Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. The miniature Australian shepherd was developed by selectively breeding small Australian shepherds. Miniature Aussies are rapidly increasing in popularity among those interested in a compact dog with a strong work ethic. They are especially popular in dog agility, and do well in other dog sports including herding, obedience, disc dog, and many other activities. Miniature Australian shepherds range in height from 14 to 18 inches (35 to 46 cm) at the withers and weigh between 17 and 35 pounds (9 to 14 kg). Toy Australian shepherds range in height from 10 to 14". Coat colors are the same as those for Australian shepherds; blue merle, red merle, black, and red, all with or without copper and white trim. Eyes may be any combination of brown, amber, hazel, blue, or marbled.