Australian Terrier Breed Magazine features information, expert articles, and stunning photos from AKC judges, breeders, and owners.
TERRIER AUSTRALIAN
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Official Standard of the Australian Terrier General Appearance : A small, sturdy, medium-boned working terrier, rather long in proportion to height with pricked ears and docked tail or undocked tail. Blue and tan, solid sandy or solid red in color, with harsh-textured outer coat, a distinctive ruff and apron, and a soft, silky topknot. As befits their heritage as versatile workers, Australian Terriers are sound and free moving with good reach and drive. Their expression keen and intelligent; their manner spirited and self- assured. The following description is that of the ideal Australian Terrier. Any deviation from this description must be penalized to the extent of the deviation. Size, Proportion, Substance : Size - Height 10 to 11 inches at the withers. Deviation in either direction is to be discouraged. Proportion - The body is long in proportion to the height of the dog. The length of back from withers to the front of the tail is approximately 1 to 1½ inches longer than from withers to the ground. Substance - Good working condition, medium bone, correct body proportions, symmetry and balance determine proper weight. Head : The head is long and strong. The length of the muzzle is equal to the length of the skull. Expression - Keen and intelligent. Eyes - Small, dark brown to black (the darker the better), keen in expression, set well apart. Rims are black, oval in shape. Faults - Light-colored or protruding eyes. Ears - Small, erect and pointed; set high on the skull yet well apart, carried erect without any tendency to flare obliquely off the skull. Skull - Viewed from the front or side is long and flat, slightly longer than it is wide and full between the eyes, with slight but definite stop. Muzzle - Strong and powerful with slight fill under the eyes. The jaws are powerful. Nose - Black. A desirable breed characteristic is an inverted V-shaped area free of hair extending from the nose up the bridge of the muzzle, varying in length in the mature dog. Lips - Tight and dark brown or black-rimmed. Bite - Scissors with teeth of good size. Neck, Topline, Body : Neck - Long, slightly arched and strong, blending smoothly into well laid back shoulders. Topline - Level and firm. Body - The body is of sturdy structure with ribs well sprung but not rounded, forming a chest reaching slightly below the elbows with a distinct keel. The loin is strong and fairly short with slight tuck-up. Faults - Cobbiness, too long in loin. Tail - Set on high and carried erect at a twelve to one o'clock position, in balance with the overall dog, a good hand-hold when mature, docked leaving slightly less than one half, or undocked from straight to curved forward. The tail set is of primary importance. Forequarters : Shoulders - Long blades, well laid back with only slight space between the shoulder blades at the withers. The length of the upper arm is comparable to the length of the shoulder blade. The angle between the shoulder and the upper arm is 90 degrees. Faults - Straight, loose and loaded shoulders. Elbows - Close to the chest. Forelegs - Straight, parallel when viewed from the front; the bone is round and medium in size. They should be set well under the body, with definite body overhang (keel) before them when viewed from the side. Pasterns - Strong, with only slight slope. Fault - Down on pasterns. Dewclaws – May be removed. Feet - Small, clean, catlike; toes arched and compact, nicely padded turning neither inward nor outward. Nails - Short, black and strong. Hindquarters : Strong; legs well angulated at the stifles and hocks, short and perpendicular from the hocks to the ground. Upper and lower thighs are well muscled. Viewed from behind the rear legs are straight from the hip joints to the ground and in the same plane as the forelegs. Faults - Lack of muscular development or excessive muscularity. Feet - (See under Forequarters.)
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Coat : Outer Coat - Harsh and straight; 2½ inches all over the body except the tail, pasterns, rear legs from the hocks down, and the feet which are kept free of long hair. Hair on the ears is kept very short. Undercoat - Short and soft. Furnishings - Softer than body coat. The neck is well furnished with hair, which forms a protective ruff blending into the apron. The forelegs are slightly feathered to the pasterns. Topknot - Covering only the top of the skull; of finer and softer texture than the rest of the coat. Color and Markings : Colors: Blue and tan, solid sandy and solid red. Blue and tan - Blue: dark blue, steel-blue, dark gray-blue, or silver-blue. In silver-blues, each hair carries blue and silver alternating with the darker color at the tips. Tan markings (not sandy or red), as rich as possible, on face, ears, underbody, lower legs and feet, and around vent. The richer the color and more clearly defined the better. Topknot - Silver or a lighter shade than head color. Sandy or Red - Any shade of solid sandy or solid red, the clearer the better. Topknot - Silver or a lighter shade of body coat. Faults - All black body coat in the adult dog. Tan smut in the blue portion of the coat, or dark smut in sandy/red coated dogs. In any color, white markings on chest or feet are to be penalized. Gait : As seen from the front and from the rear, the legs are straight from the shoulder and hip joints to the pads, and move in planes parallel to the centerline of travel. The rear legs move in the same planes as the front legs. As the dog moves at a faster trot, the front and rear legs and feet may tend to converge toward the centerline of travel, but the legs remain straight even as they flex or extend. Viewed from the side, the legs move in a ground-covering stride. The rear feet should meet the ground in the same prints as left by the front feet, with no gap between them. Topline remains firm and level, without bounce. Temperament : The Australian Terrier is spirited, alert, courageous, and self-confident, with the natural aggressiveness of a ratter and hedge hunter; as a companion, friendly and affectionate. Faults - Shyness or aggressiveness toward people.
Approved January 12, 2021 Effective April 7, 2021
THE AUSTRALIAN TERRIER CLUB OF AMERICA BREED STANDARD by SUE BACHMAN
T he Australian Terrier Club of America has had three differ- ent breed standards in the 50 years of its existence. The first was approved September 13, 1960, the second, a revision of the first, was approved October 13, 1970 and the last, a revision of the second, was approved August 9, 1988. The breed standard changes made in each revision reflected further clarification, more streamlined language and format differences. Clear- ly the current standard is a significant improvement over the first two because it gives us a fine description to be used for evaluating how closely our dogs meet the standard. Included, follow- ing this article, are all three breed standards. I have made some com- parisons among the standards which I think are interesting. You will make your own comparisons as you review the standards. An example of the revisions made is illustrated by the language and content in the standard for the tail and dew- claws. The 1960 standard said, “Tail set on high and carried erect but not too gay. Remember tail should be docked within a few days after birth aorund the tan spot located under the tail. With sandy-reds there is a slight difference of color helpful in indicating the place to cut. Leave approximately a generous 2 ⁄ 5 . At the same time dewclaws should be removed from the front and back legs. For these procedures it is gener- ally advisable to use the services of a veterinarian.” The 1970 standard said, “Tail set on high and carried erect but not too gay; docked leaving two fifths.” There is no mention made regarding the dewclaws. The 1988 standard said, “Tail-Set on high and carried erect at a twelve to one o-clock position, docked in balance with the overall dog leaving slightly less than one half, a good hand-hold when mature.” In regards to dew claws, they are to be removed.
Another change in the standard is the wonderful detail added with regard to the dog’s gait. The first two standards simply said, “Straight and true; spright- ly, indicating spirit and assurance.” The most recent standard tells us what to look for saying, “As seen from the front and from the rear, the legs are straight from the shoulder and hip joints to the pads and move in planes parallel to the centerline of travel. The rear legs move in the same planes as the front legs. As the dog moves at a faster trot, the front and rear legs and feet may tend to con- verge toward the centerline of travel, but the legs remain straight even as they flex or extend. Viewed from the side, the legs move in a ground-cover- ing stride. The rear feet should meet the ground in the same prints as left by the front feet, with no gap between them. Topline remains firm and level, without bounce.” How much more helpful this is. Australian Terrier standard regarding coat color was changed in each revision. The 1960 standard discouraged red or sandy coat color saying, “Also sandy col- or and clear red are permissible but not desirable, other things being equal, as the blue and tan.” Subsequent revisions treated all acceptable colors equally. It may surprise you to know that the current breed standard calls for a scis- sors bite, but our previous standards stated that a level bite was acceptable. Through the years there has been much conversation about the size of the Australian Terrier. The weight ref- erence was dropped in the most recent breed standard. The elimination of the weight reference was appropriate in order to maintain substance. The height standard was changed from about 10 inches to 10 to 11 inches at the withers. Since I became an ATCA member in the late 80s I’ve seen swings in size varying from quite small to quite large. In my experience the breed size has always returned to a moderately sized dog. I recommend that owners and breed- ers also read the Australian Terrier
Illustrated Clarification of The Stan- dard . It is very helpful to see the illus- trations for comparison with your own dogs. The better we understand our breed standard, the better we breed. I offer my sincere thanks to the Club members who developed and wrote our three breed standards. STANDARD FOR THE AUSTRALIAN TERRIER, 1960 General Appearance The Australian Terrer is a small, sturdy, rough-coated Terrier of spirited action and self assured manner. Head Long, flat-skulled, and full between the eyes, with the stop moderate. The muzzle is no longer than the distance from the eyes to the occiput. Jaws long and powerful, teeth of good size meet- ing in a scissors bite, although a level bite is acceptable. Nose black. Ears set high on the skull and well apart. They are small and pricked (carried erect), the leather either pointed or slightly rounded and free from long hairs. Eyes small, dark and keen in expression; not prominent. Light colored and protrud- ing are faulty. Neck Inclined to be long and tapering into sloping shoulders; well furnished with hair which forms a protective ruff. Body Low-set and slightly longer from the withers to the root of the tail than from the withers to the ground. Chest medium wide, and deep, with ribs well sprung but not round. Topline level. Tail set on high and carried erect but not too gay. Remember tail should be docked within a few days after birth about at the tan spot located under tail. With sandy-reds there is a slight dif- ference of color helpful in indicating the place to cut. Leave approximately a generous 2 ⁄ 5 . At the same time dew- claws should be removed from front and back lets. For these procedures, it is generally advisable to use the services
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Size Shoulder height about 10 inches. Average weight 12 to 14 pounds STANDARD FOR THE AUSTRALIAN TERRIER,1970 General Appearance The Australian Terrier is a small, sturdy, rough-coated terrier of spirited action and self-assured manner. Head Long, flat-skulled and full between the eyes, with the stop moderate. The muzzle is no longer than the distance from the eyes to the occiput. Jaws long and powerful, teeth of good size meet- ing in a scissors bite, although a level bite is acceptable. Nose is black. Ears set high on the skull and well apart. They are small and pricked, the leather either pointed or slightly rounded and free from long hairs. Eyes small, dark and keen in expression; not promi- nent. Light-colored and protruding eyes are faulty. Neck Inclined to be long and tapering into sloping shoulders; well furnished with hair which forms a protective ruff. Body Low-set and slightly longer from the withers to the root of the tail than from the withers to the ground. Chest medium wide and deep with ribs well spring but not round. Topline level. Tail set on high and carried erect but not too gay; docked leaving two fifths. Legs and Feet-Forelegs straight and slightly feathered to the carpus or so called knee; they are set well under the body with elbows close and pasterns strong. Hindquarters strong and well muscled but not heavy; legs moderately angulat- ed at stifles and hocks, with hocks well let down. Bonds medium in size. Feet are small, clean and catlike, the toes arched and compact, nicely padded and free from long hair. Nails are strong and black. Coat Outer coat harsh and straight, and about two and one half inches all over the body. Under coat short and soft. The topknot, which covers only the top of the skull, is of finer texture and lighter color than the body coat. Color May be blue-black or silver-black, with rich tan markings on head and legs, sandy color or clear red. The blue- black is bluish at the roots and dark at
the tips. In the silver-blacks each hair carries black and silver alternating with black at the tips. The tan is rich and deep, the richer the better. In the Sandies, any suggestion of smuttiness is undesirable. Gait Straight and true; sprightly, indicat- ing spirit and assurance. Temperament That of a hard-bitten terrier, with the aggressiveness of the natural ratter and hedge hunter, but as a companion friendly, affectionate and biddable. Size Shoulder height, about 10 inches. Average weight 12 to 14 pounds. STANDARD FOR THE AUSTRALIAN TERRIER, 1988 General Appearance A small, sturdy, medium-boned working Terrier, rather long in propor- tion to height with pricked ears and docked tail. Blue and tan, solid sandy or solid red in color, with harsh-textured outer coat, a distinctive ruff and apron and a soft, silky top-knot. As befits their heritage as versatile-workers, Austra- lian Terriers are sound and free mov- ing with good reach and drive. Their expression keen and intelligent; their manner spirited and self-assured. The following description is that of the ideal Australian Terrier. Any deviation from this description must be penalized to the extent of the deviation. Size Height 10-11 inches at the with- ers. Deviation in either direction is to be discouraged. Proportion The body is long in proportion to the height of the dog. The length of back from withers to the front of the tail is approximately 1 ½ inches longer than from the withers to the ground. Substance Good working condition, medi- um bone, correct body proportions, symmetry and balance determine prop- er weight. Head The head is long and strong. The length of the muzzle is equal to the length of the skull. Expression Keen and intelligent. Eyes-Small, dark brown to black (the darker the bet- ter), keen in expression, set well apart.
of veterinarian. Legs and Feet-Forelegs straight and slightly feathered to the carpus or so-called knee; they are set well under the body with elbows close and pasterns strong. Hindquarters strong and well muscled but not heavy; legs moderately angulated at stifles and hocks, with hocks well let down. Bone medium in size. Feet are small, clean and catlike, the toes arched and com- pact, nicely padded and free from long hair. Nails are strong and black. Coat Outer coat harsh and straight, and about two and one half inches all over the body. Under coat short and soft. The topknot, which covers only the top of the skull, is of finer texture and lighter color than the body coat. Color May be blue-black or silver-black, with the rich tan markings on head and legs. The blue-black is bluish at the roots and dark at the tips. In the silver- blacks each hair carries black and silver alternating with the black at the tips. The tan is rich and deep the richer the better. Also, sandy color and clear red are permissible but not as desirable, other things being equal, as the blue and tan. In the sandies, any suggestion of shading or smuttiness is undesirable. Gait Straight and true, sprightly, indicat- ing spirit and assurance. Temperament That of a hard-bitten Terrier, with the aggressiveness of a natural ratter and hedge hunter, but as a companion, friendly, affectionate, and biddable. “AUSTRALIAN TERRIERS ARE SOUND AND FREE MOVING WITH GOOD REACH AND DRIVE.”
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“A DESIRABLE BREED CHARACTERISTIC IS AN INVERTED V-SHAPED AREA FREE OF HAIR EXTENDING FROM THE NOSE UP THE BRIDGE OF THE MUZZLE, VARYING IN LENGTH IN THE MATURE DOG.”
Colors Blue and tan, solid sandy and solid red. Blue and tan-Blue: dark blue, steel blue, dark grey-blue, or silver-blue. In silver-blues, each hair carries blue and silver alternating with the darker color at the tips. Tan markings (not sandy or red), as rich as possible, on face, ears, underbody, lower legs and feet, and around vent. The richer the color and more clearly defined the better. Top- knot-Silver or a lighter shade than head color. Sandy or Red-Any shade of solid sandy or solid red, the clearer the bet- ter. Topknot-Silver or lighter shade of body coat. Faults All black coat in the adult dog. Tan smut in the blue portion of the coat, or dark smut in sandy/red coated dogs. In any color, white markings on chest or feet are to be penalized. Gait As seen from the front and from the rear, the legs are straight from the shoulder and hip joints to the pads, and move in planes parallel to the centerline of travel. The rear legs move in the same planes as the front legs. As the dog moves at a faster trot, the front and rear legs and feet may tend to converge toward the centerline of travel, but the legs remain straight even as they flex or extend. Viewed from the side, the legs move in a ground-covering stride. The rear feet should meet the ground in the same prints as left by the front feet, with no gap between them. Topline remains firm and level, without bounce. Temperament The Australian Terrier is spirited, alert, courageous and self-confident, with the natural aggressiveness of a ratter and hedge hunter; as a compan- ion, friendly and affectionate. Shyness or aggressiveness toward people is a fault.
Rims are black, oval in shape. Light-col- ored or protruding eyes are faults. Ears Small, erect and pointed; set high on the skull yet well apart, carried erect without any tendency to flare obliquely off the skull. Skull Viewed from the front or side is long and flat, slightly longer than it is wide and full between the eyes, with slight but definite stop. Muzzle Strong and powerful with slight fill under the eyes. The jaws are powerful. Nose Black. A desirable breed character- istic is an inverted V-shaped area free of hair extending from the nose up the bridge of the muzzle, varying in length in the mature dog. Lips Should be tight and dark brown or black rimmed. Bite Scissors with teeth of good size. Neck Long, slightly arched and strong, blending smoothly into a well laid back shoulder. Topline Level and firm. Body The body is of sturdy structure with ribs well-sprung but not rounded, form- ing a chest reaching slightly below the elbows with a distinct keel. The loin is strong and fairly short with slight tuck- up. Faults-Cobbiness, too long in loin. Tail-Set on high and carried erect at a twelve to one o’clock position, docked in balance with the overall dog leaving slightly less than one half, a good hand- hold when mature. Forequarters and Shoulders Long blades, well laid back with only slight space between the shoul- der blades at the withers. The length
of the upper arm is comparable to the length of the shoulder blade. The angle between the shoulder and the upper arm is 90 degrees. Faults Straight, loose and loaded shoulders. Elbows-Close to the chest. Forelegs- Straight, parallel when viewed from the front; the bone is round and medium in size. They should be set well under the body, with definite body overhang (keel) before them when viewed from the side. Pasterns Strong, with only slight slope. Down on the pasterns is a fault and dew claws are to be removed. Nails Short, black and strong. Hindquarters Strong, legs well-angulated at the stifles and hocks, short and perpen- dicular from the hocks to the ground. Upper and lower thighs are well mus- cled. Viewed from behind the rear legs are straight from the hip joints to the ground and in the same plane as the forelegs. Lack of muscular development or excessive muscularity are faults. Feet (See under Forequarters). Coat Outer Coat-Harsh and straight; 2½ inches all over the body except the tail, pasterns, rear legs from the hocks down and the feet which are kept free of long hair. Hair on the ears is kept very short. Undercoat Short and soft. Furnishings-Softer than body coat. The neck is well fur- nished with hair, which forms a protec- tive ruff blending into the apron. The forelegs are slightly feathered to the pasterns. Topknot Covering only the top of the skull; of finer and softer texture than the rest of the coat.
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JUDGING AUSTRALIAN TERRIERS By Ida Ellen Weinstock and Jane Tenor W hen you see an Australian Terrier in the ring ready to be judged, you should see an tive in the use of their ears. A confident, alert Aussie may lay his ears back when you approach, this is a friendly gesture. If the dog doesn’t respond to your attempt to get it to raise its ears, try again when the dog is on the ground. Some respond to sound, others to hand movement. When gaiting, the dog may turn its ears to the side so they don’t catch the breeze.
be strong with only slight slope. “Faults: Down on pasterns.” 1 Feet small and cat- like toeing neither in nor out. Dewclaws should be removed. Nails are black. Th e elbows should fit against the sides of the chest. Moving to the side of the dog, feel the neck for its length and check that the arch is dog and not artful grooming. Th e head and neck should angle forward as well as upward. Continue running your hand down the neck to the back. Check that there is only a slight space between the shoulder blades at the withers. Th e shoul- der blade and upper arm should be of equal length and ideally form a 90 degree angle. Th is allows for maximum forward reach of the front legs. Th e elbows are located below the withers; the forechest should protrude at the front; the forelegs are set well under the body. Th e ribs should be well sprung and the chest should drop about 1" below the elbow. In profile, you should see a distinctive keel and prominent forechest. Th ese are distinguishing features of the breed. Th e forechest protects the heart and lungs, gives more support to the muscles of the neck and those holding the front together, and provides balance to the forequarters. Place your hand on the front of the chest; it should fill your hand. Without check- ing, your eye may be deceived by the work of a good groomer disguising its lack with an abundance of coat. It is important that these features not be lost: they are impor- tant to our breed type and the purposes for which the breed was developed. While the Australian Terrier is usually listed among the short legged terriers, in actual fact the length of leg from the elbow to the ground is at least 50% of its height measured from the withers to the ground. Th e term low set is used to describe the Aussie chest which drops below the elbow. It is not a reference to short legs but rather
alert, spirited and self assured terrier that is small, sturdy, either blue and tan, red or sandy, with a long, strong head covered with a soft, silky topknot. Ears are pricked, neck long and slightly arched, topline lev- el, and tail docked. Th e body should be long in comparison to the back: the addi- tional length is formed by correct angles of front with prominent forechest, and the rear which extends behind the tail forming a well rounded butt. Th e front legs are set well under the body. With the dog on the table, look at the head and expression. Notice the soft silky topknot, protective ru ff and apron. Th ese are distinctive characteristics of the Aussie. Th e topknot covers the skull and is silver or a lighter shade than the rest of the head. Th e ru ff frames the head and blends down into the apron. Th e eyes are dark brown to black, small, and oval shaped. Th eir expression is keen and intelligent. Th ey should be set at a slightly oblique angle, well apart, with fill between and below them. Narrow black rims surround the eyes. Th e following are incorrect: lack of pigmentation, liver colored pigmentation, and excessive (too wide) black rims. “Faults: Light-colored or protruding eyes.” 1 Th e small and pointed ears are set on high and well apart. Th is sounds like a con- tradiction in terms but is not. If the outer edge of the ear is vertical or if the sides form part of an equilateral triangle, the point of the ear should be directly above the outer corner of the eye. Th e ears should not flair o ff to the side or be set too close. Th e latter may happen if the inner edge of the ear is a vertical straight edge. Aussies are sensi-
Th e nose is black. In mature dogs there is an area free of hair, which runs up the bridge of the nose forming an inverted v. Th is black area, the nose leather, is a desir- able breed characteristic of the mature Australian Terrier. Approaching the head for examina- tion, bring your hand under the muzzle, check for a scissors bite and teeth of good size. Also note the tight lips with a narrow brown or black rim. Place your hand gen- tly on the top of the skull and check to see that it is flat. Th en run your hand along the top of the muzzle toward the skull, check- ing for the slight but definite top. Th e sides of the skull should be clean and free of excessive thickness in the cheekbones. Now examine the head for correct proportions which are essential to correct breed type. Th e muzzle is long and strong, of equal length to the skull. Th e skull should be slightly longer than it is wide and full between the eyes. Place your hands on each side of the head. You should feel a more rectangu- lar shape rather a pie-shaped wedge. If your hands flare out on the sides of the skull, you need to check the width of the skull which should be slightly less than its length. Incorrect: a too wide skull, a domed skull, a weak, snipey muzzle, a muzzle lacking a chin, or a too short muz- zle. Remember, the muzzle should be long and strong and equal in length to the flat, clean-sided skull. Th e front legs are straight and with medium bone. Front pasterns should
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black where the coat should be blue and not to a coat lacking tan markings. Th e topknot should be silver or a lighter shade than head color. 1 When the dog is sent around the ring, the front leg that is moving forward reach- es well in front of the dog’s body. Th e rear foot steps into the spot just left by the front foot; while this is happening, the other rear leg is extended back behind the body. Th e dog moves freely with good reach and drive. Seen from the front and rear, the legs are straight from the shoulder and hip joints to the pads, and move in parallel planes to the centerline of travel. Th e rear legs move in the same planes as the front legs. As the dog moves at a faster trot , the front and rear legs may tend to converge toward the centerline of travel, but the legs remain straight even as they flex or extend. 1 Th ere should be no wasted motion and no bounce to the topline when mov- ing. In other words, an Australian Terrier should move with the ground covering stride necessary for the purposes for which it was used in the past and is still today: a tireless worker able to cover rough terrain and great distances. References 1 Australian Terrier Standard , approved by the American Kennel Club 8/9/88 BIOS Ida Ellen Weinstock has been involved with Australian Terriers 1963. A first trip to Australia in 1966 was a 21-day in-depth course in the breed, conducted by Fred Wheatland and Frank Long- more, credited as two of those responsible for reviving the Australian Terrier and defining the modern Australian Terrier. Watching judging of dogs important to the breed with their in depth comments, trips to the kennels of many of the great breed- ers of the time, learning from them, and bringing home a few outstanding dogs was the foundation upon which she and her sis- ter based their Regency line. Th e dogs bred by them include the first Aussie to win 3 Group Fiirsts, which also held the record for 16 years for BoB over largest entry of Aussies (National Specialty in Bellingham
WA), four Westminster BoB winners, sev- eral Montgomery Co. BoB winners includ- ing 3 that did it from the classes. Th ey also bred the dam of one of the breed’s earli- est Best in Show winners, which to date is the only Aussie to place in Montgom- ery County K. C.’s group, and the first to place in the Westminster group. Th e only red to date to win Best in Show in U.S., Ch. Regency Lord of Summerhill, handled by Jane Tenor, was sired by the homebred ch. son of the National Specialty win- ning bitch, Ch. Regency My Gracious. His descendents are still successfully competing in the US, Europe and Australia. She was a member of the committee that wrote the current standard, and is co-author and editor of “Illustrated Clarification of the Standard”, has presented several sanc- tioned judges seminars and workshops. Jane Tenor is the current chairman of the Australian Terrier Club of America’s Judges Education Committee, past presi- dent of the ATCA, and has been involved with the breed since 1969. She started handling Aussies for others in the 1980s. Among the dogs she handled were two of the breeds few Best in Show winners includ- ing Ch. Crestwood’s Crackerjack, who in 1983 won three National Specialties and three all breed BiS’s. She has successfully bred and shown Aussies on a limited scale. A great educator, she always has time to help novices and experienced exhibitors with presenting their dogs to the dog’s best advantage. Among the awards she has won is the Good Sportsmanship Award from the Greater Chicago Area Australian Terrier Club. She has given several sanctioned judges seminars and done ringside mentoring. She served as moderator for the Interna- tional Australian Terrier Forum held in conjunction with an ATCA National Spe- cialty. While showing on a limited basis now, her vistas have widened to include obedience and rally. In addition to the AKC Ch. title on her Bred By dog, she also titled him in Rally and Obedience. He became the first Aussie to achieve the RAE title and then went on to earn a Util- ity degree. He has also achieved the ATCA Versatility Excellent title.
to the chest in relation to the ground. It doesn’t translate into shortness of leg. Th e Standard calls for a height at the withers of 10" to 11". Th e back is slightly longer than the dog is tall (1"-1 ½ "). Th e loin is fairly short, no more than four fingers in width with slight tuck-up. “Faults: Cobbiness, too long in loin.” 1 Run your hand along the back; check the length of loin and tail set. Th e docked tail is set on high and carried at a 12 to 1 o’clock position. Place your hand on the back of the tail and lower the hand. Th e point of the buttocks should stop it and fill the hand. Artful grooming in this area can disguise the lack of rear angulation. Th e stifles should be well turned; the hocks and rear pasterns behind the rear end of the body. Th e hocks should be well let down and the rear pasterns perpendicular to the ground. From the rear, feel the upper and lower thighs which should be firmly muscled. Rear legs should be straight from the hips joints to the ground. “Faults: Lack of muscular devel- opment or excessive muscularity.” 1 Aussies are double coated with a short, soft undercoat and harsh 2 ½ " outer coat. Climate and living conditions a ff ect the amount of undercoat present. Correct colors are blue and tan, solid sandy and solid red. Th e color of B and T’s can range from dark blue, steel blue, dark grey blue, to silver blue. Tan should be rich in color but not red. Any shade of solid red or solid sandy is correct. “Faults: All black body coat in the adult dog. Tan smut in the blue portion of the coat, or dark smut in sandy/red coated dogs. In any color, white markings of chest or feet are to be penalized.” 1 Th e reference to ”all black body coat” is reference to solid
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JUDGING THE AUSTRALIAN TERRIER by JANE TENOR & IDA ELLEN WEINSTOCK
F orm ever follows function. 1 Th is principle is important today in evaluating an Australian Ter- rier because to understand the form one must understand the functions for which the breed was used. FUNCTIONS As they expanded the frontiers of their country, the early settlers of Australia devel- oped a small, sturdy terrier with a weather resistant coat, which was able to work a full day outside in rough terrain. Th ey were used to help control rodents and snakes on the home front, waterfronts, farms, sheep and cattle stations in the outback. Th ese terriers had to be courageous, agile enough to leap out of harms way and determined enough to finish the task when hunting snakes and rodents or while fend- ing o ff intruders. Aussies were also used to tend livestock. Th ese tireless little work- ers had to cover great distances e ffi ciently to work with the livestock. Th eir harsh double coat protected them in Australia’s varied climate. When guarding the mines, or when intruders appeared the ability to recognize danger and sound the alarm was prized. As companions in the home to relive the loneliness of the vast empty out- back, their loyalty, intelligence and will- ingness to please were invaluable. When judging Australian Terriers their form must reflect these uses and functions. Th ey are not exotic, extreme or exagger- ated. Th eir naturalness is an important breed characteristic. THE FORM When observed in the ring, you should see an alert, spirited and self-assured ter- rier. It is small, sturdy, medium boned and blue & tan, red or sandy in color. “Faults: Shyness or aggressiveness toward people.” 2
Head: side profile.
Th e height is 10-11 inches at the with- ers. While the Australian Terrier is listed among the short-legged terriers, in actual fact the length of leg from the elbow to the ground is at least 50% of its height mea- sured from the withers to the ground. Th e term low set is used to describe the Aussie chest, which should drop below the elbow approximately 1 inch. Th is is not a refer- ence to short legs but to the chest in rela- tion to the ground; it doesn’t translate into shortness of leg. Th e body is long in comparison to the back: the additional length is formed by correct angles of the front with promi- nent forechest and the rear, which extends
behind the tail forming a well rounded butt. Th e length of back measured from the withers to the front of the tail is approximately 1-1 ½ inches longer than from withers to the ground. Substance is determined by good working condition, correct body proportions, medium bone, symmetry and balance. HEAD Th e head is long, strong and covered with a lighter colored soft, silky topknot. A distinctive characteristic of the Aussie it covers the skull and is silver or a lighter shade than the rest of the head. Muzzle is of equal length to the skull with a slight stop.
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“IN MATURE DOGS THERE IS AN AREA FREE OF HAIR, WHICH RUNS UP THE BRIDGE OF THE NOSE FORMING AN INVERTED V. THE NOSE LEATHER IS A DESIRABLE
BREED CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MATURE AUSTRALIAN TERRIER.”
Head: front view.
(too wide) black rims. “Faults: Light-col- ored or protruding eyes.” 2 Th e nose is black. In mature dogs there is an area free of hair, which runs up the bridge of the nose forming an inverted v. Th e nose leather is a desirable breed char- acteristic of the mature Australian Terrier. NECK, BODY AND TOPLINE Neck is long, slightly arched, with a protective ru ff blending into the apron. Th e distinctive ru ff and apron serve as pro- tection for the throat and forechest and are distinguishing characteristics of the Aus- tralian Terrier. Th e neck flows smoothly into well laid back shoulders. Th e body is described as sturdy and should never be stocky or weedy. Th e ribs are well sprung, but not round, and extend well behind the elbows. Th e chest drops about an inch below the elbow with a distinct keel. Th e loin is strong and fairly short (no more than 4 fingers in width) with slight tuck-up. Backline is level and firm; tail is docked, set on high and carried at a 12 to 1 o’clock position. “Faults: Cob- biness, too long in loin.” 2 FOREQUARTERS Looking at the forequarters in profile, you should see the distinctive keel and prominent forechest. Th ese are distinguish- ing structural features of the breed. Th e forechest and keel protect the heart and lungs, give more support to the muscles of the long slightly arched neck and those holding the front together, providing bal- ance to the forequarters. Th ese features are important to the form and functions of the Aussie and elements of correct breed type. Th e shoulder blade and upper arm are of equal length and form a 90° angle.
Th e front legs are set well under the body and the elbows fall beneath the with- ers and lie close to the chest. Th e front legs are straight, round and with medi- um bone. “Faults: Straight, loose and loaded shoulders.” 2 Front pasterns are strong with only a slight slope. “Faults: Down on pasterns.” 2 HINDQUARTERS Correct length and angle of bones give width and substance to hindquarters. Legs should be strong and well angulat- ed at stifle and hock, rear pasterns short and perpendicular from the hocks to the ground. Upper and lower thighs are well muscled. Viewed from behind the rear legs are straight from hip joint to the ground and in the same plane as the fore- legs. “Faults: Lack of muscular develop- ment or excessive muscularity.” 2 GAIT Aussies should move freely with a ground-covering stride as befits their heri- tage as tireless workers. Th e front leg reaches well in front of the body, the rear leg drives forward and steps into the spot just left by the front foot. Th ere should be no gap between. Th e motion is forward and not up; the backline stays firm and level without bounce. Viewed from the front or the rear the legs move parallel or towards a single track. Th ey are light on their feet, able to twist and turn e ff ortlessly. Th is athletic abil- ity is as important today as it was in the past. COAT AND COLOR Aussies are double coated with a short, soft undercoat and harsh 2 ½ " outer coat. Th e furnishings are softer than the body coat. Covering only the top of the skull,
Forequarters
Th e flat clean-sided skull is slightly longer than it is wide. Jaws are powerful, teeth are large, and bite is scissors. Incorrect: a too wide skull, a domed skull, a week, snipey muzzle, a muzzle lacking a chin and a too short muzzle. Lips are tight with a narrow black or brown rim. Th e expression is keen and intelligent. Th e small pointed ears are set on high and well apart. Th e ears should not flair o ff to the side or be set too close together. Aussies are sensitive in the use of their ears. A confident, alert Aussie may lay his ears back when you approach, this is a friendly gesture. Th e eyes are oval shaped and dark brown to black. Th ey should be set at a slightly oblique angle, well apart, with fill between and below them. Narrow black rims surround the eyes. Th e follow- ing are incorrect: lack of pigmentation, liver colored pigmentation, and excessive
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JUDGING AUSTRALIAN TERRIERS
By Jane Tenor
W hen you see an Australian Terrier in the ring ready to be judged, you should see an alert, spirited and self assured terrier that is small, sturdy, either blue & tan, red or sandy, with a long, strong head covered with a soft, silky topknot. Ears are pricked, neck long and slightly arched, backline level, and tail docked. Th e body should be long in com- parison to the back: the additional length is formed by correct angles of front with prom- inent forechest, and the rear which extends behind the tail forming a well rounded butt. Th e front legs are set well under the body.
With the dog on the table, look for a keen, intelligent expression. Notice the soft silky topknot, protective ru ff and apron. Th ese are distinctive characteristics of the Aussie. Th e topknot covers the skull and is silver or a lighter shade than the rest of the head. Th e ru ff frames the head and blends down into the apron. Th e eyes are dark brown to black, small, and oval shaped. Th ey should be set at a slightly oblique angle, well apart, with fi ll between and below them. Narrow black rims surround the eyes. Th e following are incorrect: lack of pigmentation, liver colored pigmentation, and excessive (too wide) black rims. “Faults: Light-colored or protruding eyes.”*
Th e small and pointed ears are set on high and well apart. Th is sounds like a contradic- tion in terms but is not. If the outer edge of the ear is vertical or if the sides form part of an equilateral triangle, the point of the ear should be directly above the outer corner of the eye. Th e ears should not fl air o ff to the side or be set too close together. Aussies are sensitive in the use of their ears. A con fi dent, alert Aussie may lay his ears back when you approach, this is a friendly gesture. If the dog doesn’t respond to your attempt to get it to raise its ears, try again when the dog is on the ground. Some respond to sound, others to hand movement. When gaiting, the dog may turn its ears to the side so they don’t catch the breeze.
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“IN PROFILE, YOU SHOULD SEE A DISTINCTIVE KEEL AND PROMINENT FORECHEST. These are distinguishing features of the breed.”
Th e nose is black. In mature dogs there is an area free of hair, which runs up the bridge of the nose forming an inverted v. Th is black area, the nose leather, is a desir- able breed characteristic of the mature Australian Terrier. Approaching the head for examina- tion, bring your hand under the muzzle, check for a scissors bite and teeth of good size. Also note the tight lips with a narrow brown or black rim. Place your hand gen- tly on the top of the skull and check to see that it is fl at. Th en run your hand along the top of the muzzle toward the skull, check- ing for the slight but de fi nite stop. Th e sides of the skull should be clean and free of excessive thickness in the cheekbones. Now examine the head for the correct one-to-one proportion of length of head and muzzle. Th e muzzle is long and strong, of equal length to the skull. Th e skull should be slightly longer than it is wide and full between the eyes. Th ese propor- tions are essential for correct breed type. Place your hands one on each side of the head. You should feel a more rectangular shape rather than a pie-shaped wedge. If your hands fl are out on the sides of the
skull, you need to check the width of the skull which should be slightly less than its length. Incorrect: a too wide skull, a domed skull, a weak, snipey muzzle, a muzzle lacking a chin, or a too short muz- zle. Remember, the muzzle should be long and strong and equal in length to the fl at, clean-sided skull. Th e front legs are straight and with medium bone. Front pasterns should be strong with only slight slope. “Faults: Down on pasterns.”* Feet small and catlike toeing neither in nor out. Dewclaws should be removed. Nails are black. Th e elbows should fi t against the sides of the chest. Moving to the side of the dog, look for a long, slightly arched neck. Feel the neck for its length and check that the arch is dog and not artful grooming. Th e head and neck should angle forward as well as upward. Continue running your hand down the neck to the back. Check that there is only a slight space between the shoulder blades at the withers and that shoulders are well laid back. Th e shoul- der blade and upper arm should be of equal length and ideally form a 90 degree angle. Th is allows for maximum forward
reach of the front legs. Th e elbows are located below the withers; the forechest should protrude at the front; the fore- legs are set well under the body. Th e ribs should be well sprung and the chest should drop about 1 " below the elbow. In pro fi le, you should see a distinctive keel and prominent forechest. Th ese are distinguishing features of the breed. Th e forechest protects the heart and lungs, gives more support to the muscles of the neck and those holding the front together, and provides balance to the forequarters. Place your hand on the front of the chest; the forechest should fi ll your hand. With- out checking, your eye may be deceived by the work of a good groomer disguising its lack with an abundance of coat. It is important that these features, the distinc- tive keel and prominent forechest, not be lost. Th ey are important elements of cor- rect breed type. While the Australian Terrier is usually listed among the short legged terriers, in actual fact the length of leg from the elbow to the ground is at least 50% of its height measured from the withers to the ground. Th e term low set is used to describe the
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“CORRECT COLORS ARE BLUE & TAN, SOLID SANDY AND SOLID RED.”
Aussie chest which drops below the elbow. It is not a reference to short legs but rather to the chest in relation to the ground. It doesn’t translate into shortness of leg. Th e Standard calls for a height at the withers of 10 " to 11 " . Th e back is slightly longer than the dog is tall (1 " -1 ½" ). Th e loin is fairly short, no more than four fi ngers in width with slight tuck-up. “Faults: Cobbiness, too long in loin.”* Run your hand along the back; check for a level backline, correct length of loin and high tail set. Th e docked tail is carried at a 12 to 1 o’clock position. Place your hand on the back of the tail and lower the hand. Th e point of the buttocks should stop it. Th e buttocks should fi ll the hand. Artful grooming in this area can dis- guise the lack of rear angulation. Th e sti fl es should be well turned; the hocks and rear pasterns behind the rear end of the body. Th e hocks should be well let down and the rear pasterns perpendicular to the ground. From the rear, feel the upper and lower thighs which should be fi rmly muscled. Rear legs should be straight from the hips joints to the ground. “Faults: Lack of muscu- lar development or excessive muscularity.”* Aussies are double coated with a short, soft undercoat and harsh 2 ½" outer coat. Climate and living conditions a ff ect the
amount of undercoat present. Correct col- ors are blue & tan, solid sandy and solid red. Th e color of B & T’s can range from dark blue, steel blue, dark grey blue, to sil- ver blue. Tan should be rich in color but not red. Any shade of solid red or solid sandy is correct. “Faults: All black body coat in the adult dog. Tan smut in the blue portion of the coat, or dark smut in sandy/ red coated dogs. In any color, white mark- ings on chest or feet are to be penalized.”* Th e reference to ”all black body coat” is reference to solid black where the coat should be blue and not to a coat lacking tan markings. Th e topknot should be silver or a lighter shade than head color.* When the dog is sent around the ring, it should move freely with good reach and drive. Th e front leg reaches well in front of the dog’s body. Th e rear foot steps into the spot just left by the front foot; while this is happening, the other rear leg is extended back behind the body. Seen from the front and rear, the legs are straight from the shoulder and hip joints to the pads, and move in parallel planes to the centerline of travel. Th e rear legs move in the same planes as the front legs. As the dog moves at a faster trot, the front and rear legs may tend to converge
toward the centerline of travel, but the legs remain straight even as they fl ex or extend.* Th ere should be no wasted motion and no bounce to the backline when moving. Aus- tralian Terriers should move with a ground covering stride. Th ey were bred to be tire- less workers able to cover rough terrain and great distances. Th is athletic ability is as important today as it was in the past. In summary, the distinctive features of the Australian Terrier are: • Proportions: Back slightly longer than the dog’s height from withers to ground; body long, distinctive keel, prominent forechest and buttocks. • Head: Long with fl at skull slightly lon- ger than wide, slight stop and muzzle of equal length. • Coat: Soft silky topknot of silver or lighter color than the head, ru ff and apron. • Colors: Blue & Tan, Solid Red and Solid Sandy. Blue: silver blue, dark gray-blue, steel-blue, dark blue. Solid Red: any color from light to dark red. Solid Sandy. • Gait: Smooth and free with reach and drive. *Australian Terrier Standard, approved by the American Kennel Club 8/9/88
“The stifles should be well turned; the hocks and rear pasterns behind the rear end of the body. THE HOCKS SHOULD BE WELL LET DOWN AND THE REAR PASTERNS PERPENDICULAR TO THE GROUND.”
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AUSTRALIAN TERRIER Ready, Willing & Able! BY HEATHER RIFE, DVM V ery few performance dog owners look at a terrier and think… “That’s my next per- formance dog!” Those of us who are lucky enough to own Australian Terriers know
that these little dogs represent one of the best-kept secrets in the dog world. We are a plucky, tenacious bunch that revels in the joy that comes with sharing our lives with a dog that views every single day as a day to work towards a common goal with its owners. My personal start in Australian Terriers came about when I needed to downsize to a smaller dog. After decades of competing with Doberman Pinchers, I needed a small dog with a larger-than-life personality. I wanted a dog that would be competitive in performance work as well as in the show ring. When my Obedience and Agility friends heard that I was thinking of an Australian Ter- rier, they were aghast, going so far as to schedule and hold an intervention disguised as a dinner party. They recommended a Bichon, Whippet or Papillion. I resisted their efforts. I did my homework and located a terrific breeder 10 states away. I was not disappointed when little “Martha” showed up at my doorstep as, eventually, she became everything I had hoped for in an Aussie.
284 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MAY 2023
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