Toy Australian Shepherd Guide: Price, Size, Lifespan, Temperament etc.

The Toy Australian Shepherd (AKA Toy Aussie) is the smallest version of the Australian Shepherd. They are an extremely cute dog breed, often featuring beautifully patterned coats. These traits paired with their loyal, intelligent and affectionate temperament are some of the reasons why they are so popular.

If you are interested in Toy Australian Shepherds keep reading this article to find out the all the answers to your questions about this dog breed!

Table of Contents

What Is A Toy Australian Shepherd?

A Toy Australian Shepherd is the smallest Australian Shepherd size. They are the same size as a Teacup Australian Shepherd. Like the Teacup Australian Shepherd, the “toy” size of Australian Shepherd is not officially recognised by kennel clubs.

What Makes A Toy Australian Shepherd?

Toy Australian Shepherds were created by taking the runt of two unrelated Mini Australian Shepherds litters and breeding them together to create an even smaller puppy. This process is repeated until they consistently get the “toy” size.

blue merle toy australian shepherd — Toy Australian Shepherd via @theaussienoodle

Toy Australian Shepherd Characteristics

Toy Australian Shepherd Characteristics
Size	10 to 14 inches (25.4cm to 35.6cm) tall.
Weight	12 to 17 pounds (5.4kg to 7.7kg).
Temperament	Loyal, affectionate, eager to please.
Activity Levels	Moderate to high.
Exercise Requirements	30 to 60 min per day.
Lifespan	10 to 12 years.
Coat	Double coat.
Eyes	Brown.
Shedding	Moderate to heavy.
Apartment Adaptability	Can live in an apartment if given enough exercise daily.
Good with Children	Yes.

Toy Australian Shepherd Price

Toy Australian Shepherds cost between $3000USD and $4000USD. They are the most expensive Australian Shepherd size as they are quite rare and take a long time to breed. Note that Teacup Australian Shepherds are the same size as Toy Australian Shepherds.

Toy Australian Shepherd Size

A Toy Australian Shepherd gets to a height of 10 to 14 inches (25.4cm to 35.6cm) tall at the shoulder and weighs between 12 and 17 pounds (5.4kg to 7.7kg). They reach their full adult size around 10 months of age. Toy Australian Shepherds are the same size as Teacup Australian Shepherds.

There can be a lot of variation in Toy Australian Shepherd size as it is not a recognised size so it is up to the breeder to determine what they consider to be a “toy” sized dog. That is why it is best to ask the breeder what the average size their Toy Australian Shepherds are when fully grown.

Toy Australian Shepherd Lifespan

Toy Australian Shepherds live for 10 to 12 years however some live even longer. Even though there is the general rule that smaller dogs live longer, Toy and Teacup Australian Shepherds have a slightly short life expectancy that the Miniature Aussie as they are more likely to suffer health issues due to their incredibly small size.

Toy Australian Shepherd Temperament

Toy Australian Shepherds are an extremely loyal and affectionate dog breed. They can be quite shy around new people but once they get to know them they are much more outgoing. Toy Australian Shepherds are very eager to please and also very intelligent which makes them quite an easy dog to train. They really like to be kept busy and would rather take on a job or activity than lounge around at home all day. While their small size may be deceptive, they are in no way a couch potato as they have high energy levels.

Toy Australian Shepherd Shedding

Toy Australian Shepherds shed a moderate amount throughout the years and heavily twice a year during seasonal shedding when they lose their undercoat. The heavy shedding lasts for 2 to 3 weeks during spring and autumn. You should brush a Toy Australian Shepherds every week to reduce their shedding.

The best brush for Toy Australian Shepherds is a slicker brush as well as an undercoat rake. An undercoat rake is especially useful during seasonal shedding times as it helps them dislodge loose hairs in their undercoat.

Are Toy Australian Shepherds Hypoallergenic?

Toy Australian Shepherds are not hypoallergenic as they produce a moderate amount of dander which irritates allergy sufferers. They are moderate to heavy shedders depending on the time of year which is why they drop lots of dander throughout the year. A similar dog breed that is hypoallergenic is the Toy Aussiedoodle as the Poodle has been introduced into the lineage.

Toy Australian Shepherd Grooming

Toy Australian Shepherds do not need haircuts. They are a double coated dog breed that sheds throughout the year and also seasonally. They don’t need to go to the groomer to get their hair trimmed. This is why they are a low maintenance dog breed.

Like all dog breeds, Toy Australian Shepherds need regular brushing, nail clipping and need to be bathed every few months. Toy Australian Shepherds should have a bath every three to four months. Bathe them too frequently and they’ll get dry, irritated skin.

Toy Poodle Full Grown (Adult Size & Age Fully Grown)

Toy Australian Shepherd Colors

Red Merle Toy Australian Shepherd

Red Merle Toy Australian Shepherds feature a mottled coat with red, copper, beige and white patches. The merle gene may also result in them having blue eyes and areas of their skin that lacks pigmentation. Red Merle Toy Australian Shepherds look similar to Blue Merle Toy Australian Shepherds except they would have originally had a red (liver) base coat instead of a black one.

Red Tri Toy Australian Shepherd

Red Tri Toy Australian Shepherds feature solid red, white and copper patches in their coat. The majority of their coat is red and they feature a large white patch on their chest and front legs as well as a smaller white patches over their muzzle and between their eyes. Their back legs may also feature white, especially on their paws. They feature small copper patches on the sides of their muzzle, above their eyes and in places where their red coat transitions to white.

Red Toy Australian Shepherd

Red Toy Australian Shepherds feature a solid red coat which can range from a light copper to a dark reddish-brown. There are no other colors in their coat. Red Toy Australian Shepherds have light brown noses and light brown or hazel eyes. Red is one of the rarest coat colors for Toy Australian Shepherds.

Blue Merle Toy Australian Shepherd

A Blue Merle Toy Australian Shepherds have blue, grey, white and tan coats in a distinct mottled pattern. They would have originally had a solid black coat but the merle gene diluted it into mottled patches. The merle gene also affects eye color and skin pigmentation on the nose and paws. This means that Merle Australian Shepherds often have very light eye colors such as blue and often have pink patches on their nose and paws.

Black Tri Toy Australian Shepherd

Black Tri Toy Australian Shepherds feature a mainly black coat with tan and white patches on their belly, chest, legs and face. The tan patches are usually featured on the sides of their muzzle, above their eyes and in places where their black coat transitions to white. This coat pattern looks very similar to the typical coat of a Bernese Mountain Dog.

Toy Australian Shepherd Training

Toy Australian Shepherds are very easy to train as they are so smart and eager to please their owners. They are always very motivated to learn new tricks and skills. The best training method for Toy Australian Shepherds is positive reinforcement training with treats or their favorite toys or treats.

Toy Australian Shepherd Exercise Needs

Toy Australian Shepherds are smaller than Standard Australian Shepherds so they don’t need as much exercise each day but that does not mean that they don’t need anything. Despite their small size, Toy Australian Shepherds are still a high energy dog and need between 30 minutes and an hour of exercise each day. Toy Australian Shepherds enjoy going on walks, running and playing games. Mental exercise is also required so they don’t get bored and destructive.

Toy Australian Shepherd Pros and Cons

Pros

Toy Australian Shepherds are extremely loyal.
Toy Australian Shepherds are very intelligent and easy to train.
Toy Australian Shepherds thrive on athletic activities and exercise.
Toy Australian Shepherds have beautiful coats.

Cons

Toy Australian Shepherds can be quite territorial.
Toy Australian Shepherds can be destructive if they don’t get enough exercise each day.
Toy Australian Shepherds are moderate to heavy shedders.
Toy Australian Shepherds can be very shy if not socialized properly when they were young.