FCI-Standard N°8/ 12. 03. 1998 /GB
AUSTRALIAN TERRIER
ORIGIN : Australia.

DATE OF PUBLICATION OF THE VALID ORIGINAL STANDARD : 14.02.1995.

UTILIZATION : Terrier.

CLASSIFICATION FCI :  Group  3   Terriers.
                      Section 2   Small-sized Terriers.
                      Without working trial.

GENERAL APPEARANCE : A  sturdy low-set dog, rather  long in proportion to height  with  strong  Terrier character,  alertness,  activity  and soundness.   Its untrimmed, harsh coat  with definite ruff around  the neck extending to  the breastbone and its  long strong head assist  in developing its hard bitten,  rugged appearance.

BEHAVIOUR / TEMPERAMENT :
Essentially a working terrier, but its loyalty and even disposition make it equally suitable as a companion dog.

HEAD

CRANIAL REGION :
Skull :  Long, flat, of moderate width, full between the eyes.  Covered with a soft topknot.
Stop : Slight  but definite.

FACIAL REGION :
Nose : Black, of moderate size, the leather extending to the bridge of muzzle.
Muzzle : Strong  and powerful, equal in length  to that of the skull; the muzzle must be strong and not fall away under the eyes.  The length and strength of the muzzle are essential to give the strong, punishing jaw.
Lips : Black, tight and clean.
Jaws/Teeth : Jaws strong  and punishing, teeth large  and evenly spaced, the upper incisors  fitting closely  over the  lower (scissor bite).
Eyes :  The eyes  shall be small, oval,  with keen expression, and  of
dark brown colour, set well apart and not prominent.
Ears :  The  ears  are small,  erect,  pointed, well  carried, set  on
moderately wide,  free  from  long hair  and  sensitive  in their  use
(puppies under six months excepted).

NECK : The neck is of good length, slightly arched, strong and flowing into the well angulated (well-laid) shoulders.

BODY : Long in  proportion to height, strongly  constructed. In considering the  body, attention must be paid  to the opening description,  "a sturdy low set dog, rather long in proportion to height".
Back : Level topline.
Loins : Strong.
Chest : Of moderate depth and width, with well sprung ribs.  Forechest well developed, brisket relatively deep.

TAIL : Docked, set on high, and well carried, but not over the back.

LIMBS

FOREQUARTERS :  Well boned, straight and parallel when viewed from the front. The legs aree slightly feathered towards the wrist.
Pasterns : Strong, without slope.

HINDQUARTERS : Moderate length of quarters, broad. Viewed from behind they  should be parallel from hock to feet, neither too wide nor too close.
Thighs :Strong and muscular.
Stifles : Well turned.
Hocks : Well bent and let  down.

FEET :  Small,  round,  compact, well  padded, toes  closely knit  and
moderately arched.   Turned neither in nor  out, with strong black  or
dark toenails.

GAIT / MOVEMENT  : The action  to be  free, true, springy and  forceful.  When viewed  from the  front, the  forelegs should move truly  without looseness of shoulder, elbows  or pasterns.  The  hindquarters to have drive and power, with free movement of stifles and hocks.  Viewed from the rear the legs from the hocks to the ground to be parallel, neither too close nor too wide.

COAT

HAIR :  The body  coat consists  of a  harsh straight  dense top  coat
approximately 6  centimeters  (approx.2  1/2") long  with  short  soft
textured undercoat.  The  muzzle, lower legs and  feet to be free from
long hair.

COLOUR :
a)  Blue, steel blue or  dark grey blue, with  rich tan (not sandy)  on face,  ears,  under body,  lower  legs  and feet  and  around  vent puppies excepted).  The richer the colour and more clearly defined the better.  Smuttiness  is objectionable.  Topknot blue, silver or a lighter shade than head colour.
b) Clear sandy or red,  any smuttiness or dark shadings objectionable.     A topknot of a lighter shade is acceptable.
c) In any colour, white markings on chest or feet must be penalised.

SIZE AND WEIGHT :
Height  :  The  desirable   height  is  approximately  25  centimeters
(approx.10 ins.) at the withers, with bitches slightly less.
Weight  :  The  desirable   weight  is  approximately  6.5   kilograms
(approx.14 lbs.) for dogs, with bitches slightly less.

FAULTS : Any departure  from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and  the seriousness with which  the fault should be  regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree.

N.B. : Male animals  should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.