At a glance the quick version
FCI gives about 6.5 kg for males; females slightly less.
Coat and looks how to spot one
harsh double coat
A sturdy, low-set little working terrier. Its straight, harsh topcoat is about 6 cm long over a soft undercoat, shorter on the muzzle and lower legs, with a ruff around the neck and a soft, lighter topknot.12
Personality what they are like
A spirited, curious and confident terrier that brings real working grit to a small frame. It is loyal and steady with its family, which makes it a good companion as well as a capable ratter.142
Daily activity how busy a day looks
The Royal Kennel Club suggests up to about an hour of exercise a day; it enjoys walks, play and anything that lets it use its terrier curiosity.3
Grooming and care the hands-on bits
The harsh coat needs grooming more than once a week to keep it neat; it is medium length and sheds.31
Home where they are happiest
Suits a flat or a house, in town or country, ideally with access to a small or medium garden.3
Company who they like around
Bred as both a helper and a companion, it likes to be involved in family life.13
The story where it all began
Settlers took rough-coated British terriers to Australia in the early 1800s and blended types related to the Skye, Scottish, Cairn and Dandie Dinmont to make a small, hardy dog for keeping down rodents. First known as the Rough Coated Terrier, it was renamed the Australian Terrier in 1892 and appeared at a Melbourne show in 1906.123
Fun facts for the dinner table
- 1
It is one of the smallest of the working terriers.1
- 2
The breed was called the Rough Coated Terrier until it got its current name in 1892.2
- 3
Early Tasmanian dogs of this type were described as blue-sheened with tan markings and weighed around ten pounds.1
- 4
Australian settlers used it to keep rodents and other pests down around their homes and farms.3
Recognised by the official bits
- FCI
- Standard no. 8, Group 3 Terriers, Section 2 Small-sized Terriers; standard dated 08.10.2012.1
- ANKC
- Recognised with a breed standard.2
- The Royal Kennel Club
- Listed in the Terrier Group.3
- AKC
- Listed by the AKC with a breed page.4
The care rhythm Furry Diary remembers it for you
A typical home-care rhythm for a Australian Terrier. It is our own starting plan, not a vet's advice, and you can change every line in the app.
- Brushingevery week
- Bathevery 8 weeks
- Hand strippingHand stripping keeps the harsh texture; clipping also worksevery 12 weeks
- Nail trimSooner if you hear clicking on the floorevery 3 weeks
- Ear checkevery 2 weeks
- Teeth brushingDaily brushing is idealevery day
- ExerciseDaily walks and playevery day
- Flea, tick and worm protectionSchedule as your vet recommendsas your vet recommends
- Vet check-upSenior years usually start around age 10every year
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Where this comes from
Every breed page shows where each fact comes from. If we got something wrong, sorry, we are pet people, not a science magazine. Tell us at [email protected] and we will fix it.
- FCI Standard No. 8 Australian Terrier fci.beused for recognition, history, size, coat, colours, temperament
- Wikipedia: Australian Terrier en.wikipedia.orgused for history, names, lifespan
- The Royal Kennel Club: Australian Terrier royalkennelclub.comused for exercise, grooming, lifespan, home size, history
- AKC: Australian Terrier akc.orgused for temperament
Checked 2026-09-30. Text is written in our own words from these sources.