Welcome To Your Complete Guide To The Wonderful World Of Australian Dog Breeds!
It seems that many of us are fascinated with Australia and the abundance of animals who call it home.
In fact, Australia houses an incredibly diverse throng of animal life.
From insects to mammals, and everything in between, Australia is a captivating place to visit for animal lovers.
If you’re an animal lover then you’re likely a dog lover too, and boy does Australia offer up some amazing dog breeds.
From the most intelligent of the Australian herding breeds to the tiniest of Australian terriers, this country seems to have it all.
Here are ten of our favorites in the Australian dog breeds list.
Let’s get to know ten of the coolest dogs from the land down under!
No 1: The Australian Cattle Dog
Origin
The Australian Cattle Dog originated in Australia around the 1800s.
His main purpose was to herd cattle over rough terrain for very long distances.
Qualities
He is a medium-sized dog with a shorter coat.
These Australian heeler dog is only a seasonal shedder who does not require much upkeep in the ways of grooming.
His coat is either black or brown, but markings can give the black coat a bluish tinge.
Therefore, the breed is sometimes called Blue Heeler.
The Australian Cattle Dog is known to be very energetic and obedient, with a brave streak that makes him a wonderful watchdog.
His herding history has given him an enduring quality, so he enjoys being outdoors.
Main Role Today
Today, the Australian Cattle Dog still enjoys work as a farming and ranch breed, excelling as he always has in the role of herding livestock and traveling long distances.
He can make a very happy family dog, too, and does well in homes with families who live active lifestyles.
The Australian Cattle Dog is easily trained and very obedient.
In fact, he is especially eager to please his human counterparts and needs positive validation on jobs well done.
He craves attention and affection and will require an abundant amount of exercise to keep him happy and fit.
Health Issues and Lifespan
He is a relatively healthy dog, with a lifespan of 10–13 years.
The most serious health issues to be aware of in this breed are hereditary deafness, progressive retinal atrophy, canine hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, and osteochondritis dissecans.
No 2: The Australian Silky Terrier
Origin
Unlike most other Australian dog breeds, the Silky Terrier was originally bred to be a family companion.
However, he has been known to earn his keep by killing snakes.
Although he has been around since the early 19th century, he was seemingly lost in a clump of terrier breeds and wasn’t officially recognized as his own breed in Australia until 1955.
Qualities
The Silky Terrier is a small dog, often sitting in the Toy category.
He has a long, fine, silky coat that is always blue and tan, with the dark blue on his back and the tan covering his legs, tail, and underbelly.
If the Silky Terrier’s hair is allowed to grow out to its traditional length, then he should be groomed weekly.
His fine hair is susceptible to tangles and mats that can be very difficult, if not impossible, to get out without cutting.
This is an alert, active, and very playful Australian breed, so he should be kept busy to deter boredom.
He is very intelligent and is a very fast learner.
As a companion dog, he is easy going and enjoys cuddling on his person’s lap as much as he loves to play.
Main Role Today
Just as in the early 19th century, the Silky Terrier is a wonderful companion dog.
He has a go-with-the-flow personality and makes an excellent apartment pet.
He also does well in family settings but should be supervised around very small children because of his tiny size.
The Silky Terrier loves being outdoors but he requires a secure yard if left alone, so as not to become susceptible to predators or escape.
Health Issues and Lifespan
The Silky Terrier is a healthy dog with a lifespan of 11–14 years.
He does have some minor health issues to be aware of, such as patellar luxation, Legg-Perthes disease, diabetes, epilepsy, allergies, tracheal collapse, and Cushing’s disease.
No 3: Australian Terrier
Origin
The Australian Terrier has been around since 1820, at which point he was referred to as a “Rough-Coated Terrier.”
He was officially recognized as his own breed in 1850, where he got his modern-day name.
Much like the Silky Terrier, the Australian Terrier was also bred to be a companion dog, although he was used for ratting and hedge hunting.
Qualities
The Australian Terrier is a small dog with short legs and medium-length shaggy hair.
He is hypoallergenic and his coat is predominantly black and tan.
This breed has above-average intelligence and is known to be a hard worker with great trainability.
He can be bossy with other animals, however, so caution should be taken with other household pets.
As a companion dog, the Australian Terrier adores people and does well in many different home environments.
Main Role Today
Still considered a companion dog to this day, the Australian Terrier adores people and does well in many different home environments, as previously mentioned.
Although he should be supervised around other pets.
Health Issues and Lifespan
The Australian Terrier is relatively healthy in comparison to some other Australian dog breeds.
He has a lifespan of 12–14 years and can be prone to a few health issues, including Legg-Perthes disease, cruciate ligament rupture, and seizures.
No 4: Bull Arab
Origin
Developed in the early 1970s in Australia, the Bull Arab is believed to be a cross between the Bull Terrier, the German Shorthaired Pointer, and the Greyhound.
He was primarily bred for feral pig hunting and was known to catch the wild game and hold them down by their ears until the hunters arrived.
Qualities
The Bull Arab is a larger dog with an acute sense of smell, which helped him as a wild pig hunter.
His coat is short and either bicolor or flecked and can be white with black, liver, or tan.
This member of the Australian dog breeds is known to be calm and extremely intelligent.
For this reason, he is easily trainable.
He is very active and independent and is renowned for his loyalty and love of people.
Unfortunately, the Bull Arab has a reputation for aggression, but many Bull Arab lovers believe this is due to unfair media portrayal.
In fact, studies have shown that attacks on humans by the Bull Arab are no greater than that of any other breed.
Main Role Today
With training and early socialization, the Bull Arab is known to make a wonderful family pet.
He does best in homes with older children and should be supervised around other household pets because of his hunting background.
Health Issues and Lifespan
The Bull Arab has a lifespan of 12–15 years.
He can be predisposed to cataracts, diabetes, eye issues, hyperglycemia, and urinary tract infections.
No 5: Australian Staghound
Origin
One of the Australian working dog breeds, the Australian Staghorn was originally bred for hunting rabbits, boars, and kangaroos.
Although his existence dates back as far back as the 18th century, he has yet to be officially recognized as his own breed and is still considered to be a part of the Greyhound family.
However, there is a club of hunters in Australia who are currently petitioning to get the Australian Staghound recognized as a breed in his own right.
Qualities
The Australian Staghound is a medium-sized dog that comes with a rough coat.
He can come in a wide variety of colors.
He is known for his gentle, calm nature, and is very affectionate with his human family members.
Main Role Today
Although the Australian Staghound is still used in rural areas for hunting, he also makes a wonderful family pet and companion dog.
He does especially well with young children and is known to get along with other large dogs.
However, he should be supervised around smaller pets because of his hunting instincts.
The Australian Staghound’s intelligence gives him excellent trainability.
Additionally, although he is calm indoors, he still requires plenty of exercise and playtime.
Health Issues and Lifespan
Much like his Greyhound family member, the Australian Staghound has a lifespan of 10–15 years and can be prone to bloat, hypothyroidism, and osteosarcoma.
No 6: Miniature Fox Terrier
Origin
The Miniature Fox Terrier, also known in Australia as the “Mini Foxie,” was originally bred as a farm dog to keep pests at bay.
In fact, he was considered a crucial part of Australian farms in the early 19th century.
Qualities
The Miniature Fox Terrier is a smaller-sized dog with a short, dense coat that is smooth in texture.
He is a moderate shedder with a coat that is black, white, brown, and/or tan.
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Known for speed and agility, this fun Australian working dog is loyal and loving.
He actually thrives on attention so much that he trains excellently with simple praise and ear-scratches over treats!
He gets along with other animals, but like many other Australian breeds, he should be supervised around smaller pets because of his hunting instincts.
Main Role Today
The Miniature Fox Terrier is primarily used as a companion dog these days.
He does well in apartment living because of his compact size.
He is also known to be great with small children.
Health Issues and Lifespan
The Mini Foxie has a lifespan of 12–18 years and can be prone to patellar luxation, congenital hypothyroidism with goiter, Legg-Calve-Perthes, demodicosis, and von Willebrand’s Disease.
No 7: The Kangaroo Dog
Origin
The Kangaroo Dog is a purpose-bred sighthound.
He is actually considered more of a type of dog than a breed, although he has been around since the early 1900s.
He was bred purely for hunting game by sight and has great vision and is very fast and agile.
Qualities
Most closely related to the greyhound, the “Roo Dog” is medium in size with a shorter coat and very long legs.
Unlike the Australian Staghound, the Kangaroo Dog has a smooth coat.
He does best in warmer climates and enjoys running for long distances.
In fact, the Kangaroo Dog has great stamina and is known for his loyal, obedient nature.
Main Role Today
The Kangaroo Dog is considered quite rare these days, but he can still be found in rural areas of Australia, especially where hunting is common.
Health Issues and Lifespan
The Roo Dog has a lifespan of 10–15 years and can be prone to intestinal bacterial infections and protozoal infections.
Because of his very short hair, he is sensitive to severe weather conditions.
No 8: Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
Origin
The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is believed to have been crossbred with wild dingoes (the Australian native dog) in the early 19th century.
He is a working dog mostly bred for herding cattle, as his name suggests.
Qualities
This is a medium-sized dog with a short coat.
He is a seasonal shedder and is best known for his most defining feature, which is his stumpy tail.
His coat is either red speckled or blue speckled.
The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is an alert breed who is known to be very responsive to his owner.
However, he can be reserved around strangers.
Photo Credit: Wendy Hodges
Main Role Today
Still used as an Australian herding dog, the Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog can also make a good companion dog.
It is recommended that the Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog be socialized and trained early on as a puppy.
Prospective owners should keep in mind that this Australian working breed will need consistent training and socializing throughout his lifetime.
The Stumpy Tail does best in families with older children.
Health Issues and Lifespan
The Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog has a lifespan of 10–13 years and can be prone to progressive retinal atrophy, canine hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, deafness, and osteochondritis dissecans.
No 9: Koolie
Origin
Also known as the Australian Koolie or German Coolie, this Australian herding dog is a working breed who has been around since the early 19th century.
He was primarily used to herd cattle and other livestock.
Qualities
Medium in size, the Koolie has a coat that ranges from short/smooth to short/medium.
He comes in a variety of colors and can be one solid color or have several different markings.
He is very easy to maintain and requires only occasional grooming and bathing.
Main Role Today
The Koolie is mostly used as a domestic dog these days.
He is incredibly intelligent but is known to be somewhat reserved and timid in demeanor.
For this reason, the Koolie does best with experienced owners who understand and are prepared to work with this type of temperament.
He is a diligent working dog and therefore does well when given jobs.
He also excels at sporting actives.
Although he is intelligent, he does need some guidance and patience while training.
The Koolie is very adaptable to all types of environments and situations and is loyal and loving to his family members.
The Koolie also loves to swim and run outdoors, as he is known to be very active!
Health Issues and Lifespan
The Koolie’s lifespan is about 18 years, and he has very few health problems.
Still, he can be prone to blindness, deafness, and muscle/ligament tears.
No 10: Tenterfield Terrier
Origin
The Tenterfield Terrier was mostly bred for ratting, and for that reason, he made an excellent ship dog!
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He was amazingly helpful in keeping vermin from the ship’s food supplies, where mice and rats would often infiltrate, further spreading disease and sickness.
Qualities
This small member of the Australian dog breeds list has a short coat that needs very minimal grooming.
He is predominantly white with brown and black markings.
Although he can come in colors such as tan and white, black and white, liver/tan/white tri-color or black/tan/white tri-color.
The Tenterfield Terrier is very intelligent but may be a challenge to train as he is rather independent.
He requires patience and positivity when training.
This Australian working dog is considered a strong, active breed who displays fearlessness and confidence despite his small stature.
Main Role Today
Today, the Tenterfield Terrier makes a wonderful companion dog, exhibiting loyalty and love to members of his family.
He does well in family settings and enjoys entertaining people of all ages with his bold personality.
His smooth, short hair makes him easy to maintain, as he requires very little grooming.
Health Issues and Lifespan
This Australian breed has a lifespan of 12–14 years and can be predisposed to patellar luxation and hypothyroidism.
Because of his muzzle shape, he can also be prone to teeth and gum issues.
Finding an Australian Dog Breed Puppy
Finding Australian dog breeds from a reputable source is of the utmost importance.
As always, we recommend doing plenty of research before you decide where to get your Australian dog.
Although shelters carry all types of breeds, finding the exact Australian breed you are looking for could be hit or miss, depending on what’s available at the time you are looking.
Many shelters do incur adoption fees.
However, they are often a fraction of what most breeder’s charge.
You should prepare for most adoption fees to be anywhere from $50–$100.
Another benefit of adopting from a shelter is that shelters usually cover the initial vet fees, ensuring your Australian dog breed is adoptable and ready for his forever home!
If you are looking to get yourself an Australian breed from a breeder, be ready to spend anywhere from $500 to over $1,000 depending on the breeder and the type of Australian dog breeds you are looking at.
One of the benefits of buying from a breeder is the ability to have a thorough look at the health and temperament history of your potential dog’s parents.
We recommend asking your potential breeder about any past temperamental issues with the parent dogs, as well as previous litters.
You should also ask about any health concerns that have arisen in the past.
Always keep in mind that reputable breeders will be able to provide certificates proving their dogs have been health screened.
References
Elizabeth R. Arnott, Jonathan B. Early, Claire M. Wade, Paul D. McGreevy, Environmental Factors Associated with Success Rates of Australian Stock Herding Dogs, August 2014.
A.E. Ready, G. Morgan, The Physiological Response of Siberian Husky Dogs to Exercise: Effect of Interval Training, The Canadian Veterinary Journal.
Lorna Coppinger and Raymond Coppinger, 14 Dogs for Herding and Guarding Livestock, School of Cognitive Science.
George M. Strain, Deafness Prevalence and Pigmentation and Gender Associations in Dog Breeds at Risk, The Veterinary Journal, Pages 23-32.
Tiffani J Howell, Tammie King, Pauleen C Bennett, Puppy Parties and Beyond: the role of early age socialization practices on adult dog behavior, Volume 6, pages 143-153.
Nathan B Sutter and Elaine A Ostrander, Dog Star Rising: The Canine Genetic System, Nature Reviews Genetics, Volume 5, pages 900-910.
Journal of Heredity, Volume 94, Issue 1, Analysis of Genetic Variation in 28 Dog Breed Populations With 100 Microsatellite Markers, D.N. Irion A.L. Schaffer, T.R. Famula, M.L. Eggleston, S.S. Hughes N. C. Pedersen
Lowell Acumen DVM, DACVD, MBA, MOA, The Genetic Connection; a Guide to Health Problems in Purebred Dogs, Second Edition, 2011
Alan Metzler says
Great article, is there such a dog as an Australian Mangaroo?