Performance and Companion
Australian Terriers can be great performance dogs. They were bred to be jacks and jills of all trades around farms and their duties included herding livestock, killing vermin and venomous snakes. However, they were also the first terrier bred to be a companion, small enough to curl up on the hearth (or bed) at night. This resulted in a fast, agile independent working dog during the day and a companion at night.
The Australian Terrier has grown in recognition and popularity over the years and has had its share of wins in the Breed, Group, and Best in Show rings. There has been notable participation, although less widely known, in the companion and performance and family pet events as well. There are currently thirteen different venues in which Aussies can obtain titles: Conformation, Obedience, Rally, Earthdog, Tracking, Coursing Ability and Fast CAT, Agility, Barnhunt, Dock Diving, Scent Work, and Therapy Dog Plus the CGC and Trick Dog Family Pet and Citizenship program. Aussies have achieved advanced level, titles in each of these, including Obedience Trial Champions (OTCH), Rally Champions (RACH,) Master Agility Champions (MACH) and Endurance Earthdog ( EE).
It is noteworthy that many of our companion and performance dogs are also breed champions, and many are breeder or owner handled to their other titles. There is a bond that comes from working with your dog for hours each day, for weeks and even years to get them ready for an obedience or rally or agility event. And many of these dog-handler teams go on to compete together for years. Each of these exhibitors has some really funny training stories that they could share with you if you corner one and ask them. There are certain challenges that come with training and competing with an innovative Terrier!
AUSSIES WITH MACH TITLES
2003 - MACH4 Edwyre Foster the Ferocious - owner Mark McGrath
2004 - MACH Darwin - owner Ron & Janet Broida
2008 - MACH PACH Wilgent’s Mischief Maker CDX MXP3 MJP5 PAXB - owner Georgette La Porte
2012 - MACH4 Merrigang Benjamin Matlock MXC MJB2 - owner Nancy Wentworth
2013 - MACH Tak-A Chance Cole Hamels MXB MJB XF - owner Mark McGrath
2018 - MACH2 Abq Kacy Christhill MXG MJG XF - owner Elizabeth Hiller
MACH2 Tattercoats Tophat With Tail UDX2 VER RAE MXC MJB2 XF - owner Barb Curtis
MACH2 Greyrock on the Edge CDX RE OF - owner Barb Curtis
AUSSIES WITH OTCH TITLES
1995 - CH OTCH Atascosa Gunsmoke , UDX3, MX, MJX - owner Pat Kadel
1995 - CH OTCH Free For All On The Farm, UDX, TD - owner Adele Yunck
2019 - CH OTCH Temora Keeping Stride UDX7 OGM GO GN - owner Cindy Burgess
AUSSIES WITH RACH TITLES
2019 - CH RACH Ryba’s Mytime For Serenity CDX BN RM5 RAE2 BCAT CGCA TKN - owner Sherry Cooper
2019 - GCHB CH RACH Christhill First lady marie Geneva CDX BN GN RM5 RAE4 CGC TKN - owner Kreg Hill & Dr William Christensen
AUSSIES WITH EE TITLES
2011 - GCHB CH Merrigangs Wild N Crazy Guy CD RN MX MXJ ME EE6 - owner Dr Heather Rife
THERAPY DOG PROGRAM
Therapy dogs are dogs who go with their owners to volunteer in settings such as schools, hospitals, and nursing homes. From working with a child who is learning to read to visiting a senior in assisted living, therapy dogs and their owners work together as a team to improve the lives of other people. The AKC Therapy Dog™ program awards official AKC titles to dogs who have worked to improve the lives of the people they have visited. AKC Therapy Dog titles can be earned by dogs who have been certified by AKC recognized therapy dog organizations and have performed the required number of visits.
