Note to the Reader: The following is based on a response that I had given to a prospective buyer who had expressed an interest in acquiring an AT puppy, though misguided her way. She was complaining that Aussies were never advertised in the local city newspapers, and also wanted to know ( as she worked and lived in an apartment ) where she could find out which breeds were able to go the longest without a rest break ( ! ) Many of the same general questions about why breeders need to know so much about puppy buyers before they'll consider selling a puppy to them keep coming up over and over again with each new batch of puppy inquiries, so I'm hoping that my response might help others as well...


Sorry to take so long in getting back to you. Our computer was down for several days, and we are just now getting caught up on our e-mail.

Australian Terriers do indeed make ideal pets for many people — they're smart, affectionate, have a great sense of fun, and are relatively small and easy to care for. Their ability to “tune in” to their owners often causes those who've had the good fortune to own an Aussie to wonder how they ever got along without one.

It's true that Australian Terriers are hardy and adaptable, and can live just about anywhere, provided they're not kept outdoors. Their daily physical needs do include being regularly walked at the same hours at least three, preferably four times a day (in the absence of a fenced-in yard, as in your case), with lots of time and attention given to them in the evenings and on the weekends in-between. Their greatest need and joy is simply to be with their humans — and a lonely Aussie will very quickly become an unhappy Aussie. While relatively quiet compared to many terrier breeds, Aussies — like any other dog — can become barky and destructive as a way of getting attention (including the negative kind — they'll even settle for that, if they're desperate enough) when things are otherwise not well at home.

The fact that you may be narrowing your criteria to which breed can “hold it” longer than others, as well as your concerns (rightly so) over barking in an apartment building makes me wonder whether you're really ready for a dog at this point in your life. Just as any responsible breeder might, I am compelled to ask you several thought-provoking questions, such as... why do you want a dog at all? What is it exactly that you are looking for in a companion animal? Have you ever seen, or met an Australian Terrier before? Often times, people form an idealized mental image of what they think a breed is like, and are either absolutely delighted — or greatly disappointed, when their internal “dream dog” collides with reality. Others simply fall in love with the idea of dog ownership, and are unable to translate their enthusiasm for a fantasy animal into the daily “grind” of caring for a live, in-the-flesh puppy.

Are you prepared to feed and walk your dog at the same times every day — 7 days a week — regardless of the weather, your work or your social schedule? Puppies (who cannot realistically be started on a house-breaking schedule until they're at least 4 months old) require a dedicated nursery area, crate training, and a special effort to get home on one's lunch hour — sometimes with the aid of a pet sitter or professional dog walker. For singles or professional people who keep irregular hours — with no one else to reliably step in and care for the dog or puppy should social, work or travel obligations arise, ownership can prove to be a real headache.

I could go on and on about the need for basic obedience training, the cost of food, vet bills, vacation hassles, etc., but you get the idea. The intent behind such questions is not to dissuade you from owning an Australian Terrier, or any other breed of dog. Far from it — Aussies can truly be the best friends anyone could have. It's just that too often, many people fail to confront all the aspects of pet ownership when faced with the possibility and excitement of bringing a new puppy into their homes. Were they to consider their obligations more thoughtfully, it's unlikely that there would be so many dogs surrendered each and every day to the animal shelters and various breed rescue organizations by former owners who are no longer willing to shoulder their doggy responsibilities.

Can you imagine how it must feel to discover that a puppy that you helped bring into the world, carefully nurtured through its first weeks of life and later placed with high hopes into a seemingly nice home, grew up instead to be alternately abused and ignored by its owner — frustrated at the dog's “inability” to become house-broken, or to obey its master or mistress? A dog who was later found abandoned or dumped along an interstate, and finally put to death in an out-of-state pound because of physical and behavioral problems (usually stemming from laziness, ignorance or owner neglect) — all because you, the breeder, didn't make the effort to thoroughly screen and follow-up on your puppy buyers in the first place.

That is why reputable breeders will often ask so many intrusive-sounding questions during interviews with prospective buyers, and why they rarely — if ever, advertise their puppies in the newspapers. It's also why they will never, ever sell a puppy to a pet store, or to anyone without a well-written contract designed to protect the interests of all parties, including those of the animal. To do so otherwise invites and encourages impulse buying and a casual “no-questions-asked, cash-and-carry, this-weekend-only, garage-sale, antique-shopping” kind of attitude toward puppy purchases. Breeders who thrive on such transactions in turn, give little thought to the puppy's safety and well-being as to whether someone might be suited to an individual puppy's temperament, suited to the characteristics of that particular breed — or for that matter, suited to owning dogs at all!

I hope I've been able to answer some of your questions — and to help you think about what you might really want to be looking for in a companion, as well as the types of breeders you may encounter as you begin your search for the right dog for you. Please feel free to contact us again if you have any other concerns or questions about Aussies, or about our breeding program.