The Australian Terrier is a small decorative breed of dog, but despite its size, it is a typical terrier.
Abstracts
- Like all terriers, the Australian loves to dig, gnaw, bark and catch.
- Master, that's his middle name. This dog wants to be dominant in the society of other dogs. Males can get into fights, it is better to keep dogs of different sexes.
- Early socialization and training will help you get rid of bad habits, but will not remove them at all.
- They are active and energetic, if you want a calm dog then Australian Terriers are not for you.
- They are hunters, they kill small animals and haunt cats.
History of the breed
The Australian Terrier breed of dog comes from the wire-haired terriers brought to Australia from Great Britain in the early 19th century. All the first terriers were intended to kill rats and mice and were bred only for practical purposes.
It is one of the oldest breeds in Australia, but its milestones are lost in history. The development of the breed proceeded in parallel with another, related breed - the Australian Silky Terrier.
However, Australian Terriers developed as a working dogs, while the Silky Terriers were companions.
The formation of the breed began in Australia around 1820, and at first, the dogs were simply called terriers. The breed was officially recognized in 1850, and the Australian Terrier was named in 1892.
In 1906, they took part in a show in Melbourne, and in the same years appeared in the UK. English Kennel Club, registered the breed in 1933, United Kennel Club (USA) in 1970. Now the breed is recognized throughout the English-speaking world.
Description
The Australian Terrier is a decorative breed, weighing about 6.5 kg and reaching 25 cm at the withers. The coat is of medium length, double, and usually does not require trimming. It is shorter on the face, legs, and forms a mane on the neck.
The color of the coat is blue or dark gray-blue, with bright red on the face, ears, lower body, lower legs, on the paws. Traditionally, the tail is docked, but today it is prohibited in many countries. The nose should be black.
Character
The temperament of the Australian Terrier poses fewer problems with other dogs than similar breeds in this group. They will not challenge everyone they meet and can successfully live with another dog of the opposite sex. Many of them are dominant, but not overwhelmingly, with the right training, they will be polite to other dogs.
However, this breed is not the most tolerant and it is best if they live alone or as a couple. Although few Australian Terriers are looking for fights with other dogs, if anything, they accept the challenge. And this is a problem, since for dogs of a similar size he is a strong opponent, and for large dogs, he is an easy victim.
Most Australian Terriers do not get along well with dogs of the same sex, and if two non-neutered males live in the same house, they will get into serious fights.
Australian Terriers were bred to hunt rodents, and they do an excellent job today. They are famous throughout Australia for their ability to kill rats, mice, hamsters, and even snakes. They have a very strong hunting instinct and will chase and kill small animals.
The life span of a pet hamster in the company of this terrier will be about a minute.
In the yard, he will find a cat, a rat, a squirrel and bring you as a gift. During walks without a leash, he will catch everything that is smaller than him. With the right training, they can live with cats, but they will still get it.
These are very active and energetic dogs, if you like dogs with whom you can watch TV on the couch, this is not the case. They need to be constantly given both physical and mental stress. They love nature walks, jogging, games and any kind of activity.
The small size and high activity of the house allow them to adapt well to living in an apartment, however, they are better suited for a private house with a yard.
It is imperative for owners to provide the Australian Terrier with the level of activity it needs. Otherwise, they begin to miss, languish, their behavior deteriorates.
There is one aspect of their personality that would be worth keeping in mind for potential owners. They bark and bark a lot. Most can bark long and loudly.
With proper socialization, they behave more calmly, but still remain a ringing and loud breed of dog. True, of all the terriers, they are the quietest, and if there was a rating, they would occupy the bottom lines.
Care
Australian Terriers do not need special care, they are unpretentious. They do not need any grooming or professional grooming, only combing once a day or even two.
It is advisable to bathe them infrequently since there the natural oils that the dog secretes are washed off. They do not shed too much, and during the period of intense shedding, it is advisable to comb them out more often.
Health
Healthy dogs, not suffering from special genetic diseases. Studies conducted in 1997 and 2002 found that the average life span of the Australian Terrier is 11-12 years.