AUSTRALIAN TERRIER
Terrier Group
View Registration Requirements

Copyright 1991, United Kennel Club, Inc.
Revised April 15, 2007



History

The Australian Terrier and the Australian Silky (both toy-type breeds) share common ancestors. One version of the breed's history states it is a cross of the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, from which it gained the topknot; the Skye Terrier, from which it got its short legs, long coat and length of body; the Irish Terrier, from which the color of the reds and sandies came; and the Manchester Terrier, from which came the rich tan markings of the blue and tans. It is also said it was crossed with the Yorkshire Terrier to control the size. It is a typical terrier in character and temperament and an effective rodent killer and watchdog.

The Australian Terrier was recognized by the United Kennel Club in 1969.

A sturdy, low-set dog, rather long in proportion to height. The desirable size is 10 inches high at the withers and 14 pounds in weight for adults. It has an untrimmed harsh coat, with a definite ruff around the neck, a docked tail and erect ears.

Essentially a working terrier, it is equally suited as a companion dog owing to its loyalty and even disposition.

The head is long and strong, full between the eyes, with a slight but definite stop.

SKULL - The skull should be long and flat, not too broad and covered with a soft, silky topknot.

MUZZLE - The muzzle is strong and powerful, as long as the skull, with clean, tight, black lips.

TEETH - A full complement of strong, white evenly spaced teeth meet in a scissors bite with the upper incisors fitting closely over the lower.

Faults: Overshot or undershot bites.

EYES - The dark brown eyes should be small, oval in shape and set well apart, giving a keen expression.

NOSE - The black nose is of moderate size, the leather extending to the bridge of the muzzle.

Fault: Flesh-colored nose.

EARS - The ears are small, erect, pointed, well carried and set on moderately wide. They are free from long hair and sensitive in their use.

Strong, of good length, slightly arched and flowing smoothly into sloping shoulder blades.

Shoulders are well angulated.

FORELEGS - Forelegs are well boned and perfectly straight, parallel when viewed from the front. Pasterns strong and upright without slope.

Long in proportion to height, strongly constructed, with well-sprung ribs of moderate depth and width. Forechest is well developed. Level topline, strong loin, deep through the flank.

Broad, muscular and well angulated.

HIND LEGS - Stifles well turned and hocks well bent and let down. Viewed from behind legs should be parallel, neither too wide nor to close.

Small and round with compact, well padded, moderately arched toes. Feet turn neither in nor out. Dark nails.

Fault: Flesh-colored nails.

Docked, leaving slightly less than one half; set high and well carried, but not over the back.

The coat should consist of a harsh, straight, dense top coat, approximately 2½ inches long, with short soft-textured undercoat. The forelegs are slightly feathered to the knee. Muzzle, lower legs and feet to be free from long hair.

Faults: Curly coat. Woolly coat.

Acceptable colors include Blue and Tan, and Sandy or Red.

Blue and Tan - the blue may be a dark blue, steel blue, dark gray blue or silver blue. The tan markings are as rich as possible on the face, ears, underbody, lower legs and feet and around the vent. The richer the color and more clearly defined the better. The topknot is silver or a lighter shade than head color.

Sandy or Red - May be any shade of solid sandy or solid red, the clearer the color the better.

Faults: White on chest or feet. All black coat (except in puppies). Runaway tan in the blue portion of the coat. Dark smut in Sandy or Red dogs.

The desired height is approximately 10 inches for males, slightly less for females. Desired weight is approximately 14 pounds for males, slightly less for females.

The action to be free, springy and forceful. When viewed from the front, the forelegs move truly, without looseness of shoulder, elbows or pasterns. The hindquarters have drive and power, with free movement of stifles and hocks. Seen from the rear, the rear pasterns (from the hock joint to the ground) are parallel. They are neither too close or too wide.

Unilateral or bilateral cryptorchid. Viciousness or extreme shyness. Albinism.