Cairn terriers are related to the Westie or the West Highland White. It is presumed to be a sub-breed of the Scottish terrier. A Westie is obtained when a variety of white terriers are crossed with the Cairn terriers of west Scotland. The Westie, therefore, is a white variant of the Cairn terriers that come in a variety of colors except white. On the other hand, Scotties, or the descendants of the short-haired Skyes, have dark coats and longer bodies and heads.

The Origin of Cairn Terriers

The Cairns existed ever since the sixteenth century. In the eighteenth century, a lot of terriers were bred in the Scottish highlands and in the Isle of Skye. The Scottish terriers comprise two categories: the Dandie Dinmont terriers and the Skye terriers. While the Dandie Dinmonts form a separate breed of their own, the Skye terriers include the Westies, the Scotties, and the Cairns. The smallest of all these terriers is the Cairn.

The breed gets its name from the small piles of stone that were placed to mark the boundaries of Scottish graves and farms. Ever since its earliest days, the Cairn was used to corner smaller animals into these small piles of rock. Though not heavy, the breed is strudy and strong.

However, it became popular only in the thirties. The appearance of “Toto,” Dorothy’s dog in the “Wizard of Oz,” enhanced the popularity of this breed. Cairn terriers are now popular as companions just as the American Pit Bull terriers. The breed has a talent for tracking objects, guarding the house, hunting, performing trick, and competitive games.

The breed was specially christened “Cairn” in 1912 in honor of its exceptional talent in hunting down otters, foxes, and badgers that hid behind cairns, or small piles of rock. The American Kennel Club officially recognized them in 1913.

Basic Facts about Cairn Terriers

Here are some basic facts you would want to know about Cairn terriers:

They thrive indoors; however, if you want to keep your dog out of doors, you will have to provide a yard enclosed with fence.
Cairn terriers have a coarse, shaggy outer coat covering a short, furry under coat.
Any color of Cairn terrier is available, except white.
It is 9.5-10.0 inches tall and weighs from 13 to 14 pounds.
They love children aged six and above and are mischievous, restless, alert, and high-spirited.

Caring for Your Cairn Terrier

Care of your Cairn terrier includes the following steps:

Brush your dog regularly so that its coat doesn’t get matted and entangled.
Trim the hair round its eyes and ears regularly.
Feed your dog moderately as this breed can easily gain weight.
Exercise your dog regularly and include a play session with your dog on the leash.
Keep your dog on the leash when you take it for a walk in a public place.

As a pet owner or a breeder of Cairn terriers, you should note that the breed could fall victim to the following disorders:
A variety of allergy called atopy
Cataract of one or both eyes
Cryptorchidism, a condition wherein the testicles fail to descend into the scrotum
Glaucoma, a disorder featuring increased pressure in the eyes
A kneecap disorder called Patellar luxation

Cairn terriers are quick-footed and agile, well suited for the entire family. They are inquisitive and fun-loving. Just remember the fun that Dorothy had with her little “Toto,” in the “Wizard of Oz.”

Video of my Cairn Terrier Annie. Ages ranging from 8 weeks to 5 months.

Dog picture taken by jayscratch.

Hilarious scene featuring Fred the Cairn Terrier and Lucy trying to prove unsuccessfully that he was top of his obedience class. www.nothinbuttdogs.com

Dog picture taken by FotoDawg.

Dog picture taken by Scott Kinmartin.

The Cairn Terrier is a small terrier type dog that has more of the personality and instinctive drives of a hunting dog than it does of a terrier. In the original countryside where the Cairn was found, the Highlands of Scotland, this was the breed of choice for hunting the fox, the badger and the otter. Terriers with this sort of drive are often termed “sporting terriers”.

The Cairn terrier of modern times can be found in many colors. The only “forbidden” color is white. Back when the Cairn was developed, the white coloring split off into a separate breeding that later became known as the West Highland White Terrier. Any Cairn that is born a solid white is a “throwback” to this part of the bloodline and to keep the “Westy” pure, a white Cairn may not be shown and any offspring would not be registerable.

The Cairn is generally healthy but there presently exists a condition called Legg Perthes, a condition seen in other small breeds also. Legg Perthes is a malformation of the hip that can be identified with x-rays. It causes pain to the animal. In another bone-related disease, the Cairn suffers occasionally from luxation of the patella, or kneecap, which is similar to the subluxation of the hip found in hip dysplasia in larger breeds.

Another inherited condition in which the jaw becomes malformed as the puppy grows is also prevalent. This condition is called “lion jaw” and again causes pain and also prevents the dog from eating naturally. It goes without saying that any dogs afflicted with these conditions should never be used in the breeding program. Some of these bone related problems can be detected with x-rays and this is a useful tool for the serious breeder. All x-rays can be sent to the Orthopedic Foundation of American (OFA) and to similar organizations in other countries, where the x-rays are “graded” by qualified veterinarians and the resulting decision helps to determine the extent to which these bone conditions are present.

The Cairn is a popular terrier breed on both sides of the Atlantic. It often has one of the highest entries at the annual Montgomery County All Terrier show held in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania every October. It is a great family pet but its history as a “sporting terrier” defines it’s personality. It is the sort of dog that will not take no for an answer, whether it be in it’s reaction to another dog or in its desire to accomplish something other than what it’s master wishes! It is excellent with children, being plucky and ready to go. It is happy to live in a single dog household but owners shouldn’t want to leave this little dog in a fenced in area without supervision, for he is quite capable of digging himself out of a grass or dirt area. The Cairn has shown himself to be a popular entry in the “Go to Ground” Trials of terriers as well as competing in Obedience and Agility trials.

Six month old Cairn Terrier puppies, newborn Cairn Terrier Puppies. Cute or what??

How to Train a Cairn Terrier – Learn how to train your Cairn Terrierobedience and discover tips and techniques you can use in this video. You can also get more information on Cairn Terrier training by getting the FREE Dog Training Blueprint at: www.amazingdogtrainingman.com Don’t forget to rate this video, leave comments and subscribe to my channel.

Gus the cairn terrier shows what makes him special.

The purpose of this article is to improve the public’s knowledge about dogs, the Cairn Terrier in particular. Many people decide that they want a dog based off of appearance alone. While this may not be a terrible thing to do if the person has the ability to accommodate all types of dogs, for some individuals the care for specific types of dog breeds is not possible.

The best way to avoid any surprises after the adopting or purchase of a dog is to understand the breed and what it takes to care for it. We will go over some of the basic characteristics of the Cairn Terrier to help you get a better understanding of the Cairn Terrier as a breed and possibly a new addition to your family.

The Cairn Terrier is a feisty, character filled, small in stature but not in the heart breed. Only about 12 inches tall and 15 lbs, the Cairn is an ideal size for small living areas. This breed is very mischievous, sharp in the voice and very aware of their surroundings. The Cairn is willing to eat just about anything which is easy on the wallet and just requires normal grooming maintenance. The Cairn’s long life expectancy, love of people and devilish attitude will keep your hands full as well as your heart for many years to come.

We hope that we have assisted you I your quest for knowledge and understanding of the Cairn Terrier. Please look below for some additional resources. The first thing you will want to do is see what the Cairn Terrier looks like. The next thing you will need to do is house train your Cairn Terrier. We find that one of the most common reasons that someone will get rid of Cairn Terrier’s is that they are not house trained. There is a wonderful manual that can be used and you will find the link below. Lastly we want you to show off your new Cairn Terrier. There is a wonderful online dog community complete with a forum for you to post pictures to. Check it out.

The key to success is to love your Cairn Terrier and nothing will help you achieve that more than bonding with them. Spend time with your Cairn Terrier and make this fantastic breed of dog a happy and healthy addition to your family or home.

Dog picture taken by lfwlfw.

scandalous Gus the cairn terrier shows what makes him special. Jelena Jensen

Cairn Terrier

The Cairn Terrier has all of the characteristics of a terrier as you would expect, but with extra sensitivity and affection. The Cairn is bold, inquisitive, scrappy, and a bit stubborn, while at the same time is responsive to the commands given and always looking to please its owners.

Cairn Terriers are wonderful around children and enjoy a little rough play now and again. In fact, they have such a feisty part of their personality that they will stand up to any aggressive dog, regardless of size. This makes them an excellent watchdog. Cairn dogs may also be reserved around strangers and other pets in the house due to their dominant personality.

A Brief History Of The Cairn Terrier

The Cairn Terrier breed has been around since the Middle ages, sometime during the 15th century. They were used successfully to hunt down badger, fox, and otter. The name “Cairn” is said to have been coined because the dogs were good at running otters out of the cairns (piles of stones used as memorials or landmarks).

These dogs could be found in several colors that ranged from gray to red to white. All of the color variations were considered Scotch Terriers as they were entered into the show ring. Only two dogs were labeled as part of the breed in 1873 – the Skye Terriers and the Dandie Dinmont.

In 1881, the group further divided into two more sections, the Hard-haired Terriers and the Skye Terriers. Eventually the Hard-haired Terriers were divided into the West Highland White, the Scotch, and of course the breed known today as the Cairn Terrier.

Although the breed went through a variety of names it was officially known as the Cairn in the early 1900s and became a highly popular breed in England during that time. They slowly made headway in the United States as well, and even featured in the movie, The Wizard of Oz.

Upkeep Requirements For The Cairn Terrier

Although this dog is quite small, it still needs a lot of daily exercise. A few long walks on the leash, in addition to vigorous games in the yard or around the house, will be plenty. They can tolerate moderate temperatures in both hot or cold climates, but not to the extreme.

The ideal living situation for the Cairn Terrier is to be able to play in a safe, fenced-in yard during the daytime hours and sleep inside with the family at night. Grooming requirements call for a weekly brushing to keep its wiry coat clean. A stripping is recommended once each year.

Health Concerns

The average lifespan for the Cairn Terrier is between twelve and fourteen years. There are no major health concerns in the breed. Minor health issues include CMO, glaucoma, and portacaval shunt. Rarely seen is GCL. Veterinarians suggest that the Cairn Terrier get specifically tested for GCL.

History

This breed’s origins are in Scotland’s western islands. Its first name was Short-Haired Skye Terrier. It was a vermin killer on Scottish farms. They flushed the rodents from stones that were border markers and grave markers. The piled stones were called cairns.

The Cairn Terrier got its name belatedly in 1912. The AKC gave it recognition in 1913.

General Looks

It has a shaggy dog look. Its coat may change colors as it grows older becoming darker or a sliver shade. The head is short and wide. Its ears are set wide. It is a small dog.

Is This Your Breed?

A Cairn needs obedience training. It is affectionate, but will see what the owner’s limits are. They have a strong instinct for digging and running after small animals. The Cairn Terrier needs regular exercise. It should be brushed weekly and the fur stripped or clipped several times a year. They don’t shed much.

Coat

They have a double coat. The outer coat is hard and abundant. The under coat is soft and close to the skin.

Color

The colors are cream, black, red, silver, and brindle.

Locomotion

It has an energetic gait.

Personality

These are smart and faithful dogs. They are active even when older and playful. It is strong willed and sometimes stubborn dog. It enjoys barking. It needs an owner that can be firm, fair, consistent, and affectionate. They don’t do well around guinea pigs and hamsters; they see them as prey.

Cairn Terrier video:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKF4jME6d2U