Australian terrier 487538 222224214 2008-06-28T04:56:27Z Gilljohnoz 7386914 {{Refimprove|date=July 2007}} {{Infobox Dogbreed <!-- Put article text AFTER this infobox markup. See: --> <!-- Wikipedia:WikiProject Dog breeds/Templates for more info.--> | image = Australian Terrier2.jpg | image_caption = An adult Australian Terrier | name = Australian Terrier | country = [[Australia]] | nickname = Aussie | fcigroup = 3 | fcisection = 2 | fcinum = 008 | fcistd = http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:qN5YxOhiJ7kJ:www.fci.be/uploaded_files/008gb98_en.doc+site:www.fci.be+%228/+12.+03.+1998%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8 | akcgroup = Terrier | akcstd = http://www.akc.org/breeds/australian_terrier/index.cfm | ankcgroup = Group 2 - Terrier | ankcstd = http://ankc.org.au/home/breeds_details.asp?bid=47 | ckcgroup = Group 4 - Terriers | ckcstd = http://www.ckc.ca/en/Default.aspx?tabid=99&BreedCode=AST | kcukgroup = Terriers | kcukstd = http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/65 | nzkcgroup = Terriers | nzkcstd = http://www.nzkc.org.nz/br208.html | ukcgroup = Terriers | ukcstd = http://mail.ukcdogs.com/UKCweb.nsf/80de88211ee3f2dc8525703f004ccb1e/75a4ea89a8a3cacc8525704d004d40aa?OpenDocument }}<!-- End Infobox --> The '''Australian Terrier''' is a small [[dog breed|breed]] of [[dog]] in the [[terrier]] family. == Characteristics == === Appearance === <!-- Begin Overview Box --> {| class="toccolours" style="fixed: right; margin-left: 1em;" width="450px" ! colspan="3" style="text-align: center; background:maroon" | <font color=white>'''Australian Terrier appearance'''</font> |- |- | colspan="3" |<hr> |- | Weight: || 9-14 pounds (4-6 kg.) |- | Height: || 9-11 inches (23-28 cm.) |- | Coat: || Rough-textured, about 2 inches (5 cm.) |- | Litter size: || Abt 4 puppies |- |Life span: || ~15+ years |- | |} <!-- End Overview Box --> [[Image:Australian_terrier.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A young Aussie named Harriet]] The Australian Terrier stands around 25 centimeters high at the [[withers]] and weighs around 7 kilograms. It is a low-set dog; the length of its body is longer than its height at the withers. The Aussie has a high-set tail that is now not docked in Australia. The head of the Australian Terrier is elongated, with a slight [[stop]] and pricked ears. The [[ANKC]] [[breed standard]] describes the dog's look as "hard bitten" and "rugged". The eyes are small, dark, and oval and must have a keen terrier expression. The leather of the nose runs up to the bridge of the muzzle, which is described as "strong". The dog's [[coat (dog)|coat]] is rough or harsh to the touch, with a soft [[undercoat]] and a distinctive ruff around the neck. Australian Terriers shed little hair. The breed standard specifies that it should be untrimmed, but some prefer to neaten the dog for the [[conformation show|show ring]]. Acceptable colors are blue and tan, red or sandy. The Australian Terrier has medium sized triangular ears which are very flexible. The ruff around the neck complements its appearance. It is a great companion dog. ==Health== There are three completed health surveys for Australian Terriers.<ref name="Cassidy Data">http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/breeddata.htm Dog Longevity Web Site, Breed Data page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy. Retrieved July 8, 2007</ref> Two surveys, one in 1997 and one in 2002, have been conducted by the Australian Terrier Club of America.<ref name="ATCA survey">http://australianterrier.org/survey_02.htm Australian Terrier Club of America. 2002 ATCA Health Survey Results. [Note: There is not a direct link to the ATCA 1997 Health Survey, but the results are discussed extensively in the 2002 Survey Report] Retrieved February 2007 </ref> The Club is currently collecting data for their next survey.<ref name="ATCA">http://australianterrier.org Australian Terrier Club of America home page. Retrieved July 13, 2007</ref> The UK Kennel Club has a 2004 survey, but it has a much smaller sample size than the Australian Terrier Club of America surveys.<ref name="KC Survey">http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/item/570 Kennel Club/British Small Animal Veterinary Association Scientific Committee. 2004. Purebred Dog Health Survey. Retrieved July 5, 2007 </ref> Some of the respondents in the American surveys were from Australia, but none of the Australian Terrier clubs in Australia appear to have conducted, or be in the midst of conducting, a survey. ===Mortality=== In both 1997 and 2002 Australian Terrier Club of America surveys, median longevity of Australian Terriers was 11 years (total sample size of 230 deceased dogs).<ref name="ATCA survey"/> In the UK Kennel Club 2004 survey, median longevity was 12.1 years, but the sample size was only 11 deceased dogs.<ref name="KC Survey"/> 11 years is a typical median longevity for purebred dogs in general, but on the low end of longevities for breeds similar in size to Australian Terriers.<ref name="Cassidy Weight">http://users.pullman.com/lostriver/weight_and_lifespan.htm Dog Longevity Web Site, Weight and Longevity page. Compiled by K. M. Cassidy. Retrieved July 5, 2007</ref> Major causes of death in the 2002 survey were cancer (67%), old age (17%), undetermined (16%), and diabetes (13%).<ref name="ATCA survey"/> ===Morbidity=== Among 619 living dogs in the 2002 Australian Terrier Club of America survey, the most commonly reported health problems were endocrine (primarily diabetes), allergic dermatitis, and musculoskeletal (primarily luxating patella and ruptured cranial cruciate ligament).<ref name="ATCA survey"/> Other conditions reported among more than 4% of the surveyed dogs were adult onset cataracts and ear infections.<ref name="ATCA survey"/> The much smaller 2004 UKC survey, with 28 living dogs, suggested similar health concerns.<ref name="KC Survey"/> ==History== The Australian Terrier was the first Australia-bred Australian dog to be shown, and the first to be recognized overseas. Its origins are uncertain, but its immediate ancestor was without doubt developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1800s from the precursors of today's British and [[terriers of Scotland|Scottish terriers]]. Some of these breeds are now extinct, but the Aussie likely has a mixed ancestry comprising the same dog types that produced today's [[Yorkshire Terrier|Yorkshire]], [[Dandie Dinmont Terrier|Dandie Dinmont]], [[Manchester Terrier|Manchester]], [[Irish Terrier|Irish]], and [[Cairn Terrier|Cairn]] terriers. A new rough-coated terrier was evident in Australia by the late middle-nineteenth century; the [[selective breeding|selectively-bred]] terrier was used for rodent and snake control, as a [[watchdog]], and occasionally as a [[herding dog]]. The first Broken-coated Terriers were exhibited in [[Melbourne]] in 1868 and the Australian Rough-Coated Terrier Club was founded in Melbourne in 1887. The breed was exhibited as the Australian Terrier, Rough-Coated in 1899. Official breed status was granted in the UK in 1933 and in the US in 1960. The Australian Terrier was recognized by the [[United Kennel Club]] in 1969. ==References== <references/> == External links == *[http://www.australianterrier.org/ Australian Terrier Club of America] *[http://www.geocities.com/atcsa1997/ The Australian Terrier Club of South Australia] {{Terriers}} [[Category:Dog breeds originating in Australia]] <!--- en:Australian Terrier ---> [[Category:Dog breeds]] [[Category:Terriers]] [[cs:Australský teriér]] [[de:Australian Terrier]] [[fr:Terrier australien]] [[nl:Australische terriër]] [[pl:Terier australijski]] [[sk:Austrálsky teriér]] [[sr:Аустралијски теријер]] [[fi:Australianterrieri]]