The Cairn Terrier originated in Scotland and is the smallest of the terriers.
It is believed that he probably came from the same original stock as the
West Highland White Terrier. Originally, the Cairn was bred to chase foxes,
rats, otters and other vermin out of their dens and hiding places to be
exterminated by the farmers. These dens and hiding places were often amongst
the piles of stones called cairns that the Scots use as landmarks and memorials,
thus the name of the breed. They were recognized by the British Kennel Club
in 1912 and the American Kennel Club in 1913.
The Cairn is a reserved dog with strangers. He is single-heartedly devoted
to his master. He is also a natural retriever. Indoors he makes for a well
mannered, quiet housedog. He is also a good watchdog with a quick ear and
the sharp bark of all terriers.
The Cairn's skull is broader than long with a definite drop from the skull
to muzzle (the stop). The head is well covered with hair. His eyes are medium
sized, hazel in color and set wide apart with shaggy eyebrows. His ears
are small, pointed and carried erect. They are set wide apart on the top
of the head. His body is well muscled and strong but not heavy. His tail
is undocked and carried erect but not curled over the back. His legs are
of medium length but not heavy boned. They are straight and covered with
coarse hair. His front feet are larger than his hind feet. He has a double
coat. The under coat is short, soft and furry while the outer coat is harsh,
naturally shaggy and weather resistant. It may be any color other than white.
Dark ears, muzzle and tail tip are preferred. Average height is nine-and-one-half
inches to ten inches at the top of the withers. Average length from front
of the chest to back of the hindquarters is between fourteen-and-one-half
inches to fifteen inches. Average weight is between thirteen and fourteen
pounds.
shelster05@mindspring.com of Walnut, CA writes:
Great little dog and friend.
Our Cairn has been a great friend to my family. She's gentle with kids
and forgivng during the times when they dressed her in doll clothes and
all the crazy things kids do. She is older now, and slowed down quite a
bit. She required eye surgery for a luxed lens which I was told is common
to the breed. She also has a skin condition which requires some upkeep as
well. They can be expensive to take care of when they are older, but worth
the price for sure.
brickmama2@yahoo.com of New England writes:
A lot of work, but what a clown!
I can't obviously speak for all Cairn Terriers, but mine has been more
than a handful since I adopted her at age one and a half. She is great with
kids (I recommend for kids age four and up) and loves to roughhouse with
my four-year-old boy. She's quite bossy and is trainable, but only to the
point that she wants to be trained. She will soil the house incessantly
unless crated when we're out. She will destroy anything left on the floor.
Cairns are big chewers! My kids know "if it's on the floor, it belongs
to the dog!" I recommend crating. Grooming isn't difficult, but it
is necessary to frequently brush, and brush, and brush, especially if they're
outside roughing it up often. An independent, sassy dog, not for everyone.
I wouldn't live without her, though. She constantly cracks us up. She pulls
pranks and does little tricks she taught herself, because she loves to hear
us laugh. When it suits her, she will crash on a lap for a while and snuggle.
A Cairn is not a dog to follow you around with big doe eyes hanging on your
every word. Interestingly, though, her world just crumbles (albeit temporarily)
if you really chew her out. She does want to pleas... just not so much at
the expense of her fun! In short, a lot of work, but a hilarious, happy
dog who is up for just about anything, and a great sport.
shannon@mlsc.com of Arlington, TX writes:
The most wonderful pet I have ever had.
I have had my Cairn for three years now and he is the most loving, enjoyable,
funniest animal I have ever had. He was very easy to potty train and only
had behavioral problems such as digging, etc., as a puppy. He is a lap dog.
He greets all at the door with some sort of present, wags his tail and loves
to be chased. He has never been aggressive toward anyone and will settle
in their lap immediately. He thinks he is loved by all. He loves to talk
and wag his tail. He barks at strangers but secretly will be their best
friend. He sleeps and plays with our cat. Anyone who says they have a bad
and mean Cairn has not raised him correctly or got a bad dog from a not-so-good
breeder. I have had lots of animals and by far this dog has the best disposition
and personality of all. I will never have any other dog.
Name withheld by request of Sutton-in-Ashfield, England writes:
The Cairn Terror!
An outgoing, assertive dog, with every interest torn towards play rather
than obedience. Although not a "cuddly" breed, some Cairns have
their moments and are warmhearted clowns deep inside of them. A good family
pet, but may nip you when they think you are playing with them. Overall,
Cairns tend to be a great pet for anyone of any age.
SthrnTami@AOL.com of Alabama writes:
Small, sturdy, bright and true. They give their love to you.
We have two Cairns, a three-year-old male and a six-month-old female.
Obviously we enjoy the breed enough to add the second one!
Our male is a wonderful member of the family. Once past puppyhood, he never
chewed or got into things he shouldn't. He never does his "business"
in the house, and never digs. Now for the downside. He barks like mad if
he sees a squirrel or a cat outside. He also goes crazy if he sees certain
animals on TV. (Forget watching the Animal Planet!) He used to escape regularly,
but we added an electronic fence and now he doesn't even wear the collar,
but always stays in the yard. This actually cut down on barking as well
for some reason.
Our puppy, however, is so very different from him. Of course, she's just
six-months-old, so the chewing and housebreaking struggles are to be expected.
She also has allergies, and we will be starting allergen therapy (shots)
soon. Unfortunately, she's also a digger. I'm hoping that once she is trained
to the electronic fence that she'll enjoy exploring and won't dig as much
(right now we put her out on a lead for short periods). She can be so funny
with some of her vocalizations that she just cracks us up. Even the vet
said, "Oh, you have a talker, huh?"
Overall, we find these dogs to be extremely affectionate, playful dogs.
They are both lap dogs, and love to be cuddled. They both love to sleep
on my lap when I'm on the computer (one at a time!). Neither dog has ever
shown a bit of aggressiveness to people, but don't seem to want to "make
friends" with other neighborhood dogs. We have two kids, lots of kids
in and out of the house, and absolutely no problem, except for excitability
when someone new first arrives. They are great dogs, and I highly recommend
them, but feel they may be better suited to a household where someone is
home most of the day. I'm not sure they would do well being crated for extended
periods.
In closing, I'll paraphrase the lyrics from one of the songs in my favorite
movie, "Best in Show": "God loves a terrier, yes he does!
Small, sturdy, bright and true, they give their love to you. God loves a
terrier!" OK, so that was about the Norwich, but it applies to Cairns,
too!
rjlvrs@aol.com of Ohio writes:
My best friend.
I have had my Cairn Terrier for two years now. He is the joy of my life.
He is my devoted companion; he is very protective of his family. He is somewhat
aggressive toward strangers however, he wouldn't actually hurt anyone he
is just trying to protect those he loves. When he was a puppy I thought
he would never calm down, he was always playing and roughhousing, but after
about six to seven months he soon started taking naps with me and now as
soon as I sit down he is on my lap ready to give out all the kisses I want.
The love I have found for my Cairn Terrier is beyond words, I never truly
understood people being so wrapped up in their pets but after my Cairn has
come into my life I truly couldn't imagine life without him. He makes me
happy and content and is always making me laugh. Cairn Terriers are very
intelligent and they learn quickly; trust me if you have one around there
will never be a dull moment.
Name withheld by request of Texas writes:
Very territorial and aggressive.
I owned a Cairn Terrier several years ago, and noticed that as he matured
he became more and more territorial. He was raised with a cat, but had no
affection for it. He would try to banish the cat to other areas of the house.
Then we started to notice that he was becoming somewhat aggressive (growling)
toward children who came to our home. We would discipline him for this and
then remove him from the situation. We got rid of our Cairn Terrier when
he attacked our son's friend. They were back in my son's bedroom playing
video games, and my son's friend looked at our dog and was going to pet
him, and the dog attacked him in the face. It was so horrible! Thankfully,
the boy did not recieve any permanent damage, but it was a terrifying experience
for him and for his family and us. My son had to pull the dog off of him.
We gave our dog away to a lady who did not have any young children. After
we did so, though, we found out that his aggression worsened, and was also
targeted at adults. He attacked her granddaughter when her family was visiting
from out of town. He has caused so much misery and destruction. I would
be VERY careful with this breed. I would never own another one.
Name withheld by request of Kentucky writes:
Best of clown p; makes me laugh.
My family absolutely loves our Cairn Terrier. He is the funniest dog
we have ever owned. Talk about a stress reliever. There is no need for Prozac
in our house. We own the natural supplement p; our Cairn Terrier. Cairn
Terriers are great with kids, love to play, perfect housedog but loves to
go outside. We recommend an invisible fenced yard. They are funny, funny,
and more funny. Ours makes us laugh constantly. Shed very little. This is
a biggie for me, I do not like shedding dogs in the house. Plays well with
other dogs. I also own an elderly Maltese, he loves to play with our Cairn;
he has brought my Maltese back to life. Do your family a favor ... own a
Cairn Terrier.
Ponyrider14450@yahoo.com of Rochester, New York writes:
Excellent house companion.
Cairn Terriers are intelligent little dogs which make excellent house
pets. A tough and hardy little dog, but not recommended for young children.
Good for short periods of play time. Spend a good amount of time napping.
Alerts to any new changes. Barking is not excessive, but must be controlled
from an early age. These little dogs have a mind of their own. Good communicators,
sensitive to their owners, but with a mind of their own. Easy keepers. Will
go walking in cool weather, but do not do well on even short walks in warm
weather. This dog is an excellent house companion.
Name withheld by request of Jacksonville, FL writes:
A wonderful little guy.
My Cairn is almost eight months old now. He is such a joy. He is very
entertaining and has to be in the middle of everything. He is good at playing
by himself, but I have to keep an eye on him or he will get into mischief
... after all, he is still only a puppy. He's definitely not a lap dog ...
maybe after he gets older. He has a lot of puppy things to do and he does
them, especially if I decide it's time to hold him for the few minutes I
can get him to stay in my lap. I would recommend a Cairn Terrier to anyone
who wants an even-tempered, smart little guy. He's a lot of work but worth
it!
jormar33@home.com of Iowa writes:
The drawbacks to a Cairn are few. They don't require a lot of grooming,
love all people, are easily house-broken and not destructive. The drawbacks
are they dig (not all that much but they do dig), and if you let them out
without a leash they will be gone. .They are extremely curious and will
go exploring at lightening speed if you aren't careful.
skeady@gci.net of Juneau, AK writes on 9/1/01:
A dog that makes everyone who sees him smile.
My Cairn is a hardy, active little guy. He's always ready for a ten mile
hike, and leaps along rugged trails fearlessly. It took forever to housetrain
him, and it was two years before I could trust him to return to me when
he was off-leash. Now at three he is a perfect gentleman and enjoys pleasing
me. He loves to carry sticks that are bigger than he is - people applaud
as he struts along with his heald up high brandishing a big stick! He loves
children, other dogs, and his Siamese cat. Around the house he is calm and
cheerful. His littermates are all as wonderful as he is. I can't imagine
a better dog or a better friend.
r2t2more@execpc.com of Wisconsin writes on 1/13/01:
A wild and destructive dog.
I definately need help with my Cairn Terrier. I think there are some bad
genes in her. She is 10 months old. She has gone through puppy training.
she is wild and you have to watch her every second or she will destroy anything
that she happens to come upon. I know this breed of dog digs - but - she
has nearly ruined our back yard with her diggings. My husband is beside
himself. We made a place for her to dig - but she digs wherever she wants
- the only way to stop the digging everywhere is to put her on a lease.
I really like this dog and don't want to let her go.
divakathy@webtv.net of Atlanta, GA writes on 11/8/00:
The best dog I ever had.
Having a Cairn was the joy of my life ... my dog is deceased now, but he
was such a little fireball, a total charmer, a real comedian, and the best
and most easygoing companion imaginable. Cairns have all of that terrier
fire but are unbelievably sweet and happy-go-lucky. Definitely the best
termperament of any other small dog I've had. I think they're smart as a
whip, and if you train them, they'll be your best friend and also your finest
companion.
Name withheld by request of Thunder Bay ON writes on 8./17.00:
There is a lot of dog in this little package.
I remember reading when researching Cairn Terriers, they are the best little
pals in the world. After owning a male Cairn for eleven years and counting
no truer statement could ever be made. Intellengent, fun loving, scrappy
and great with all children. The Cairn Terrier has boundless energy when
out on a hike, yet he is calm around the house. Generally very hardy and
long lived I would recommend this dog to any one. But don't forget he is
a terrier first, full of fire and fearless.
cairnbrook@telus.net of Canada writes on 3/29/00:
The best little pal in the world.
Cairn Terriers are independent, intelligent, charming, and adore attention.
They are excellent family companions and are very good with children who
are treat them with respect. They are tireless at play and will outlast
almost any youngster. Their independent nature may lead to stubborness but
their charm and lovable personalities can quickly win over almost anyone.
Even "big dog" enthusiasts, such as myself, are sold to the charm
of this clown at heart. The Cairn has no idea of his size and has been referred
to as a "big dog in a little package." Grooming requirements are
minimal. A thorough brusing once or twice a week will keep his coat in good
condition. For the perspective dog owner who is willing to provide a firm
but loving home and allow this breed to bond as one of the family they will
certainly enjoy a lifetime of love, companionship, and laughter that only
a Cairn Terrier can fill so completely.
Name withheld by request of Tucson AZ writes on 3/22/00:
A joy to behold but NOT a lap dog!
Our Cairn was FUN and a perfect dog for a family of boys! He'd roughhouse
and tumble and run with the heard! This is NOT a dog for those who want
a cuddle-pillow, though. Cairns are feisty and very independent creature,
not stubburn but assertive - they know what they want! Make sure you give
them a good romp everyday and allow them the joy of the chase! Just be sure
that you are realistic in your expectations. A super family dog, all the
way: a BIG dog in a LITTLE dog's body!
ihogge14@yahoo.com of the U.S. writes on 3/6/00:
Great dogs with big hearts.
I have had 20+ Cairn Terriers in the past ten years and I have never seen
such a wonderful dogs. They require little training. There is the occasional
rebel but all in all they are wounderful obedient dogs.
TracyPierce@prodigy.net of Lockport, IL writes on 2/23/00:
Bold assertive dogs that need training and understanding to bring out
their best qualities.
I love my Cairn Terrier. They are a wonderful breed but not for everyone.
They can be independent, loving, snugglers, outrageous, disobedient and
frustrating all at the same time. Positive, firm training is a must for
this breed. Many people do not think they are suited for obedience or agility
but with patience they can excel at anything they put their minds to. The
bottom line is that they require training and persistance. I think all dogs
need this but some need it more than others. The Cairn is definitely one
who needs it!
midnightmab@otherwhere.com of California writes on 2/18/00:
One of life's purest joys.
Over the last 25 years, I have had Cairn Terriers as an integral part of
my family. Without a doubt, they have been the most intelligent, loving,
and entertaining dogs I have ever seen. Always eager to
please, yet independent and curious, they provide sunshine and endless adventure.
They are natural clowns, and no task is beyond them.
While their bodies may be little, their hearts are king-size, and they are
totally devoted to their family. No stranger will approach thier home unheralded,
and they will fearlessly sacrifice themselves for
those they love. Unless you are truly dedicated to having a "floor
mop" or "couch potato" type of pet, (in which case, a Cairn
is not for you)this dog will enrich your life beyond anything you can imagine.