Australian Terrier

Did You Know?

• The breed standard describes the ideal temperament as spirited, alert, 'with the natural aggressiveness of a ratter and hedge hunter'.
• The Australian Terrier ranks 34th in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, indicating above average trainability.
• The tail was traditionally docked to protect the dog from spinal injury while working and hunting in the field.

Appearance

The Australian Terrier is a compact, short-legged dog, typically weighing about 6.5 kilograms and standing 25 centimeters tall at the shoulder. Its medium-length double coat is harsh, shaggy, and left untrimmed, with shorter fur on the muzzle, lower legs, and feet, plus a distinct ruff around the neck. Coat colors include blue or silver with tan markings described as "tan, never sandy," along with a lighter topknot, or a solid red with a sandy variation. Historically, the tail was docked to prevent spinal injuries during fieldwork.

History

The Australian Terrier’s ancestors were rough-coated terriers brought from Great Britain to Australia in the early 1800s, originally used for killing mice and rats. Its lineage includes the Cairn Terrier, Shorthaired Skye Terrier, and Dandie Dinmont Terrier, with later crosses from Yorkshire and Irish Terriers. Development started around 1820, and the breed was initially called the Rough Coated Terrier. It gained official recognition in 1850 and was renamed the Australian Terrier in 1892. The breed debuted at a dog show in Melbourne in 1906 and appeared in Great Britain around the same time.

Health

The Australian Terrier can develop Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada-like syndrome, an autoimmune condition. In a 2002 survey by the Australian Terrier Club of America, old age caused 17% of deaths, cancer 15%, and diabetes 13%. The most frequent health issues were diabetes mellitus (10%), luxating patella (9%), ear infections (5%), cataracts (5%), flea allergy dermatitis (5%), ruptured cranial cruciate ligament (4%), and hypothyroidism (4%). That same survey reported an average lifespan of 11 years, with females living about one year longer than males. A UK breed club survey found a median lifespan slightly above 12 years.