Australian Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier

An Australian Terrier
Photo: Ketterechts
A Yorkshire Terrier
Photo: Joselodos

Side by side

Australian Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
Adult weight
6.8–9.1 kg (15–20 lb) (breed club figure)1
Males 4.1–7 kg (9.1–15 lb); females 3.6–5.9 kg (7.8–13 lb) (measured in UK vet records, n = 28,032, middle 50%)2
Height
Males 25.4–27.9 cm; females 25.4–27.9 cm (breed club figure)1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
No sourced figure
Median 13.3 years3
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Terriers5
Terriers6
Coat
Wire or harsh coat5
Long coat6
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Sheds through the year
Grooming
A brush once a week
Daily brushing
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
No sourced figure
Dry eye (much more likely); Kneecap slipping out of place (much more likely)7,8
Class
Companion
Lap dog

Which suits you

Size
The Australian Terrier is larger on average: about 8 kg (18 lb) as an adult, against 5.1 kg (11 lb) for the Yorkshire Terrier.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Australian Terrier holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out, the Yorkshire Terrier sheds through the year.
Grooming
The Yorkshire Terrier needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Australian Terrier needs a brush once a week.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Australian Terrier: affectionate on its own terms; Yorkshire Terrier: a lap or leaning dog) and on loyalty (Australian Terrier: bonded to its family; Yorkshire Terrier: sticks close to its people).
Alike
Both are rated the same on independence: decides for itself.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Australian Terrier
Terriers · Small

In temperament it is spirited, alert and self-assured, quick to bark and keen to dig, yet generally affectionate and steady with its own household.

Yorkshire Terrier
Terriers · Small

In temperament the breed keeps much of the terrier in a small frame: alert, bold and quick to bark at strangers, yet affectionate with its household.

The Australian Terrier page →The Yorkshire Terrier page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Australian Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Australian Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Decides for itself
Decides for itself
Around the home
Australian Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
Sensitivity
Differs
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Average
Voice
Differs
Barks to alert, then settles
Very vocal
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Australian Terrier grows to the heavier adult, about 8 kg against the Yorkshire Terrier's 5.3 kg.
Australian Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
02.557.5102m4m6m9m12m18m
02.557.5102m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Australian Terrier with
West Highland White Terrier vs Yorkshire TerrierAustralian Terrier vs Cairn TerrierMiniature Schnauzer vs Yorkshire TerrierNorwich Terrier vs Yorkshire TerrierShih Tzu vs Yorkshire TerrierNorfolk Terrier vs Yorkshire TerrierAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·