These dogs are descended from rough coated terriers brought to Australia from England in the nineteenth century and were originally kept to exterminate vermin. In Tasmania, around 1820, development of this breed began. These breeding efforts eventually moved onto the Australian mainland in Victoria, the into the other provinces.
The Rough-Coated Terrier, a dog native to the region were crossed with British terrier stock to become the Australian Terrier by the end of the century. Yorkshire Terriers and Irish Terriers were crossed into the breed as it developed. The Australian Terrier shares ancestry with the Cairn Terrier, Skye Terrier and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier.
The Australians used this breed to help control rodents on the waterfront, in the gold mines and on the sheep stations. They also herded sheep and served their owners as watchdogs. These hearty little dogs were developed to be fast, weather-resistant and brave in order to help the settlers that founded the country of Australia. They were bred to be both worker and companion. The Australian Terrier is highly adaptable, and can thrive in variety of climates and living situations.
