Australian Terrier

The Australian Terrier is a small breed of dog of the terrier dog type. The breed was developed in Australia, although the ancestral types of dogs from which the breed descends were from Great Britain.

Australian Terrier
An adult Australian Terrier
Common nicknamesAussie
OriginAustralia
Traits
Height Dogs ~25 centimetres (10 in)
Bitches slightly less
Weight Dogs ~6.5 kilograms (14 lb)
Bitches slightly less
Life span 12-14 years
Kennel club standards
ANKC standard
FCI standard
Dog (domestic dog)

Appearance
An Australian Terrier circa 1915
Australian Terrier - Puppy

The Australian Terrier is a small dog with short legs, weighing around 6.5 kilograms (14 lb) and standing about 25 centimetres (9.8 in) at the withers, with a medium length shaggy harsh double coat that is not normally trimmed. Fur is shorter on the muzzle, lower legs, and feet, and there is a ruff around the neck. The coat colours are blue or silver and tan with a lighter coloured topknot, and with markings on face, ears, body and legs of a colour described in the breed standard as "tan, never sandy", or a solid red with a sandy variation. The tail was traditionally docked, in order to protect the dog from spinal injury while working and hunting in the field. As with most pet dog breeds, all proportions and aspects of the body and head as well as colours and markings are extensively described in the breed standard.[1]

History
Young male Australian Terrier

The Australian Terrier is descended from the rough coated type terriers brought from Great Britain to Australia in the early 19th century. The ancestral types of all of these breeds were kept to eradicate mice and rats. The Australian Terrier shares ancestors with the Cairn Terrier, Shorthaired Skye Terrier, and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier; Yorkshire Terriers and Irish Terriers were also crossed into the dog during the breed's development.[2]

Development of the breed began in Australia about 1820, and the dogs were at first called the Rough Coated Terrier. The breed was officially recognised in 1850, and later renamed as the Australian Terrier in 1892.[3] The Australian Terrier was shown at a dog show for the first time in 1906 in Melbourne, and was also shown in Great Britain about the same time.[2] The Kennel Club (UK) recognised the breed in 1933. The American Kennel Club recognised the Australian Terrier in 1960, and the United Kennel Club (US) in 1970. It is now recognised by all of the kennel clubs in the English speaking world, and also is listed by various minor kennel clubs and other clubs and registries.

Health

There are three completed health surveys for Australian Terriers.[4] Two surveys, one in 1997 and one in 2002, have been conducted by the Australian Terrier Club of America.[5] The Club is currently collecting data for their next survey.[6] The UK Kennel Club has a 2004 survey, but it has a much smaller sample size than the Australian Terrier Club of America surveys.[7] Some of the respondents in the American surveys were from Australia, but there is no separate Australian health survey.

Mortality

In both 1997 and 2002 Australian Terrier Club of America surveys, median longevity of Australian Terriers was 11 years (total sample size of 230 deceased dogs).[5] In the Kennel Club (UK) 2004 survey, median longevity was 12.1 years, but the sample size was only 11 deceased dogs.[7] 11 years is a typical median longevity for purebred dogs in general, but on the low end of longevities for breeds similar in size to Australian Terriers.[8]

Major causes of death in the 2002 survey were cancer (67%), old age (17%), undetermined (16%), and diabetes (13%).[5]

Morbidity

Among 619 living dogs in the 2002 Australian Terrier Club of America survey, the most commonly reported health problems were endocrine (primarily diabetes), allergic dermatitis, and musculoskeletal (primarily luxating patella and ruptured cranial cruciate ligament).[5] Other conditions reported among more than 4% of the surveyed dogs were adult onset cataracts and ear infections.[5] The much smaller 2004 UKC survey, with 28 living dogs, suggested similar health concerns.[7]

Temperament

The breed standard describes the ideal Australian Terrier temperament as spirited, alert, "with the natural aggressiveness of a ratter and hedge hunter".[9] Aussies rank 34th in Stanley Coren's The Intelligence of Dogs, being of above average "Working and Obedience" intelligence, indicating good trainability.[10] They tend to get along well with other dogs, although some males may not get along well with other males in the house. An Australian Terrier should never start a fight, but they will not back down from an attacker. Since the Australian Terrier was also bred for companionship, they tend to be very people friendly, and enjoy interacting with people.

See also

References
  1. "Australian Terrier". Archived from the original on 25 October 2009. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  2. Clark, Anne Rogers; Andrew H. Brace (1995). The International Encyclopedia of Dogs. Howell Book House. p. 94. ISBN 0-87605-624-9.
  3. "Australian Terrier Club of South Australia". Web.archive.org. 23 October 2009. Archived from the original on 12 December 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  4. Dog Longevity Web Site, Breed Data page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy. Retrieved 8 July 2007
  5. Australian Terrier Club of America 2002 ATCA Health Survey Results Archived 31 July 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Note: There is not a direct link to the ATCA 1997 Health Survey, but the results are discussed extensively in the 2002 Survey Report. Retrieved February 2007
  6. Australian Terrier Club of America home page. Retrieved 13 July 2007
  7. Kennel Club/British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee. 2004. Purebred Dog Health Survey. Retrieved 5 July 2007
  8. Dog Longevity Web Site, Weight and Longevity page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy. Retrieved 5 July 2007
  9. American Kennel Club Website. Retrieved 7 November 2008
  10. The Intelligence of Dogs, by Stanley Coren, Chapter 10, pages 183-185, Free Press, 2005, ISBN 0-7432-8087-3
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