Your guide to finding and caring for an Australian Terrier in Petersburg
Give an Australian Terrier a home
While we don't have enough dogs near Petersburg, keep in mind that many rescues may offer transport.
Australian settlers in the 1800s crossed rough-coated British terriers into a compact, hardy dog that could kill rats and snakes, guard the homestead and keep up on long working days. The result became the first native Australian breed to gain recognition, and the AKC accepted it in 1960. Aussies are small but long in body, with erect ears, a harsh coat in blue and tan, sandy or red, a protective ruff and a soft, silky topknot.
Many Australian Terriers are confident, alert and affectionate, with more working-dog grit than their size suggests. They often bond closely with their people, bark at anything unusual and chase small animals with real conviction. They usually suit adopters who enjoy a lively, trainable companion and can offer daily activity, secure fencing or leash walks, and patient, game-like training.
Having an Australian Terrier in Petersburg
An Australian Terrier packs a working terrier's drive into a portable body. Knowing how its alert, vocal nature, need for regular activity, light-shedding harsh coat and a few breed health concerns show up at home helps adopters judge whether an Aussie fits their routine.
Australian Terriers tend to be self-assured, curious and affectionate with their family, and many enjoy being part of every activity. They often bark to announce visitors or noises and may be bossy with other dogs. Small pets can trigger their ratting instincts. Early socialization and reward-based training help, and an adult's known history is the best guide.
Most Aussies need daily walks plus play that lets them chase, dig or problem-solve. Short training sessions, scent games and puzzle toys use their quick minds, and many enjoy agility or earthdog activities. A bored Australian Terrier often invents its own projects, such as barking or excavating flowerbeds, so mental work matters as much as mileage.
Australian Terriers are generally sturdy, but the breed has documented risks of luxating patellas, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, diabetes mellitus, allergies, ear infections and some eye conditions. Keeping a healthy weight and monitoring thirst, appetite and mobility helps catch problems early. Schedule regular veterinary checkups.
An Australian Terrier can do well in an apartment or a house when daily exercise and mental activity are reliable. Barking can be an issue with close neighbors, so training matters. A securely fenced yard helps, since many will dig or bolt after small animals. They are indoor companions that want to live alongside their people.
| Expense | Typical cost | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Adoption fee | $150, one time | $150 in year one |
| Food | $20 to $45 per month | $240 to $540 |
| Pet insurance | $35 to $70 per month | $420 to $840 |
| Routine vet care | $200 to $400 per year | $200 to $400 |
| Other* | $490 to $1,290 per year | $490 to $1,290 |
| Estimated yearly total (after year one) | $1,350 to $3,070 | |
| First-year total (with adoption fee) | $1,500 to $3,220 | |
Adoption fee is the fee on Australian Terrier listings in Petersburg on GetBuddy today. Other costs are national averages for Australian Terriers; we don't have costs specific to Petersburg yet.
* Flea, tick and heartworm prevention, a dental cleaning allowance, a dog license, toys and bedding, and regular brushing, plucking and tidying of the harsh coat; license fees vary by city.
Now that you know more, let’s find you a new best friend. These rescues and shelters below currently have Australian Terriers available.
Here are the rescues & shelters in the Petersburg area where you can find Australian Terriers and other dogs available for adoption.
Yes, Australian Terriers are often excellent pets for people who want a small dog with a big, busy personality. Many are affectionate, adaptable and trainable, and they bond closely with their families. The trade-offs are a tendency to bark, a strong urge to chase small animals and a need for daily exercise and mental activity to stay settled.
Australian Terriers typically live about 11 to 15 years. Some sources put the average closer to 11 or 12, with females often living slightly longer than males. Keeping an Aussie lean, active and up to date on dental care and checkups gives the best chance of a long life, and conditions such as diabetes are easier to manage when caught early.
An Australian Terrier is a small, sturdy working terrier developed in Australia and recognized by the AKC in 1960. It stands about 10 to 11 inches tall, weighs roughly 14 to 20 pounds and has a harsh coat with a ruff and a silky topknot. Many are confident, alert and affectionate, with a classic terrier love of chasing.
Australian Terriers were bred as all-purpose working dogs for settlers in rural Australia. They hunted rats, mice and snakes, kept watch over homesteads and helped around farms and sheep stations. That background explains their courage, keen hearing, readiness to bark and strong prey drive. Today most are companions, though many still enjoy earthdog, barn hunt and agility events.
An Australian Terrier is a low-set, slightly long-bodied little dog with small, pointed, erect ears and dark, keen eyes. Its harsh, straight coat is about two and a half inches long, with a ruff around the neck and a soft, lighter topknot on the head. Colors are blue and tan, solid sandy or solid red.
You groom an Australian Terrier mainly by brushing and combing the harsh coat once or twice a week and plucking out dead hair by hand. Keep the hair on the ears and around the feet short, bathe only occasionally, and trim nails regularly. The breed is meant to look natural, so heavy sculpting or clipping is not needed for a pet.
Australian Terriers shed lightly. Their harsh outer coat and short undercoat release some hair, especially when old hair is ready to come out, but most owners find little on furniture. Regular brushing and occasional hand-plucking of dead hair keep shedding low and the coat healthy. A dog shedding heavily or losing patches should see a veterinarian.
Yes, Australian Terriers are often quite vocal. They were bred to alert settlers to intruders and vermin, so many bark at visitors, unfamiliar sounds and animals outside. Teaching a quiet cue, rewarding calm behavior and giving enough exercise and mental work help reduce nuisance barking, though most will still announce anything they consider important.
An Australian Terrier has a double coat: a harsh, straight outer coat about two and a half inches long over a short, soft undercoat. The neck carries a protective ruff that blends into an apron on the chest, and the topknot on the head is finer and softer than the body coat. The texture helps shed dirt and weather.
We have 1 rescue with Australian Terriers available: Pike Animal Welfare Shelter (PAWS). You can see every rescue with Australian Terriers available in the list above these questions, or scroll to the top to see the Australian Terriers near Petersburg.
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