WHAT IS AN AUSSALIER?
As beginners in the Aussie breeding program we have decided to lease a stud dog (daddy) from a neighboring breeder for our first few litters. Royal Crown Kennels- also based out of Minnesota breeds Aussaliers (Mini Aussies + Cavaliers) The reason our mini Australian Shepherds are bred with a Cavalier is because we love the medium size frame, the smarts and markings of the Aussie, and the friendly mellow mannerism of the Cavalier. Together we are able to bless customers with the best of both worlds.

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERDS
Australian Shepherds of the miniature variety become incredibly devoted to their people. They enjoy, and need to be involved in, family activities. They are gentle with children, good with other pets, and readily trained. But as the Australian Shepherd has a strong working heritage, Mini Aussies often do best in families willing to spend time providing obedience training, exercise and who permit the dog to be part of the family. The standard calls for a dog of “strong herding and guardian instincts” and a “reserved” temperament. Because Mini Aussies tend to be extremely loyal to their families, not all should be expected to be outgoing toward strangers. Early socialization is of the utmost importance in the Mini Aussie.
Aussies have a life span of 12-13 years and litters of 4-7 puppies.

CAVALIERS
The Cavalier's all-around beauty, regal grace, and even temper give them the  companionship and obedience for a great house pet. They get along nicely with children and other dogs. Adaptable Cavaliers do equally well with active owners and homebodies—they can be upbeat athletes or shameless couch potatoes, depending on an owner’s lifestyle.

ARE AUSSALIERS & MINI AUSSIES FAMILY FRIENDLY?
MOST DEFINETLY! 
They are a great companion for children and other pets, especially if socialized as a puppy. It can be shy around strangers, as it is territorial by nature. Mini Australian Shepherds are affectionate and kindhearted. They are easily bored. The character and temperament of the Toy & Miniature Australian Shepherd, regardless of the size variation, is that of a herding dog. Most Aussies do not adapt well to a sedentary lifestyle. If you like to come home from work and just plop on the couch with the remote, this is not your breed. If you are looking for a dog that has a high intelligence level to be a major "partner" in your life that you can truly interact with, that is the Aussie. Many Aussies live on farms or ranches and thrive on the mental and physical stimulation and most will not be happy as a kennel dog. However, there are many that live in cities. No matter where you live; your Aussie will be happiest to live with you as long as you respect their physical and mental demands. They need social interaction with their owners and make excellent house dogs with appropriate exercise. The background of the energy level of the dogs in the puppies pedigree will be a good clue as to the energy level your puppy will have. This varies from bloodlines to bloodlines.

GROOMING YOUR AUSSIE 101
BRUSHING:
Their thick water-resistant double coat protects them from the weather, sticks, burrs and the other hazards of corralling livestock. With proper grooming care these dogs need very little trimming. It is especially important to brush them weekly to remove their thick undercoat when it is no longer needed, especially in the spring. This allows for "loft"-- ability of the air to circulate through the coat and cool your dog. There are several tools to remove the undercoat, but a favorite of ours is the stainless steel wide-toothed rake. With frequent brushing, they should not need a bath more than every month or every other, except when they get dirty.

FEET:
Australian Shepherds tend to get long hair on their feet, and keeping this trimmed helps them to be more comfortable and to look neat. Carefully lift any hair from between thedog’s toes and from inside the pads on the underside of the foot. To give the foot a clean appearance, trim the hair off the top of foot so it doesn’t stick up above the toes. Clip thenails short as well.

EARS:
Use thinning shears to remove any thick or long hair from around the dog’s ears. By thinning, instead of just clipping the hair off, you get a result that looks blended, with no abrupt edges in the coat. The bottom area on the back of each ear is especially prone to matting, along with the section at the bottom directly in front of the ear opening. If they get especially matted, it may be necessary to cut those pieces out to prevent skin wounds from lifting as it tightens closer & closer to the skin. It is best not to let it get to this point for obvious reasons.

FEATHERS:
The term “feathers” refers to the long, silky hair on the backs of all four legs of an Australian Shepherd. These can become tangled or matted, and many owners choose to trim the feathers to minimize grooming requirements. While the feathers on the front legs and the lower part of the back legs are usually relatively thin, the hair that growsup the back legs and onto the dog’s rear, often called the britches, can sometimes bequite thick and may require trimming to keep it clean. Use thinning shears to remove excess hair in the britches area, under the tail and below the anus, so that nothing sticks to it when the dog defecates.

BODY:
 While you can clip an Australian Shepherd’s body hair, it generally isn’t necessary unless the dog’s coat or skin is damaged in some way. The double coat of an Australian Shepherd also may not grow back right if you cut it too short. This is very detrimental to your dog’s health, as they cannot thermoregulate properly and may not be able to cool off or stay warm. If you do choose to trim them, at a minimum leave 1.5 inches of hair to protect them from sunshine and help protect their undercoat.