Telomian vs Miniature Australian Shepherd - Breed Comparison

The Telomian, out of Malaysia is rare and the only dog bred in Malaysia that lives outside the country. The breed was originally called Village dog or Anjing Kampung in Malay. The Telo is still considered one of the rarest dogs in the world. They are considered as a possible missing link between the Australian Dingo and the African Basenji.

They were bred to kill vermin by indigenous people, the Orang Asli of Malasia. They have an amazing ability to climb bred into them because these indigenous people lived in stilt houses. Even as they kept the Theomian to hunt vermian, the Orang Asli believed dogs were evil spirits who would eventually turn on them.

In 1963, Dr. Orville Elliot, an anthropologist from the West, discovered the breed and named them the Telomian for the Telom River they lived near. He took a pair to the United States and by 1970 there was a Telomian Dog Club in the U.S. By 1973 another pair had been imported and it is thought that all the Telomians who live in the United States today are descendants of these two pairs.

Like the New Guinea Singing Dog and the Basenji, the Telo do not bark but rather have a unique howl. Being bred from wild dogs, the Telo is not fully domesticate and puppies need a lot of socialization. The Telomian is on the Dog Registry of America Inc and America’s Pet Registry but is not recognized by any pedigree registry.

Unlike some miniaturized pure dog breeds, the Miniature Australian Shepherd is a breed of its own. The American Kennel Club and the United Kennel Club recognize that the miniature Australian Shepherd is the same as the miniature American Shepherd.

Certain breeding programs to develop the Miniature Australian Shepherd have been established and this dog is a small version of the Australian Shepherd. You can say that the Mini Australian Shepherd was developed in the 1960s and hails from the USA. American ranchers bred small Australian Shepherd dogs to create smaller replicas of the breed.

This is a somewhat unique looking breed. They are small dogs, sturdy, athletic dogs with short coat, a square body and a long back. Their coat is smooth and sable and the ticking is white. They often have black masks and purple tongues. They are about 15-18 inches in height and weigh about 18-28 pounds. Their head is well proportioned and they have erect ears, almond shaped eyes and deep chests.

The Telo is still so undomesticated that the female only comes into estrus once a year in September to October. They have great command of their paws and can use them more like cats or racoons. They climb with them and hold toys, objects or food in them. This is related to their need to climb since homes were built on stilts in the jungles of Malaysia.

The Miniature Australian Shepherd’s coat is medium-length and is straight or wavy. It comes in a range of colors such as blue or red merle and red or black tricolor. There are white or tan markings as well. He is a small dog, standing at 33 - 46 cm in height and weighing 6 – 16kg.

They have blue or brown eyes but some will even have one eye blue and the other brown. The ears are semi erect, semi floppy and the tail, while essentially left long and feathery, is sometimes docked.

Temperament:

Miniature Australian Shepherds are easygoing dogs who love being with their human families. They get on well with children in the home and are always willing to jump right in for a game.

They’re lively and agile and if its not games they’re busy with, they want to be on a walk. They’re loving and loyal and also eager to please, sensing what their owner wants.

They’re intelligent dogs too and easy to train so it is sure to go well with training and socialization, which is important for any dog. This training and socialization can actually help with problems a dog has such as being very nervous or being too active indoors. They become obedient and manageable wherever they are.

He is also willing to get on with other pets in the house. Just like the larger dog, the mini Australian Shepherd loves to be active and at work.

1Childrn friendliness - yes but high energy

2.Special talents – climbing ability, use of their paws, able to hunt their own food.

3.Adaptability – they are not big so you would think apartment living would be ok but because of their energy and prey drive they really need a place to run.

4.Learning ability - Very intelligent, needs stimulation, and mental games

The wonderful friendly nature’s of these dogs make them excellent family pets, especially when they have been trained and socialized. They can live in the city or country but they will certainly require being exercised as they are an active breed, wanting to be busy with his human family.

You can’t describe these dogs as low maintenance as they have long, thick hair that sheds and which will also need to be brushed regularly.

If you’re able to provide a good home for this beautiful, lively dog, then he will make you a splendid pet.

This is a somewhat unique looking breed. They are small dogs, sturdy, athletic dogs with short coat, a square body and a long back. Their coat is smooth and sable and the ticking is white. They often have black masks and purple tongues. They are about 15-18 inches in height and weigh about 18-28 pounds. Their head is well proportioned and they have erect ears, almond shaped eyes and deep chests.

The Telo is still so undomesticated that the female only comes into estrus once a year in September to October. They have great command of their paws and can use them more like cats or racoons. They climb with them and hold toys, objects or food in them. This is related to their need to climb since homes were built on stilts in the jungles of Malaysia.

Your Miniature Australian Shepherd can enjoy good health if you make sure he has a nutritious diet, he is well exercised and he is happy and content because of the attention you give him. He can easily reach 13 years of age.

Also, say what you like, human beings constantly tampering with animals to produce certain looks has its drawbacks and can create health problems in dogs.

As a pure breed however, these dogs will be more susceptible to some common canine health problems such as hypothyroidism, patellar luxation, obesity, hip dysplasia, vision problems and cancer.

This is an isolated, rare breed with very few known genetic health issues. They tend to be very healthy and athletic if well cared for and fed properly. The only issues they are known to have throughout the breed are hip and elbow dysplasia. Both of these issues we know can lead to arthritis and or lameness. Individual dogs may face other challenges such as allergies and obesity, but as a breed they are extremely healthy, much as the dingo and other wild dogs remain healthy.

Don’t overfeed them and watch what they might eat or try to eat when outside. They are used to feeding themselves in the wild and the domesticated dogs retain that prey drive and desire to eat what they catch.

Grooming:

The mini Australian Shepherd has a long coat with seasonal shedding. You will need to give the coat a good brush twice a week to keep it untangled and to remove loose hair.

Other grooming for your pet will be to check his eyes and ears for infection, check for unusual lumps when you brush him and check for fleas and ticks. Keep his nails trimmed and brush his teeth 2 or 3 times a week to avoid plaque build up.

If you’re wondering how to keep your dog well groomed for the enhancement of this health, people such as your vet or professional groomers will do these grooming tasks for you.

Diet:

Top quality commercially manufactured dog food packed with vitamins and minerals needs to be your choice if you're going to be using these dog foods. Avoid the cheaper brands that use lots of fillers, sugar, salt, colorants and preservatives.

Home-made food is a wonderful treat for a dog and delicious, nutritious and simple ingredients such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and some cooked vegetables chopped up into his dry kibble from time to time will do him wonders.

Sometimes it will also be good to add in a little bit of raw meat too. Make sure there is a bowl of fresh, cool water available to your pet constantly.