Tenterfield Terrier vs Aussie Poo - Breed Comparison

Aussiepoo is a hybrid breed mix of purebred Poodle and Australian shepherd. If one of the parents is miniature Poodle, the Aussiepoo will be smaller than usual - mini Aussiepoo. We do not know precisely their origin, but we know that this beautiful mix is originating from USA, Australia and Canada.

Breeders can't really know how pups are going to look like until they are born. No one actually can control the combination of the genes. Usually, Aussiepoo is silky-fur playable and friendly dog, and that is always more than enough for Aussiepoo lovers.

The ancestors of the Tenterfield Terrier came to Australia with the British and from them came this Australian breed. The English terriers were bred to be ratters on the ships to Australia. Today’s breed is a hardy, strong, athletic and agile dog. These first dogs were miniature Fox Terriers, bred for ratting. The miniature Fox Terrier was an established breed in the late 19th century in Australia with families and was know as a Mini Foxie. The breed became a steady presence in homes by the 1920’s.

The breed might not have been named after the area of Tenterfield as many have guessed. Instead they may have been named after a breeder. The owner of the Tenterfield saddlery was called Tenterfield Saddler and he owned several of the breed. In 1990, Don Burke, a television personality suggested the breed be named the Tenterfield Terrier.

The Miniature Fox Terrier Club of South Australia. Now there were several clubs in Australia and a lot of disagreement about exactly what type of dog a miniature fox terrier was. Some did not think the name was legitimate, but they wanted recognition from the Australian National Kennel Club (ANKC). So, they became the Tenterfield Terrier Club of Australia in 1993. They were recognized by 2002.

Today the breed standard for the Tenterfield Terrier is different from the one for the Miniature Fox Terrier. They are now entirely separate breeds. In addition to the ANKC, the breed is recognized by the New Zealand Kennel Club but not by the AKC. It is also recognized by the American Pet Registry, Inc, the American Canine Registry and the Dog Registry of America, Inc.

Every Aussiepoo depends on the size of the Poodle that was bred. If the parents are smaller than usual, the puppies will be smaller. Their colour also depends on the colour of the parents, and a litter can have puppies of a different colour. Their bodies are usually very muscled, with strong bones, but if you are not an outdoor type, there is a chance that your Aussiepoo will be obese. They are very active and they need a well-balanced diet.

These dogs are easy to train since they are intelligent and people oriented and you can train them while they are still puppies. Aussiepoo is generally friendly with strangers, always ready to play with children and they get along with other pets and animals. This breed is very affectionate and they like their humans to be close so it’s not recommendable to raise them to be loners.

The Tenterfield Terrier is square and compact. He has a head shaped like a wedge and unusual in the terrier group. They have pricked ears and are predominantly white mixed with tan or black. They could also be tri-colored in black/tan and white or tan/liver and white. They have naturally occurring bob tails or docked tails. The nose is usually black unless the dog is liver colored, they have liver noses. The jaws are strong, and lips are tight with a strong neck.

Children friendliness

Aussiepoo is a friendly kind. They are always ready to run and play with children, and they will tend to keep the children together (genes of the Australian shepherd). They are so playful that they will see no difference between an infant and a five-year-old, so be present if there are small children unstable to walk alone.

Special talent

Except the fact that they love water and that they are great swimmers, they have many agility talents.

Adaptability

Since Aussiepoo is a loving, caring and sweet kind of dog, they will fit in anywhere you take them.

They are super friendly with strangers, and that can be an issue if you don’t keep an eye on them. But, they should never be left alone, or leash free outdoors. They are not so good as a guard dog, so if you tend to keep him inside with stay-at-home family member, this breed if no a good choice.

Learning ability

They generally learn quickly. Therefore, they are easy to train. They respond better to the prize training methods.

1.Children friendliness – yes like most other terriers they love kids.

2.Special talents –high prey drive and sense of smell.

3.Adaptability – they need space even though they are small. They need a lot of exercise. They can adapt if they get another exercise. They can live in apartments and can play indoors as well as out.

4.Learning ability – They are extremely intelligent, but they can be stubborn like all terriers.

Risk of: eye cataracts, hip dysplasia (malformation of the ball and socket joint), epilepsy, progressive retinal atrophy (degeneration of the retina cusing progressive vision loss culminating in blindness), sebaceous sdenitis (an inflammatory skin disease that affects the skin glands), bloat, nasal solar dermatitis (sun sensitivity).

Pelger - Huet syndrome (abnormalities in blood cells. PHA testing is advised with this dog breed. PHA is inherited and dangerous only if both parents carry this abnormality.)

Von Willebrand's Disease (inherited bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency in the amount of a specific protein needed for blood clotting. It can be detected by buccal mucosal screening.)

They are small in stature and because of their face they seem to have dental issues. The breed does not have a lot of health issues but deals with the same issues as many small terriers. Not all members of the breed are susceptible to these, but some are just like the Australian Terrier.

1. Legg-Perthes Disease – hip disorder occurring in puppies.

2. Cruciate Ligament Rupture – Weakness can cause this to happen.

3. Seizures – Can be medicated.

4. Patellar Luxation – Moving kneecap can cause pain and lameness.

5. Diabetes – rare but does happen.

Feeding the puppy

It would be great to establish a feeding routine while the Aussiepoo is still a puppy. The best advice is to feed them three times a day, with the last meal around 5 p.m. After they finish their meal, leave them for a while. Make sure to feed your puppy with high-quality food rich in nutrients, and follow the recommendation of the dosage of the food. Avoid cheap dog food and addition meals.

Feeding the adult

Once you made a healthy feeding habit and your Aussiepoo is 6 months old, they won’t need three meals per a day. Leave the meal set for the morning and the one set for the evening. Avoiding night meals is a must. Don’t start any activity with the dog right after the meal. Make sure your dog has plenty of fresh water.

Points for Good Health

Activity, outdoor games, nutritional and balanced meals are the key for an Aussiepoo.

Games and Exercises

This breed is extremely intelligent. Since they are easy to train, you will be able to take them with you anywhere you go. They love to play in the water, but make sure they are not exposed to the sun for too long. They like smart games, mentally challenging, and they will be very playful with other dogs.

1.Feeding the puppy – Don’t overfeed but do feed high quality puppy food for small breeds and terriers.

2.Feeding the adult – This is an active breed but don’t overfeed. Feed a high quality adult dog food for terriers or small breeds. Feed 2 times a day.

3.Points for Good Health – the breed has a lot of stamina and energy.

4. Games and Exercises – The breed has a high energy level and needs a lot of exercise. He is a terrier and loves to “go to ground”. Play activities that allow him to do that are best. He plays barn hunt, lure coursing and terrier specific competitions.