Exuberant & Playful: Unveiling the Quirky Charm of Aust

Characteristics of the Australian Terrier

1. Size

The Australian Terrier boasts a robust stature with shoulders standing at approximately 10 to 11 inches tall. Their body length is slightly longer than their shoulder height, ranging from 2.54 to 3.81 centimeters. These dogs are healthy, with strong bones, a wellproportioned figure, and a symmetrical and balanced build. They carry an appropriate weight, ensuring they are neither too thin nor too heavy.

2. Head

The head of the Australian Terrier is long and strong, with the length of the muzzle nearly equal to the length of the skull. This breed exudes a spirited and intelligent demeanor. Their eyes are small, with colors ranging from deep brown to black, with deep black being the most preferred. The eyes are lively and full of passion, and their spacing is wellproportioned. The orbits are black and almondshaped. Disqualifications include lightcolored or protruding eyes. The ears are erect, small, and pointed, or tall and set appropriately on the head, with a proper distance between them. The ears are perpendicular with no tilt. When viewed from the front or side, the skull is long and flat, slightly longer than the width, with a subtle but distinct stop between the eyes. The jaw is strong and the nose is black. Standard dogs of this breed should have a Vshaped, hairless area from the nose to the top of the muzzle, which may vary in length as the dog matures. The lips are tight, dark brown or black, and the teeth should be of moderate size when the mouth is closed.

3. Neck, Back, and Body

The neck is prominent, slightly arched, and robust, seamlessly blending into the smooth shoulders. The back is flat, and the ribs are wellsprung, with a deep chest that is slightly lower than the elbows. The waist is broad but quite short, with a slight tuckup. A longer waist is considered a fault. The tail is set high, vertical at the 12 to 1 o'clock position on the tail. A docked tail, which is shorter than half the length of the tail, should be kept in a good adult condition.

4. Forequarters

The shoulders are long and wellangled, with a good blend between the scapulae, shoulder, and body, leaving only a small space between the scapulae. The upper arm is about equal in length to the scapula. The shoulder and upper arm form a 90degree angle. Faults include a straight, loose, or crooked shoulder blade. The elbows are close to the chest. When viewed from the front, the forelegs are straight, parallel, and have round bones with moderate bone density. When viewed from the side, the forelegs are directly below the body, with the chest prominent in front. The wrist is strong and slightly sloping. Faults include a low wrist. The dewclaws should be removed, and the feet should be small, neat, and wellarranged, resembling a cat's claws. The toes are curled and close together, neither turning in nor out. The nails are short, black, and strong.

5. Color

The Australian Terrier comes in blue and brown; solid chestnut; and solid red. Blue and brown: The blue can range from deep blue, iron blue, gray blue, to silver blue. Each silverblue hair is tipped with alternating black and silver. Brown (not red or chestnut) spotting may be abundant, found on the face, ears, underbody, lower legs, paws, and around the anus. A rich, clear coloration is ideal, with the topknot on the head being silver or lighter than the body. Chestnut: Composed of varying shades of chestnut or red, with vivid colors being preferred. The topknot on the head is silver or lighter than the body. A fault is the presence of black hair on an adult dog. White spots on the chest or paws are considered serious defects, regardless of the color.

6. Gait

Whether viewed from the front or the rear, the legs are straight, and the front and rear legs move on parallel planes, which are also parallel to each other. During a trot, the legs and paws converge on the centerline, but the legs remain vertical. When viewed from the side, the hind foot lands exactly on the print of the front foot, with no gap between them. The backline is stable and level, without any jumping.

7. Temperament

The Australian Terrier is an energetic, alert, brave, and confident dog, naturally inclined to be a ratting and bush hunting dog; they make excellent companions, friends, and family pets. A fault is their tendency to be quarrelsome.

For more information about other terrier breeds, click on "How is the Bull Terrier's temperament?"