How long does a Miniature American Shepherd live?

The listed lifespan for a Miniature American Shepherd is 12–13 years.

How tall is a Miniature American Shepherd?

The listed height for a Miniature American Shepherd is 14–18 in (male), 13–17 in (female).

Is a Miniature American Shepherd good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Miniature American Shepherd is 5 out of 5.

What is the energy level of a Miniature American Shepherd?

The AKC energy score for a Miniature American Shepherd is 5 out of 5.

Herding Group

Miniature American Shepherd

Miniature American Shepherd is a medium dog in the Herding Group. Adult weight is 20–40 lb, height is 14–18 in (male), 13–17 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 12–13 years. AKC describes the temperament as Intelligent, Good-natured, Devoted.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Miniature American Shepherd dog — Photo: Canarian · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–13 years

Weight20–40 lb

SizeMedium GroupHerding Group

Height

14–18 in (male), 13–17 in (female)

Energy

5 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

3 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 59 single-size medium breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 12.5 years is about 0.8 years shorter than the 13.3-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 30 lb is about 4.1 lb lighter than the 34.1 lb average for those medium breeds.

The listed origin is United States. The coat is described as double, medium. The AKC energy score is 5 out of 5, 0.9 points above the group average of 4.1 for the Herding Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 3 out of 5. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 5 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 28 in 2025.

AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Hip Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, NAD - Neuroaxonal Dystrophy (Miniature American Shepherd Type) DNA Test, Multidrug Sensitivity (MDR1) - DNA Test, HSF4 - Hereditary Cataracts (Australian Shepherd Type) - DNA Test, and Progressive Retinal Atrophy, PRCD (PRA-prcd, PRCD) - DNA Test. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

Frequently asked

Questions from the breed record

The verified adult weight for a Miniature American Shepherd is 20–40 lb.

Sources

More Herding Group breeds

All Herding Group breeds

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