Australian Terriers are feisty and fun! Equal at both working (hunting vermin) and being a companion, they do best in homes where they can go out and DO stuff. Although independent, they still crave human attention and need to be around their people – even if the person is just accompanying them while they dig for gophers (digging is their specialty). The breed is suited to owners who want to spend time with an active dog without necessarily being very active themselves. Hardy and always looking for adventure, the Aussie is ever-entertaining!
Aussies are very loyal to their families, and are also sensitive to the emotions of those they love. They do well with the elderly as well as children of all ages (with supervision). Outright aggression is not common in the breed, although they also won’t tolerate being teased or prodded. For the most part, however, Aussies have a good sense of humor and enjoy making people laugh. They have a protective instinct but their size prevents them from being anything other than a watch dog.
Like most terriers, Aussies are incredibly courageous and may often put themselves in less-than-desirable positions. Picking fights with an animal 10 times their size, or chasing after a rattlesnake, are just some of the situations in which they need to be protected from themselves. They are very gamey – meaning that they want to go after animals that they see, especially smaller animals such as mice or rats. Households with small rodents as pets may need to think twice about owning this breed. Larger cats that don’t spook easily can live with an Aussie, but cats that tend to dart around the house and run from dogs are not a good match. Aussies also don’t always get along well with other dogs, particularly when two males get together.
The Australian Terrier is just as happy with city life as he is country life, but he should never be allowed to run amok unsupervised in either setting (unless in a safely fenced area). These terriers do have a fair amount of energy and need to be provided with enough exercise throughout their whole lives. Luckily, they are small enough that their exercise requirements are not daunting! Their tiny frames are also easy to transport to new locations for special outings – and they are great travelers to boot. 
Grooming an Aussie is simpler than many other terriers, but obviously more work than a smooth-coated breed. They do require some plucking in order to enhance their features, but the breed has never been heavily sculpted. Most owners are able to groom their own dogs with little trouble. The Aussie does require a minimal amount of brushing and bathing, but their naturally wiry coat doesn’t tend to tangle easily.
Curious and intelligent, the Australian Terrier learns obedience commands quickly but tends to get bored after a short period of time. Monotonous repetition will almost guarantee boredom. Instead, once you are certain that the Aussie knows a command, introduce new and novel variations of it. Add challenges that he will be able to figure out, without moving too far too fast – lest he get frustrated. Keep it interesting, motivating, and fun! Aussies are also known for being stubborn, however. It’s important to work through his wilfulness and not allow him to get his way (and he will try to get his way). One must keep him motivated to work while not allowing him to run the whole show. The breed is not easy to train, and patience will be required.
Aussies are a relatively healthy breed that tend to have a long lifespan. Living into the teenage years is the norm, with some going up into the late teens. Vet visits are often few and far in between, with many dogs just keeping up with the basic care. This is not to say that health problems are impossible, of course, just that the breed is relatively vigorous. There are not too many genetic defects that plague these terriers, and they are very easy-keepers to boot. Most Aussies also have great appetites and are easy to feed and take care of in general.
