200 years ago, on the Isle of Skye and in the Scottish
Highlands, the ancestors of today's Cairn Terrier earned their keep flushing
vermin from the rock piles (called cairns) commonly found on Scottish
farmland. These early terriers were highly prized and bred for their working
ability, not appearance. Such characteristics as courage, tenacity and
intelligence, housed in a sturdy body clad in a weather-proof coat, armed
with big teeth in strong jaws, were sought generation after generation.
Gradually the breeds known as the Scottish Terrier and the West Highland
White evolved and were named. The Cairn (the last to be formally named)
remained the closest to the original small working terrier, bolting the
fox, otter and weasel, sharing the meager fare of the crofter's household.
Today the Cairn Terrier in America
is a sensible, confident little dog, independent but friendly with everyone
he meets. He may be found in an apartment, suburban home, or on
a farm. Alert, intelligent and long-lived, the Cairn tends to remain active
and playful well into his teen year, endearing him to children. True to
his heritage, the breed still has very large teeth, large feet with thick
pads and strong nails (the better to dig with!), strong, muscular shoulders
and rears, and a fearless tenacity that will lead him into trouble if
his owners are irresponsible.
Appearance
The immediate impression should be that of a small, shaggy, alert dog,
head, tail and ears up, eyes shining with intelligence, poised and ready
for anything.
The Cairn comes in a variety of colors. All are attractive, and you will
love your Cairn whatever color he turns out to be. It can be difficult
if not impossible to predict adult color based on the puppy coat. Color
changes in many Cairns continue for years, most brindles eventually becoming
very dark, bordering on black. Some wheatens and reds also darken while
others may remain light.
Standing 9-1/2 to 12 inches tall and weighing 14 to 16 pounds, the Cairn
is truly a big dog in a small package.....small enough to carry easily
and to fit comfortably on your lap, but tough enough to enjoy playing
with the children.
Here are the recognized colors:
cream light brindle wheaten light
brindle darker brindle red
rich
red red brindle dark
red brindle grey grey
brindle black brindle
Temperament
No two Cairns are truly alike; each has distinct personality and character
differences. As a rule, though, Cairns are somewhat independent. A typical
puppy may sit on your lap for a few moments, but will resist being held
for long, wriggling impatiently to get down and explore. Their intelligence
makes them curious and extremely quick to learn. They are surprisingly
sensitive, and harsh punishment is not necessary or desirable. However,
a Cairn must know from the first that someone else is in charge. If he
has any question about that, he'll do his best to run the house himself.
Firm, loving and consistent discipline is the key to a good relationship
with your Cairn Terrier
Cairns seem to have an inborn affinity for children. They are physically very tough, and forgive or overlook mishaps and stepped-on feet with characteristic generosity of spirit. They should not, however, be teased or mistreated by children, and close supervision of small children and puppies is essential. Puppies need time away from even the best behaved children and should be provided with a place where they can rest undisturbed until they are ready to play again. A "kennel" or crate is highly recommended. Used properly, a crate ensures the puppy's safety and facilitates housetraining as well. A Cairn thrives on attention and training and suffers from lack of it. Without training, he will be bored and destructive, barking to help relieve the tension. There is very little a Cairn cannot learn if his owner takes the time to teach him. Because Cairns are highly intelligent, training sessions should be fun and challenging, not overly repetitious. They do love to dig, and flowerbeds are hard to resist; don't temp your puppy by leaving him alone in a manicured yard.
Cairns are not suited to living outside. They are far more rewarding pets when they live in close contact with the family. Being left out in an unfenced yard can be dangerous to the Cairn as he is vulnerable to any attack that he might invite from larger dogs. The safest arrangement is a securely fenced yard and supervision when he is in it. If there is no fenced yard, the Cairn MUST be exercised on a leash, as it is impossible to train a Cairn to resist the urge to chase squirrels, cats, rabbits, other dogs, etc. (remember, Cairns were bred to hunt!).
Walking is excellent exercise for Cairns and their owners. A brisk walk daily, on leash, is ideal. From the Cairn's point of view, the longer the walk the better. Encourage your puppy's natural ball playing talents, and you'll have the perfect indoor exercise when the weather prohibits walking.
Health and Feeding Requirements
The Cairn Terrier is a basically healthy dog, and frequently lives 14
to 15 years or more. To contribute to his longevity and health a Cairn
should be kept trim and active. His diet should consist of a premium brand
of dry dog food. NO "generic" dog food, please! We recommend
Eukanuba or Purina Pro Plan. Table scraps should not be fed, and the amount
of dog food must be carefully monitored. Most adult dogs maintain their
weight on 1/2 to 2/3 cup of quality food a day. Dog biscuit treats should
be kept to a maximum of 2-3 daily. Cairns easily become overweight, at
least in part because they are so endearing as they beg for treats.
Grooming
Maintaining the Cairn's shaggy appearance is not difficult. An hour or
so of grooming each week will keep his coat in good condition. Stripping
the longer hairs from the tops of the ears also gives the dog a groomed,
well kept appearance.
Shedding is minimal if the dog is thoroughly brushed and combed weekly, and infrequently bathed. Preparation for the show ring is comparatively simple, also. It is important to keep a Cairn free of fleas, as many Cairns are allergic to flea bites.
