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Breed Characteristics
1 paw - breed exhibits the least amount of this characteristic
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Australian Terrier
| Nicknames | Aussie |
| Country of Origin | Australia |
| Weight | 9 - 14 lbs. (4 - 6 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | 9 - 11 in. (23 - 28 cm) |
| Coat | The coat of the Australian Terrier is what most distinguishes the breed from other terriers, especially the closely related Silky Terrier. Like most terriers, the Australian Terrier is a double-coated breed. The undercoat is short and soft while the outer coat is harsh and straight. The coat of an Australian Terrier should be roughly 2½ inches long over the entire body with the exception of the neck, top of the head, ears, tail, pastern, and feet. The hair on the ears, feet, and pastern are considerably shorter than the rest of the body, while the hair on top of the head forms a distinctive topknot and the hair on the neck forms a ruff. |
| Colour | The Australian Terrier only comes in two colour schemes: blue and tan and sandy or red. Both colours are equally acceptable in the show ring but Blue and Tan is far more commonly seen. The blue on blue and tan dogs may be dark blue, steel blue, dark gray blue, or silver blue. The blue and tan markings should be clearly defined from each other. The tan markings should be as rich as possible and be present on the face, ears, underbody, lower legs, feet, and around the vent. Sandy or red dogs should be solid-coloured, and the clearer the colour the better. The topknot on the top of the head should be lighter in colour than the rest of the body. |
| Litter Size | 2-4 puppies |
| Life Span | 10-15 years |
| Origin & History | Developed in Australia and one of the smallest working terriers, the Australian Terrier was first shown as the Australian Rough-Coated Terrier in 1868 in Melbourne, Australia. Officially recognized in 1933, the breed was probably created by crossing many terrier breeds including the Irish, Cairn Terrier, Norwich Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier, and the Skye Terriers. He was used for rodent and snake control, as a watchdog, and even as a shepherd and as a companion. The Australian Terrier was the first breed to be recognized as native to Australia in 1868. It was first recognized by the AKC in 1960. Some of the Australian Terrier's talents are watchdog, tracking, agility and performing tricks. |
| Personality | The Australian Terrier is a tough, cheeky little fellow with courage that reminds people of a much larger dog. It has boundless energy and is very loyal, showing great affection for its immediate family. Its extraordinary intelligence makes it a responsive and very protective companion. It is an alert, amusing and loveable little dog. Spirited, curious, and self-assured, it has very keen hearing and eyesight, making an excellent watchdog. It wants to please its master and is more easily obedience trained than most other terriers. This breed is not snappish. It likes to bark, and must be told after it first alerts you of something, enough is enough, no more barking. An Australian Terrier that is pack leader of its humans may snap at children. Children need to be taught how to be kind to the dog, but also how to be the dog’s leader. They are friendly with other dogs as well as other pets. However they may chase small animals outside the house and should be in a safe area at all times. Socialize this breed well. This is a good dog to travel with. The training of the Australian Terrier needs to be strict because this self-confident dog prefers to follow its own ideas, although it learns very quickly. The Australian Terrier is a very economical breed to feed. Make sure you are this dog's firm, confident, consistent pack leader to avoid Small Dog Syndrome, human induced behavior problems, along with territorial issues. Always remember, dogs are canines, not humans. Be sure to meet their natural instincts as animals. |
Care Requirements
| Health | Australian Terriers are regarded as being a healthy breed, and as being healthier than many other working terriers. This breed was bred almost entirely for working ability for over a century, and unhealthy dogs would not have been bred. Additionally, this breed has been spared the poor commercial breeding practices found in many modern day breeds. This does not mean that Australian Terriers are immune to genetically inherited disorders, it just means that they suffer from them at average or low rates and that the conditions to which they do suffer are generally not life threatening. There have been three completed health surveys of Australian Terriers, two of American and Australian dogs, and one of breed members in the United Kingdom. The results indicated that the life expectancy of Australian Terriers is probably between 11 and 12 years. This is average for purebred dogs in general, but lower than is common for similarly-sized breeds. By far the leading cause of death for Australian Terriers was cancer, which was responsible for 67% of Australian Terrier deaths. Cancer was followed distantly by old age (17%) and diabetes (13%). Perhaps the most common condition suffered by Australian Terriers is skin allergies and allergic dermatitis (skin inflammation caused by skin allergies). This breed has somewhat sensitive skin and many develop allergies to everything from household chemicals to insect bites. In particular, these dogs are vulnerable to flea allergies. Some Australian Terrier suffer from such severe flea allergies that they may begin to tremble. Owners with an allergy suffering dog must do everything possible to prevent the dog from coming into contact with the allergen, and severe reactions may require expensive veterinary treatment. |
| Grooming | The stiff, long, shaggy coat is easy to care for and does not need clipping. Simply brush several times a week, being gentle with the soft undercoat. Brushing stimulates natural oils and will soon bring the coat to a high gloss. Because the breed standard is for a hard coat, don't wash this terrier too often; any more than about once a month will make the coat lank. The coat should be brushed while it dries. Be sure to trim around the eyes and ears, if necessary, with blunt-nosed scissors. It also requires plucking about every three months. The nails should be clipped regularly. The Australian Terrier sheds little to no hair. |
| Exercise | The Australian Terrier is an adaptable little dog that needs to be taken on a daily walk. They enjoy the chance to romp and play in a safe area. |
| Other Considerations | The Australian Terrier is good for apartment living. It is fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard provided it is taken for walks on a lead. They should not be allowed to roam free because they have a tendency to chase. |
