brookcove
Posted : 6/28/2007 11:04:52 AM
Like Border Collies, Aussies have a huge amount of genetic variety in their gene pool still. I had a Border Collie that weighed 18 pounds, for instance. Purebred, healthy - pretty well bred in fact. She stood 15 and a half inches tall - we had a crowd the first time she was measured at a flyball tourney. Then I had several people chase me down and ask whether she was fixed. [
:@]
So the genetics are there to a certain point. I've seen mini Aussies that were clearly just on the small side of purebred.
However, I am unwilling to believe that the little bug eyed, smooshie faced, eight pound "Aussies" are truly purebred. I am not expert, but it takes many years to safely get from 40 pound genetics to something that size. If the 40 pound genetics are still in play (ie, within eight to ten generations), you can get a throwback pup from a 12 pound bitch that would kill her before it comes to full term. You have to breed in dogs where the small genetics are set in the breed. Since it would be on the sire's side, it would be easy to do and none the wiser.
This is reason #476 why breeding for non-functional size is a lousy idea. They aren't doing this because there are sheep in small holes in the ground, they are doing it so Aussies can fit in the purses of people with lots of money to spend on fancy puppies. [:-]