easily achieved with regular brushing and combing to pull out the dead hair and only occasional baths, as too much bathing can dry out the coat and skin. A high-quality dog food is of course the best. Th ey are adaptable and quite comfortable in coun- try or city life and all stops in between, and are in general easy keepers who want nothing more than to be at the heart of your home. Things To Do With Your Australian Terrier Because of their lively and intelligent nature, the Australian Terrier can be found participating enthusiastically in a number of performance events. Agility, obedience, rally obedience, freestyle (“dancing with dogs”), earthdog, flyball, and tracking are just a few of the many canine sports in which the Aussie can and does shine. It is important to start a young one o ff right by going to puppy kindergarten class and then continuing on with manners and basic obedience. Aussies want to please their people and learn easily, but become bored with repetitions. Vary the skills you train and the activities you do, keep your sessions short and get them to want more, and you’ll always have their attention! Th eir innate understanding of people also makes Aussies a great choice as pet therapy dogs. Th ey will happily cuddle up to someone who is ill, plus their small size makes them more approachable to people who have balance or gait problems or who are not regularly around dogs. Th e Aussie will happily curl up at the side of some- one who is ill or bedridden, whether a stranger or you, and warm you with their loving presence. But now let’s go back for a moment to that show ring. Th e dogs circle the ring and finally it’s the Aussie’s turn to be exam- ined. Once o ff the table and on the down and back, this lively little fellow stops walking and starts strutting! Back in the lineup, he happily “boings” straight up, as high as his handler’s waist, while waiting to go around the ring again. Whether or not he wins, he’s happy and he shows it in every endeavor he participates in. But why do they jump vertically like that? Some breeders think it’s part of their working
“B ECAUSE OF THEIR LIVELY AND INTELLIGENT NATURE,
heritage. According to one breeder from Australia, the dogs have just one chance to kill a snake and to do that, they need to be as far o ff the ground as possible to land on top of it and avoid the snake striking back. Th ey have carried that trait through generations. Even now, when there are no snakes around, they still sail into the air for no reason other than they can! So welcome to the world of Australian Terriers! You are one of the lucky ones if you are part of it, but if not, give them a try! Th ey’re devoted companions who cele- brate with you when you’re happy, console you when you’re sad, and make you laugh every day. Th ey’re a mix of sage and clown, buttoned down and all business when it’s time to get serious, but the life of the party when work’s done and it’s time to play. Get to know these lively little boys and girls and enrich your life.
the Australian Terrier can be
found participating enthusiastically in a number of performance events.”
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