
Welcome To
Painted Blue Aussies
Est. 2016
We’re passionate breeders of AKC/ASCA Australian Shepherds and AKC Miniature American Shepherds—affectionately known as Mini Aussies—with a focus on quality, health, and amazing temperaments! Nestled in Salt Lake County, Utah, we raise happy, playful Australian Shepherd puppies and Mini Aussie puppies perfect for families, active individuals, and anyone looking for a loyal, fun-loving companion.
We May Have Available Adult Australian & Mini Australian Shepherds
Are you hoping to skip the puppy stage? Consider the possibility of welcoming a loving and fully trained adult Australian Shepherd or Mini American Shepherd, also known as Mini Aussie, into your home and family. Keep an eye out for our occasional listings of available adults here!
Behind the scenes: Get to know us!
We are the Holbrook family and the team behind Painted Blue Aussies. Together with our kids, we raise Australian Shepherds and Miniature Australian Shepherds in a loving, hands-on environment. Our children are involved every step of the way, helping create special memories while making sure our puppies are surrounded by care and connection from day one. We’re excited to share our dogs, our experiences, and a bit of our world with you. Take a look around and get to know how we do things here at Painted Blue!
The Painted Blue Crew: Meet Our Dogs
At Painted Blue Aussies, our sires and dams are the foundation of everything we do. Each dog is carefully selected with exceptional temperament as our top priority, followed by structure, beauty, intelligence, and overall soundness. All of our breeding dogs are fully health tested through OFA and/or PennHIP, and genetic panels to ensure the long-term health and quality of every litter.
Miniature American Shepherd vs Australian Shepherd: Two Breeds, Shared History
We proudly breed both Australian Shepherds and Miniature American Shepherds—also known as Mini Aussies or Toy Aussies. These two breeds were developed side by side for decades, often sharing pedigrees, sometimes registries, and overlapping purposes—but they also had distinct roles, traits, and intentions behind their development. While their structure standards remain quite similar, AKC recognition marked the beginning of a more defined separation in breed identity. If you’re curious about how they compare, we’ve put together an article that explores their shared history and subtle distinctions.
Aussies with Tails: Embracing Natural Beauty
At Painted Blue Aussies, we proudly embrace the natural beauty of our Australian Shepherd puppies and Mini Aussie (Also known as Mini American Shepherd) puppies with a goal to leave tails intact. This decision reflects our commitment to the well-being and individuality of our puppies. We value transparency and honor our commitments; therefore, we adhere to stud contracts that require tail docking. There are occasions where a puppy is born with a natural bobtail, as we do have that gene in our program. Additionally, if a puppy is born with a tail that is kinked or folded, we do have those docked for their safety and long-term wellbeing.