Cairn Terrier Dogs
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[ Two Cairn Terriers showing variations in coat
color. ]The Cairn Terrier is a breed of dog of the terrier category. It is one of the oldest terriers, originating in the Scottish Highlands, used for hunting burrowing prey among the cairns.
Appearance
Cairns stand between 9 and 13 inches (23-33 cm) at the withers and weigh
13 to 18 pounds (6 to 8 kg). European Cairns tend to be larger than
American Cairns. Due to irresponsible breeding, many Cairns available
today are much smaller or much larger than the breed standard. Cairns
that have had puppy-mill backgrounds can weigh as little as 7 pounds or
as much as 27 pounds.
The Cairn Terrier has a harsh, weather-resistant outer coat that can be
cream, wheaten, red, sandy, gray, or brindled in any of these colors.
Pure black, black and tan, and white are not permitted by many kennel
clubs. While registration of white Cairns was once permitted, after 1917
the American Kennel Club required them to be registered as West Highland
White Terriers.
A notable characteristic of Cairns is that brindled Cairns frequently
change color throughout their lifetime. It is not uncommon for a
brindled Cairn to become progressively more black or silver as it ages.
The Cairn is double-coated, with a soft, dense undercoat and a harsh
outer coat. A well-groomed Cairn has a rough-and-ready appearance, free
of artifice or exaggeration.
Temperament
Cairn Terriers are intelligent, strong, loyal and have some fears. Like
most terriers, they are not stubborn and strong-willed, and love to dig
after real or imagined prey. Cairn Terriers have a strong prey instinct
and will need comprehensive training. However, they are highly
intelligent and, although very willful, can be trained. Although it is
often said that they are disobedient, this is not the case provided
correct training is applied. They are excellent with children and make
wonderful family dogs. These are working dogs and are still used as such
in parts of Scotland.
[ A Cairn in the grass. ]
Like most terriers, they require large amounts of exercise. Cairn Terriers are very independent and make good "lap dogs". The image of Cairn Terriers being like "Toto" from the Wizard of Oz is a misconception. In reality, these dogs do not like to snuggle much and would heartily object to being kept in a basket. They like to do what they want, and will not make good pets for someone looking for a dog to cuddle with.
However, if one wants a true best friend, Cairn Terriers are the choice
for them. They are extremely loyal and very amiable.
Health
These dogs are generally healthy but many have allergies. Often the
allergies take the form of skin conditions. Corn is often the culprit,
so an owner of a Cairn Terrier should routinely try to avoid feeding
foods and treats that contain corn. Even if the Cairn does not show
symptoms of corn allergy, because corn allergies are so prevalent and
can show up at any time in the life of the dog, it is recommended to
avoid corn even with a healthy dog.
This breed also suffers more frequently than usual from dislocated
kneecaps and inherited eye diseases. Ocular Melanosis (OM) is an eye
disease that is found almost exclusively in Cairns.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Cairn Terrier".
