Is An Australian Terrier Puppy The Right Choice For Me And My Family

*The Australian Terrier is a smaller dog well suited to apartment or country living. She requires plenty of exercise and a properly fenced in yard would be ideal. She has excellent hearing and makes a great watchdog. She is good with older children.

Very young children may not be appropriate for her. She may chase cats and small animals but generally gets along with the household pets but needs early socialization. She trains easily and is highly intelligent. *Approximate Adult Size. The Australian Terrier adult (two years old or older) height is approximately 10 to 11 inches at the withers (the highest point of the shoulder) and weighs from 12 to 14 pounds. *Special Health Considerations.

The Australian Terrier is a relatively healthy breed but the following could be a problem. Patella luxation (congenital condition in which the kneecap dislocates), Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease (ball portion of hip not correct probably due to genetics, causes pain and lameness), hypothyroidism (sluggish thyroid gland which can result in weight gain), Canine Diabetes (no cure, diet, exercise and daily insulin injections), skin allergies and epilepsy (common in dogs). *Grooming.

The Australian Terrier has a double weather proof coat. The inner coat is soft while the outer coat is straight and harsh, running about 2 ½ inches long. She needs to be brushed several times a week and plucked every three months or so. This will help keep your pets coat clean and healthy and your house much more free of shed hair.

Brushing will also help you keep a closer eye on your pets health and strengthen your emotional bond with your pet. Be sure to talk to your pet while brushing her. Dogs teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs.

Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease. To avoid health problems, her toenails may need to be examined to determine if they need to be clipped.

The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet. Generally a guillotine type trimmers is the best for this chore and competent instructions to accomplish this can be found on the net. *Life Span. The Australian Terrier can live between 13 and 15 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.

*History. The Australian Terrier was developed in Australia for uses such as companion, vermin hunter, watchdog and shepherd. The ancestors of this breed came from the United Kingdom and are the precursors of the Scottish and British Terriers. Category: Working Terrier. *Registries: AKC American Kennel Club UKC United Kennel Club CKC Continental Kennel Club APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc NKC National Kennel Club NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club ATCSA Australian Terrier Club of South Australia FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale CKC Continental Kennel Club Terms To Describe The Breed: Friendly, affectionate, courageous, alert, spirited, self-confident, keen, intelligent, proud, hardy.

*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS Even temperament. Has great courage. Good watchdog and companion. Get along with pets and other dogs. Healthy and hardy. *SPECIAL BAD POINTS Can be aggressive toward people.

Can become destructive if left alone for long periods of time. Likes to bark.

Mitch Endick is a short article writer, editor and website developer for the popular pet site petpages.com. www.petpages.com is a pet information site with free pet ads, dog classifieds, and puppy for sale info Petpages.com also offers information on cats, fish, reptiles, birds, ferrets, rabbits, mice and even pet bugs.