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The Canine Chronicles Directory
Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier is an energetic, hardy breed. The coat is weather resistant, with
a course, abundant outer coat and a short, supple undercoat. Usual coat colors are
red, brindle, blackish, sand and various shades of gray. White, pure black and black
and tan are not acceptable when showing this breed. White Cairns are now required
to be registered as West Highland White Terriers. The coat color of adult Cairn
Terriers is hard to predict when they are young since the coat usually continues
to change through their adolescence. The broad head is small with a definite stop.
The muzzle is strong with a firm jaw housing teeth which should meet in a scissor-like
bite. The medium sized eyes are widely set and are usually dark hazel in color.
The triangular shaped ears are small and sit high upon the head. The neck is long
and the back level. The thighs are muscular and the legs, strong but not heavy boned.
The front feet have thick, sturdy pads and are larger than the back feet. The tail
is short, carried over the back but with no curl.
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Temperament
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Cairn Terriers are spirited, loyal, curious, brave, lovable, cheerful, mischievous,
and have a great sense of humor. Males tend to be more affectionate and females
more independent. An extroverted breed, they are naturally patient with children
and do not mind rough play. They also enjoy doing tricks. They generally get along
with other dogs unless threatened. They also get along with cats and other household
pets if trained from an early age. If Cairn Terriers are not trained and left alone,
they will become destructive and bark incessantly. Cairn Terriers love to chase
and dig, so it is best to keep them in a well-fenced area. They also adapt well
to new homes and surroundings.
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Height, Weight
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Male Height: 10-13" ; Weight: 14-18 lbs.
Female Height: 9-12" ; Weight: 13-17 lbs.
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Health Problems
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Cairn Terriers tend to gain weight easily so treats should be limited. This breed
also tends to be allergic to fleas.
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Living Conditions
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Cairn Terriers will do fine with apartment living if given regular exercise. They
are rather active indoors.
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Exercise
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This breed needs daily walks if you live in an apartment.
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Life Expectancy
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About 12-15 years
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Grooming
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Great care should be taken with this breed's coat. The shaggy look of this breed
takes gentle brushing several times a week. If unkept, it will quickly become a
matted mess. Bathe this breed once a month, brushing as the coat dries. Clip around
eyes and ears with scissors regularly. Trim the nails. Cairns shed little or no
hair.
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Origin
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Cairn Terriers have been around since the 1500s and originated from the western
islands of Scotland. The breed received their name from the rocks or "Cairns" erected
to mark boundaries or graves. Foxes and other small pests began using these areas
as hiding places. Cairn Terriers assisted in routing out the vermin. There was a
large variety of terrier type dogs on these Scotland islands. They were eventually
divided into four distinct breeds. They are the Cairn Terrier, the Skye Terrier,
the West Highland White Terrier and the Scottish Terrier. In 1909, the Cain Terrier
was presented publicly. In 1910, they were accepted into the Kennel Club of Great
Britain and in 1913 they made their U.S. debut. Their popularity steadily increased
after the 1930s when MGM's Classic movie "The Wizard of Oz" used a Cairn for the
role of "Toto". They are recognized by the AKC and the UKC.
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Group
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AKC and UKC Terrier
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