Life Span:	11-14 years, though some have lived to be 17.
Litter Size:	3-5 puppies with the average being 4 puppies
Group:	Terrier, Terriers
Recognized By:	CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NZKC
Color:	The coat colours include: black, black/white, tan/black, red/black, white, ivory, cream, yellow and silver.
Hair Length:	Medium
Size:	Toy/Small
Shedding:	Lite Shed
Male Height:	10 inches (25cm)
Male Weight:	14-16 pounds (7kg)
Female Height:	9 inches (22cm)
Female Weight:	12-14 pounds (6kg)
Living Area:	The Australian terrier will happily live in even quite confined spaces, though you will have to provide a great deal of entertainment and scheduled walking to keep them from becoming destructive. They are happiest when they have at least a small yard to play in and patrol.

About this Breed

These little dogs are essentially small terrier hybrids that were bred for the very specific purpose of killing the local rats and snakes in 19th century Australia. As such, the Aussie’s ancestor dogs are generally those terriers that originate from the British Isles just as the European migrants did. The American Kennel Club has recognized this breed since 1960 as Britain’s official kennel club did nearly 30 years earlier. Today, Australian Terriers remain common in Australia and are gaining in popularity in other countries, too. The breed’s friendly and fun-loving nature makes them ideal for a great many city and suburban dwellers that want a companion who can chase rats that isn’t a cat. Aussies look a lot like many of the breeds they’re descended from. As such, they may be black like a Scottish Terrier or black and tan like a Yorkshire Terrier or silvery like a Cairn Terrier or, even pure white like a West Highland terrier. However, they always have a coarse outer coat over soft under-coat that makes them good in inclement weather. There is a very similar but separate breed of dog called the Australian Silky Terrier. Those dogs are very much the same except for their long, finely textured hair that most closely resembles that of a Silky or Yorkshire terrier that needs to be regularly groomed. By way of comparison, the Aussie is usually plucked when necessary and requires only the most cursory of grooming. Physically the Australian Terrier tends to be a bit shorter than long with a thick stout body and an especially thick collar of fur around the neck. Today, these Aussie dogs are most often found as companion animals because of their happy nature and adorably fearless. Aussie dogs also do well in the country, though they are sure to want to be near you if you’re around.