Australian Terrier – The Working Dog

Australian terriers look like brightly colored Cairn terriers and serve not only as cute companions in their home country: dogs of the breed are used for hunting rats and snakes and even keep herds of cattle in check-in groups. If you are looking to adopt a cute black puppy, you may need to be patient as the breeders association is quite small.

Characteristics of the Small Terrier – Typically British

The Australian Terrier is a mixture of different British terriers – you can see that too. According to the breed standard, he shows a “distinct terrier character” and you can recognize many British breeds in his appearance. Males measure about 25 cm at the withers, females are slightly smaller and lighter. Nevertheless, they are very robust and athletically built, unlike pure companion dogs of the same size. Males ideally weigh around 6.5 kilograms.

Distinguishing features of the Aussie: The terrier with the frilled collar

• The skull is long with a clearly defined stop and an equally long muzzle. He has an extremely powerful jaw with a square and dark nose. The lips lie flat and are covered with short, soft hair. Males and females have a soft mop of hair on their heads.
• The eyes are wide apart and have a determined expression. They are more oval than almond-shaped and usually dark in color.
• Typical for the breed is the pointed erect ears, which have short hair on the back and longer hair on the inside. They are very agile and are usually carried standing forward.
• The neck and body are rather long and strong. An important keyword when describing the characteristics of the breed is the low physique.
• Legs are straight and rather bony in front and well-muscled in the rear. The front and hind feet should be small, round, and compact.
• A docked tail is considered standard. This cruelty to animals is forbidden in Germany and should not be supported by breeders abroad either. In its natural form, the tail comes on high and is carried pointing upwards, but not arched over the back.

Coat and colors – The terrier with the soft brushes

Coat length varies but should average around 6cm for adult Aussies. Longer fur grows in a tuft between the ears, on the backs of the legs, and on the underside of the body. What is particularly striking about the fluffy four-legged friends is their plush collar directly under the chin, and in some dogs, it even reaches to the neck. A soft brush also grows on the underside of the rod. The topcoat is harsh and stands up slightly like the Cairn Terrier, but feels softer in comparison. A dense, soft undercoat works like built-in insulation, protecting the dog from particularly high or low temperatures.

The Two Desirable Color Types of Inbreeding

Blue, steel blue, or dark gray-blue

• Never one color, but always with a generous tan pattern in red-brown.
• Rich tan on the entire head, on the chest, on the legs, and on the underside of the body is desirable.
• The more intense and clearly defined the colors are, the better (according to the FCI).
• Flowing transitions are undesirable in show breeding, but they do occur in many Blue Aussies.
• White markings should never occur.

Sand-colored or red

• Only one color is desired (no black shades or markings)
• Lightening of the forehead is acceptable and is typical of the breed.
• All puppies are born with dark fur that will lighten over time.

Differences in the Australian Silky Terrier

At first glance, the Australian Silky Terrier looks like a variety of the Australian Terrier with its silky coat. In fact, it is an independent breed that results from crossing Australian Terriers with Yorkies and Dandie Dinmonts.

• The Silky is narrower and lighter than the Aussie.
• The height at the withers varies between 24 and 26 cm, but Aussies are around 1 kg heavier than their silky descendants.

The British Ex-Pat of Many Talents

Australian Terriers and Sidney Silky look very similar and emerged around the same time. They share a common ancestor: the Broken Coated Terrier, bred by settlers in Tasmania in the 19th century. The Australian terrier breeds are the result of crosses between numerous short-legged British terriers:

Close relatives of the Aussie

• Skye terrier
• Scottish Terrier (Aberdeen)
• Dandie Dinmont Terrier
• Yorkshire terriers
• cairn terrier

Beneficial on the ranch

Australian settlers bred the hardy breed for independent hunting of snakes and rats. With their powerful jaws, they can kill dangerous animals quickly and accurately without being injured themselves. Aussies are very intelligent and with the right socialization they can learn any task: they have been useful as vermin hunters, guard dogs, and even herding sheep.

Temperament and Character – Rugged Daredevils from the Outback

Australian Terriers know all the tricks and are fearless when faced with the deadly wildlife of their Tasmanian homeland. They are often even described as reckless. They really get into it outdoors and can hardly contain their hunting instincts. They are just typical terriers: They feel most comfortable when running, digging, and searching. Australian Terrier puppies are high-energy bundles that need significantly more exercise and time outdoors than small companion dogs.

Typical characteristics of the soft fur noses

• Intelligent
• Spirited
• fond of children
• joyful
• Very active
• Affectionate and engaging
• vigilant
• Compatible with conspecifics

The family dog ​​or working dog?

The Australian Terrier is clearly both: In the house, he is a cuddly dog ​​who never leaves his favorite person’s side. He gets along very well with children and plays tirelessly and with a lot of patience, even with small children under supervision. Outside, it can be used for various tasks and fulfills almost every discipline with flying colors. If your household is not boring and you can devote a lot of attention to your four-legged friend, you meet the two most important basic criteria for keeping an Aussie.