The cairn terrier is a very graceful, funny and full of life dog. Originally from Scotland, he endeared himself to fans all over the world for his great personality and enormous self-confidence.
Origin of the cairn terrier
As early as the 15th century there was a type of short-legged hunting dog on the Scottish Isle of Skye. Those dogs were used to hunt foxes, badgers and otters. They also had the particularity of scaring otters away from stone mounds that were used as landmarks or as memorials. These mounds are known in English as "cairn" and hence the name of this breed.
These dogs had a great diversity of colors and coats, and were generically called Scottish terriers. In 1873, they were classified into two groups, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier and the Skye Terrier, with today's Cairn falling into the second group. In 1881 the latter group was divided again into Wirehaired Terriers and Skye Terriers. And finally, the wire-haired terrier breeds were divided into three groups, leaving the cairn terrier as an independent breed.
The breed became especially popular in the United States because a cairn terrier played the role of Toto in the movie The Wizard of Oz. Today it is a popular breed in that and many other countries, and is primarily a companion breed.
Physical Characteristics of the Cairn Terrier
This dog's body is noticeably longer than it is tall, but still strong and compact. The height at the withers ranges from 28 to 31 centimeters, both for males and females. The ideal weight ranges from 6 to 7.5 kilograms. The deep chest and straight, strong back give the dog a solid but not heavy appearance. The legs are strong.
The Cairn Terrier's head is shorter and broader than other terrier dogs, but well proportioned to the body. This gives him a lot of strength in his jaws. The nose is black. The slightly sunken eyes are dark brown, medium-sized and with abundant eyebrows. The small, pointed, upright ears give the face an appearance that many say is similar to that of a fox.
The tail should not be set high or low, and the dog carries it happily but never hunched over the back. It has abundant fur, but it does not form fringes.
The Cairn Terrier's coat is Very weather resistant and comes in two layers. The outer layer is very abundant and hard, but not rough. The undercoat is short, smooth and dense. The cairn terrier can be cream, yellow, red, gray or almost black in color, and dark spots on the ears and muzzle are very typical. Brindle in any of the indicated colors is also accepted.
Cairn terrier character
In general, Cairn Terriers are very confident and self-assured dogs, who stand out for their boldness. According to the breed standard, they should not be aggressive, but that ultimately depends on the socialization they are given.
In reality, these dogs tend to be aggressive towards people as well as dogs and other animals, when they have not been properly socialized. However, with the correct socialization of dogs, they can be friendly with people and accepting of other dogs, and even some different animals. Either way, keep in mind that they tend to fight with dogs of the same sex, even when they are well socialized. However, when well socialized they also tend to be very friendly with children, with whom they can share many games.
Some of the behavior problems that these dogs can present are excessive barking and destroying the garden. Not all individuals of this breed are prone to barking for no reason, but virtually all tend to dig However, these problems can be prevented by giving dogs exercise physical and mental sufficient.
Although they are strong-willed dogs, Cairn Terriers can make excellent pets if they are trained correctly and kept in good condition. Keep in mind that these dogs demand a lot of company and cannot be left alone for long.
Cairn terrier care
The Cairn Terrier's coat is easy to care for, but brushing can take some time. It is important to brush these dogs once or twice a week to keep the coat in good condition and to prevent matting of the undercoat, which often happens in this breed. It is also important to cut the hairs of the eyebrows and ears from time to time so that they do not hurt those organs. For this you have to use scissors with a blunt end and always put your hand between the hair and the dog to avoid damaging it. It is not good to bathe these dogs very often, but only when they are dirty.
Like most dog breeds, this one requires a good daily dose of exercise However, its needs are not as tall as those of medium and large terriers, so a daily walk and some playtime with a ball may suffice.
On the other hand, Cairn Terriers need a lot of company and to maintain their emotional he alth it is best that they spend most of their time with their own. If they have a garden, they can take advantage of it to exercise and play, but it is better that they live inside the house, along with the rest of the family. Of course, they can adapt very well to living in an apartment.
Cairn terrier education
When it comes to dog training, like most terriers, Cairns learn quickly, but are also easily bored. Therefore, it is important that the training sessions are fun and dynamic. It is important to take into account that these dogs are very sensitive to abuse and do not tolerate traditional training methods well. It is best to practice clicker training or another variety of positive training.
Cairn Terrier He alth
The breed is very he althy and not particularly affected by hereditary diseases. However, it has a certain tendency to obesity and allergy to fleas. In addition, some major diseases such as cataracts, von Willebrand disease, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, and patellar luxation have been seen occasionally.
