The Black tri mini Australian Shepherd is one of the tricolor coat colors of the Australian Shepherd.
So, what does a Black tri mini Australian Shepherd look like? What are its characteristics and are they the right dog for you?
Read on to learn more about what makes a Black tri Mini Australian Shepherd, its appearance, temperament, health concerns, price, and where to get them.
Table of Contents
What Is A Black Tri Mini Australian Shepherd?
A Black tri mini Australian Shepherd is a three-colored Aussie with black, white, and tan on the coat. Black is the base coat color with white markings on the muzzle, neck, chest, belly, legs, and tail tip. Tan markings often appear on the eyebrows, cheeks, and legs.
What Does The Black Tri Mini Australian Shepherd Look Like?
The Black tri mini Australian Shepherd or a Black Tri Color mini Australian Shepherd is a miniature Australian Shepherd that looks like the standard-sized Australian Shepherd.
All the physical features of the Black tri mini Aussie resemble the breed’s features. The only difference is their size.
They have a medium-sized muzzle, black nose, and floppy ears. The eye color ranges from light brown to dark brown.
Male Black tri mini Aussies are bigger than the females, with a height of 14 to 18 inches with a weight of 25 – 30 pounds. The females are 13 to 17 inches tall and weigh between 15 – 20 pounds.
The Black tricolor mini Australian Shepherd has a water-resistant double coat that is slightly wavy or straight.
The fur on the chest, legs, and tail is slightly longer than fur found on other parts of the body.
The Black tri mini Aussie’s coat has a three-colors, that is, black, white, and tan (copper).
Black is the base coat color that covers a large area of the body, with white and tan markings appearing on the face, chest, stomach, and legs.
The white markings often appear on the muzzle, neck, chest, belly, legs, and tail tip while tan or copper markings appear on the eyebrows, cheeks, and legs.
What Colors Do Mini Aussies Come In?
Mini Aussies come in 4 main coat colors, which are Black, Red, Blue Merle, and Red Merle.
There are different variations and combinations of these coat colors which include the tricolor mini Australian Shepherds.
Tricolor Mini Aussies are three colored Mini Australian Shepherds. Just like their standard-sized counterparts, there are 4 tricolor mini Australian Shepherd coat variations, which include:
- Black Tri Color Mini Australian Shepherd
- Red Tri Color Mini Australian Shepherd
- Blue Merle Tricolor Mini Australian Shepherd
- Red Merle Tricolor Mini Australian Shepherd
Related: Black tri Australian Shepherd: A comprehensive guide
The Genetics Of The Black Tri Mini Australian Shepherd
So, how is the Black tri mini Australian Shepherd’s coat color come about? Let’s take a look into how this fascinating coat color is expressed.
Dogs’ coat color starts with two primary base colors, that is, eumelanin (black pigment) and pheomelanin (red pigment).
Depending on which genes a puppy inherits from both parents, the two base pigments can be modified to produce the puppy’s coat color.
This results in the different coat colors, color combinations, and patterns that dogs have.
A Black tri mini Australian Shepherd puppy receives a copy of the dominant black gene from one of its parents, and a copy of the dominant Agouti gene also from one of its parents.
The black gene is dominant which results in the black base color which is the predominant color on the coat.
The dominant Agouti gene results in the tan (copper) markings on the coat.
The white markings on the coat are due to the inhibition of skin pigment by the genes on the S (spotting) locus of the genome which results in white areas of the coat.
This is how the coat color of the Black tri mini Australian Shepherd puppy comes about.
Are Black Tri Mini Australian Shepherds rare?
Black tri mini Australian Shepherds are not rare. Black tricolor mini Australian Shepherds, including the standard-sized Aussies, are the most common and popular Mini Aussies. You can find them through breeders, shelters, and rescue groups.
Black Tri Australian Mini Shepherd Temperament
The Black tri mini Aussies are smart, very energetic, loyal, and confident. They love their family members and are little workaholics that thrive on activities.
This personality is the same as a standard Australian Shepherd’s personality despite the difference in size coat.
They are smart dogs that are easy to train. This makes training enjoyable and fruitful.
The Black tri mini Aussie is energetic and loves activities that stimulate them mentally and physically. They require an owner or family with a matching active lifestyle to meet their high energy levels.
For a tiny dog, it requires at least 90 minutes of exercise each day to thrive.
Black tri mini Aussies are also very delicate and require families that can carefully care for them. Homes with children over 6 years are best because they can understand how to handle them.
Black tri mini Aussies are also loving to their family members however they become aloof around new people.
This prompts the need for early socialization and training to help them integrate well with both people and animals.
They are also not as cuddly or affectionate as other dog breeds but they are eager to please their owners and show this by being put to work, even if it is a small task.
Black Tri Mini Australian Shepherd Health Concerns and Lifespan
Research has linked a dog’s coat color to susceptibility to certain health problems meaning a dog’s coat color can make them more prone to some illnesses.
This has been proven for white, merle, piebald, and roan, coat colors that are susceptible to deafness or hearing problems.
The Black tri mini Australian Shepherd is not susceptible to more health problems based on its coat color.
The Black tri mini Aussie has white in its coat but it is not the predominant color therefore it is not prone to certain health issues because of this.
However, the Black tri mini Australian Shepherd is still an Australian Shepherd and is susceptible to the breed’s health problems which include:
- Epilepsy
- Hip and elbow dysplasia
- Cataracts
- Hypothyroidism
- Allergies
- Cancer
Also because of their miniaturized size, they are predisposed to certain health problems compared to the standard Australian Shepherd.
This includes early degeneration of the spinal discs as they age, which makes their spine incapable of absorbing shock from daily activities.
This results to back pain and discomfort when they move their neck or body. The condition may also worsen into hind legs paralysis.
Miniature Aussies such as the Black tri mini Aussie also have smaller and more fragile bones meaning they are very delicate, compared to the standard sized Aussies.
They can have bone fractures from minor trauma. Careful handling is essential to prevent injury to these pups. This also means they are not suitable for a home with younger children.
Dislocation of the knee caps is also common in miniature dogs like the Black tricolor mini Australian Shepherd.
Whenever you are considering getting any dog breed it is important to be aware of their possible health conditions.
This prepares you for the care they need as well as what to expect.
Black tri mini Australian Shepherd are susceptible to these health conditions but are generally healthy dogs that live long lives of 10 – 12 years.
With good care, regular exercise, and a healthy diet, they live healthy lives.
Black Tri Mini Australian Shepherd Price
The Black tri mini Australian Shepherd price is in the range of $1000 to $2500 but prices can be much higher up to $ 5000. This is because miniature dogs are usually more expensive compared to their standard-sized counterparts and are sought after.
The price also varies depending on availability, individual breeder price, and location.
Black tri mini Australian Shepherd puppies are also more expensive than older Aussies and dogs ta shelters or rescues.
Finding a Black Tri Mini Aussie For Sale
A Black tri mini Australian Shepherd for sale can be obtained from reputable Australian Shepherd breeders, shelters, and Australian Shepherd rescue centers.
Always purchase a Black tri mini puppy from a reputable Australian Shepherd breeder to receive a healthy puppy.
Reputable breeders provide health information of their puppies which verifies that they have gone through all the necessary health checks.
Reliable resources to find a Black tri mini Australian Shepherd include:
Summary: Black Tri Mini Australian Shepherd
The Black tri mini Australian Shepherd is similar to the standard-sized Black tri Australian Shepherd, the only difference is their size.
They have a captivating coat color of black, white, and tan which catches people’s attention and love for the dog.
Black tri Australian Shepherds whether miniature or standard-sized dogs are the most common tricolor Aussies that are also very popular.
They are energetic, smart, and good-natured dogs. They are suitable for active lifestyle families because they thrive on a lot of activities that stimulate them both mentally and physically.
If you are in the market for a small-sized Aussie and can still keep up with this mini Aussie’s energy and care, then Black tri mini Australian Shepherd is a good choice.