Toy Australian Shepherd vs Carlin Pinscher - Breed Comparison

There are conflicting views as to where the Carlin Pinscher hails from, with some reports saying France and others the USA. The names of some breeders suggest it could be France.

The dog hasn’t got a long history, being developed only in the early 1900s. Two breeders, Morgan and Buenafe left their Miniature Pinscher with a Pug owner for a while and on return discovered that the dogs had mated, producing puppies which looked like miniature Rottweilers.

It was in 1998 that a breeding program began and a Boxer was also brought into the mix to improve the characteristics of the dog. The dog is still being developed and isn’t recognized by the major kennel clubs.

These beautiful little dogs interestingly don’t originate in Australia. They were originally bred in the western U.S. as herding dogs.

Today they are mainly companion dogs. Their lineage goes back to a pair of sibling dogs - the Wildhagen Dutchman and Fieldmaster of Flintridge and these two dogs began the lineage to which the Miniature Australian Shepherd belongs.

Known also as ‘Aussie’, there are different stories to its exact origins. It is thought that some Basque farmers brought dogs with them when they came to Australia, taking them to the United States during the 1849 California gold rush.

The dog has been crossed with a number of breeds to bring about a dog that could cope with harsh temperatures.

The Carlin Pinscher has been developed to be a social and loving companion. Started as a cross between a Miniature Pinscher and Pug, other breeds have also been brought in. He still has varied appearances, often looking like a tiny Rottweiler but also looking like anything between the Miniature Pinscher or the Pug.

This is a small sized dog standing at anything from 27- to 33 cm and weighing 5 or 6kg. The body is compact with sturdy legs coming from the Pug side. The skull is a dome shape, the ears can be erect or floppy and unless the tail is docked it can be long, curling somewhat over the back. The coat is short and smooth and comes in shades of tan, brown and black.

Temperament:

The Carlin Pinscher is small but with a strong personality, being gentle and sweet in nature. He promises to be a loyal and affectionate companion for his human family, loving to be involved in all their activities.

He is an energetic, playful little dog and also intelligent, so apart from a walk and ball games, he’ll need some toys for indoors too that can provide physical- and mental stimulation. With early training and socialization, the Carlin Pinscher is a good friend of children and he will get on well with other pets in the house too. He is a small dog so children should be supervised and taught to handle him with gentleness and kindness.

The Toy Australian Shepherd, also referred to as the Mini- or Miniature Australian Shepherd is a small dog standing at between 26 - 36 cm in height and weighing between 3 to 9kg.

He looks very similar to the standard Australian Shepherd.

He has a medium-length, weather-resistant coat which is white with tan, black, red or blue merle. The coat is long, and slightly wavy with feathering around the legs and neck.

They eyes can be blue or brown or he can have two differently colored eyes.The tail of these dogs can be a natural bobtail or it is docked. They do shed but they don’t require that much grooming.

Temperament:

These playful little dogs may be small, but they are brave and full of courage. They’re also easy going, and love nothing more than to be around their human family.

They love the games that children play and are always ready to join in, making excellent playmates for children. Lively and alert, they also make good watchdogs and because they are so intelligent, they are easy to train and socialize.

Their intelligence means they need to be physically and mentally stimulated otherwise they can become destructive from sheer boredom. They’re full of energy and will require regular exercise every day.

The Carlin Pinscher makes an ideal little pet and he will be content to live in a small home in the city or in the country, just so long as he is with an owner who loves and cares for him. They are balanced, easy-to-get-along-with dogs, being even-tempered, playful and outgoing.

He is active, intelligent, strong-willed, stubborn and brave. It is true that people who have kept mixed-breed dogs rave about them. Certainly mixed breed dogs have earned themselves a reputation for being superb family pets. They’re healthy, feisty, quaint and entertaining.

These days many mixed breeds are no longer pavement specials but part of careful breeding, such as with the Carlin Pinscher. He is full of personality and makes a great family pet, getting along with other animals and also being good around children.

The Toy Australian Shepherd is such a clever little dog and eager to learn too. You won’t have trouble getting him trained and socialized as he is eager to learn.

He bonds closely with his human family, becoming a loyal, devoted pet. They are also great playmates for children. They’re the kind of dogs that will require mental and physical stimulation if they are to to be prevented from becoming bored and frustrated.

They need social interaction with their human family and will be devastated if they were to be stuck in the backyard and all but forgotten.

They have a lifespan of 12 – 14 years and you want to make sure they’re happy, contented years, because he is wiling to play his part and make you a wonderful pet and companion.

The Carlin Pinscher is a feisty little dog who can live to be up to 13, 14 or 15 years of age. He is a fairly healthy breed too, but there will always be some issues that the Carlin Pinscher might be prone to. Typical dog ailments include eye problems, hip dysplasia, liver problems, skin- and dental problems.

Liver Disease:

All liver problems with a dog are serious and will need veterinary intervention. A noticeable symptom of liver disease is jaundiced yellowing of the white of the eye. You might even see a yellowing on the underside of the ear flap. Your pet will have loss of appetite, constipation as well as highly colored urine.

Make sure your Toy Australian Shepherd sees the vet as a puppy to be dewormed and to get his first puppy injections.

Dental Disease:

Dental disease is far more serious than you think. It can affect other areas of your dog’s body. Plaque and inflamed gums lead to bone- and tooth loss.

Bad breath is a sign of periodontal disease. Find out from your vet what to do to guard against periodontitis. It’s important because ignoring bad teeth can lead to heart disease, with bacteria constantly entering the blood stream.

Parasites:

Fleas and ticks are your pet’s enemy as well as heartworm. Dogs can die from heartworm infestations. Heartworm is linked to mosquito bites, so if you live in warm areas, check with your vet for preventative measures.

Hip Dysplasia:

This is another common dog illness to watch out for. This is a painful condition where the hip joint isn’t formed properly and it can lead to terrible pain and lameness.

Skin Allergies:

Just like people endure endless misery with eczema, dogs too can develop skin allergies. They can create endless frustration and misery for any pet because of the terrible itch and pain. All the licking and scratching can lead to secondary bacterial infections too.

Grooming:

With his short, smooth coat, the Carlin Pinscher is a low to moderate shedder who is easy to maintain. The short coat will simply need a brush-down twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. If he is dusty, you can wipe the coat down with a warm, damp cloth.

Diet:

Every dog, large or small needs a balanced diet that consists of proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. A well balanced diet keeps a dog healthy but also in shape. A dog requires certain ingredients in its diet, depending on age, activity levels, size and stage of life such as pregnancy or illness.

For starters, dogs need fresh, cool water at all times. If you’re confused about dry kibble or semi-moist dog food for instance, speak to your vet about what your Carlin Pinscher needs. It’s always good to give your pet variety, so mixing in some rice, vegetables and meat will be wonderful for your pet as will some raw meat from time to time.

Diet:

Your puppy will need 4 small bowls of food a day. If you’re wondering just how much, either speak to your vet or follow the portion-guide on the packaging of the puppy dog food.

As your puppy grows older, you feed less frequently so that he is getting two meals a day as an adult. For feeding an adult, there are excellent commercial dog foods available - remember to choose a good brand for your dogs age, size and energy levels.

Try and give him some tasty home-made food too from time to time – nothing exotic and spicy – just plain foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice, spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. Dogs thrive on simple, healthy food like this. Make sure he always has a bowl of cool, fresh water to drink.

Exercise:

These energetic little bundles of fur will need regular exercise – every day in fact. He’s a smart little dog too, so you need to provide him with stimulating games that will keep his mind and his body physically fit.

Grooming:

Reduce shedding and loose hair by brushing the long hair a least twice a week. This will also help to get rid of matting. Trim nails and check for fleas and ticks.

General:

Provide your Toy Australian with a warm, dry, peaceful place to sleep. If he is outside often, make sure he has both sun and shade to lie in as well as a sheltered spot for when it rains.