Cairn Terrier

Loyalty is the main character trait of the Cairn Terrier. Spending time with family and children gives the dog a huge amount of positive emotions. Since it is a hunting dog, the owner may encounter the animal’s constant zeal to chase cats or other small animals. This behavior should be punished immediately.

Breed Photos

Origin History

The Cairn Terrier appeared in the 19th century. Breeders bred the breed on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It was important to the island inhabitants to create a breed of dog that would easily catch rodents and small animals. The dog used to be called a Sky Terrier because of where it lived.

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the name of the breed was changed. Since then, the dog has been called the Cairn Terrier. The goal of every British farmer was to work to improve the breed. The animal was always tried to make it faster and more agile. But the professional breeder of the Cairn Terrier is still considered to be MacLeod. The breed was officially registered in 1910. Since then, the animal has become a full-fledged participant in dog shows.

The dog can safely be called an actor. Here is a list of movies in which Cairn Terrier has appeared: “Kingsman” (2015), “Mr. Robot” (2015), “The Wizard of Oz” (1939), “The Undertaker” (2013).

Appearance

The Cairn Terrier is a small breed of dog. Despite the size of the animal, the dog is very active. The animal has a low stance and is generally compact. The terrier’s ears are triangular and are always in a wary position.

Males reach 33 cm at the withers, and females are 5 cm lower. The weight of the dog ranges from 6 to 8 kg. The Cairn Terrier has a stiff coat of medium size. This allows the animal to cope with any weather. The color of the Cairn Terrier can be wheat, ash-black, cream, and gray.

Character

Loyalty is the main character trait of the Cairn Terrier. Spending time with family and children gives the dog a huge amount of positive emotions.

Since it is a hunting dog, the owner may encounter the animal’s constant zeal to chase cats or other small animals. This behavior should be punished immediately.

One of the dog’s favorite activities is digging holes. At the same time, the breed is very loud. Barking is a sign that a stranger is approaching. From puppyhood, any barking for no reason should be punished. It can become a habit. This smart dog breed can be easily weaned from unwanted behavior at puppyhood.

Care

A dog of this breed has a tough coat. It is necessary to choose a professional groomer who knows how to deal with this kind of hair. The animal usually gets a haircut twice a year.

The owner will only have to comb out the dog frequently during shedding.

It would help if you bathed the terrier once a month with special products. And the animal’s ears should be washed once a week.

Training

The dog should be trained from the first day in the house. The dog is capable and learns commands quickly. The socialization of the dog is important from an early age. Accustom it to people and teach it to treat other animals well. This way, the Cairn Terrier will not be aggressive in the future.

The owner needs to watch how the pet interacts with other animals. There is a risk of sudden aggression. Such behavior should be punished immediately. It should be remembered that dogs do not understand human language, only the timbre of the voice. Consequently, after disobedience, it is necessary to say in a clear tone: “No!“

Common Diseases

The Cairn Terrier is prone to obesity, glaucoma, and Willebrand’s disease. Dislocation of the kneecap is also common.

Nutrition

From childhood, food should be balanced and correct. An adult dog should be fed twice a day. But the owner should monitor portion sizes and feeding frequency because the breed tended to become obese. The dog owner should always monitor the availability of fresh drinking water in the bowl.