Australian Terriers, also known as Australian Silky Terriers, are intelligent and robust, making them ideal companions and show dogs.
They are sociable, confident, brave, and alert. They enjoy hunting rodents and excel at herding. However, due to their size and temperament, they are actually more suitable as companion dogs or guard dogs to prevent intruders.
They have a healthy and relaxed gait, with enthusiastic and intelligent expressions. They have good guidance and drive and are naturally suited for various jobs.
They are tenacious and combative, and still cannot change their characteristic of fighting with other dogs. They cannot live peacefully with cats unless they are raised together from a young age.
Australian Terrier originated in Australia and was developed by crossbreeding Cairn Terrier, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Irish Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier, and Skye Terrier.
The earliest recorded history of this breed dates back to 1868. At that time, a rough-haired terrier was exhibited at the Queensland Royal Exhibition in Australia, which is said to be the prototype of the Silky Terrier. In 1885, it was officially renamed Australian Terrier and made its first exhibition in Melbourne. In 1889, the breed club was established in Melbourne, and in 1896, the club formulated the relevant standards for this breed. In 1930, the Australian Silky Terrier was brought to England and gained recognition from the Kennel Club in 1933. It was introduced to the United States in 1959 and received recognition from the American Kennel Club in 1960, allowing registration. It was the first terrier breed in 24 years and the 114th breed to be registered with AKC. In 1962, various standards were established, and since then, this breed has been developed and loved by people worldwide.
This breed has two types of ears: erect ears and hanging ears. The United States only recognizes erect ears, while both types are recognized in the United Kingdom.
Australian Terriers have a relatively casual attitude towards life, but they are clean and enjoy a leisurely and free lifestyle, making them suitable for people with plenty of free time.
They have a strong temperament and are highly vigilant, making them adaptable to city life and excellent guard dogs.
They have a noble spirit of devotion and deep affection for humans. They unconditionally obey the commands of their owners, making them very suitable as family dogs, especially to accompany individuals who live alone.
1. Dog infectious diseases
Dogs are susceptible to infectious diseases, common ones include canine distemper and canine coronavirus. Common clinical manifestations include: fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, difficulty breathing, bloody stool, purulent eye discharge, dry nose, cracked paws, etc.
Generally, these types of highly infectious and fatal diseases are more prevalent during the weaning period or around 1 year old. Puppies are more susceptible and have a lower cure rate, and are prone to leaving sequelae.
How to prevent:
When bringing a dog home, it is recommended for the owner to choose a dog through regular channels, and give the dog vaccinations on time. Regular disinfection should also be done at home. The dog should not be taken outside for walks before completing the vaccination, and should not have contact with unfamiliar dogs. Others should not touch the dog's mouth or nose casually.
2. Dog skin diseases
Because dogs often go outside for walks, they may easily contract various skin diseases. If a dog is accidentally infected by mites, bacteria, or fungi while outside, it can be difficult to cure for a long time, so dog owners must be careful. Clinical manifestations of dog skin diseases include greasy skin, peeling, redness, itching, papules, ulcers, suppuration, hair loss, scabbing, etc.
How to prevent:
In daily care, it is necessary to keep the dog's living environment clean and tidy, and avoid dark and humid conditions. In addition, the dog's living environment should be disinfected regularly, and internal and external deworming should be done. Use special dog shampoo, regular grooming, and provide supplements of vitamins and fish oil.
3. Dog parasites
Common parasites found in dogs include roundworms, heartworms, ticks, fleas, etc., which often cause skin diseases and intestinal disorders in dogs. They may also cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, affecting their quality of life and physical development. Dogs with parasites are generally thin and listless.
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How to prevent:
During feeding, the owner should be careful not to feed the dog unsterilized raw meat or unknown sources of meat. Deworming the dog internally should be done once every 3 months, and external deworming should be done once a month. When going out, prevent the dog from eating or licking randomly and going into grassy areas. After returning home, be sure to check carefully.
Australian Terriers are not tolerant of hot weather and can become incredibly uncomfortable and distressed. It is recommended to trim their fur slightly shorter during the summer.
Ensure that the living environment is well-ventilated to effectively prevent skin diseases.
In the high-risk summer season for diseases, take extra care of your dog to prevent conditions such as gastrointestinal diseases, food poisoning, heatstroke, sunburn, heartworm disease transmitted by mosquitoes, and eczema.
1. Do not bathe frequently
Bathing the dog, of course, cannot be too frequent, bathing the dog depends on the dog's hygiene condition. In hot weather, you can bathe the dog more frequently once or twice. In winter, you can reduce it once or twice, but overall it should not exceed 5 times. Otherwise, it will damage its fur and skin!
2. Be diligent in brushing
Dogs shed almost every day, especially in spring and autumn. Seasonal shedding is more severe. In order to have good fur, diligent brushing is an important step. Pet owners can use dedicated brushes to help the dog clean natural shedding hair and prevent tangling. Brushing once in the morning and evening for about five minutes is enough.
3. Sunbathing
Sunbathing is beneficial for the growth of the dog's fur. In addition to making the fur more shiny, letting the dog sunbathe can also help kill bacteria. At the same time, the owner can let the dog exercise, which can help improve the dog's physical fitness, promote blood circulation, and help grow healthier fur.
4. Deworming
Bad fur is actually closely related to parasites. Parasites absorb a large amount of nutrition from the dog's body and compete for nutrients, so deworming is essential. It is recommended to do internal and external deworming together. Deworming drugs can cause great harm to the dog's intestines and stomach, so it is recommended to feed probiotics together in daily life to relieve gastrointestinal discomfort.
5. Pay attention to diet
In order for the dog to have a beautiful coat, it must have a good nutritional foundation and pay attention to daily diet. On the one hand, feed the dog nutritious and healthy dog food, choose a dog food that is suitable for the dog and has sufficient nutrition to meet the dog's needs. On the other hand, you can feed the dog a moderate amount of lean meat, cooked egg yolk, and vegetable oil.
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