Australian Dog Breeds -
Aussie Canines Bred For The Outback

Are you looking for a new puppy to add to the family?

Then you’re probably wondering about Australian dog breeds: what’s better than looking for local pups right? Our team loves Aussie breeds, and there are plenty of options to choose from. 

Here are our absolute favourites!

What Makes Australian Dog Breeds Special?

Sporty, agile and, let’s face it, beautiful to watch, Australian dog breeds stand out from the crowd. Have you ever looked at a dog and just thought: “that’s an Aussie right there!”? We know we have! There’s something distinctive about dog breeds in Australia, mainly because of how these pups were selected.

Even though dog breeding in Australia is more recent than in other parts of the world (like the UK and Europe), the first colonial settlers quickly started developing dogs adapted to our unique land [1]. That’s why many Australian dogs share these characteristics:

• Hard-working: Dogs in Australia weren’t thought of as companions for the first couple of centuries. In the beginning, people that migrated here needed dogs to work on the land in different capacities. Because of it, all native Australian dogs were initially developed as working dogs to help with cattle, hunting, and guarding.
• Tough: Australian weather can be extreme, so dogs developed here were bred to handle tough conditions. Aussie pups do better than other breeds in extreme heat and cold, all while keeping activity levels high and excelling at their job [2].
• Medium to large: Of course, this isn’t a hard-and-fast rule, but most Australian dog breeds aren’t petite. Since these dogs were created to work, their size depended on their job. Herding cattle and helping to hunt is easier with medium to large dogs, so that’s why most of our breeds are that size.
• Very active: These dogs were initially working aids, so it’s no wonder they have incredibly high energy levels. This is great for life on farms, but it might prove difficult if you plan on getting an Australian breed as a pet. Get ready for tons of walking, running, and playing!
• Smart and independent: When the first British and Irish settlers starting developing farms in Australia, there was significantly more land than people (or dogs). That’s why Australian dog breeds needed to be smart and work independently: most of the time their handler wasn’t near as they handled cattle! As a result, Australian breeds are quick to make decisions and generally trust their own judgement better. If you want to adopt one of these as a pet, you’ll have to work around this tendency!

Should I Get an Australian Dog Breed?

This is a highly personal question, but as you can see, there are some lifestyle habits that are a must when you adopt an Australian dog.

If you want any of these breeds, it’s important to understand these are working dogs. This means they have very high activity needs and do better with an active family. On the other hand, Australian dog breeds can be difficult to train for newbies because they are smart and independent. If you’ve never trained a dog before, starting your journey with an Aussie might be taxing on your skills and patience. 

Of course, if you’re up for a challenge, these breeds could be a good option. They are loyal, smart and funny, so there will never be a boring moment.

Are Dingoes an Australian Dog Breed?

The Australian Dingo is one of the most ancient dog breeds in the world! In fact, researchers believe this breed is at least 3,000 years old. This is a naturally developed breed, meaning there was almost zero human intervention in their breeding. Because of it, they are quite healthy and don’t have a lot of genetic diseases.

But Australian dingoes aren’t pets. This is important to remember: Dingoes are wildlife and shouldn’t be kept at home! These wild dogs aren’t meant to be part of a human family: they have a very high prey drive, are territorial and can’t be easily domesticated. Depending on your state, there are laws that discourage or even completely prohibit dingo tenancy at home. In most cases, you’ll have to get a license to own a dingo and then comply with local laws regarding having a safe enclosure and enough fenced space.

Overall, we don’t recommend trying to get a dingo as a pet. They should be protected as native wildlife!

• Did you know? Australian dingoes can do more than bark! In fact, researchers have distinguished nine different laryngeal sounds and two nasal sounds when they communicate with their pack in the wild [3].

Dog Breeds Australia: Our Native Dogs

Australian dog breeds are regulated by the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC). Of course, their list includes breeds from all over the world, including native Australian pups! If you want to check the updated list, check the official site here. Here are some of the most iconic Australian dog breeds you can adopt:

The Australian Kelpie

These popular pups are one of the better-known Australian working dog breeds. Originally developed to herd sheep through long distances in uneven terrain, the Kelpie is very athletic and thrives working independently.

Kelpies are known for their very distinctive way of herding: they will jump on sheep’s backs to get from one side to the other! Because they aren’t very heavy, they don’t hurt the sheep and it’s a great way to keep the herd moving.

Related: The Australian Kelpie Breed Profile

Of course, their impressive athleticism is evident in their looks: these dogs are muscular, tight and compact. If you want to adopt a Kelpie, it’s important to consider their exercise needs. Kelpies need at least one hour of moderate exercise per day, and weekly high-intensity sessions. These dogs would rather get out and go with you on errands than stay copped up at home. If you have the time to dedicate to consistent training and already live an active lifestyle, this might be the breed for you!

Interested in adopting a Kelpie? We recommend looking into local rescue centres. Kelpies have become more popular but this also means more dogs get abandoned every year. Because they can be hard to train and need tons of exercise, many families give up altogether. Here are a few groups where you can adopt a dog waiting for their forever home:

The Australian Cattle Dog

Also known as Blue Heeler or Australian Blue Heeler, these energetic pups are also quintessentially Aussie - now more than ever thanks to the popular children's cartoon "Bluey". For those looking for a companion for everyday life, this might be the right choice!

Blue Heelers are working dogs: they are incredibly smart and one of the most loyal dogs out there. They are muscular, compact and incredibly active. Because of their working past, they need at least one hour of moderate exercise per day, on top of some extra mental stimulation. If you fail to provide adequate physical and mental exercise, Cattle dogs will become destructive and sometimes aggressive.

Related: Most Loyal Dog Breeds

This dog is a good option for families that already live a very active lifestyle and have experience training other dogs. Because this breed has a very strong prey drive, recall training is a must and training sessions will be a lifelong commitment. In a similar fashion to Kelpies, Cattle dogs have risen in popularity but they are also one of the breeds abandoned most often.

If you’re interested in a Cattle dog, we strongly recommend going the adoption route. Plus, you can always volunteer as a foster family: this way you’ll get a taste of what sharing your life with a Blue Heeler is like, without the 10 year commitment. Here are some rescues that might have your dream dog:

Australian Silky Terrier

Surprised to see this toy pup? The Australian Silky Terrier is often known as just Silky Terrier and it was developed here in Australia!

This small Australian dog breed is closely related to the Yorkshire Terrier, and is a spunky addition for families of all sizes. Developed as a companion, this is not a regular lap dog. Due to their terrier origins, Silky terriers are very active and have a strong prey drive. This means you can’t skip training altogether!

These dogs were occasionally used for hunting, so they need their daily exercise. Luckily, their small size makes it easy to fit enough exercise with a quick sprint around the block once or twice a day. Because of their breeding, these dogs are affectionate and highly trainable. They do well with kids but won’t hesitate to nip if they’re being treated roughly. Overall, these are a great addition to any family!

Australian Staghound

This is a rare Australian dog breed and one that isn’t officially recognised. These hunters are a fairly recent breed (in comparison with others developed in the 19^th century) and don’t have a set breed profile.

In general, they have a strong prey drive and were developed to help in different types of hunting, from kangaroos to boars and rabbits. They do better with larger prey because of their size: they are usually medium sized.

Staghounds are the result of crossing Greyhounds and other local working dogs, and because of this, they are usually regarded as a Greyhound variant. These dogs are really active and will need plenty of consistent exercise to stay happy.

There are no breed-specific rescues or associations, so they are pretty rare and you’ll probably only find one mislabeled as a Greyhound Cross. If you’re curious, contact any of these rescues:

Tenterfield Terrier

These rare Australian dogs are only recognised by the ANKC! Nevertheless, we think they are great pups for many people.

Tenterfield's are compact, highly active dogs with the bold personality of other Terriers. They are small and can do great in small apartments if you provide enough training and daily exercise. These dogs loosely resemble other small terriers like the Miniature Fox Terriers and other white-and-brown pups. Here is the full breed profile if you’re interested!

Because this is a pretty rare native Australian dog breed, there aren’t any breed-specific rescues or adoption centres. Nevertheless, we always recommend adopting instead of buying. Dogs are a big commitment and even when they are small, they have exercise and training needs that you’ll need to fulfil. Meeting dogs before adopting and volunteering as a foster is a great way to test the waters and see if it’s for you! Here are a few rescues you can check:

Bull Arab

This is probably one of the rarest Australian dog breeds on the list. The Bull Arab is pretty uncommon, mainly because they were developed as a specialised Australian hunting dog breed. They were selected to hunt wild pigs and can actually smell one from up to six kilometres away!

Bull Arabs were developed in the 70's to track wild pigs, and have the strength necessary to help with hunting. Initially bred by mixing Bull Terriers, Pointers and Greyhounds, these are medium-to-large and have an athletic build.

These dogs aren’t officially recognised by any club, but some breeders want them to become a legal breed. There’s been some push back because there have been scandals about Bull Arabs being “aggressive”. These claims are unfounded: according to statistics there isn’t a higher incidence of aggression among Bull Arabs than any other breed [4], and the accidents with livestock that have happened were due to neglect on the owners (fail to train and to secure the dogs).

In general, these dogs are like any other working breed: they need consistent training, daily exercise, and plenty of mental stimulation. If you’re interested in this breed, get in touch with your local RSPCA. They’ll probably know how to get in touch with a breeder or a pup looking for a forever home.

Common Mistakes About Australian Dog Breeds

Many breeds often associated with Australia are actually from somewhere else entirely! That’s why you won’t see them in today’s list. Here are some common breeds you might think are from Australia, but were developed elsewhere:

The Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds are in fact not Australian at all! This might be weird, considering they are registered with the country’s name! These dogs were developed in the United States in California ranches [3].

Aussie Shepherds were bred as an all-in-one working dog to handle livestock, and their name came because they initially only herded Australian sheep! Of course, this isn’t the case nowadays, and they’ve become a popular breed in Australia as well.

The Border Collie

The quintessential Australian dog breed… or is it? Regardless of what it looks like, Border Collies aren’t Australian!

Border Collies originated in the Anglo-Scottish border in the UK, hence their name! These dogs are very similar to traditional English Collies and were bred as versatile working dogs to herd livestock and help on the farm.

However, their association with Australia runs deep, and Collies were first introduced to these lands in 1858. Since then, they’ve become one of the most popular working dog breeds and has become pretty much a national breed. Because they are so widely used to herd livestock and help with farm life, Australia is also considered the country of development of the Border Collie [6].

Final Thoughts

Most dog breeds in Australia were developed as working dogs, so it’s no wonder they are all very active and smart. If you’re interested in one of them, you’ll probably have to invest daily time in walks, training and mental work. If you’re up for a challenge, any of these amazing breeds can make a great family dog!

Do you have a favourite Australian dog breed? Let us know in the comments below!

References

1. Shariflou MR, et al. (2011). "A genealogical survey of Australian registered dog breeds". The Veterinary Journal, 189(2), August 2011, pp 203-210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.06.020 
2. King T, et al. (2009). "Describing the ideal Australian companion dog". Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 120(1-2), August 2009, pp 84-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2009.04.011 
3. Déaux ÉC, Clarke, JA. (2013). "Dingo (Canis lupus dingo) acoustic repertoire: form and contexts". Behaviour, 150, 2013, pp 75-101. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jennifer-Clarke-16/publication/260159975_Dingo_Canis_lupus_dingo_acoustic_repertoire_Form_and_contexts/links/5a9971c20f7e9be37963cc57/Dingo-Canis-lupus-dingo-acoustic-repertoire-Form-and-contexts.pdf
4. Mortimer, L. March 20, 2017. "Mackay locals just as likely to be attacked by a Jack Russel". The Courier Mail.  Retrieved August 7, 2023. https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/mackay/mackay-locals-just-as-likely-to-be-attacked-by-a-jack-russell/news-story/098e8949d17616ff2fbae516faf9e8f6
5. Swan RA. (1980). "Origin of the Australian shepherd dog (German collie)". Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 176(2), 1980, pp 92-93.  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7353993/
6. "Border Collie". Dogs NSW. Retrieved August 7, 2023. https://www.dogsnsw.org.au/Breeds/browse-all-breeds/133/Border-Collie/