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Origin: Scotland
Height: 9-10 inches is
average
Weight: 12-15 pounds
Exercise Needs: Moderate
Grooming Needs: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 13-15
years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Easy
Common Misspellings:
Alternate Names:
For many years, the Scottish Terrier dogs
were simply known as “Scotch Terriers.” All
developing from the same bloodlines, these
Scotch Terriers originated in the various
islands and the highlands of western Scotland,
where they were used to flush out foxes, otter,
rats and other vermin. Renowned for their
courage and spunk, these little dogs could keep
a farm relatively rat-free, with very little
effort.
In 1873, the Scotch Terrier was divided into
two separate classifications - the Skye Terrier
and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier. Included in the
Skye Terrier dog classifications were the same
dogs who would later go on to be known as the
Cairn Terrier, the Scottish Terrier, and the
West Highland White Terrier. In fact, more often
than not, the three different classifications
could be found in the same litter, with only the
coloration of the dog being used to distinguish
it, one from the other. Later, a club for the
Hard-haired Scotch Terrier would be formed in
1881 and would include all three varieties.
Interesting to note is that, when the breed
standard was approved in 1882, it accepted pure
white dogs, but the presence of any white
markings on these dogs would be considered a
fault.
Near the turn of the century, the breeders of
the Scottish Terrier began to separate from the
main club and breed along their own lines.
Shortly thereafter, the White Scottish Terrier
Club was requesting separate classes fro the
white terriers and the West Highland White
Terrier would become its own breed. The
remaining dogs, however, would face their own
troubles.
The Inverness show of 1909 listed classes for
what were known as Short-haired Skyes and this
caused much debate over how confusing the name
could be. Further proof of this was made evident
in 1910, at the Crufts dog show, when a judge
refused to judge the Short-haired Skye Terriers
because she felt them to be in the wrong
classes. It was then suggested that the
Short-haired Skye instead be known as the Cairn
Terrier of Skye, since the rock cairns were a
common hiding place for the mammals which this
spunky little dog would be set after. By 1912,
the name would be shortened simply to the Cairn
Terrier and, as they say, the rest is history.
The Cairn Terrier is a very small,
short-legged dog of the terrier type and is
well-known for his game attitude and appearance.
Solidly-built, without appearing bulky, these
wonderful little dogs are broad in the chest and
ribs, as well as having powerful hindquarters.
Their heads are known to be both shorter and
wider than other terriers, giving them an
adorably sweet appearance and somewhat foxy
expression. The tail of these scruffy little
dogs is commonly held aloft, but tends to be
very straight and should not bend over the back.
These sweet little half-pints of energy can
be found in any color except for white, though
it is preferred that the Cairn Terrier have a
dark muzzle, ears, and the tip of his tail
should also be dark. Their coat is very hard and
scruffy to the touch and is very
weather-resistant. With a double-coat, they have
a short and soft undercoat and a longer, harsh
outer coat. It’s not uncommon for this adorable
fellow to look like he has bed head, even after
a brushing, but that’s all a part of his charm.
The Cairn is a terrier, through and through;
he may only stand a little over a foot high, but
he’s not afraid to take on things much larger
and much meaner than himself, often getting
himself into a world of trouble. This is a
spunky, determined and active individual who
strongly seems to believe that the Devil makes
use of idle hands (or paws, as the case may be).
Rough and rowdy, they have a strong tendency to
chase other animals and some individuals can be
very stubborn and difficult to housebreak. For
best results, get them involved in obedience
courses at a young age and, if your dog is
overly active, perhaps contact local breeders to
learn more about Earthdog competitions.
This spunky little terrier is bred to lead an
active lifestyle and he truly does enjoy it.
Always on the go, they seem to be positively
filled with energy, whether it’s bolting prey
from the cairns of his namesake or tearing
around the living room, these little guys love
to move. If you’re thinking about a Cairn
Terrier, you had best be prepared to spend a
fair amount of time with your little guy, taking
him for a couple of daily walks per day (don’t
worry, they don’t have to be far though). Be
wary leaving these little impish canines alone
in the fenced-in yard, however. One thing that a
Cairn certainly loves to do is dig and many are
escape artists.
One look at the Cairn Terrier and you
basically know that this is not a dog that’s
going to stand still long enough to let you do
some sort of fancy-shmancy poodle type of
haircut on him. No pompons or doohickeys,
thanks! No, the Cairn Terrier has a very simple
style and that’s the classic bed-head do. A
weekly brushing and a chance to run the comb
through his coat, ensuring there are no mats,
and “scruffy” is good to go. If you simply must
do something creative, a pair of scissors,
gently applied, may be used to trim the
occasional trouble spot on family pets.
In addition to brushing, you will want to
give your Cairn Terrier baths as needed.
Generally, this only means about once a month,
but if you have a Cairn who likes to dig in the
dirt and then roll around in the worms, it may
be beneficial to bathe him a bit more often,
particularly if you have white carpeting. Don’t
forget to trim his toenails when you do so.
Training the Cairn Terrier takes patience and
understanding. A naturally busy and energetic
dog, they can be somewhat difficult to keep
focused, so obedience training is highly
recommended. Clicker-training success has been
noted with some, as it keeps the dog more
focused upon their owner, waiting to hear the
sound. Either way, Cairn Terriers work very well
with the positive reinforcement method of
training - don’t ever try to physically
discipline your Cairn, however, as this can make
them shy, sneaky, and nippish.
Like any breed of dog, the purebred Cairn
Terrier is subject to a variety of health
concerns. For this reason, when deciding to
choose a new Cairn Terrier puppy, check around
with several breeders and ask about the various
health issues that can affect these beautiful
little dogs. A good breeder should be
well-versed in the health concerns and should be
able to give you more details, as well as
showing you the sire and dam of your potential
puppy. Some of the health problems that can
affect Cairn Terriers include:
- Allergies
- Cataracts
- Craniomandibular osteopathy
- Globoid cell leukodystrophy
- Heart defects
- Hypothyroidism
- Legg-Perethes syndrome
- Luxated patella
- Ocular melanosis
- Portal shunt
- Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
- Epilepsy
- Von Willebrands disease
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The Cairn Terrier is a wonderful family pet
in the right home, but he is a pet that takes a
fair amount of attention in order to keep him
happy and healthy. Requiring regular exercise
and his tendency to harass the cat may be too
bothersome for some would-be owners. Likewise,
his love of digging and causing mischief may
also weigh heavily. If you can get past those
small hurdles and still want one of these sweet
and loving dogs, a Cairn Terrier may very well
be the right dog for you. Be sure to check out
several breeders and get to know some of them in
person before you make any final decisions but,
for the right family, the Cairn Terrier is the
perfect little scruffy dog.
There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Cairn Terrier dog breed. We've compiled a list of
Cairn Terrier information sites to assist you in quickly locating
quality information about the Cairn Terrier dog breed, while
avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor
attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general.
If you know of a Cairn Terrier information site that offers unique,
quality information and photos of the Cairn Terrier breed, please
contact us with the URL and a brief description so that our editors
can consider it for inclusion in our list below.
Cairn Terriers are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at
Cairn Terrier pictures, you can usually gain more insight into what
these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help you
decide if you really want to become a Cairn Terrier owner. The
following sites below offer pictures of Cairn Terrier dogs, Cairn
Terrier puppy photos, funny Cairn Terrier photos and more. Enjoy!
Now that you have decided that the Cairn Terrier is the right
breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a
responsible Cairn Terrier breeder from which to buy a healthy,
well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good
breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first
Cairn Terrier puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To buy
a puppy from a responsible Cairn Terrier breeder, you may need to
pay more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting time will
be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet
store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great
deal of additional expense and heartache, since you will likely end
up falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral problems
that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits,
regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and
find a responsible, caring Cairn Terrier breeder who home-raises
their puppies with love, screens their breeding dogs for health
problems, offers a health guarantee and post sale support, and who
genuinely loves the Cairn Terrier breed and is in it for the love of
the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of
getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family
companion that will provide you and your family with many years of
joy, laughter and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Cairn Terrier
puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now
online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy
mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of
these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the
breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Cairn Terrier clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn even
more about the Cairn Terrier dog breed, help you locate a
responsible Cairn Terrier breeder, or help you find a Cairn Terrier
dog or puppy in need of a second chance for a loving, forever home.
We've compiled the following list of Cairn Terrier clubs and Cairn
Terrier rescues web sites for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your Cairn Terrier puppy can be a daunting
task! There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot
of thought and research to find just the right name for your Cairn
Terrier. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a few days
or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you decide on
just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of humor? A
serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side? A strange
love of cantaloupe? By observing your new Cairn Terrier puppy over
the first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue about what
type of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog names and pet
names web sites on the internet. Some are wonderful information
resources, while others, unfortunately, are just "garbage" sites set
up with the sole purpose of cashing in on visitor hits for this
popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Cairn Terrier puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
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