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Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier is one of the oldest of the British terriers, originating on the Isle of Skye. He has always been and still is a great favorite with the Scottish lairds who use him to rout foxes, badgers, vermin, and otters. The smallest of the working terriers, the Cairn is the ancestor of several terriers: the Scottish ("Scottie"), the West Highland, and the White and Long-haired Skye. Cairn Terriers are intelligent, strong, and fearless. Like most terriers, they are stubborn and love to dig after real or imagined prey.
The Cairn was developed as a killer of the rodents that infested the cairns, or piles of stones, that were found on the game moors. These rodents were a threat to the game and it was the special task of the Cairn Terrier to reduce that threat.
Cairn Terriers are little bundles of energy. These dogs are very playful and high energy, making them great pets for families with children.
Due to their small stature, the Cairn Terrier does not require a great deal of space. This makes the Cairn Terrier a great choice whether you live in the city or the country, as long as you can give it ample love and attention. Originally bred as a hunting dog, the Cairn Terrier will also help you exterminate the rodents from your yard.
The Cairn is reserved 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.
Cairn Terrier Breed Outline
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Country of Origin: | Great Britain |
| FCI Classification: |
Group 3 - Terriers; Section 2 - Small-sized Terriers |
| Utilization: |
Terrier |
| AKC Classification: |
Terrier Group |
| Personality: | Cairn Terriers are independent, friendly, alert and quiet. They make good watchdogs but are not aggressive toward strangers. |
| Size: | Small |
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Height: | 11-12 inches |
| Colors: |
Cream, wheaten, red, grey or nearly black. Brindling in all these colors is acceptable. Dark points on ears and muzzle are very typical. |
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Other Names: | Cairn |
| Average Litter Size: | 5 |
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Life Span: | 9-15 years |
| Grooming Requirements: |
Cairns should be brushed weekly and bathed only when needed. Special care must be taken of their eyes and teeth. |
| Shedding: | Moderate |
| Social skills: |
Cairns get along with other dogs, but will chase cats. Early socialization with other household pets is a must. |
| Suitability for Children: | Cairns are wondeful playmates for children. They have a remarkable ability to sense a child's mood and adjust their behavior accordingly. Cairns will tolerate even rough play. However, close supervision of children and dogs is advisable, as some Cairn puppies can be nippy. |
| Exercise Needs: | They are high energy dogs and should be allowed to run in the yard for 40-60 minutes a day. |
| Train Ability: | Can be slow to house break. They preserved a very strong chasing instinct and will run after cats and rabbits given a smallest chance. They should never be off leash. |
| Health Issues: | Patellar luxation (knee dislocation), PRA (blindness), glaucoma, cataracts, hemophilia B (a severe bleeding disorder), atopic dermatitis, cryptochidism, craniomandibular osteopathy (abnormal bone growth on the skull and lower jaw). |
COMMENTS
Rolling the Coat
The entire process is called rolling the coat which will open up hair follicles to start new growth after a period of dormancy. The result should be new hair of varying lengths growing at all times, leading to the so-called perfect coat with one layer prime, another layer just ready to be pulled off, and a new layer coming on strong just under the prime coat. Many breeders have successfully rolled coats on puppies clear through the first years of their lives this way without ever having to completely strip the coat. The secret is to start young and stay on top of it. This means grooming at least once every 7 to 10 days.
The legs are done by gently combing the hair straight out from the leg and pulling out loose or long hair all the way around to make the leg look roughly like a fence post. Keep the shaggy look while tidying up the coat. On the tail it might be easier to use a stripping knife, again pulling out only loose hair. The tail should look like an inverted carrot, not a stovepipe. usually hair is kept longer on the front side of the tail, especially if it has a slight curve, and a bit shorter on the back. feathering is not acceptable. The tail should have a broad base and should gradually narrow to the pointed tip. Hand plucking or using a stripping knife will give the best finish. Some groomers use thinning shears on thevery tip if they do not have the skill with the stripping knife that is required to do the job.
Posted by blues4life on Friday, June 06, 2008
Grooming Cairn Terriers
The correct Cairn coat should be "built." Whenthe puppy's fluffy baby coat is looking loose, usually by the age of 3 months, it should be gently pulled out - all of it. Grasping a few hairs at a time between thumb and forefinger and using a snapping wrist action, pull it out quickly. It helps to slightly stretch the skin in the opposite direction fromthe way you are pulling. This makes the hair come out easily and lessens any discomfort to your puppy. You can chalk your dog before pulling, as this sometimes makes the coat easier to grip. Dead hair comes out easily and will not hurt the pup as you pull it. It is okay to leave the hair onthe muzzle around the nose and lips as playing with littermates usually takes care of it. If not, pull this out, too.
Puppy will not appreciate your efforts on his behalf, so give him lots of praise. A treat or two certainly won't hurt either.
from puppyhood clear into adulthood, at least once a week go over the entire puppy pulling out any loose hair. There are several ways to do this. One is to brush the hair against the grain and pull out any long hair. Another method is to start at the tail and thigh area and gently roll a naroow strip of hair up between your left thumb and forefinger (if you are right-handed). Then with your right hand, pull long or loose hairs out of that thin line. These will be pretty obvious as they will stick out longer than the rest of the hair. Moving forward a fraction of an inch, repeat the process until the entire bac, both sides, and neck are done. You can also simply lift a small section of coat with your fingers and pull out any loose strands of hair.
Posted by wildflower on Friday, June 06, 2008
Cairn Terrier Rules
What a cute picture of a Cairn Terrier dog. He looks so friendly.
Posted by mgj545 on Thursday, August 17, 2006
Cairns are great friends for families!
" Cairn terriers are great friends to families. They are gentle with kids and forgiving during the times when they dressed them in doll clothes and all the crazy things kids do. When they get older, they slow down quite a bit."
Posted by taishaakura on Saturday, May 20, 2006
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