Australian Terrier

Book excerpt: This Comprehensive Owner’s Guide to the Australian Terrier serves as a complete introduction to Australia’s best-kept secret. One of Australia’s five indigenous purebred dogs, the Australian Terrier ranks high among the world’s working terriers and naturally excels as a fun, devoted family dog. Terrier breed authority, Muriel P. Lee provides an insightful chapter on the breed’s history Down Under and its development in the States as well as engaging chapters on the characteristics and the breed standard, encapsulating all of the virtues of this happy terrier breed with the hard-bitten, rugged appearance. She offers sound advice about which owners are best suited to own the Australian Terrier, based on the breed’s temperament and requirements. New owners will welcome the well-prepared chapter on finding a breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy. Chapters on puppy-proofing the home and yard, purchasing the right supplies for the puppy as well as house-training, feeding, and grooming are illustrated with handsome adults and puppies bursting with energy and personality! In all, there are over 135 photographs in this compact, useful, and reliable volume. The author’s advice on obedience training the game and ready Aussie will help readers better mold and train their dogs into the most socialized, well-mannered terrier in the neighborhood. The extensive chapter on healthcare written by Harvard vet Dr. Lowell Ackerman provides detailed information on selecting a qualified veterinarian, vaccinations, parasites, infectious diseases, and more. Sidebars throughout the text offer helpful hints, covering topics as diverse as toxic plants, bloat, first aid, crate training, carsickness, fussy eaters, and parasite control. Fully indexed.