Australian Terrier is a small,
sturdy, medium-boned working terrier, rather long in proportion to
height with pricked ears and docked tail. Blue and tan, solid sandy or
solid red in color, with harsh-textured outer coat, a distinctive ruff
and apron, and a soft, silky topknot. As befits their heritage as
versatile workers, Australian Terriers are sound and free moving with
good reach and drive. Their expression keen and intelligent; their
manner spirited and self-assured.
|
|
| Breed Name |
Australian Terrier |
| Country Of
Origin |
Australia |
| Group |
Terrier |
|
Coat |
Harsh & Straight |
|
Height |
10" to 11" |
| Weight |
15 lbs |
| Temperament |
Spirited, Alert, Confident |
| Activity Level |
Very High |
| Learning Rate |
N/A |
|
Litter Size |
4 to
8 |
| Life Span |
11 Years |
|
If you are interested in an
Australian
Terrier puppy:
See our
PUPPIES FOR SALE
or use our
FREE PUPPY FINDER program.
The following description is that of the ideal Australian Terrier. Any
deviation from this description must be penalized to the extent of the
deviation.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size - Height 10-11 inches at the withers. Deviation in
either direction is to be discouraged. Proportion - The
body is long in proportion to the height of the dog. The length of back
from withers to the front of the tail is approximately 1-1½ inches
longer than from withers to the ground. Substance - Good
working condition, medium bone, correct body proportions, symmetry and
balance determine proper weight.
Head
The head is long and strong. The length of the muzzle is equal to the
length of the skull. Expression - Keen and intelligent.
Eyes - Small, dark brown to black (the darker the
better), keen in expression, set well apart. Rims are black, oval in
shape. Faults: Light-colored or protruding eyes.
Ears - Small, erect and pointed; set high on the skull yet well
apart, carried erect without any tendency to flare obliquely off the
skull. Skull - Viewed from the front or side is long and
flat, slightly longer than it is wide and full between the eyes, with
slight but definite stop. Muzzle - Strong and powerful
with slight fill under the eyes. The jaws are powerful. Nose
- Black. A desirable breed characteristic is an inverted V-shaped
area free of hair extending from the nose up the bridge of the muzzle,
varying in length in the mature dog. Lips - Tight and
dark brown- or black-rimmed. Bite - Scissors with teeth
of good size.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck - Long, slightly arched and strong, blending
smoothly into well laid back shoulders. Topline - Level
and firm. Body - The body is of sturdy structure with
ribs well-sprung but not rounded, forming a chest reaching slightly
below the elbows with a distinct keel. The loin is strong and fairly
short with slight tuck-up. Faults: Cobbiness, too long
in loin. Tail - Set on high and carried erect at a
twelve to one o'clock position, docked in balance with the overall dog
leaving slightly less than one half, a good hand-hold when mature.
Forequarters
Shoulders - Long blades, well laid back with only slight
space between the shoulder blades at the withers. The length of the
upper arm is comparable to the length of the shoulder blade. The angle
between the shoulder and the upper arm is 90 degrees. Faults:
Straight, loose and loaded shoulders. Elbows - Close to
the chest. Forelegs - Straight, parallel when viewed
from the front; the bone is round and medium in size. They should be set
well under the body, with definite body overhang (keel) before them when
viewed from the side. Pasterns - Strong, with only
slight slope. Fault: Down on pasterns. Dewclaws
- Removed. Feet - Small, clean, catlike; toes arched
and compact, nicely padded turning neither inward nor outward.
Nails - Short, black and strong.
Hindquarters
Strong; legs well angulated at the stifles and hocks, short and
perpendicular from the hocks to the ground. Upper and lower thighs are
well muscled. Viewed from behind the rear legs are straight from the hip
joints to the ground and in the same plane as the forelegs.
Faults: Lack of muscular development or excessive muscularity.
Feet - (See under Forequarters.)
Coat
Outer Coat - Harsh and straight; 2½ inches all over the
body except the tail, pasterns, rear legs from the hocks down, and the
feet which are kept free of long hair. Hair on the ears is kept very
short. Undercoat - Short and soft. Furnishings
- Softer than body coat. The neck is well furnished with hair, which
forms a protective ruff blending into the apron. The forelegs are
slightly feathered to the pasterns. Topknot - Covering
only the top of the skull; of finer and softer texture than the rest of
the coat.
Color and Markings
Colors: Blue and tan, solid sandy and solid red.
Blue and tan - Blue: dark blue, steel-blue, dark gray-blue, or
silver-blue. In silver-blues, each hair carries blue and silver
alternating with the darker color at the tips. Tan markings (not sandy
or red), as rich as possible, on face, ears, underbody, lower legs and
feet, and around vent. The richer the color and more clearly defined the
better. Topknot - Silver or a lighter shade than head
color. Sandy or Red - Any shade of solid sandy or solid
red, the clearer the better. Topknot - Silver or a
lighter shade of body coat. Faults: All black body coat
in the adult dog. Tan smut in the blue portion of the coat, or dark smut
in sandy/red coated dogs. In any color, white markings on chest or feet
are to be penalized.
Gait
As seen from the front and from the rear, the legs are straight from the
shoulder and hip joints to the pads, and move in planes parallel to the
centerline of travel. The rear legs move in the same planes as the front
legs. As the dog moves at a faster trot, the front and rear legs and
feet may tend to converge toward the centerline of travel, but the legs
remain straight even as they flex or extend. Viewed from the side, the
legs move in a ground-covering stride. The rear feet should meet the
ground in the same prints as left by the front feet, with no gap between
them. Topline remains firm and level, without bounce.
Temperament
The Australian Terrier is spirited, alert, courageous, and
self-confident, with the natural aggressiveness of a ratter and hedge
hunter; as a companion, friendly and affectionate. Faults:
Shyness or aggressiveness toward people.If you are
interested in a
Australian Terrier Puppy:
See our
PUPPIES FOR SALE
or use our
FREE PUPPY FINDER program. |
