How long does a Australian Terrier live?

The listed lifespan for a Australian Terrier is 11–15 years.

How tall is a Australian Terrier?

The listed height for a Australian Terrier is 10–11 in.

Is a Australian Terrier good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Australian Terrier is 5 out of 5.

When is a Australian Terrier full grown?

The growth size band for a Australian Terrier is 8–12 months.

Terrier Group

Australian Terrier

Australian Terrier is a small dog in the Terrier Group. Adult weight is 15–20 lb, height is 10–11 in, and the listed lifespan is 11–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Courageous, Affectionate, Spirited.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Australian Terrier dog — Photo: Lilly M · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan11–15 years

Weight15–20 lb

SizeSmall GroupTerrier Group

Height

10–11 in

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

1 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13 years is about 0.6 years shorter than the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 17.5 lb is about 1.5 lb heavier than the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is Australia. The coat is described as double, rough, medium. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.6 points below the group average of 3.6 for the Terrier Group. Shedding scores 1 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 150 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, and Thyroid Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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