Australian Dog Breeds We Love All Over, Not Just Down Under | LoveToKnow Pets (2024)

The beautiful Australian cattle dog is the most hard-working, dedicated herding dog breed. They have spirited personalities, a medium-sized build, and are known for their intelligence. But along with their smarts comes a stubborn streak, so be sure you’re prepared to stay consistent and disciplined during training. These pups will gladly go anywhere you want them to, prepared to hike, jog, or even just wander around at the dog park.

The Australian kelpie is extremely intelligent and known to be a bit more independent than other Australian dog breeds. They’re loyal, loving, and friendly with their human families, but they aren’t big fans of strangers unless they’re super socialized as puppies.

Although they’re known to bond more closely with one family member than the others, they are great with children and other family members in the home. And, while they aren’t guard dogs, you can rest assured that they will alert you if someone is too close to their territory.

Commonly known as the Aussie, the Australian terrier has a fiery spirit and tireless energy. They get very attached to their human familiesbut prefer to be the only dog in the house. They don’t like to share family members with other dogs or cats (or anyone at all, really).

Their hypoallergenic nature is a bonus to many dog lovers, not only because they don’t affect allergies as badly but also because they don’t shed much, so there likely won’t be piles of fur around the house to pick up.

The silky terrier, also known as the Sydney silky or the Australian silky terrier, is a cross between the Australian terrier and the Yorkshire terrier. They make excellent companions for any family, but they are known to be a bit yippy. On the plus side, they will alert you if someone comes near your house, but you may not pay attention since they enjoy listening to their own bark every now and then.

They tend to be sturdier than the Yorkshire terrier, which makes them a good option for families concerned about adopting a small dog that’s more on the fragile side. And they have affectionate personalities and will gladly keep you company while you do just about anything.

The small tenterfield terrier (weighing as little as 8 pounds) is known to be good for all ages, ranging from young children to seniors. Like many terriers, they have a bold personality and are pretty confident in themselves. They seem to be on the fearless side and are very focused when they have a job to do.

They absolutely love their families and will gladly soak up any attention you offer. That refers to their human families. As for other pets, they tend to chase smaller animals and cats due to their strong prey drive, unless they have been taught not to do so since they were puppies.

The Australian staghound is a medium- to large-sized breed ranging from 55 to 90 pounds. They’re known for their protective nature combined with their loving and intelligent personalities. They have high energy levels, which means they will need a bit more exercise than the average dog to stay happy and healthy.

The bull arab is a large, tough dog that can be found hunting wild boars and other feral animals. They’re confident, loyal, and even-tempered, making them excellent companions despite their rough and tough jobs. In addition to being loving companions, they make excellent guard dogs who will protect their families.

Since this breed does have the drive and confidence to hunt large animals, as you can imagine, their personalities will be heavily influenced by what they’re taught from a young age. Socialization is important with every dog breed, but this dog breed requires an experienced pet parent who understands how to socialize the breed the best and communicate effectively in dog language.

The miniature fox terrier — called the mini foxie in Australia —was originally bred to hunt small vermin, but it has now become a family favorite. They do pretty well in any environment, whether you’re a retired individual or a family looking for an active dog that will keep up with you.

The Mini Foxie Club of America has strict breed standards. The club makes its seriousness very apparent and explicitly states that “any breeder not on our breeder's list is NOT a reputable breeder of Mini Foxies.” The reason the club is so strict is because, for decades, they have been trying to weed out a health condition called primary lens luxation.