How the Mini Australian Shepherd Became the Year's Biggest Dog Trend

The ethically-questionable dogs-as-accessories trend hit its peak in the early 2000s when tiny pups could be spotted in the handbags of Paris Hilton and basically anyone else who owned a Juicy tracksuit.

Dogs have since been freed from designer handbags after the trend, along with many other early-aughts fashion atrocities, came to a fortunate end. However, that doesn’t mean dogs don’t still find themselves at the center of a trend from time to time. Obviously, dogs in general maintain a long-lasting popularity that even opposition from the most ardent cat lovers could never quell, but sometimes specific trends can pop up surrounding a certain new it-dog of the moment.

The current trending dog of the hour, according to Vox, is the Mini Australian shepherd. Smaller versions of full-size Australian shepherds, these smart, athletic pups are about 14 to 18 inches tall and weigh around 20 to 40 pounds. Known for their loyalty and wide variation in eye-color, these dogs are everywhere right now, and are also having a major moment on social media. Mini Aussies (also called Mini American Shepherds) made their first appearance on the American Kennel Club’s annual “Most Popular Breeds” list in 2016. As of 2018, they ranked number 34 on the list.

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While some dog breeds see a spike in popularity thanks to media representation, like a late-90s Dalmatian craze in the wake of the 1996 101 Dalmatians remake, dog breeder Amanda Leland told Vox that the mini Aussie’s popularity has no such pop culture origin. Rather, the dog breed earned its current status thanks largely to the merits of a winning personality, good looks and an apartment-friendly size.

However, experts caution against choosing a Mini Aussie purely because their small size makes them seem easy to care for. The hyper-intelligent herding dogs require plenty of mental stimulation and physical exercise, meaning they’re not going to be happy lounging around the apartment all day waiting for you to come home.

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