so we feed a
special diet to help ensure healthy puppies. *To date, we have never had a puppy or dog
diagnosed with dysplasia.
EYE CERF
As with many breeds, certain lines of Australian Shepherds (and thus, Miniature
Australian Shepherds) may be prone to genetic flaws in their eyes. These may be minor
imperfections that do not impair the animal's vision, or they may be severe defects,
which can eventually lead to blindness in an affected dog.
It is impossible to detect some of these problems without doing an eye exam, complete
with eye dilation. Most Veterinarians do not have the equipment or extended training to
do a full eye exam. To be certain there are no eye defects, it is very important to have
each puppy's eyes checked by a Veterinary Ophthalmologist. *We have each puppy's
eyes examined by our licensed Ophthalmologist before our little ones are placed in their
new homes.
For breeders, it is important to have all breeding animals' eyes checked yearly. Many
people state they have never had any problems - but without regular exams, they cannot
possibly know this for certain.
For more eye information, you may read the following:
EYE DISORDERS IN THE AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD
MDR1
Multi-Drug Resistance 1, shortened to MDR1, is a mutation of a gene which creates
sensitivity to certain drugs or chemicals within specific dog breeds. Typically, herding
breeds are most commonly affected - though mixed breeds with one or more of the
following breeds in their ancestry may also suffer from this condition.
Animals which carry two copies of the mutated gene can suffer life-threatening reactions
to certain drugs and/or chemicals. Affected animals can experience hypersalivation,
ataxia, blindness, coma, respiratory compromise, and death when exposed to
Ivermectin. Animals having only one mutated gene and one normal gene may still have
sensitivities to drugs or chemicals, however these are generally not life-threatening.
Canines suffering from this condition seem perfectly healthy - and they are! They can
live long, happy lives... Unless they come into contact with certain chemicals or drugs. If
these drugs are administered, their bodies do not process the drugs through the brain
normally; the chemicals quickly build to toxic levels in the brain, and the animals can
experience seizures and even death.
Testing can be done to determine if a dog is affected. Testing results will show one of
three results:
The good news is that is it entirely possible to avoid the known drug or chemical triggers
- even if you do not know the make-up of your dog.
CANCER
The truth of the matter is that cancer is on the rise, not just for Australian Shepherds,
but for all breeds. One in two dogs, nationwide, will suffer from cancer - and it is, now,
the most common form of non-accidental death in canines! There are two types of cancer
which seem to be more prevalent in the Australian Shepherd:
At this time, it is unknown whether cancer is an inherited trait in our breed, however, the
higher instances of hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma point to the possibility. Further
studies are being done. If you, or someone you know, has an Australian Shepherd or
Miniature Australian Shepherd who has suffered from any form of cancer, I am sure your
story could be beneficial to the researchers doing these studies. You can follow this link
for more information. AUSSIE CANCER STUDY
A CRASH COURSE IN NUTRITION FOR YOUR PET
Regardless of genetics, there are some things we can do to help prevent illness in our
pets! Please follow the above link for more information...
First, there are many questions regarding the differences between the Australian
Shepherd and the Miniature Australian Shepherd. Often even the validity of the breed is
questioned, so we have taken the time to write a rather extensive article covering the
facts. If you are already familiar with the Aussie size variations, are familiar with our
breeding program, or are simply looking for basic breed information which is common to
the Australian Shepherd and its smaller counterpart, then you may skip the article. For
those interested in what we have to say regarding the Miniature Aussie, please follow this
link:
THE AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD VS THE MINIATURE AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD
COMMON GROUND
Many people are fascinated with the unusual appearance of the Australian Shepherd. A
wide variety of rich color combinations delight Aussie lovers worldwide! Gorgeous coats
in COLORS of blue merle, red (liver) merle, solid black or red (liver); with or without
copper and/or white trim make each dog unique. Eye color is particularly delightful, as
eyes may be blue, brown, amber, yellow, gold, green, even hazel... Or they may have a
combination with one eye one color and the other eye another; it is also common to have
"flecked" or "marbled" eyes...
While discussing the Aussie "look" one cannot neglect comment on the Aussie tail, which,
according to breed standard, is to be less than 3 inches long. Though some lines are
naturally "bobbed", others must be "docked" shortly after birth. For those who would
like more information, an explanation concerning the procedure of TAIL DOCKING may
be found here.
If you are considering an Australian Shepherd (or Miniature Australian Shepherd) to be
part of your home, please research carefully, as there are certain health conditions that
may affect these breeds. Testing may be done to help rule out health problems in
breeding animals.
OFA TESTING
In some cases, dogs are prone to flaws in their hips that can cause problems for the
animals as they age. This condition, called canine hip dysplasia, is most common in the
large breeds, but may also be found in varying degrees in the smaller breeds. Dogs with
this condition may suffer with mild "joint pain" similar to that of arthritis, or in severe
cases the hip joint is so faulty that the dog will actually become crippled.
OFA testing is usually performed by a licensed vet. An X-ray, or several X-rays are
taken, then sent to specialists for review. The specialists give a rating for both hips - for
example: "Excellent", "Good", "Fair", or one of 5 "dysplastic" ratings... Testing can be
helpful to determine or rule out the cause of suspected hip problems but we believe there
is more to this problem than just genetic codes... After 27 years of breeding, we are
convinced that nutrition plays a key factor in the proper formation of hips, so we feed a
special diet to help ensure healthy puppies. *To date, we have never had a puppy or dog
diagnosed with dysplasia.
EYE CERF
As with many breeds, certain lines of Australian Shepherds (and thus, Miniature
Australian Shepherds) may be prone to genetic flaws in their eyes. These may be minor
imperfections that do not impair the animal's vision, or they may be severe defects,
which can eventually lead to blindness in an affected dog.
It is impossible to detect some of these problems without doing an eye exam, complete
with eye dilation. Most Veterinarians do not have the equipment or extended training to
do a full eye exam. To be certain there are no eye defects, it is very important to have
each puppy's eyes checked by a Veterinary Ophthalmologist. *We have each puppy's
eyes examined by our licensed Ophthalmologist before our little ones are placed in their
new homes.
For breeders, it is important to have all breeding animals' eyes checked yearly. Many
people state they have never had any problems - but without regular exams, they cannot
possibly know this for certain.
For more eye information, you may read the following:
EYE DISORDERS IN THE AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD
MDR1
Multi-Drug Resistance 1, shortened to MDR1, is a mutation of a gene which creates
sensitivity to certain drugs or chemicals within specific dog breeds. Typically, herding
breeds are most commonly affected - though mixed breeds with one or more of the
following breeds in their ancestry may also suffer from this condition.
- Australian Shepherds
- Miniature Australian Shepherds
- Collies (Rough and Smooth)
- English Shepherds
- McNabbs
- Old English Sheepdogs
- German Shepherd Dogs
- Long-haired Whippets
- Shetland Sheepdogs
- Silken Windhounds
- Mix-breeds with any of the above in their background
Animals which carry two copies of the mutated gene can suffer life-threatening reactions
to certain drugs and/or chemicals. Affected animals can experience hypersalivation,
ataxia, blindness, coma, respiratory compromise, and death when exposed to
Ivermectin. Animals having only one mutated gene and one normal gene may still have
sensitivities to drugs or chemicals, however these are generally not life-threatening.
Canines suffering from this condition seem perfectly healthy - and they are! They can
live long, happy lives... Unless they come into contact with certain chemicals or drugs. If
these drugs are administered, their bodies do not process the drugs through the brain
normally; the chemicals quickly build to toxic levels in the brain, and the animals can
experience seizures and even death.
Testing can be done to determine if a dog is affected. Testing results will show one of
three results:
- NORMAL/NORMAL - The animal is unaffected.
- NORMAL/MUTANT - The animal carries one mutant gene; may be sensitive - so
it is best to avoid known chemical and drugs which are known to cause reactions in
affected animals. - MUTANT/MUTANT - The animal is affected. Avoid all known chemical and drug
triggers, as this animal could suffer a life-threatening reaction.
The good news is that is it entirely possible to avoid the known drug or chemical triggers
- even if you do not know the make-up of your dog.
- Ivermectin (commonly used chemical parasite control)
- Acepromazine (frequently used as a sedative and an antiemetic in animals)
- Loperamide a.k.a "Immodium®" (used as an anti-diarrheal)
- Digoxin (used to treat heart conditions)
- Ondansetron (antiemetic, typically used for nausea during chemotherapy)
- Vincristine, vinblastine, & doxorubicin (chemotherapeutic drugs)
CANCER
The truth of the matter is that cancer is on the rise, not just for Australian Shepherds,
but for all breeds. One in two dogs, nationwide, will suffer from cancer - and it is, now,
the most common form of non-accidental death in canines! There are two types of cancer
which seem to be more prevalent in the Australian Shepherd:
- Hemangiosarcoma
- Lymphoma
At this time, it is unknown whether cancer is an inherited trait in our breed, however, the
higher instances of hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma point to the possibility. Further
studies are being done. If you, or someone you know, has an Australian Shepherd or
Miniature Australian Shepherd who has suffered from any form of cancer, I am sure your
story could be beneficial to the researchers doing these studies. You can follow this link
for more information. AUSSIE CANCER STUDY
A CRASH COURSE IN NUTRITION FOR YOUR PET
Regardless of genetics, there are some things we can do to help prevent illness in our
pets! Please follow the above link for more information...