Australian Terrier

The Australian Terrier possesses magnificent qualities that deserve to be put to good use with a firm and rigorous education. The time devoted by the master to education will allow him to live beautiful years with the ideal dog for all situations. The Australian Terrier will know how to make his owners happy, big or small, young or old. He is a nice little dog very appreciated for his even temperament and his great loyalty.

Height 23 to 28 cm
Weight 5 to 7 kg
Life expectancy 12 to 15 years
Hair Loss Low
Excercise Need High
Home country Australia

Quick Overview of the Australian Terrier

Temperament

  • Equal mood
  • Affectionate and faithful
  • Reserved with strangers
  • A tad stubborn

Appearance

  • Active and lively
  • Well built
  • Short on legs
  • Rustic appearance

Health

  • Cases of diabetes
  • Good longevity

Temperament of the Australian Terrier

Always even-tempered, the Australian Terrier is affectionate, loyal to his family, reserved towards strangers and a little stubborn.

Born to hunt vermin, his other qualities make him an excellent life companion. Lively, cheerful, active and very sympathetic, he makes the family happy.

He's intelligent, but not naturally obedient. He needs an early education.

In spite of his very small size, this gentle dog sometimes tends to be obstinate, and even aggressive towards strangers or other animals.

terrier australien personnalité

Breed Appearance

Australian terrier

Active, lively and well built, this small, rather short-legged dog is robust and has a very hardy appearance.

Even if his appearance is not without recalling that of his cousin the Yorkshire, it is quite characteristic, thanks to his untrimmed coat, rather harsh hair and well defined collar around the neck.

Height

Between 23 and 28 cm (9.06 to 11.02 inches) for the male
Between 23 and 28 cm (9.06 to 11.02 inches) for the female

Weight

Between 6 and 7 kg (13.23 to 15.43 pounds) for the male
Between 5 and 6 kg (11.02 to 13.23 pounds) for the female

Color

His coat is silver or blue with some nuances on the muzzle and limbs. His coat can also be fawn or light sand.

At birth, the puppy is almost all black, but his colors begin to change at about three months of age.

Hair

His hair is of medium length. It is also hard and straight.

Morphology

His head is rather elongated, with a flat skull and a slight but defined stop. His small oval eyes are usually dark brown.

His small, well-carried ears are erect. His nose is black and medium size. His tail is set high, shortened and carried straight, but not on the back.

According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 3, section 2 and is #8

Characteristics of the Australian Terrier

Does this dog suit your lifestyle?

Every dog breed has its own characteristics. However, the actual character of a dog can vary from one to another within the same breed.

Find out if the Australian Terrier is your ideal dog breed with our quiz.

That will take you less than 3 minutes!

Take the quiz
Life in an apartment
Good first dog
Tolerates solitude
Tolerates cold weather
Tolerates hot weather
Affectionate
Friendly with children
Friendly with strangers
Friendly with other animals
Hair loss
Drooling level
Easy to care for
Robust health
Easy to train
Intelligent
Tendency to bark
Tendency to nibble
Protective
Instinct to hunt
Adventurous spirit
Energy level
Level of intensity
Need for exercise
Playful

Tips About this breed

Despite his good character, he should be able to benefit from an early education.

The master must be firm and rigorous, and teach the dog to control his stubborn and sometimes aggressive behaviour towards other dogs or animals.

Height does not necessarily make him dangerous, but his education is twice as important to enable him to appreciate his role as a family companion.

A good education allows him to live in all possible conditions or situations. A family, a couple, an elderly person, a city-dweller, a country man, no matter who the owner is, the dog will be happy.

He likes to spend his energy, and a daily walk will make him very happy and allow him to get the exercise he needs.

He's obviously an indoor dog, but he loves to exercise outdoors and then come back to enjoy the cozy comfort of the home.

Health of the Australian Terrier

This little dog is very robust. In recent years, the breed seems to be suffering from cases of diabetes.

Studies are in progress to try to eradicate this disease in the Australian Terrier. Apart from diabetes, no other pathology affects him. He generally enjoys a good longevity.

GROOMING

It's best to brush his dress every day. Even if he does not need to be groomed, daily brushing is very beneficial to ensure a beautiful and healthy coat.

No other special care is necessary.

History of this breed

At the beginning of the 19th century, crossbreeding between Yorkshire, Cairn Terrier, Skye and Norwich would have resulted in the Australian Terrier, after being mixed with native Australian dogs.

Used for hunting snakes, rabbits and various rodents in Australia, the Australian Terrier received his first standard in 1896, but was not officially recognized until 1933.

His standard was also revised in 1962. He was first called Broken Coated Terrier and Broken Hair Blue and Tan and finally became the Australian Terrier. Data on his history and roots is rare.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

best fresh dog food 5 brands

We Tried 5 Fresh Dog Food Brands

Is all the marketing hype worth it? Did our dogs enjoy them? Here’s our dogs’ totally honest review.

Free ebook: 10 signs your dog needs a diet change

Get this free vet-approved ebook and change your dog’s life!