The Australian terrier is a relative of the British terriers of the 19th century. It began as a mixture of many different breeds that were brought over to this country including the Cairn terrier, Skye terrier, and smaller pups like the Irish or Yorskire terrier. Today, the Austrailian terrier stands out as its own breed that is separate and identifiable.
The first Australian terriers came from Tasmania. The breed was originally recognized in 1892. It was not until much later that the American Kennel Club accepted them. This breed is quite small and only grows to a height of 25 centimeters and weighs under 6.5 kg. The short and rough fur is normally brownish in color. Some of them have darker coats that include a hint of red.
Certain Australian terriers may have white or light marking on their faces as puppies. All of the animals have a piece of hair on the top of the heads that must be cut on a regular basis, especially if the animal spend a lot of time in the outdoors. In the past, it was also popular to dock the tails of these dogs, but has been stopped and no longer practived.
The temperament of this breed is similar to that of other terriers. They are often described as spirited and lively. The dogs require a large amount of attention as well as exercise or they tend to become aggressive. Normally, they do not mix well with other dogs, but they are friendly to people. They make wonderful family pets, even to those who have young children at home. This is definitely something to consider if the dog will grow up as a family expands.
The Australian terrier goes along with the saying “his bark is worse than his bite”. This dog is loud and chatty because it loves to explain to its owner when it wants attention. This habit must be stopped early on or this dog will end up being a very annoying pet. On a positive note, the Australian Terrier is simple to train and listens well to commands.
As with other tiny dogs, it can be easy to spoil them. This can also lead to aggressive temperament in the animals. Try not to give them too much fuss and always treat them like animals, not human babies or a master will have a difficult time socializing them with other animals and people.
Even though this breed requires a lot of exercise to rid itself of extra energy, their size makes them perfect for people who live in the city. They can live happily in apartments or flats if owners take the exercise regime seriously. When a person decides that the Australian Terrier will make a good pet, they should consider that the normal life span for a dog like this is 15 years. Owners that will breed the animals should expect to receive four puppies in a litter.
Take all of this information into consideration when picking a breed of dog for a pet. Australian terriers work well for families, but do require adequate attention.