Description: The Cairn Terrier is a hardy little terrier that has a thick shaggy outer coat with a soft downy undercoat. It is short and has a compact body, with a good bone structure. The head has bushy topknot and eyebrows, black nose, dark hazel eyes, and small pointy ears. It also carries a fox-like expression.

Faults: missing teeth, pinkish nose, white on the chest or feet, soft curly body coat

Dynamics: The Cairn Terrier is spirited, mischievous, and restless. It is also a very lovable and loyal dog. A female Cairn Terrier tends to be more independent and a male Cairn Terrier tends to be more affectionate. This breed is also easy to train, and it like to do tricks.

The Cairn Terrier is naturally great with children. It is very playful and can easily adapt to a new home and family. It needs training and discipline, otherwise it will become destructive and cause problems for the owner. The Cairn Terrier is a digger and it loves a chase, so it should not be left alone outside. It is also protective of its turf and may fight off other dogs, even larger ones. Considering its size, this is not such a good idea.

Breed Group: Terrier

Weight: males 14-18 lbs (6-8 kg), females 13-17 lbs (6-8 kg)

Height: males 10-13 inches (25-33 cm), females 9-12 inches (23-30 cm)

Color: The Cairn Terrier’s coat comes in red, brindle, blackish, sand and shades of gray. White is not acceptable, and dark points on ears, eyes, and muzzle is preferred. The color of the coat will continue to change for several years and so the adult color of the Cairn Terrier cannot be determined at its puppy stage.

Country of Origin: The Cairn Terrier came from Scotland as one of its original terriers. The breed was publicly presented in 1909 and achieved popularity in 1930. It was named after the pile of small stones used to mark Scottish farm borders and graves.

Activities: The Cairn Terrier is a very active and energetic dog. It will need its daily walk and play sessions to consume their energy and avoid behavior problems. The breed is now considered mainly as a companion dog. But it actually has other talents like hunting, tracking, watchdogging, agility, competitive obedience, and performing tricks.

Grooming: Grooming the Cairn Terrier takes some effort and patience. It is a high maintenance breed. Neglecting to take care of its coat will result in it becoming a matted mess. Brush the coat regularly. Be gentle with the soft undercoat. Bathe it once a month and brush the coat while it dries. Trim the hair around the eyes and ears and clip the nails regularly.

Other Info: The Cairn Terrier has a life expectancy of about 12-15 years. It is basically a healthy dog. Do not overfeed, though, because it gains weight easily. It also tends to be allergic to fleas. This breed will be fine in apartment living. But it has to be taken outdoors for its walk and play. It is very active indoors and will appreciate going out.

Tags: breed, cairn, dog, terrier

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 10:21 am and is filed under Scottish Dogs, Terriers, Top 50 Dog Breeds. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.