Australian terrier is a small dog once used to guard mines and tend sheep in Australia. People now keep these terriers chiefly as pets. They have harsh, straight coats, with a soft-haired topknot on their heads. The coats may be blue- or silver-black, with tan markings on the head and legs. The dog weighs about 12 to 14 pounds (5.4 to 6.4 kilograms). The breed originated in Australia about 1885. See also Terrier.
