Australian terrier dog

History of origin

Today it is difficult to say with certainty how the breed of these handsome men with cheerfully protruding red hair appeared. All we know for sure about them is that the Australian Terrier comes from the Kangaroo Country, and Yorkshire Terriers are clearly present in its pedigree. And most likely, all the small hunting dogs brought to Australia by settlers from Europe took part in the formation of the breed in one way or another.

In addition to Yorkies, there are also wire-haired, and Irish, and Skye Terriers – in a word, a little of everything. And another factor that significantly influenced the appearance and working qualities of these dogs is the hot arid climate of the Green Continent. The first settlers and their dogs had to adapt to the new land, learn to cultivate it and arrange their lives among a hostile nature that was teeming with poisonous snakes and all kinds of pests that strove to spoil the harvest obtained with such difficulty. And people were not always friendly with each other, especially after gold and precious opals began to be actively mined in Australia. The Australian Terrier turned out to be simply indispensable both as a guard and as a small game hunter. These fearless dogs could even cope with snakes, which was simply invaluable in the gold mines.

By the way, the Australian Terrier is one of the few among its brethren that has not lost its working qualities and has not turned into a pampered pet. At the same time, dogs have long conquered the hearts of people not only in their homeland, but throughout the world.

Breed description

Australian Terriers, although small, but very strong dogs of a stretched format, that is, their body length exceeds the height at the withers. The head is wedge-shaped, the ears are large erect, pointed at the ends. The eyes are small with an attentive and open look. The nose must be black. The tail is set high, carried up, often docked at 2/3, but this is not a requirement.

The wool is hard, equipped with a thick undercoat, which equally well protects both from the Australian heat and from the cold. It is rather rough to the touch, often sticking out in a funny way, like the fibers of a dish brush.

Color comes in several variants: solid red, sand, red, black-black (gray-blue on the back and red on the muzzle and lower body). White spots are not allowed.

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Character

Fearless, like all terriers, these dogs are not only excellent hunters, but also guards. Of course, they are unlikely to scare someone with their appearance, but they can warn the owners about an uninvited guest perfectly well, and they themselves will try to drive him away. At the same time, Australian Terriers are very friendly to the owners and those people who do not try to encroach on what the dog considers his own (including the owners themselves and their property). They have a cheerful, light disposition and even a sense of humor, they are very fond of all kinds of outdoor games that they are ready to play literally for days. And this little heart is completely devoted to its owners, so get ready for the fact that your pet will catch not only every word, but every thought. He will rejoice when you rejoice, and you will also be sad together, and you will agree that when there is someone to share the sadness, then it is much easier to endure it.

At the same time, terriers are ready to fight such dangerous enemies as rats, hamsters and even poisonous snakes. So in a private household, such a dog is simply irreplaceable.

Care and maintenance

Like most Australian breeds, these terriers are very hardy and hardy. They perfectly exist in a city apartment, they do not take up much space there, and they do not even need any special care for their coat – except that, of course, they need to be combed out regularly.

In food, these dogs are also undemanding, and they can live both in a city apartment and in a booth on the street without any harm to themselves.

The only thing Australian Terriers really need is exercise. Despite their small size, these dogs are very strong and energetic, so be prepared for long active walks if you don’t want your four-legged friend’s irrepressible energy to be used for something destructive.

Education and training

Although the Australian Terrier looks like a toy, he has the mind of a big serious dog, so you need to approach training with all responsibility, as if you were in front of a Rottweiler or a German Shepherd. These dogs are very smart and easily learn any commands, but they also have the stubbornness inherent in all terriers, so you need to show yourself as a confident leader. Stock up on patience and good mood, and your joint activities will turn into a joy for both.

Be sure to pay attention to the fact that your terrier, on command, not only performs some actions, but also stops in time, as an energetic dog can lose its sense of proportion when playing or barking at someone with inspiration.

Health and disease

The Australian Terrier has an enviable health and rarely gets sick. However, it should be understood that diseases are not always caused by some internal factors, they can also occur due to the owner’s negligence: they didn’t do all the vaccinations on time, they didn’t treat the dog for ticks and fleas, they didn’t prevent internal parasites. And another scourge of many dog ​​owners is the tendency to overfeed their pets, and this is especially true of small breeds. “Well, how not to give an extra piece, because he looks so plaintively!” – people say, and the dog gradually earns obesity, which entails diabetes, joint problems, heart problems and many other diseases.

So, if you follow all the rules of keeping, then your dog will live a long and healthy life.

Word to the breeder

Margarita Vagina, a breeder from the city of Perm of the Australian terrier kennel “S Nayanov Dvor”:

– Small size, excellent learning ability, easy care, owner-oriented without intrusiveness. Here’s what you need to know about the Australian Terrier, the smallest of the working terriers.

Bred as helpers for Australian farmers, they still do an excellent job with rodents and will keep you company on a walk.

Popular questions and answers

We asked to answer questions about the content of the Australian Terrier zoo engineer, veterinarian Anastasia Kalinina.