A German Shepherd is a bold, intelligent, loyal and active breed. But, what about a Miniature German Shepherd?
A Mini German Shepherd will only stand at 15 to 20 inches and weigh a maximum of 50 pounds; compared to the 25 inches and 75 pounds of a full size German Shepherd… not quite pocket-sized, but they do exist!
This breed’s athleticism and petite beauty will attract many people to them.
Though not a purebred dog, this mini cross breed is a German shepherd mix with either a poodle or a Border Collie, creating a combination of a household and working pet.
Let us guide you through this breed’s temperament, personality, appearance and care requirements in our owner’s guide.
| Size | 15 to 20″ |
| Weight | Up to 50 lbs |
| Lifespan | Up to 15 years |
| Breed Type | Mixes and more |
| Purpose | Working / Companion |
| Suitable For | Energetic individuals, and families in any living situation |
| Color Variations | Tan with a black saddle, white, black, sable or even black with red or silver. |
| Temperament | Loyal, protective, intelligent, athletic and playful |
| Other Names | German Shepherd Border Collie, German Shepherd Poodle and Mini German Shepherd |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Miniature German Shepherd – Breed Overview
When it comes to the Miniature German Shepherd, there is more than meets the eye. In fact, a lot of people don’t realize that this breed is not a purebred dog.
The common misconception with a Mini German Shepherd is that they are a smaller purebred German Shepherd. However, this is known as dwarfism and is very uncommon.
A purebred German Shepherd is usually mated with a smaller breed such as a Miniature Poodle or a Border Collie to create a Mini GSD.
The Border Collie and the Miniature Poodle are two breeds renowned for their intelligence, just as the German Shepherd is. However, these breeds are a smaller, medium-sized breed and therefore help create a miniature, fun-sized German Shepherd mix.
This breed is designed to have all the loveable characteristics of a German Shepherd but in a more compact size. They are suited to be both household pets as well as working dogs.
There is no exact date when the miniature German Shepherd appeared in the US.
Miniature German Shepherd Puppy
As this breed is not a pure bred dog, every litter will differ significantly. For example, a litter of German Shepherd Border Collies will differ in appearances to the German Shepherd Miniature Poodles.
With a Shepherd dam (i.e. Mother) each litter will contain about 6 to 8 Miniature German Shepherd Puppies on average; with a typical price of $1000 USD.
Puppy Growth Chart
| 3 Months | 6 | 12 |
| 6 Months | 13 | 26 |
| 9 Months | 20 | 39 |
| 12 Months | 26 | 50 |
Mini German Shepherd Temperament
Loyal, protective, intelligent, athletic and playful; five adjectives which perfectly describe this pocket-sized shepherd breed.
The Miniature German Shepherd will love you as much as you let them. They will be happy to provide you with as many licks as your face and feet desire.
They may be small but they can be great little guard dogs due to their protective nature. Therefore, the correct socialization is required.
Socialization is very important for this mini breed and should begin at an early age (ideally human socialization from seven weeks of age). Be sure to guide them through proper socialization so they don’t get intimidated and protective.
Being small, they are full of energy and their playful demeanor makes them the perfect family member if you have children who need to be entertained.
As this is a small yet energetic breed, they are suited to a lifestyle where there is a moderate amount of play time or exercise time. They make the perfect hiking partner, running companion as well as cuddle buddy.
Yet, although they have a lot of energy, they don’t require a large back yard like their German Shepherd parent.
The miniature German Shepherd is suited to a range of environments:
- Small apartment living
- Countryside living
- Busy-city life
Their more compact and portable size make them easier to home than a full-size GSD. In summary, this dog has a very intelligent and loving temperament.
How to Care for a Miniature German Shepherd
Caring for your Miniature Shepherd is definitely not as tiring as caring for other German Shepherd Mixes.
They are smaller and more compact and therefore their dietary and exercise requirements are not as high.
Food and Diet Requirements
| Daily Food Consumption | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 1,500 |
| Cups of Kibble |  |
A breed the size of a Miniature German Shepherd, requires approximately 30 calories per pound of body weight per day.
This means that on average, this breed will require 1,500 calories per day. Although this may change in response to many factors such as their age, sexual maturity, size, activity level and season.
So this breed will require three cups of dry kibble per day. You should try split these feedings up into multiple daily servings, try feeding your dog once in the morning and again at night.
Like other Shepherds, this breed may be prone to hypothyroidism (i.e. low activity thyroid gland) so be sure to make sure their kibble has been fortified with adequate vitamins and minerals.
Exercising a Shepherd
| Daily Exercise Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Minutes | Over 60 |
| Activity Level |  |
These pups may be small but they are super playful and love activity. It helps provide them with the mental stimulation they require as well.
Try taking your dog for a walk at least once a day and then finish off the evening with some play time in your back yard.
A good game for Shepherds is a classic game of fetch:
- Purchase a dog friendly ball
- Show your dog this ball
- Say “Fetch” as you throw the ball
- Wait, as your dog brings the ball back to you
- Reward with praise
- Repeat from step 2!
This may take a little time but your GSD should catch on quickly. Even though at the beginning they may be a little cheeky and refuse to give up their new found favorite ball!
You can try giving them a healthy treat when they successfully play this game the first few times.
If walks get a little boring, try running or even cycling next to your dog. They will appreciate any style of exercise they can get.
You should aim for approximately one hour of exercise per day. This will be sufficient to keep you and your pup in shape, fit and active.
Training a Miniature German Shepherd
You are lucky that this Mini GSD is very intelligent and therefore your puppy should learn new commands quickly.
Just like their parents, they make excellent students. In fact, your puppy will learn those basic; sit, stay, no commands in no time. There are plenty of puppy training tips for your miniature German shepherd. Obedience training and household training should be simple and take no time at all, once again making them a perfect family pet.
The key to training your puppy is to keep the training simple and consistent. Whilst being fun, be patient and encourage positive behaviors through positive reinforcement training.
It is important that you cover all of the bases when it comes to training. So be sure to incorporate mental stimulation and socialization too:
- Mental stimulation is important as it diminishes any unwanted behaviors from arising. Such as boredom which may lead to unwanted chewing and barking in any pup.
- Begin socialization at an early age and be sure to introduce your pup to changes in environments, new objects and a range of people.
Once they are old enough, try out puppy classes and doggy day care so they can befriend fellow canines.
Being a smart breed, their brains need to be kept engaged. You can provide stimulation through exercise, training, bonding and games.
Known Health Problems
Unfortunately, even designer dog breeds may inherit some health problems from their pure bred parents. In the case of a purebred German Shepherd, we know many have health problems, to the extent where a new breed was bred to out-breed some of the issues. We have listed below some of the main health concerns with the Miniature German Shepherd:
Canine Hip Dysplasia
The German Shepherd is genetically susceptible to Hip Dysplasia meaning that this too may be passed down to your miniature German Shepherd. Hip Dysplasia occurs due to a malformation in the joints of the hip. This may lead to lameness and eventually surgical treatment.
Physiotherapy may be provided by your Veterinarian in order to reduce any pain associated with the disease. Unfortunately, ongoing problems may lead to surgery.
Bloat (Gastric Dilation)
Unfortunately your Miniature German Shepherd may also suffer from bloat. Bloat occurs when your dog’s stomach overfills from gasses putting pressure on other organs which may lead to severe pain. This disease is dangerous as the pressure can lead to further health issues such as cardiac and respiratory problems.
Appearance of a Miniature German Shepherd
There is a reason that this breed is called a Miniature German Shepherd. They look exactly like them… although more petite of course. A German Shepherd which will stay half-sized forever.
They usually have tan fur with a black saddle. Although their fur may even sometimes be black, sable, white and even a combination of black with red or silver. Their lovely double coat is one of their favorite accessories for the cooler months as it provides them with that extra warmth.
Their eyes are brown and their ears are raised on top of their heads (although when they are puppies they tend to lop down).
This breed’s build is definitely athletic and bold. They stand at only around 15 to 20 inches and weigh up to 50 pounds; compared to their German Shepherd parent who may weigh over 70 pounds.
One thing to remember is that the Mini German Shepherd is not a recognized breed and therefore variation between litters (e.g. size and appearance) may be greater.
Specific Grooming Requirements
The grooming requirements of the Miniature German Shepherd are a lot like those of the purebred German Shepherd.
Brushing a Mini Shepherd is a necessity, because of their double coat. If you don’t you may just end up with a new found layer of carpet courtesy of your pup.
You should brush the coat of your Mini GSD at least twice a week, and this may increase during the warmer months when your pup is getting rid of that extra coat.
Blow-outs are also something to keep in mind. These occur twice a year in response to a change in season. So don’t be alarmed when you see your dog losing A LOT of hair during this period.
This breed is a cross, and it is not a purebred German Shepherd, therefore these requirements may differ in regards to their fur differences from either the Border Collie or Miniature Poodle.
Summary of Breed
The perfect breed for any German Shepherd lover who doesn’t occupy the space or effort for a regular German Shepherd.
This breed may be miniature but their personality remains as bold as their parent breed.
Loyal, intelligent, playful and bold; all the characteristics and beauty of a true Shepherd makes this breed a perfect dog for any family or individual. They are even perfect for children due to their playful demeanor.
Training, feeding and exercise requirements are easily met therefore contributing to this breeds growing popularity.
So, what do you think? Is this pocket-sized German Shepherd right for you? Let us know in the comments below.
Oh my goodness it’s so freaking cute! I want one!
This post has just made my next decade. Thank you! I’m a Shepherd lover living in a smaller place now and have been trying to find a smaller-size dog with as many of the traits and characteristics of a Shepherd as could be found – without success. My first thought had been minis but none of the lists of miniature breeds I’d found had included miniature GSDs, until now. Knowing that my ideal pooch indeed exists is a great start! Thank you again!
Me too. Love em
I can only reiterate what Joan has said. Until 2015 I have been privileged to own at least 1 of these majestic dogs (sometimes 2 at a time from puppies) and I’ve also had a couple of rescues over some years). Sadly, my last “fur baby” passed away in 2015. Like Joan I’ve searched in vain for a suitable smaller dog, due mainly to getting older myself. I’ve been trying to find a miniature GSD breeder in the U.K. but so far have not been successful. This news has brought me renewed hope. Good luck in all your work with such a wonderful worthwhile project. If you are able to provide any further information, that would be gratefully received. Thank you all so much!
Very interested in a Miniature Shepard/Collie!
I too would love a miniature GS/ corgi mix. I have had GS’s my whole life and my current baby is middle aged at 6. He’s a sweetie and I would live to get him a smaller friend.
A years ago I had a German Shepherd as part of our family she was a small German Shepherd. Not a mini. She weighed about 60 pounds. Even though her hair was short, she did shed a lot. She was a wonderful companion to me. She was the best. If I could have a duplicate of her I would have a German Shepherd now.
I have a 43# female German Shepherd I would like to breed. Looking for a small male to sire a litter of pups.