Frequently Asked Questions

Our mini aussie puppy pricing is straightforward: Red Merles and Blue Merles are $2,000, and Tris and Bis are $1,500. That price reflects the intentionality behind every litter — parent dogs hand-selected from the best bloodlines in the country, full health testing through Paw Print Genetics (250+ tests, all clear), and a family-first raising environment in the Ozark Mountains. We keep the conversation open and transparent, so you'll always know what's included and why. Every Chiron Aussie goes home with a comprehensive take-home package, health records, and lifetime support. If you'd like to talk specifics or reserve a spot on our waitlist, the first step is to submit an inquiry.

One of the most common questions we hear is, how big do mini australian shepherds get? The breed standard places mature Mini Aussies at 14 to 18 inches tall at the shoulder and between 20 and 40 pounds. Males tend to land on the upper end of that range, while females are usually a touch smaller and more refined. Either way, they're built like real herding dogs in a compact frame — athletic, balanced, and sturdy enough to keep up on a hike but small enough to curl up at your feet. Our breeding pairs are selected with that standard in mind, so you can expect a Chiron Aussie to grow into a well-proportioned, true-to-type Miniature Australian Shepherd.

Yes — and it's one of the reasons families ask us, are mini aussies good with kids, with such hope in their voice. Miniature Australian Shepherds are loyal, affectionate, and naturally tuned in to their people. They were bred to work alongside humans, so partnership is in their DNA. Raised in our home with our family, our puppies are socialized with children from the very beginning, which lays the groundwork for a calm, confident dog. That said, they are energetic and herdy by nature, so we coach every family on teaching kids and puppies how to interact respectfully — gentle hands, calm voices, and supervised play. With the right foundation, a Mini Aussie becomes a devoted, protective, and endlessly patient companion for kids of every age.

When people ask, do mini aussies shed, the honest answer is: yes, they have a double coat and they do shed — but it's manageable. Mini Aussies carry a medium-length double coat with a soft undercoat and a weather-resistant outer coat. You'll see a noticeable shed twice a year (the seasonal coat blow in spring and fall), plus light year-round shedding. A good brush two to three times a week keeps loose hair under control, and during the seasonal blows a daily brush and an undercoat rake make a big difference. It's a small trade-off for a dog this beautiful and versatile. If keeping a pristine, hair-free home is your top priority, a Mini Aussie may test your patience — but for most active families, the shedding is just part of the deal and easy to stay on top of.

When families ask, what health testing do you do, we're proud to give a thorough answer. Every Chiron Mini Aussie parent is fully health tested through Paw Print Genetics, which screens for more than 250 breed-relevant genetic diseases and traits — and all of our dogs test clear. That means we know, before a litter is ever planned, that we're not passing on inherited disease. Beyond genetics, we evaluate structure, temperament, and overall soundness before a dog ever enters our program. We share the full testing profile for each parent on our meet our parent dogs page, because trust is built on transparency. You shouldn't have to take a breeder's word for it — you should be able to see the results. This is the foundation of everything we do, and it's why we believe in our breeding process so completely.

If you're wondering how do I reserve a puppy, the path is simple and personal. First, submit an inquiry through our application — tell us about your lifestyle, your experience, and what you're hoping for in a Mini Aussie. From there, we have a real conversation. We want to get to know you, answer your questions, and make sure a Chiron Aussie is the right fit for your home. Approved families then join our waitlist, and when a litter is planned we share the pairing details — health testing, pedigree, and what we expect from the combination. Puppies are matched to families based on temperament and lifestyle, not pick order, so reserving a puppy with us is really about being matched thoughtfully. You can view available litters to see what's currently on the way, and the full journey is laid out on our breeding process page.

The question do you ship puppies comes up often, and we want to be clear about how we handle it. We don't put puppies on cargo flights unattended — that's not something we're comfortable with. What we do offer is safe, attended nationwide transport so families across the United States can bring a Chiron Aussie home. We'll help coordinate ground transport or in-cabin flight arrangements with a trusted handler, and we're happy to discuss the logistics once you've been matched with a puppy. Many families also choose to pick up their puppy in person here in Walnut Shade, Missouri — it's a beautiful drive through the Ozark Mountains and a great way to meet us and see where your pup was raised. However you get here, we'll make sure your puppy arrives safely and stress-free.

When families ask, what's included with my puppy, we love answering because the take-home package is genuinely comprehensive. Every Chiron Aussie goes home with: a complete health record from our veterinarian, a microchip registered to you, first vaccinations and deworming on schedule, a written health guarantee, AKC/ASDR registration paperwork, a starter bag of the food your puppy has been eating, a blanket with mom's and littermates' scent for comfort, a toy or two to ease the transition, and a take-home folder with feeding guidelines, training tips, and health records. Just as important, you go home with us — meaning ongoing support for the life of your dog. Training questions, health guidance, the first nervous night, whatever comes up, you have a partner. That's not a bonus. It's the deal.

Yes — visits are welcome by appointment. We're nestled in the Ozark Mountains near Walnut Shade, Missouri, and we love introducing serious, prospective families to our dogs and our setup in person. Because our puppies are raised in our home as part of our family (not in a kennel building), we schedule visits thoughtfully — we want to protect the health and routine of our dogs and young litters while giving you a real, unhurried look at how we do things. If you've submitted an inquiry and we've had a conversation, we'll gladly arrange a visit so you can meet our parent dogs, see the environment, and ask questions face to face. It's the best way to understand the difference between a dedicated breeder and everything else.

This is one of the most important questions a family can ask, and we answer it with both a written guarantee and a personal commitment. Every Chiron Aussie comes with a health guarantee against genetic and hereditary conditions — because our parent dogs are fully tested through Paw Print Genetics and all clear, the risk is dramatically reduced, but we stand behind it in writing regardless. Beyond the guarantee, we provide lifetime support. If something comes up — a health concern, a behavioral question, a life change that affects your ability to keep your dog — you call us, and we help. That might mean consulting with our vet network, connecting you with a trainer, or helping you rehome a dog safely if the worst happens. We don't disappear after pickup. We're partners for the life of your Aussie, and we take that promise seriously. It's the whole reason we breed the way we do.