The Australian terrier has its origin in Australia, and is one of the smallest working terrier dogs. It is said that these dogs were crossed with the Irish, the Cairn, the Norwich, the Dandie Dinmont, the Yorkshire, and the Skye Terriers. They were originally used to control rodents and snakes, and also as watchdogs. Australian terriers are fairly new to the USA. The Australian terrier is very talented when it comes to being a watch dog, tracking, agility and also performing tricks.
Temperament
The Australian terrier is a very strong and mischievous little dog, but with the courage of a much larger dog. They have unlimited energy, and are very devoted toward their owners. This breed has an astonishing intelligence, and this helps to make them very receptive and caring companions. These dogs are very loveable, feisty and also very nosy. They have excellent hearing abilities and wonderful eyesight which make them wonderful watchdogs. Australian terrier wants to please their masters, and is also very trainable.
These dogs like to bark, and also get along really well with children. In general, they are also very friendly toward other dogs and pets.
Care
This is a breed that is easy to groom, and their coats do not need clipping. They can be brushed a few times during the week as the brushing will stimulate the natural oils and bring out a gloss in the skin. These terriers should not be bathed too often, and once a month should be sufficient. The hair around the eyes and ears of these dogs should be trimmed when needed. Their nails should also be clipped in a regular basis. These little dogs do not shed a lot of hair, and will be ideal for those suffering from allergies.
Training
Australian terriers are very quick at learning, but they can get bored if the training is very repetitive. This breed should be socialised early on, and also receive obedience training. They will not respond positively to cruel or heavy-handed training methods. The training environment for these dogs should be one that is fair, consistent and firm in order for good results to be achieved. Australian terriers are also very talented in areas such as agility, tracking and obedience.
Health problems
The Australian terrier suffers from some disorders which is not necessarily fatal. This is a fairly healthy breed that lives for many years. Some of the conditions they do suffer from include bad skin, flea bite dermatitis, patellar luxation and leg calve perthes.
