Australian Terrier

Australian Terrier, originally uploaded by thekennelclub.

History of the breed
The Australian Terrier is a small breed of dog in the terrier family. The Australian Terrier was the first Australia-bred Australian dog to be shown, and the first to be recognized overseas. Its origins are uncertain, but its immediate ancestor was without doubt developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1800s from the precursors of today's British and Scottish terriers. Some of these breeds are now extinct, but the Australian Terrier likely has a mixed ancestry comprising the same dog types that produced today's Yorkshire, Dandie Dinmont, Manchester, Irish, and Cairn terriers.

A new rough-coated terrier was evident in Australia by the late middle-nineteenth century; the selectively-bred terrier was used for rodent and snake control, as a watchdog, and occasionally as a herding dog.

Appearance of the breed
The Australian Terrier is typicall weighs between 9-14 pounds. Their height is typically 9-11 inches. The Australian Terrier is a low-set dog; the length of its body is longer than its height at the withers. The The Australian Terrier has a high-set tail that is now not docked in Australia.

The head of the Australian Terrier is elongated, with a slight stop and pricked ears. The eyes are small, dark, and oval and must have a keen terrier expression. The leather of the nose runs up to the bridge of the muzzle, which is described as "strong".

The dog's coat is rough or harsh to the touch, with a soft undercoat and a distinctive ruff around the neck. Australian Terriers shed little hair. The breed standard specifies that it should be untrimmed, but some prefer to neaten the dog for the show ring. Acceptable colors are blue and tan, red or sandy.
The Australian Terrier has medium sized triangular ears which are very flexible. The ruff around the neck complements its appearance. It is a great companion dog.

Health Concerns of the breed
The most commonly reported health problems were endocrine (primarily diabetes), allergic dermatitis, and musculoskeletal (primarily luxating patella and ruptured cranial cruciate ligament).

Litter size: About 4 puppies
Life span: About 15+ years