Cairn Terrier

The Cairn Terriers originated in the Scottish Highlands and are one of the oldest breeds of terriers. They were first bred for hunting purposes and were meant to hunt burrowing prey in the cairns. They’re considered Scotland’s earliest working dogs. These dogs became popular over the last century very quickly. Weighing around 6 to 8kg this is a small dog which grows up to 10 to 13 inches.

The Cairn Terriers are seen in many different colors such as red, grey, wheaten, sandy or cream. Their coats are weather resistant. The kennel club usually don’t permit colors like solid black, tan or white. These dogs have large toogins and beards and are noticeably very protective about it. This is one of the main characteristic qualities in these terriers. The cairn is protected with a double coat which usually consists of a harsh weather proof outer coat and a softer and dense undercoat. A properly groomed usually has an appearance free of pretence and exaggeration and is often termed as “rough and ready”.

They are very adventurous and lively dogs. They love to play and enjoy digging after prey whether they are real or not. They will need a lot of training as they have a natural instinct for hunting prey. Otherwise, these dogs are known to be strong, loving and loyal to their family. Though they are stubborn and sometimes wilful, they are an intelligent breed of dogs that can be trained easily. They show the best results when trained as a puppy, and sometimes show disobedience. They can be family dogs and are patient around children. They are a suitable pet for large families. They are still used in many parts in Scotland as working dogs.

There are a few grooming rules to follow where this dog is concerned. Using a pair of scissors as shears can spoil the rugged and rough coat after just one grooming session. Thus these dogs must always be stripped by hand. This does not harm the dog in any way since it only involves pulling out the dead hair on the coat by its roots. This helps new hair to grow back on the dog and will help protect the dog from dirt and water. These dogs need extra attention when they are groomed in order to avoid skin problems as they grow older.

These dogs live up to 15 years are usually termed healthy. Many breeders have observed some health problems which are either heredity or a result of other factors. Some of the problems caused by non specific reasons are infections, allergies, injuries and toxins. Some of the more common hereditary conditions are entropion, hip dysplasia, corneal dystrophy, cataracts, ocular malanosis, hypothyroidism, krabbe disease, luxating patella.

There are a few clubs such as the Institute for genetic disease control in animals and others like the Cairn Terrier club of America which are trying their best to eliminate the occurrence of some of these diseases within the breed. Owners and breeders submit the test results of their dogs for research reasons.