Frequently Asked Questions

Mini Aussies have a moderately thick double coat. The fluffy undercoat is shed twice a year (Spring and Fall) and between those periods, their shedding is moderate. As with any animal, each one is different! Once weekly brushing can help minimize shedding and keep their coats healthy and beautiful.

Mini Aussies require moderate amounts of exercise. Fortunately, their smaller size allows them to meet their exercise requirements sooner than larger dogs with similar activity levels. When they come inside the home with family, they´re usually relaxed. Playing fetch or catching a frisbee is a great way to get their exercise and stimulate their mind as well!

We feed Purina Pro Plan Sport 30/20. It comes in a purple bag and can easily be purchased on pet websites and in most major pet stores. We do encourage you to ¨free-feed¨ your puppies until 9-12 months. This simply means having food available to them at all times instead of removing any uneaten food after a short feeding time. The younger pups tend to nibble and not empty their bowl. This also prevents them from feeling starved which could develop into food aggression.

Yes! They’re great with kids! They’re kind and patient with children and become very loyal members of your family.

The average range in height is 15¨-18¨ with the males being slightly taller than females. The weight for most at full maturity is 20-30lbs.

Simply put… there is no difference! Miniature AUSTRALIAN Shepherds were bred down over the years from standard size Australian Shepherds. People preferred a smaller size of the beloved Aussies! The AKC (American Kennel Club) made the decision to recognize the Mini Aussies as their OWN breed in 2015. However, instead of registering them as a size variety of the same breed, they would give them a different name altogether, which was the ¨Miniature AMERICAN Shepherd¨. This title is only recognized within the AKC registry, as other registries such as ASDR (American Stock Dog Registry) still register and refer to them as Miniature Australian Shepherds. Even though Cornerstone is a registered AKC breeder, we´ve continued calling them Mini Aussies due to the familiarity of the breed name to potential buyers. All of our registration paperwork will refer to them as Miniature American Shepherds.

All of our dogs are AKC registered. Each litter will be registered as well. If you chose to register your puppy with the AKC, the paperwork will be included in your pick-up packet. We do ask that you name the dog ¨Cornerstone’s ____________¨ to include our name as well.

Our Mini Aussie puppies range in price from $1,500-$2,500 depending on the color/ eye color/ gender/ size. The tri colors are at the lower end and merles are the higher end. There is no guarantee of eye color until closer to 6 weeks of age.

We work with Puppy Travelers out of Neosho, Missouri for our ground transportation. Their cost is $200 (If traveling to NY or NJ itś $250 due to tolls). We would add an additional $25 for health certificates and administration fees. These fees would be added to your total puppy cost. The shipping arrangements are booked by us at 6 weeks of age. Puppy Travelers studies their existing routes and then reaches out to you to finalize the pickup details. They begin their routes on Monday evenings and the puppy should arrive to you by Tuesday or Wednesday depending on your location.

If you prefer using the services of a flight nanny, we recommend Wonder Tails Canine Transport.

A flight nanny is an individual who picks the puppy up at our airport and transports them, in the cabin, to arrive comfortably at your airport. The buyer will coordinate the booking, and the pricing is dependent on your individual flight details/costs. They are based out of the Corpus Christi/San Antonio area. Please visit their website to learn more about this great service!

Yes! Each of our males and females are genetically tested for the essential panel of 11 genetic conditions known to the Miniature Australian Shepherd breed. We use PawPrint Genetics for our testing and our results are published in the Dams & Sires section of our website.

Yes! We actually offer a LIFETIME Genetic Health Guarantee. Click here for details!

We prefer the puppies leave our care no earlier than 8 weeks. Anywhere in the 8-10 week range is ideal. Special circumstances are always considered, so please call ahead to discuss your situation.

Sure! We prefer visiting on the phone prior to your purchase to get to know you and your home environment a little better. We’re always happy to be a resource for any other questions you may have as well! You can send a text if you just have a quick question. If we’re unable to take your call, please leave a message and know we’ll get back with you as soon as possible. Christie – 417-459-9959 (Central Time Zone)

Please visit our Contact Us page to see all options.

Yes, we do allow buyers to visit. Please contact us ahead of time to schedule a day that works for everyone.

We are in Springfield, Missouri, which is in southwest Missouri (Central Time Zone). If you’re considering flying in, you can travel to the Springfield/Branson Regional Airport. We are 2.5 hours from the Tulsa Airport, 3 hours from the Kansas City Airport, and 3 hours from the St. Louis Airport if those are better options.