Australian National Kennel Council 1990

Country of Development - Australia.
Amended May 2001

GENERAL APPEARANCE: A strong, active, lithe working Terrier of great character with flexible body of medium length. His smart movement matches his keen expression. Tail docking is optional and the coat may be smooth, rough or broken.

CHARACTERISTICS: A lively, alert and active Terrier with a keen, intelligent expression.

TEMPERAMENT: Bold and fearless, friendly but quietly confident.

HEAD AND SKULL: The skull should be flat and of moderate width gradually decreasing in width to the eyes and tapering to a wide muzzle with very strong jaws. There should be a well defined stop but not over pronounced. The length from the stop to the nose should be slightly shorter than from the stop to the occiput with the cheek muscles well developed. The nose should be black.

EYES: Small dark and with keen expression. MUST not be prominent and eyelids should fit closely. The eyelid rims should be pigmented black. Almond shape.

EARS: Button or dropped of good texture and great mobility.

MOUTH: Deep wide and powerful jaws with tight-fitting pigmented lips and strong teeth closing to a scissor bite.

NECK: Strong and clean allowing head to be carried with poise.

FOREQUARTERS: Shoulders well sloped back and heavily loaded with muscle. Forelegs straight in bone from the shoulder to the toes whether viewed from the front or the side and with sufficient length of upper arm to ensure elbows are set under the body with sternum clearly in front of shoulder blades.

BODY: Chest deep rather than wide, with good clearance and the brisket located at the height midway between the ground and the withers. The body should be proportioned marginally longer than tall, measuring slightly longer from the withers to the root of the tail than from the withers to the ground. Back level. Ribs should be well sprung from the spine, flattening on the sides so that the girth behind the elbows can be spanned by two hands-about 40cms to 43cms. The loins should be short, strong and deeply muscled.

HINDQUARTERS: Strong and muscular, balanced in proportion to the shoulder, hind legs parallel when viewed from behind while in free standing position. Stifles well angulated and hocks low set.

FEET: Round, hard, padded, not large, toes moderately arched, turned neither in nor out.

TAIL: May droop at rest. When moving should be erect and if docked the tip should be on the same level as ears.

GAIT/MOVEMENT: True, free and springy.

COAT: May be smooth, broken or rough. Must be weatherproof, preferably unaltered.

COLOUR: White MUST predominate with black or tan markings. The tan markings can be from the lightest tan to the richest tan (chestnut).

SIZE: Ideal Height: 25cms(10ins) to 30cms(12ins). The weight in kg being equivalent of 1kg to each 5cms in height, i.e. a 25cm high dog should weigh approx. 5kg and a 30cm high dog should weigh 6kg.

FAULTS: Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree. However, the following weaknesses should be in exact proportion to its degree.

(a) Lack of true Terrier characteristics.
(b) Lack of balance, i.e.over exaggeration of any points.
(c) Sluggish or unsound movement.
(d) Faulty mouth.

NOTE - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

Terrier Group A.N.K.C. © January 2002

Last Updated: 14 June, 2002

As a member of the ANKC each member is bound by the ANKC's National Code of Ethics relating to responsible dog ownership, including the keeping, welfare, breeding, selling and disposal of dogs.
There are some VERY important points that we feel need to be emphasised.

We breed only for the purpose of improving the quality of the breed in line with the breed standard and not for the retail pet market or any other commercial purpose.

We do not breed from any bitch owned/kept by us that causes it to whelp in breach of my ANKC Member Body's Constitution Rules and Regulations.

Any puppy that we sell or otherwise transfer from our care must be a minimum of eight (8) weeks of age. Upon the sale of the dog we shall provide the owner with such registration documents as required by my ANKC Member Body Rules/Regulations and a current vaccination certificate of that dog issued by a veterinary surgeon.

Any puppy that is to be exported, must be a minimum of twelve (12) weeks of age. (5/98)

We shall not knowingly sell a pedigree dog/bitch to any person residing in an overseas country known to be involved in the utilisation of dogs for the meat trade, without first satisfying the affiliate body that the purchaser is of good character and is a Member of the appropriate Canine Kennel Council or Canine Association in the country of import (as recognised by the ANKC). The seller and purchaser further acknowledge that the export dog/bitch is being sold with the intention of showing and/or breeding with the intent to improve the quality of that breed in that country and not for any other purpose. (10/01)