Australian Tenterfield Terrier
Group: Terrier Group
Origin: Australia
Height: 25.5 cm to 30.5 cm (10-12 inches) – (Ideal height is 28 cm (11 inches)
Weight: Weight is in proportion to the size of the dog.
Dalvale White Cloud “Banjo”
Photo: Sirius Kennels
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Breed Profile
The Tenterfield Terrier is a true terrier. He is a strong, active and agile working terrier. He is confident, eager to learn, loyal and, although fearless and bold at work, he is an ideal companion dog for people of all ages, including children and the elderly.
The Tenterfield’s coat is short and smooth in texture. He is predominantly white with black, liver and/or tan markings of various shades. Tri-colouring is also common in the breed — white with black markings and tan cheeks and/or tan above the eyes and/or tan breeches — and brindle markings, although not preferred, are acceptable.
A Brief History of the Tenterfield Terrier
The Australian Tenterfield Terrier is a new breed developed in Australia. The breed was recognized by the Australian National Kennel Council in 2002 but is not yet recognized by any other major registry.
The breed originated in England where Fox hunters used Fox Terriers and Fox Terrier type dogs. However, the hunters found that they needed a smaller dog to send down the fox holes and to use in hunting various other vermin. It is believed that the Fox Terrier was crossed to other breeds in order to bring their size down and breeds thought to be included in the outcrossings include: the Chihuahua, Whippet, Miniature Pinscher, and Italian Greyhound. During this time, the resulting breed came to be known as the “Miniature Fox Terrier.”
Early settlers to Australia brought these “Miniature Fox Terriers” with them as working dogs to hunt rats, rabbits, fox and other vermin. Over the next century, the dogs became very common both in Australia and England, not only as working terriers but also as family companions. During all of this time, however, there was never a breed registry established and the breed continued to be known as the “Miniature Fox Terrier.” In the early 1990s, a group of interested dog owners wanted to secure the future of this terrier breed. Soon, clubs were established in New South Wales, Southern and Western Australia, and the breed registry was established with its first entries in January 1991. By 1992, the name Tenterfield Terrier was chosen as the “Miniature Fox Terrier” name was found to be inappropriate because the breed was not a miniature version of the Fox Terrier. The Tenterfield Terrier Club of Australia was founded in 1993 and now handles all breed registrations.
Health Issues
If you are considering the adoption of a Australian Tenterfield Terrier puppy, or any breed, it is very important to be selective in choosing a responsible and reputable breeder. Ensure that the prospective puppy’s parents have all health clearances. Breeding of any dog should not be done until after they have been proven to be free of evidence of significant hereditary diseases. (For more information on selecting a breeder, see the articles on the General Information page.)
Additional Health Resources:
- Health and Nutrition — This section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website includes information on several health and nutrition related issues.
- Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) — Providing a source of health information for owners, breeders, and scientists that will assist in breeding healthy dogs. CHIC is a centralized canine health database jointly sponsored by the AKC/Canine Health Foundation (AKC/CHF) and the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
- AKC Canine Health Foundation — Working towards developing scientific advances in canine health.
- OFA – Companion Animal Eye Registry (CAER)
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA)
- Ontario Veterinary College (OVC)
- University of Pennsylvania Hip Improvement Program (PennHip)
- HealthGene — HealthGene Corporation is the leading provider of veterinary DNA diagnostic services in Canada.
- Labgenvet — Laboratory of Veterinary Genetics is a Canadian diagnostic laboratory that offers a comprehensive service of DNA tests for veterinary genetic diseases.
Grooming Information
- Grooming — This section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website includes tips, articles and information covering all aspects of dog grooming along with a listing of Groomers from across Canada.
Training Resources
- Training — For training information, see this section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website for tips, articles, as well as listings of training centres across Canada.
Additional Information
- Clubs, Sports & Activities — For information on the many sports and activities you can get involved in with your dog.
- Working Dogs — The Working Dogs section of the Canada’s Guide to Dogs website provides information and listings of organizations that are involved in various dog jobs, such as Guide Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, Protection Dogs, and much more.
Breed Listing
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