Australian Terrier vs Cairn Terrier
Compare the Australian Terrier to the Cairn Terrier. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Australian Terriers and Cairn Terriers.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - Both breeds are good choices for new or inexperienced owners, but the Cairn Terrier is better suited for new owners.
- Children - Both breeds are child friendly, but the Cairn Terrier is the most friendly between the breeds.
- Grooming - Both the Australian Terrier and Cairn Terrier are very low maintenance and easy to groom.
- Barking - Both the Australian Terrier and Cairn Terrier are very vocal and will bark/howl frequently.
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| Breed Name | Australian Terrier | Cairn Terrier |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | Yes | Yes |
| Lifespan | 11-14 yrs. | 14-15 yrs. |
| Height | 9-11 in. | 9-10 in. |
| Weight | 12-16 lb | 10-14 lb |
| Intelligence | High | High |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Australia | UK (Scotland) |
| Origin Year | 1820 AD | 1900 AD |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | No | Yes |
| Indoor | Yes | Yes |
| Small Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Medium Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Large Yard | Yes | No |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 50°F to 80°F | 20°F to 80°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | Very High | Medium |
| Exercise Required | High-Very High | Medium |
| Top Running Speed | 20 mph | 18 mph |
| Strength | Low | Low |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Low | Medium |
| Shedding | Low | None-Low |
| Dander | Low | None-Low |
| Drool Amount | None | None |
¹This is estimated min/max temperature range for a healthy adult dog. Dogs that live indoors, puppies, seniors, unwell dogs, and/or dogs with improperly groomed coats may overheat sooner and get cold more quickly.
| Breed Name | Australian Terrier | Cairn Terrier |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | No | No |
| Family/Pack | Yes | No |
| Independent | No | Yes |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | Yes | No |
| Average | No | Yes |
| Focused & Patient | No | No |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Below Average | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Below Average | Average |
| Chasing | Average | Average |
| Follow Commands | Average | Below Average |
| Fighting | Below Average | Below Average |
| Guarding | Below Average | Below Average |
| Herding | Below Average | Below Average |
| Hunting | Average | High |
| Protection | Below Average | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | High | High |
| Sledding | Very Low | Very Low |
| Watch | High | Average |
| Breed Name | Australian Terrier | Cairn Terrier |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 11-14 yrs. | 14-15 yrs. |
| Common Health Issues | ||
| Cataracts | No | Yes |
| Craniomandibular Osteopathy | No | Yes |
| Cryptorchidism | No | Yes |
| Glaucoma | No | Yes |
| Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy | No | Yes |
| Hypothyroidism | No | Yes |
| Legg-perthes Disease | No | Yes |
| Luxating Patella | No | Yes |
| Microvascular Dysplasia | No | Yes |
| Portosystemic Vascular Anomaly | No | Yes |
| Progressive Retinal Atrophy | No | Yes |
| Breed Name | Australian Terrier | Cairn Terrier |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | No |
| Hair | No | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Double Coat | Yes | No |
| Wire Coat | No | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Rough | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Medium | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black | Yes | Yes |
| Black & Red | Yes | No |
| Black & Tan | Yes | No |
| Blue & Tan | Yes | No |
| Red | Yes | Yes |
| Sandy | Yes | No |
| White | Yes | No |
| Black Brindle | No | Yes |
| Brindle | No | Yes |
| Cream | No | Yes |
| Cream Brindle | No | Yes |
| Red Brindle | No | Yes |
| Red Wheaten | No | Yes |
| Silver | No | Yes |
| Silver Brindle | No | Yes |
| Silver Wheaten | No | Yes |
| Wheaten | No | Yes |
| Wheaten Brindle | No | Yes |