Dog breeds in Australia
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Page 10 of 10 • 120 breeds
terrierSkye TerrierThe Skye Terrier is a long, low Scottish terrier from the Isle of Skye and the Western Isles, bred for centuries to go to ground after foxes, badgers and otters. It is loyal, brave and reserved, usually devoted to one or two people and wary of strangers without being aggressive. Most stand around 25 cm at the shoulder and weigh 12 to 15 kg, with a long, hard double coat that falls either side of the body. It is one of the rarest recognised terriers, classed in the UK as a Vulnerable Native Breed, and in Australia puppies come from a handful of breeders via waiting lists.View Details
houndSloughiThe Sloughi is a smooth-coated North African sighthound, often called the Arabian Greyhound, bred by Berber and Bedouin peoples to hunt hare, gazelle and jackal across desert country. It is lean, elegant and fast, loyal and affectionate with its own family but aloof with strangers. Dogs stand 66 to 72 cm and bitches 61 to 68 cm under the Dogs Australia standard, and the breed typically lives 12 to 15 years. It is recognised in the Hound group, but it is one of the rarest breeds in Australia, with a single breeder listed nationally and no puppies advertised.View Details
terrierStaffordshire Bull TerrierThe Staffordshire Bull Terrier, known in Australia as the Staffy or English Staffy, is a compact, muscular terrier developed in nineteenth-century Staffordshire, England, from Bulldog and terrier crosses. It is recognised by Dogs Australia in Group 2 (Terriers) and is a separate breed from the larger American Staffordshire Terrier. Staffies stand 36 to 41 cm and weigh 11 to 17 kg, with a lifespan commonly given as 12 to 14 years. They are famously affectionate with people and children, but can be intolerant of other dogs and need early socialisation and secure handling. Responsible breeders DNA test for hereditary cataract and L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria.View Details
sportingSussex SpanielThe Sussex Spaniel is a low, heavy-boned English gundog developed on Sussex estates in the late 18th century to work slowly through dense cover, giving voice when it finds scent. It is calm, affectionate and often clownish at home, though it can be stubborn to train. The breed stands 38 to 41 cm and weighs about 23 kg, with a rich golden liver coat that is unique to it. It nearly disappeared during the Second World War and remains one of the rarest spaniels in the world, with only two breeders listed in Australia.View Details
herdingSwedish VallhundThe Swedish Vallhund is a small, sturdy herding spitz from the province of Västergötland in Sweden, bred to drive cattle by nipping at their heels. It is low to the ground and long in the body, with a harsh double coat in grey or red sable shades and a tail that may be naturally absent, short or full length. Dogs stand 33 to 35 cm and bitches 31 to 33 cm, weighing about 11.5 to 16 kg, with a lifespan of around 12 to 15 years. It is friendly, alert, eager to please and energetic, with a watchful nature and a strong herding instinct. Recognised by Dogs Australia in Group 5, Working Dogs, it has been established in Australia since 1981 and remains uncommon, with a small network of registered breeders.View Details
workingTibetan MastiffThe Tibetan Mastiff is an ancient guardian breed from the Tibetan Plateau, used by nomadic herders to protect livestock and camps from wolves, leopards and bears. It is recognised by Dogs Australia in Group 6 (Utility), with a minimum height of 66 cm for males and 61 cm for females, and most adults weigh roughly 32 to 68 kg. It is calm with its family but independent, slow to mature and aloof with strangers, with a heavy double coat and a lifespan of about 10 to 12 years. The breed is famous for reported multi-million dollar sales in China, but it is very rare in Australia and not recommended for novice owners.View Details
sportingVizslaThe Vizsla, recognised by Dogs Australia as the Hungarian Vizsla, is a short-coated, russet gold pointing and retrieving gundog from Hungary. It is lively, gentle and intensely people-focused, which makes it a devoted companion but one that copes poorly with long hours alone. Dogs stand 58 to 64 cm and bitches 54 to 60 cm under the breed standard, and most adults weigh about 20 to 30 kg. The coat is short and dense with no undercoat, so the breed feels both heat and cold more than many gundogs. A UK study of nearly 3,000 Vizslas found a median lifespan of 13.5 years.View Details
sportingWeimaranerThe Weimaraner is a large German gundog developed at the court of Weimar in the nineteenth century as a versatile hunting dog, and is often called the Grey Ghost for its silver-grey coat and pale eyes. It is athletic, intelligent and intensely people-focused, which makes it an affectionate companion but one that struggles when left alone. Males stand 59 to 70 cm and weigh about 30 to 40 kg, and females 57 to 65 cm and about 25 to 35 kg, under the Dogs Australia standard. The breed comes in short-haired and long-haired varieties, and only grey shades are accepted. A UK study of nearly 3,000 Weimaraners found a median lifespan of 12.8 years.View Details
sportingWelsh Springer SpanielThe Welsh Springer Spaniel is a medium-sized red and white flushing spaniel from Wales, bred to find and spring game for the gun and recognised by Dogs Australia in the Gundog group. It is a separate breed from the better-known English Springer Spaniel, slightly smaller, with smaller vine-leaf ears and a coat that is only ever rich red and white. Dogs stand around 48 cm and bitches around 46 cm, with a typical weight of 16 to 20 kg and a lifespan of 12 to 14 years. It is affectionate and gentle with its family, often reserved with strangers, and far more energetic than its calm manner at home suggests. The breed is uncommon in Australia, with a small network of registered breeders and few litters each year.View Details
terrierWelsh TerrierThe Welsh Terrier is one of the oldest British terrier types, bred in Wales to work alongside hounds after fox, otter and badger. It is friendly, confident and energetic, usually good with family members and more even-tempered than many terriers, though it keeps a strong prey drive and a love of digging. Adults stand up to 39 cm and weigh around 9 to 9.5 kg, with a hard, wiry black and tan coat that sheds little but needs regular grooming. It is recognised by Dogs Australia in Group 2, Terriers, but supply in Australia is very limited, with only a handful of registered breeders and waiting lists the norm.View Details
houndWhippetThe Whippet is a medium-sized sighthound bred in northern England to course rabbits and race over short distances. It is built for acceleration rather than endurance, and combines extraordinary speed outdoors with an unusually calm, affectionate temperament indoors. Most Whippets stand 45 to 56 cm and weigh 11 to 18 kg, with a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. The breed suits households that can offer secure off-lead running, soft places to sleep, and company for most of the day, and adapts well to smaller homes provided those needs are met.View Details
toyYorkshire TerrierThe Yorkshire Terrier, or Yorkie, is a tiny, long-coated toy terrier developed in nineteenth-century Yorkshire and Lancashire, England, where it began as a ratter in mills before becoming a fashionable companion. It is recognised by Dogs Australia in Group 1 (Toys), and the breed standard sets an upper weight of 3.2 kg. Yorkies are bold, alert and affectionate, with far more terrier spirit than their size suggests, and they typically live 12 to 16 years. The long, silky steel blue and tan coat needs regular care, and owners should be aware of dental disease, patellar luxation, tracheal collapse and hypoglycaemia in very small dogs. "Teacup" and "miniature" are marketing terms, not recognised varieties.View Details