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The Australian Terrier and its closest relative - the Australian Silky Terrier (from the English Silky Terrier) belongs to a variety of small working terriers. This is a fairly miniature type of four-legged pets, who have a good-natured disposition and playful character. Dog breeders claim that the main feature of the Australian is his good disposition to any person.
Dogs of this breed are very obedient, have an extraordinary mind, can be good shepherd dogs. And thanks to the innate scent and excellent dog intuition from nature, these dogs can be first-class hunters and watchdogs. In addition, the dogs of this breed developed a sense of self-worth. We can say that these pets have absorbed all the best from their distant British relatives.Indeed, despite the fact that the breeding of this breed of dogs is associated with the colonization of the Australian continent, the history of the appearance of these representatives has deep English roots.
About the character of the Australian Terrier
A small four-legged pet with a hard-haired fur coat stands out for an extremely active character. The Aussie will always find a reason and desire to fool around a bit. Pampering in his blood, he has a cunning mind, perseverance and perseverance. Only a master with a strong will and great patience can curb his cheerful and perky temper. That is why many dog breeders claim that these dogs need rigor and education, otherwise it will be almost impossible to achieve unquestioning obedience and obedience from these animals.
The dogs of this breed are real hunters from nature, their roots go deep in the history of the development of Australia. But the ability of these four-legged pets improved due to the harsh climate of this hot continent. Even despite their nondescript appearance, as for a hunting dog, these pets have a strong character, resilience, courage and endurance.A subtle intuition and quick response make the Australian an indispensable assistant in the economy. Australian terriers are often used by farmers as rat catchers. In addition, terriers are excellent guards. Dogs warn about the approach of uninvited guests by noise, active behavior and loud barking.
If necessary, terriers can use a stranglehold, which is considered useful for hunting dogs. Nature has given these pets a good hunter's innate instinct. That is why you should not be surprised if during a walk a pet digs a personal plot up and down. Digging holes is a favorite occupation of terriers, because in this way the dog hunts small animals. It is therefore not surprising that the dogs of this breed are jokingly called shrews or small excavators, which are able to stop digging underground tunnels only when everything is dug over.
These pets can be too impulsive and show aggression towards other relatives. Terriers are able, without a good reason, to get behind a cyclist or car wheels.That is why it is worth going for a walk with a terrier on a leash or with a muzzle. However, with good training, these dogs can be very dedicated, obedient and balanced animals. And the excessive activity and innate impulsiveness of these dogs will easily give way to submission and gratitude to the owners.
Terriers have a brave temper, they are used to protecting their territory. The title of pet these dogs deserve because of their ingenuity and peculiar character. However, this breed is not so common among dog breeders around the world. It's all about the excessive hunting instincts of this pet, which require an exit. However, Australians do not seek to have more popular breeds of dogs, therefore they consider terriers to be real pride of their country.
Wool color and pedigree data
The suit of the Australian terriers has various shades. Pets can have blue with silver or gray fur coats with red spots, or light sandy or red tones of wool. Dog breeders believe that the more saturated and bright shade has dog hair, the pet is considered more pedigree.But whites are swept away from dogs in the chest are considered a serious drawback.
Puppies of this breed have a black color at birth, however with age the coat shade completely changes. The coat of four-legged pets becomes black and silver, almost steel or dark gray. The body at the bottom, head, ears and feet have a rich deep tan. The more accurate and pronounced color has a fur coat of pets, the better. At the same time, dark spots and darkening of wool are considered as a defect.
On the head of terriers you can see a silky coat, which is distinguished by its texture and color from the rest of the coat of pets. This tuft in the region of the crown should have a lighter color than the rest of the muzzle. The coat on the terrier's head has a more silver or light tone of coat than the rest of the head. Sometimes the crest has a pure fawn or red color. However, any dark marks on wool are considered a serious flaw. In dogs with a fur coat of red or sand color, such a fur coat should have a fawn or wheat color. In dogs of blue color, the crest has a blue or silver color without white spots.This bale is a characteristic feature of the Australian breed and serves as a protective barrier for the pet’s eyes during the digging of holes.
Nutrition
If you decide to buy a puppy of an Australian terrier, you should ask the breeder in detail about how many times a day he fed the dog. This precaution is important for a puppy's health, since during the first month the diet and the number of meals of a pet should not change much. The dog begins to accustom to another diet only after two or three weeks after purchase. At the same time, such changes should be introduced gradually so as not to harm the health of the baby. And the appearance of a new product in a pet's bowl and the disappearance of an old one should not occur abruptly. The whole process of changing the diet of a puppy may be about a month.
The most correct and optimal amount of food intake per day is three times a puppy feeding at the age of three months. As the animal grows and matures, the number of meals can be gradually reduced to two times during the day.In order not to harm the health of the four-legged pet and choose the right amount of portions eaten, you should not keep the bowl with food in the usual place all the time. It is necessary to teach the dog to the fact that the bowl is put to eat only fifteen or twenty minutes. Thanks to this clever way, the pet will not overeat. Also, the owners better choose the optimal time for feeding the pet. Therefore, it is better to teach a puppy from childhood to eat at the same fixed time.
The terrier diet should include premium dry food or organic foods. However, experienced dog breeders do not recommend owners to mix these two types of food together. It is prohibited to give sweet foods, smoked meats, sausages, medium in size or too small bones from natural food to terriers. In order for the teeth of pets to develop well, large bones are perfect. Such bones will not cause any harm to the digestion of the four pet. It is also not recommended to give meat with entrails, as the meat products in the diet of the terrier must be cleaned.
The menu of Australians must necessarily include buckwheat,rice porridge, oatmeal and other varieties of cereals. Porridge should be approximately 40% of the total diet of the dog. Also, be sure to give the terriers healthy vegetables, except cabbage. Many vitamins useful for terriers are found in baked fish, cow's milk, and in various fruits. It should not be too abused by these products, so as not to harm the body of a pet.
Care
It is also necessary to take care of the four-legged pet every day, maintain the elasticity of the fur and daily brush it. Dog breeders do not advise newly minted owners to bathe their terriers very often. It is enough to carry out water procedures no more often than once every two to three months or six months. Either bathe the Australians as they pollute the pet's fur. Of course, this does not apply to the natural procedure of washing off the mud from the paws after walks in the autumn or spring season. During bathing, it is recommended to use high-quality shampoos and rinses for long-haired dogs.
Another optimal pet care option is to visit a grooming master at the pet beauty salon.In the grooming salon, you can trim the hair and trim the claws of the dogs about once every two to three months, or as needed.
Owners should inspect their pet's coat daily to clean sticky hairs. Dog ears should be wiped with oil once a week. If you competently make a diet of terriers, then their teeth retain white enamel for a very long time. However, the formation of plaque in an animal is also considered normal. It is recommended to inspect the oral cavity of dogs for plaque and cracks in the teeth. To clean the teeth of a pet, it is enough to feed him with soft cartilage or special rods to clean the mouth of the dogs. At the same time, if a very strong bloom of stones formed on the dog's teeth, it is worth taking him to the vet and changing the composition of his diet.
Training and walking
In order for the Australian Terrier to grow up healthy and active, you should observe the regime and walk your pet. This type of terrier breed is not a short twenty-minute walk in the street. A four-legged friend needs an active walk in the fresh air for a longer time.The pet should walk up, feel the freedom and spaciousness, drive neighbors cats, dogs and sparrows.
This breed of dogs has a rather sharp mind and ingenuity, but they are a bit stubborn. Because of this character trait, the process of raising a pet may be delayed. You should not let the dog off the leash until the puppy has learned the training of the dog. To make it easier for owners to interact with their new four-legged friend, it is necessary to teach him to the main teams that are included in the basic dog training program. And in order to discourage the dog from bad behavior or undesirable actions, the owner with a fairly firm voice to say the command: “No!” At the same time, you should not use physical violence against the dog and punish with force - this can make the dog cowardly and aggressive towards the owners.Such a basic program of training teams will help the owner of the dogs to control the terrier and protect it from possible danger on the roadway.
Video: Australian Silky Terrier
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