Australia’s $20B Dog Obsession: Celebrating 10 Australian Dog Breeds
Australians are known for their love of dogs, and it’s no surprise that they are willing to invest in their furry friends.
In fact, Australians spent over $20.5 billion on their dogs in 2022 alone1, with the average yearly cost of owning a dog in Australia being around $4,247. This highlights the significant economic impact of dog ownership in the country.
But did you know that Australia has its own unique dog breeds that were developed right here on the continent? Let’s take a closer look at these fascinating Australian dog breeds.
1. Australian Cattle Dog
Also called Blue Heelers or Red Heelers, these muscular herding dogs get their name from their tradition of nipping at the heels of cattle to keep them in line.
With their origins dating back to the 19th century, they were created by breeding the free-roaming wild dingoes of Australia with imported British herding dogs like Collies. The result was an incredibly energetic, intelligent dog perfectly suited for driving cattle across the scorching Australian Outback.
2. Australian Terrier
On the smaller side but big in personality and spirit, the Australian Terrier has served Aussies for over 200 years as a watchdog, ratter, and beloved companion. Originally bred to control pests and snakes around farms and cattle ranches, their plucky, tenacious nature made them excelent hunters and fearless guardians despite their petite size.
With a harsh, shaggy outer coat and soft undercoat, the Australian Terrier is low-maintenance but rugged. These confident, active little dogs come in shades of blue and tan
3. Silky Terrier
Don’t let the beautiful, silky blue and tan coat fool you — the Silky Terrier is a true terrier through and through! Developed in Sydney in the late 19th century, they descended from crosses between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Australian Terrier. The breeders aimed to create a low-shedding, hypoallergenic pup with the typical terrier spirit and hunting skills.
While daintier than many terriers, at 10 inches tall and under 10 pounds, the Silky punches above its weight with an alert, energetic personality.
4. Australian Kelpie
When you picture an Australian herding dog hard at work driving sheep or cattle across the rugged landscape, chances are you’re picturing the Kelpie breed. Developed in the late 19th century, the Kelpie is an incredibly athletic and intelligent herding dog, capable of handling intense heat and long distances.
Compact and muscular, Kelpies are born workers with tons of energy and stamina to spare. The breed combines the herding instinct of the Scottish Collie with the toughness of Australia’s wild dingoes.
5. Tenterfield Terrier
Named after the town of Tenterfield where the breed originated, these rugged, active terriers have a long history in Australia that dates back to the early 1800s.
With a mix of Brit terriers like the Cairn plus some British hunting breeds, Tenterfield Terriers were bred to hunt rodents and small game while barking to alert hunters. Today, they make for spirited little watchdogs and loving family companions.
6. Dingo
While not technically a standardized breed, the iconic Australian dingo holds an important place in the country’s heritage and wilderness.
Descended from semi-domesticated Asian dogs brought to Australia by humans thousands of years ago, dingoes are now classified as a wild, free-roaming dog breed. With their alert pointed ears, lean build, and distinctive reddish-tan coat, dingoes maintain a striking resemblance to their ancient ancestors.
Completely unsocialized with humans, dingoes retain a very wild temperament and tendency to band together in packs, making them unsuitable as pets.
7. Koolie
The Koolie breed traces its origins back to the early 19th century British settlers who arrived in Australia with their Scottish Collie herding dogs. By breeding the imported Collies with other European herding dogs like the German Coolie, a new distinctly Australian herding breed emerged — the Koolie. These medium-sized, mop-coated dogs soon proved their worth driving livestock vast distances across the rugged Australian interior.
8. Miniature Fox Terrier
Hailing from Australia’s Sydney region, the perky Miniature Fox Terrier is a tiny package stuffed full of big terrier personality and spirit! These little guys stand only around 10 inches tall, but they were bred for fearlessly hunting rodents, snakes, and other Australian vermin that threatened crops and livestock in the 19th century.
With their smooth coats of white striped with tan, black, or blue, and their distinctive erect ears and slim build, Miniature Fox Terriers certainly look the part of spunky little ratters. Nowadays they make for cheerful, busy household companions.
9. Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog
As the name implies, this breed is essentially a bob-tailed variety of the classic Australian Cattle Dog or Heeler. Descending from the same crosses of British herders and dingoes in the 19th century, the Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog was bred to naturally lack a tail rather than require docking.
With their compact, muscular build and intense work ethic and intelligence, these pups are just as capable of handling long days of cattle herding as their tailed counterparts.
10. Bull Arab
Combining the strength and athleticism of the Bulldog with the endurance of Arabian hunting breeds, Australia’s Bull Arab developed specifically for the pursuit and capture of feral pigs and other invasive game animals in the Outback.
This imposing yet agile breed arose from crosses of English Bulldogs, Bull Terriers, Greyhounds, and other sight hound types brought over from Britain. They are sleek yet powerfully muscular and can weigh up to 120 pounds.
Australia’s Homegrown Canine Heritage
Australia has quite the impressive roster of unique native breeds perfectly suited to the country’s demanding climate and landscapes.
Whether used for controlling vermin, herding livestock, hunting wild game, guarding properties, or simply as loving family companions, these dogs reflect the grit and resilience long associated with the Australian spirit.
With their distinctive looks, temperaments, and talents, Australia’s homegrown pups have certainly earned their place in the nation’s rich cultural heritage.
Source:
- https://www.petfoodindustry.com/news-newsletters/pet-food-news/article/15469415/national-survey-reveals-australians-spending-on-pets
This article was originally published on and syndicated by Nature of Home.
