Australian Terrier vs Irish Terrier
Compare the Australian Terrier to the Irish Terrier. Use the tool below to compare temperament, size, personality, maintenance requirements, and everything else between Australian Terriers and Irish Terriers.
Quick Summary
- Owner Experience - Both the Australian Terrier and the Irish Terrier are good for new owners, but the Australian Terrier is a slightly better choice.
- Children - Both breeds are child friendly, but the Irish Terrier is the most friendly between the breeds.
- Grooming - The Australian Terrier is easy to groom while the Irish Terrier has moderate grooming needs.
- Barking - Both the Australian Terrier and Irish Terrier are very vocal and will bark/howl frequently.
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| Breed Name | Australian Terrier | Irish Terrier |
| General Details | ||
| Breed Type | Purebred | Purebred |
| Is Hypoallergenic | Yes | Maybe |
| Lifespan | 11-14 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Height | 9-11 in. | 16-18 in. |
| Weight | 12-16 lb | 21-27 lb |
| Intelligence | High | Average |
| History | ||
| Origin Country | Australia | Ireland |
| Origin Year | 1820 AD | 1875 AD |
| Temperament | ||
| Overall Friendliness | ||
| Family Friendly | ||
| Kid Friendly | ||
| Pet Friendly | ||
| Stranger Friendly | ||
| Personality | ||
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| Living Environment | ||
| Apartment | No | No |
| Indoor | Yes | No |
| Small Yard | Yes | No |
| Medium Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Large Yard | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature Tolerance ¹ | 50°F to 80°F | 40°F to 70°F |
| Barks/Howls | ||
| Exercise Needs | ||
| Energy Level | Very High | High |
| Exercise Required | High-Very High | High |
| Top Running Speed | 20 mph | 22 mph |
| Strength | Low | High |
| Grooming Needs | ||
| Coat Maintenance | Low | Medium |
| Shedding | Low | None-Low |
| Dander | Low | Low |
| Drool Amount | None | None-Low |
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 | Irish Terrier |
| Breed Mentality | ||
| Dominant/Alpha | No | No |
| Family/Pack | Yes | No |
| Independent | No | Yes |
| Breed Focus | ||
| Distracted Easily | Yes | Yes |
| Average | No | No |
| Focused & Patient | No | No |
| Breed Instincts | ||
| Aggression | Below Average | Below Average |
| Burrow/Digging | Below Average | High |
| Chasing | Average | High |
| Follow Commands | Average | Average |
| Fighting | Below Average | Average |
| Guarding | Below Average | Below Average |
| Herding | Below Average | Below Average |
| Hunting | Average | High |
| Protection | Below Average | Below Average |
| Remove Vermin | High | Below Average |
| Sledding | Very Low | Very Low |
| Watch | High | Average |
| Breed Name | Australian Terrier | Irish Terrier |
| Lifespan | ||
| Lifespan | 11-14 yrs. | 12-15 yrs. |
| Breed Name | Australian Terrier | Irish Terrier |
| Coat | ||
| Fur | Yes | No |
| Hair | No | Yes |
| Coat Type | ||
| Double Coat | Yes | No |
| Single Coat | No | Yes |
| Wire Coat | No | Yes |
| Coat Texture | ||
| Rough | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Length(s) | ||
| Medium | Yes | Yes |
| Coat Color(s) | ||
| Black | Yes | No |
| Black & Red | Yes | No |
| Black & Tan | Yes | No |
| Blue & Tan | Yes | No |
| Red | Yes | Yes |
| Sandy | Yes | No |
| White | Yes | No |
| Red Wheaten | No | Yes |
| Wheaten | No | Yes |