Miniature American Shepherd Size Chart & Growth Patterns

Often referred to as the Mini Australian Shepherd, the Miniature American Shepherd is a breed in its own right. A smaller, but just as amazing version of the larger Aussie, this pup has stolen everyone’s heart. In this article, we’re going to answer all of your questions about the Miniature American Shepherd size, growth, and how you can predict your puppy’s adult size. Let’s dive in!

Mini American Shepherd
Photo by Sheelah Brennan on Unsplash

Our handy interactive puppy growth chart and calculator takes all the hard work out of predicting your puppy’s potential adult size. This helps you to know exactly what you are in for.

Psst! Check Out These Awesome Puppy Things!

Miniature American Shepherd Size Predictions

The Miniature American Shepherd was originally bred from the Australian Shepherd with a goal to achieve a smaller version. And with great success! Miniature American Shepherds are such bundles of joy. They have the same traits as the original Australian Shepherd, but at a scaled down size. Miniature American Shepherds are devoted and affectionate dogs who get along well with other pets and children. 

Compared to the Australian Shepherd, the Miniature American Shepherd is a noticeably smaller dog. Australian Shepherds usually weigh between 40 and 65 pounds, and stand 18 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder. In contrast, the Mini American Shepherds weigh between 20 and 40 pounds, and have a height of 13 to 18 inches measured at the shoulder. 

Although Minis are much more compact than Aussies, they’re still super active dogs who need their daily exercise to stay healthy and happy. This dog is best suited for active people who have the time and energy for plenty of playtime and exercise with the furry pal. And, of course, lots of cuddles after a long day. 

Miniature American Shepherd

So how big is a full-grown Mini American Shepherd? Let’s take a look at the average Miniature American Shepherd size predictions:

Male Miniature American ShepherdFemale Miniature American Shepherd
Weight20-40 pounds20-40 pounds
Height14-18 inches13-17 inches
When Full-Grown?12 months12 months

*A dog’s height is measured from withers, which is the highest part of their shoulder blades.

Are There Different Sizes Of Miniature American Shepherds?

As we can see from the Miniature American Shepherd size chart above, females are usually slightly shorter. On average, about an inch or two. Females also tend to weigh less than males. However, it’s not uncommon for a dog to be a little bit smaller or larger than the breed standards. Usually, it’s not anything to worry about. Unless your dog is visibly over or underweight. 

Additionally, sometimes the names Miniature American Shepherd and Mini Australian Shepherd are used interchangeably. If you’re adopting a puppy from a breeder, they’ll most likely use the correct breed name. However, if they advertise Mini Aussies, you should do more research to exactly understand how they create their litters. Unethical breeders use runts or dogs with the dwarfism gene. As a result, the puppies are at a much higher risk of different types of health complications. If you’d like to learn more about how to choose a responsible breeder, make sure to check out this article

Miniature American Shepherd

Miniature American Shepherd Size Charts & Growth Patterns – Month Wise 

If you’ve brought your new little pal home, you might be curious – how big will your puppy get? For this reason, we’ve created an interactive Miniature American Shepherd size chart and growth calculator. With this tool, you can predict your puppy’s full-grown size, and track their growth from birth to adulthood. Just enter your dog’s breed, current weight in pounds, current age in weeks, and you’re ready to go!

Like other small to medium-sized breeds, the Mini American Shepherds grow fastest in their first 6 months. After that, you can expect your puppy’s growth to gradually slow down, until it finally plateaus at their full adult weight somewhere between 12 and 14 months old. 

Additionally, this is why it’s particularly important that your Miniature American Shepherd puppy gets the correct nourishment he needs to grow that adorable little body into a healthy adult one. Check out these guides on best dog food for puppies here.

Here are the typical Miniature American Shepherd size predictions that you can use as a rough guideline:

Age3 months6 months9 months12 months
Weight11 pounds20 pounds26 pounds30 pounds
Height9 inches13 inches15 inches17 inches

Mini American Shepherds usually reach half their adult height at 3 months old, and half their adult weight around 4-5 months of age. At 6 months old, Minis have reached about ⅔ of their full weight, and ¾ of their adult height. They generally reach their adult height anywhere between 9 and 12 months old. However, you can expect your puppy to gain some additional weight over the next few months after that. 

Of course, it’s not to say that there’s anything wrong if your dog doesn’t follow the exact growth patterns like some other pups. All dogs are unique and experience growth in their own way. Some Mini American Shepherds weigh 20 pounds at 6 months old, some just 10. It really does depend on their individual estimated size. However, if you’re worried about your puppy gaining too much or too little weight, be sure to consult with your veterinarian. 

How Big Does A Miniature American Shepherd Get?

The Miniature American Shepherd weighs between 20 and 40 pounds, with a height of 13 to 18 inches at the shoulder. Like with many other breeds, male Miniature American Shepherds are usually a little bit taller and might weigh more than females. Males are typically 14-18 inches tall at the shoulder, while females stand about 13 to 17 inches tall. 

Miniature American Shepherd

You can calculate their potential adult weight at 23 weeks by taking what they weigh at that age and multiplying it by two.

A different formula you could use is:

  1. Growth = current weight / current age in weeks
  2. Adult weight = Growth x 52 (number of weeks in one year)

So, for example, if your 12-week old pup weighs 18 pounds. You simply divide the current weight by their age in weeks and multiply the result with 52:

18/ 12 = 1.5
1.5 x 52= 78 pounds

78 pounds would be the expected weight of your adult-sized Miniature American Shepherd.

Mini American Shepherds usually finish growing around their first birthday. They tend to reach their full height anywhere between 9 to 12 months old, but gain some more weight and girth for a few more months. If you’d like to predict your Miniature American Shepherd’s full-grown size and track their growth into adulthood, make sure to check out our interactive puppy weight calculator


In conclusion, the Mini American Shepherd is a beautiful breed with many great qualities. Just like the larger Australian Shepherd relative, the Mini American Shepherd is a loving and active pup who enjoys learning new tricks and spending quality time with their humans. However, not everyone can adopt a large dog with high energy levels. We hope this article helped you understand the Mini American Shepherd size and growth patterns, so you can be prepared for an adventure-packed life with this amazing little guy. 

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