Australian Dog Breeds

Australian dog breeds range from herders to lapdogs, and the country even has its very own native wild dog, the Dingo! All of these canines are ideally suited for life and work in the Land Down Under. That being said, here are all the dog breeds from Australia and what you’ll want to know about them.

Koolie

While mainly used for herding sheep this adaptable sheepdog, is also used to herd goats and cattle. The Koolie has been around since the 1800s and these dogs are known for having fabulous personalities and a strong will to work and please their owners.

In addition, they are also known for their top-notch agility and speed which gives them the ability to keep animals under control when herding. This is a dog that has the stamina to work for long periods of time, in all weather conditions, and all types of terrain. The breed’s strong natural herding instinct is apparent at an early age.

Because they are bred to meet the specific working needs of ranchers and farmers in different regions of Australia there is a lot of diversity in the appearance of the Koolie dog breed. Although it is often seen sporting an attractive merle coat. Despite any physical differences, however, all Koolies have the same drive and willingness to work.

Australian Silky Terrier

While in the Land Down Under this breed is called the Australian Silky Terrier, in the U.S. it is simply known as the Silky Terrier. This is a toy terrier breed, but don’t let its small size or refined looks fool you it is an adept rodent killer. It has a unique blue and tan coat and while puppies are actually born black and tan, by 18 months of age the black changes to blue.

This is one of the best small Australian dog breeds for owners who live in apartments or for those who want a dog that doesn’t need much exercise. And while its long silky coat does need regular care it doesn’t shed, making it ideal for allergy sufferers.  In addition, this is quite a long-lived dog that often reaches around fifteen years of age.

Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog

The Stumpy is a square and rugged-looking working dog with a natural ability to control cattle. And true to its name the breed has a naturally short bob tail that doesn’t exceed four inches in length. The Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog is considered to be the original Australian working dog breed as it was created in the mid-19^th century before both the Australian Kelpie and the Australian Cattle Dog.

While reserved with strangers it is extremely loyal and faithful to its master and family. And as a highly intelligent working breed, this is a canine that needs a lot of exercise or even better a job to do. It is not suitable for situations where it does not have human interaction and needs mental and physical stimulation or it will become destructive.

Bull Arab

The Bull Arab is an Australian hunting dog breed that was created specifically to hunt wild boar. It is typically comprised of 50% Bull Terrier for strength, 25% German Short Hair Pointer for scenting ability, a friendly nature, and intelligence, along with 25% Greyhound for speed and eyesight.

Unlike other breeds used for hunting wild boar that typically only perform a single task, the Bull Arab is used to track, catch and also hold the pigs during the hunt. And because of its special skillset, it is widely considered to be the top Aussie dog breed for hunting wild pigs.

These medium to large canines are versatile and also function as guardians and family companions. Although this is a high-energy breed that needs a strong leader. And due to its strong hunting instincts the Bull Arab must be provided proper socialization.

Australian Kelpie

While it was developed in the rural paddocks of western Victoria this Australian sheepdog breed actually descended from working Collies from Scotland and Britain. The Kelpie is an incredibly intelligent canine that is capable of working and making decisions on its own without supervision.

It can tolerate working in the intense Australian heat and both the almond shape of the breed’s eyes and the abundant hair inside its ears help to protect the dog by keeping out the dust and dirt when herding. Because of the Australian Kelpie’s impressive natural sheep herding skills, it has been exported from Australia to work to work on farms in countries all over the world.

This is a breed that is known for having “personality,” and can even be mischievous at times. Because of its high intelligence, the Kelpie needs mental stimulation or it will get into trouble. They are also considered “Velcro dogs,” that love to be with their owners at all times and don’t like being left alone.

Australian Cattle Dog

Along with the Dingo, the Australian Cattle Dog is without a doubt one of the most famous of all Aussie dogs. In fact, the Dingo, the Australian wild dog, was one of the breeds used to create the Australian Cattle Dog. And having the Dingo in its makeup is one of the reasons this breed is able to work in even the most extreme Australian environments.

Of course, this is a critical trait, as the Australian Cattle dog was developed to drove untamed cattle over long distances of rugged terrain. Australian Cattle Dog puppies are born white except for head markings and body patches. After a few weeks, they start developing their final coat color which consists mainly of either blue or red markings. Red dogs are known as “Red Heelers,” and blue dogs, as “Blue Heelers”.

The term “heeler”, comes from the way the breed moves the stubborn and unruly cattle: by nipping at their heels. The Australian Cattle Dog is a compact and muscular canine that is typically long-lived. In addition to herding they make devoted family dogs that are protective of their owners, their possessions, and their property.

Like other Australian herding dog breeds this one was bred to be independent and make its own decisions. In the absence of a job, this is a dog that will need proper daily exercise to prevent behavioral issues.

Miniature Fox Terrier

Also known as the Toy Fox Terrier and affectionately as the Mini Foxie in its homeland of Australia this breed was developed for farmhouse vermin control. These little canines may be small in size but are big when it comes to courage and tenacity. Their diminutive size and adaptable nature make them ideal pets for a wide range of potential owners from young to old.

And they can function as an active little workout partner or simply just a pint-sized lapdog depending on your needs. The Miniature Fox Terrier is often confused with similar-looking dogs such as the Jack Russell Terrier and Rat Terrier. The breed has a mostly white coat.

And that’s no accident, as its mainly white coat helped owners to easily see the dog in low light when the dogs were working at dispatching vermin. In addition, the breed also has a dark nose, eyes, and eye rims which help protect it from the harsh Australian sun.

Tenterfield Terrier

The Tenterfield is very similar in appearance to the Miniature Fox Terrier. And that’s because the two breeds are closely related. It gets its name from the historic town of Tenterfield in northern New South Wales where these little guys were bred extensively, particularly by George Woolnough the Tenterfield Saddler.

These are “true terriers,” and are descended from the terriers that were brought over by the early settlers. Used for hunting rats, rabbits, and other vermin, in the past most farms in Australia had at least one of these small dogs. The Tenterfield Terrier’s short, smooth coat is low-maintenance and these dogs are friendly, outgoing, and smart.

David Nemirovsky/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 3.0

Dingo

The Dingo is an Australian native wild dog breed. And it also happens to be one of the oldest of all dog breeds on the planet. As Australia’s top predator, the Dingo plays a vital role in keeping the populations of native species such as kangaroos in check. But it also helps to suppress non-native species as well which are destructive to the ecosystem such as foxes, feral cats, and rabbits.

The Dingo, therefore, helps to maintain a vital balance in the ecosystem. While some people do keep Dingoes as pets in Australia, in many areas they are illegal, and may require a permit or special housing requirements such as escape-proof fencing.

These canines are highly sensitive and bond very closely with their “pack,” for life. So when kept as pets they need to be acquired at a young age, and should remain with their bonded humans, and other household pets, in the same location for their entire lifetime. As pets Dingoes also need constant socialization to expose them to new experiences as early on in their lives as possible.

Australian Labradoodle

The Australian Labradoodle is different from other Labradoodles which are often just a cross of a Poodle and Labrador Retriever and can be inconsistent in their traits and temperaments. The origins of this breed started with the Australian Guide Dog Association in an attempt to create a seeing-eye dog for a specific client that was not only blind but also allergic to dogs.

Today many generations later and with the help of Australian breeders the result is the Australian Labradoodle, a dog that has a reliably fantastic temperament, is allergy-friendly, and is non-shedding. The Australian Labradoodle was created using six parent breeds which include the Poodle, Labrador Retirever, Curly Coated Retriever, Irish Water Spaniel, American Cocker Spaniel, and English Cocker Spaniel.

Australian Terrier

This breed is believed to be the result of various crosses between the Dandie Dinmont, Norwich, Scottish, Yorkshire, Cairn, and Skye Terriers that were brought to Australia by British settlers. In fact, the Australian Terrier was the first recognized native Australian dog breed. These small yet sturdy dogs helped the settlers to rid their properties of pests which even included deadly snakes.

Their rough coats are ideally suited for the Australian bush and even helped to protect them from snake bites. As watchdogs, Australian Terriers were relied upon by those living in isolated areas and were a favorite of gold miners as they helped to alert them to potential threats and thieves.

Today this breed functions mainly as a companion that loves to be around its people at all times. However, because of its history, the Australian Terrier does have a high prey drive. And while it typically won’t start a fight with other dogs, like many other terrier breeds it won’t back down if challenged either.

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