Unfortunately, some of the bad press for Minis has been fuelled by unscrupulous breeders who have mixed breeds and bred without due regard to the quality of the dogs but simply with the aim of breeding small dogs.
Some of these dogs may have had genetically related health issues and given all Mini Aussies a bad name.
In addition, because of the increasing popularity of the Mini, backyard breeders have popped up and breed dogs that are inferior. Reputable breeders of the Miniature Aussie are then looked at with suspicion and all breeders of these dogs given a bad name. This contributes to the Aussie versus Mini Aussie debates.
Australian Shepherds and Miniatures: A Shared History However, it is clear that Minis and standard Aussies have a closely related history. Both breeds originated in the American West as ranching became a way of life from the 1800s onwards.
