Terrier dogs are popular across the globe, known for their sassy streak and lovable nature. Terrier breeds are usually small, but there are larger ones, like Staffordshire bull terriers and Airedale terriers. These dogs offer plenty of love to their owners but still use their hunting instincts to chase animals and dig up prey in your garden.
The American Kennel Club classes terrier dogs as wiry, game, fearless, and typically small. Terrier dogs encompass a variety of breeds and are known to love digging and hunting small game.
Terrier dogs were originally bred for hunting or vermin control. Their smaller size allows them to fit into small gaps, hunting mice, rats, badgers, and even squirrels. Most terriers are determined when they spot prey or pick up a scent, so you will need to be firm when training them. Despite being small, they have a big voice and personality, giving you plenty of affection and entertainment to keep you busy.
Below are ten of the most popular terrier dog breeds in Australia. Let’s learn more about them to see which is best for your family.
Weight: 9 – 10 kg
Lifespan: 12 – 14 years
Temperament: Affectionate, relaxed, intelligent, friendly, and stubborn
Health issues:
Sealyham Terriers are more relaxed than other terrier breeds, but they still have plenty of love and affection to give. These intelligent dogs make excellent companions and are very friendly. They usually get on with other animals and are known to live fine with cats!
Sealyham Terriers can get aggressive, so you must train and socialise them from a young age to prevent this behaviour.
Weight: 18 – 29 kg
Lifespan: 10 -12 years
Temperament: Friendly, courageous, intelligent, couragess, fearless, and playful
Health issues:
Airedale Terriers are bigger than other terrier breeds, giving you plenty of dog to cuddle. These dogs are super friendly and playful, loving to play with their owners and children. They are intelligent, so you can train them easily and expect them to follow commands.
Airedale Terriers can be quite needy. You might want to enrol in a puppy daycare to help them socialise and provide them with mental stimulation while you are working.
Weight: 6.8 – 9 kg
Lifespan: 11 – 15 years
Temperament: Alert, loving, affectionate, bright, brave, and playful
Health issues:
Australian Terriers were bred to find and kill rats, but their ability to bond with their owners turned them into lovable companions. These affectionate dogs have lots of love to give and are good with children. They play well with others, but their hunting instincts remain, and off-leads can chase animals on lead walks. They need mental stimulation to curb their high energy levels and don’t like being left home alone for too long.
Weight: 5.9 – 7 kg
Lifespan: 12 – 15 years
Temperament: Scrappy, affectionate, bright, friendly, and independent
Health issues:
Border Terriers have plenty of energy and affection to give your family. These dogs are happy to play with other dogs and their family, but they need training before playing with small children. A Border terrier can be intense and impulsive, chasing animals on every walk. Despite being lively, their intelligence makes them easy to train.
Weight: 6 – 7.5 kg
Lifespan: 13 – 15 yeFearlessmperament: Fealess and assertive, but weary of strangers initially
Health issues:
Cairn Terriers were bred for hunting but have evolved into companion dogs rather than vermin hunters. There are still some hunting traits left, like their alert, active, and agile nature. But you can use all of these to train your dog into the perfect family pet. They are energetic and intelligent, making training easy. They will tolerate children and other dogs, but you should socialise them to prevent any weariness around new people.
Weight: 6 – 7.5 kg
Lifespan: 11 – 14 years
Temperament: Friendly, energetic, noisy, and sensitive to owners moods
Health issues:
Fox Terriers were originally bred to drive foxes from their dens. There are two kinds of Fox Terriers: smooth-haired and wirehead Fox Terriers. You can tell them apart by their coat, with wirehand Fox terriers having a wiry coat. They are an excellent choice for first-time owners, as they are easy to train and don’t shed often.
They are super affectionate and loyal, playing well with older children. You must not spoil them too much, as they can develop ‘small dog syndrome.’ These dogs thrive being around people and can be quite noisy, barking and howling frequently.
Weight: 11 – 13 kg
Lifespan: 13 – 15 years
Temperament: Independent, adaptable, energetic, and loving
Health issues: No genetic health concerns
Irish terriers are better suited to more experienced dog owners, as they are very strong-willed. They aren’t aggressive, but they can become scrappy, especially towards other dogs, if they have not been properly socialised and trained.
They have bags of energy, making them suitable for dog sports or agility training. They will need lots of mental stimulation and thrive in homes with more than one person.
Weight: 6 – 8 kg
Lifespan: 12 – 15 years
Temperament: Friendly to humans, active, and energetic
Health issues: No genetic health problems
The Lakeland Terrier was bred to be a working dog and has energy to spare. They are fairly placid, but you will need to exercise them regularly to keep them calm. They require mental stimulation, too; without this, they can dig or chew, even attempting to escape!
They are loving towards their humans but will need lots of socialisation so they aren’t wary of strangers. They don’t typically get on well with other animals unless they are raised together from a young age.
Weight: 5 – 5.5 kg
Lifespan: 12 – 16 years
Temperament: Intelligent, agreeable, active, suspicious of strangers, with a high prey drive
Health issues:
The Norwich Terriers might be small but full of energy and love! Bred for vermin control, these dogs still have a high prey drive. They can latch onto a scent and run, ignoring any commands as you try to recall them. This means training is essential, especially at a young age. You can train them easily, and their agreeable nature means they will try to please you.
They are a good choice for first-time dog owners or families. They will play with your children and other dogs well, but you will need to socialise with them early to help with any waryness around strangers.
Weight: 13 – 17 kg
Lifespan: 12 – 14 years
Temperament: Energetic, stubborn, courageous, and protective
Health issues:
Staffordshire Bull Terriers can have a bad reputation, but depending on how you raise and socialise them, you can end up with a lovable and affectionate dog. They can be very protective of their family and very energetic. You will find they want to be involved in everything you do, so it’s worth looking for dog-friendly parks and other activities for them to join you. They are intelligent, but their stubborn streak means you need to be consistent and firm when training them.
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