Cairn Terrier Pictures, Cairn Terrier Grooming, Information, Dogs

Appearance

• Cairn Terrier dogs are a small but sturdy breed.


• They typically stand between 10 and 13 inches at the withers.


• This small dog weighs roughly 14 to 18 pounds.


• The coat of this breed is relatively course and weather resistant.


• This small dog can be found in the following colors:


1. cream
2. red
3. gray
4. sandy
5. wheaten
6. brindled (will change colors throughout their life span)
7. white
8. black and tan

Temperament

• This breed is rather intelligent.


• These small dogs are also faithful and a little risky and adventurous.


• Due to their instinct to hunt for underground prey, Cairn Terrier dogs tend to dig or burrow.


• This small breed of terrier is also good with children and can be a good family dog.


• They are alert and relatively curious which makes them good watch dogs as well.


• Keep in mind however, that these small dogs are a member of the terrier family and can be independent as well as stubborn.


• This small breed interacts fine with other dogs however, you may want to keep them away from other smaller pets.

Living Standards

• This breed of terrier is quite active, even indoors. This means that they do not necessarily need a big yard to roam around in.


• They should be fine with apartment style living as long as they are properly exercised.

Exercise

• This breed should to be walked on a daily basis


• This small dog enjoys playful activities and being able to run in a safe confined area.


• This breed also enjoys having dog toys to play with and bones to chew.

Litter Size

• This small dog breed will typically have between 3 and 6 pups per litter.

Health and Life Expectancy

• This small terrier breed is relatively healthy.


• Unfortunately, this breed has quite a long list of hereditary health issues that may occur as the animal reaches its life expectancy:


1. Cataracts
2. Glaucoma
3. Hip Dysplasia
4. Progressive Retinal Atrophy
5. Luxating Patella
6. Von Willebrand Disease
7. Entropion
8. Legg-Perthes Disease
9. Craniomandibular Osteopathy


• The life expectancy of these small dogs is normally between 12 and 15 years of age.

Trainability and Obedience

• Due to their intelligence, this breed is definitely trainable. This small dog can even be taught a variety of tricks.


• Keep in mind that as this breed ages it becomes much more stubborn. Thus, it is best to begin training these small dogs when they are pups.


• They do not respond well to over disciplinary-type obedience training. Be firm, patient, and consistent and this dog will react much better.


• To show an example of how trainable these small dogs are; below is a list of some popular movies that this breed has starred in:


1. The Wizard of Oz (remember Toto?)
2. Twister
3. Hocus Pocus
4. 2 Days in the Valley
5. Dunston Checks In
6. The Big Lebowski (during this film, the Cairn Terrier was accidentally referred to as a Pomeranian by the character played by John Goodman)
7. Lost and Found
8. Children of Men
9. The Graveyard Shift


• Remember that any small dog breed can develop small dog syndrome if not properly trained.

Grooming

• This breed is not the easiest to groom.


• Typically, this dog is hand stripped, which basically incorporates pulling the dead hair out of the dog by the roots.


• You need not worry; this procedure does not harm the animal and ultimately assists in the growth of new hair.


• It may be best to consult with a professional dog groomer before attempting to groom this breed.

History

• This dog is one of the oldest breeds of terrier.


• The origin of this small dog resides in the Scottish Highlands during the 1500s.


• The term “cairn” refers to large rock piles.


• The purpose of these small dogs was for hunting burrowing type animals that would live under cairns such as foxes and badgers.


• In the early 1900s, this small breed was used for show in the United Kingdom under the name "Short-Haired Skye Terrier".


• Shortly thereafter, the name of these dogs was changed to "Cairn Terrier". This change was due to the dislike of the name Skye Terrier by its breeders.


• This small breed was first recognized by the AKC in 1913 and became relatively popular during and after the 1930s.

Cairn Terrier Pictures and Video