The Australian Terrier, a small, medium-boned breed, is among of the smallest in the Terrier group. The average Aussie weighs 12-16 pounds, and stands 9-10 inches. They are somewhat long in proportion to their height, with docked tail and pricked ears.

Coat

The Australian Terrier is a double-coated breed. Their outer coat is wiry, harsh, and thick; 2.5 inches covering the body except the pasterns, feet, tail, and rear legs from the hocks to the bottom. Their undercoat is short and soft with varying thickness. Their coat colors are black, black/white, red/black, tan/black, ivory, cream, yellow, silver, and white.

Activity

The Australian Terriers are little, so they don't need as much exercise as the large dogs. They require regular, low level exercise, though, and if not given enough, they tend to do make themselves busy, be it barking, digging, or just becoming resentful and troublesome.

Long walks daily are important as with playtime, particularly with puppies. This breed is very playful, and often plays with balls and toys when left for them to play. Although owners should remember that the Australian Terriers may not get along well with other dogs, so letting them off the leash when in a park may not be a good idea.

Temperament

The Australian Terrier is alert, spirited, self-confident, and courageous. They are known to have the natural aggressiveness of a hedge hunter, and a ratter, but are affectionate and friendly as a companion. The Aussies thrive on human interaction, and will be negatively affected if left alone for long periods of time. This little breed has keen eyesight and acute hearing, making them an excellent guard dog. Although suspicious of strangers, the American Terrier is not aggressive unless provoked.

Overview

Although the Australian Terrier is considered one of the smallest terriers, the Aussie demonstrates the courage and bravery of a much larger dog. Bred for various uses such as shepherd, watchdog, companion, and vermin hunter, this breed is the first native-reared Australian dog acknowledged in other countries.

Care

The long, shaggy double coat of this breed is easy to groom. They do not need clipping, and brushing should be done a couple of times a week as it stimulates natural oils, making it glossier. The breed standard for the Australian Terrier's coat is hard, so it is not advisable to wash this breed too often. Make sure to trim the hair around their eyes and ears with a blunt-tip scissors. They also need plucking every three months, and nails should be clipped frequently.

The Australian Terrier is a fairly healthy breed. But, they may be prone to epilepsy, diabetes, thyroid disease, patella luxation, skin allergies, and Legg-Calve-Perthes disorder.

Training

The typical Australian Terrier learns quickly, but easily gets bored by repetitive methods. Obedience training and early socialization is imperative for this breed. They do best with consistent, firm, and fair training, paired with motivation and praise. They are not responsive to rough methods, and are excellent in areas of tracking, obedience, and agility.

Character

The Australian Terrier is small, low-set, and sturdy in stature. Although they may seem little, they exhibit a true terrier nature - strong, confident, fearless, bold, and charming.