Last Updated on January 5, 2023 by Pets Feed
The Cairn Terrier is a very graceful, fun and lively dog. Originally from Scotland, it is a small tender dog whose breed has gained much popularity in society thanks to its physical characteristics and its mild temperament, this specimen is undoubtedly an excellent pet, in this article by ‘ Pets Feed ‘, we will know more about this nice dog.
A small dog with a sly, fox-like muzzle is a Cairn Terrier. These animals look hooligan, all because of the always disheveled coat.
| Breed name | Cairn terrier |
| Country of origin | Scotland |
| Weight | 6 – 8 kg |
| Height (at the withers) | 28 – 31 cm |
| Life expectancy | 15 years |
| Size | Small |
Cairn Terrier photos
Physical characteristics
The Cairn Terrier is a combination of fun-loving appearance and lively temperament. Perky, shaggy mustaches dressed in fur coats look like they’ve jumped off the shelf of a toy store.
The height at the cross ranges from 28 to 31 centimeters for both males and females. The ideal weight varies from 6 to 8 kilograms.
Distinctive features
- Head: The head is small. The shape is wedge-shaped, tapering from the top towards the muzzle. A furrow is visible on the forehead. The transition from forehead to muzzle is pronounced. The muzzle itself is fox-like, with a straight bridge of the nose.
- Jaws: Scissor cut. The teeth are large and strong.
- Ears: The ears are small, triangular, erect. The ears are covered with thick hair.
- Eyes: The eyes are small. Well spaced, approximately level with the stop sign. The shape is round. The eyes are neither protruding nor sunken. Dark color.
- Frame: The body is rectangular. Chest of medium width and depth. The belly is well proportioned. The withers and loin extend beyond the topline.
- Limbs: Legs of medium length, straight, parallel. The legs are rounded. Fingers are gathered in a dense mass.
- Coat: The coat has two layers – a soft, thick undercoat and a long, harsh guard coat. The color can be different: gray, wheaten, red, brindle, fawn. Single color is not allowed.
Character and behavior
The cairn terrier is a typical terrier. He loves to play pranks, but all his antics are aimed at getting the owner’s attention. Sometimes a dog crosses the line in an attempt to surprise the owner with his abilities. No need to scold your pet for antics. It is better to try to devote more time to the shaggy baby.
The dog will only obey one family member. He recognizes him as the leader. The rest of the family is treated with respect. The Cairn Terrier is wary of strangers. Guests are greeted with a loud bark.
This little dog is always ready to rush to protect its owner. It is important to ensure that the animal does not get into trouble, because it is not aware of its size and, in case of danger, may try to confront a large dog. And it can end badly.
With the children
Cairn Terriers are friendly. They will be happy to play with the children, bring the ball and chase it. But a cute dog will never share his stuff.
With other animals
Cairn terriers are jealous, it is better not to keep several representatives of the breed at once. They will constantly compete, which will lead to constant conflicts and fights. A dog will only get along with cats if they have grown up together. Rodents are seen as prey.
Health
Breeders, owners and veterinarians have identified several health issues that are important to the Cairn Terrier. Some of these diseases are inherited, while others occur due to non-specific factors (for example, infections, toxins, injury or old age).
Some of the most common hereditary health problems encountered in the Cairn terrier are:
- Bronchosophageal fistula
- Cataract
- Corneal dystrophy
- Craniomandibular osteopathy (lion’s jaw)
- Diabetes mellitus
- Entropion
- Hip dysplasia
- Hypothyroidism
- Krabbe disease (balloon leukodystrophy)
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome
- Dislocation of the lens
Life expectancy
The average lifespan for a cairn terrir dog is between 12 and 15 years.
Care
The Cairn Terrier should be brushed once or twice a week. Eyes should be cleaned daily or as needed, ears 2-3 times per week, nails trimmed 3 times per month. Bathe your dog at least once a month or more.
Living conditions
The Cairn Terrier can live in an apartment, subject to a minimum of 2 walking times for 1 hour. But the best living conditions for Cairn Terriers are country houses with a large garden where the animal can run around freely.
Exercise
The Cairn Terrier is a very energetic dog breed and needs to run and play for at least an hour a day.
However, his hunting instinct is so strong that sometimes they run after their prey, so they must be released from the leash only in safe areas, to ensure that they learn to react as soon as they are called. Their nature of Terrier pushes them to dig, whether in the fields or among the rose bushes of your garden.
Interesting facts
- The name of the breed “cairn” means “pile of stones”.
- In ancient times, every Scottish nobleman kept a pack of Cairn Terriers in his kennel. It was considered prestigious. The more dogs in the pack, the richer their owner.
- The famous doggie Totosha from Oz is a representative of the Cairn Terrier breed.
- During life, cairns can change the color of the coat. For example, brindle turns into silver.
History of the breed
According to official data, the Cairn Terrier breed was registered in 1912. But the history of this species began long before this date.
Dogs that hunt perfectly in rocks, penetrating the narrowest crevices in search of prey, were known and popular as early as the sixteenth century.
It is believed that Cairn Terriers are the descendants of the old Scottish hunting terriers. The birthplace of cairn terriers is Scotland. The development and formation of the breed took place on the Isle of Skye, in the western highlands of Britain.
In the eighteenth century representatives of the breed were called “Skye Terriers”. Only at the beginning of the twentieth century the breed acquired the name “Cairn Terrier”. All because of the unique ability to extract prey among stones and rocks, because “cairn” means “a pile of stones.”
The purpose of these dogs was to hunt foxes, badgers and other burrowing animals. These dogs were highly valued by brokers, hunters who kept whole packs of terriers in their kennels.
Brokers during the breeding work did not pay attention to the beauty of the exterior. The main thing for them was to get hardy, agile puppies, with a color that allowed them to remain invisible against the background of rocks and stones.
If the puppy did not meet the expectations of the hunter, it was simply destroyed, only the best remained.
It should be noted that hunting abilities were appreciated not only by brokers, but also by farmers. The owners of livestock, poultry, barns, crops used cairns as guards and rat catchers.
Small, but brave, dexterous terriers guarded the master’s animals from foxes, the master’s buildings from rats and other rodents, and protected crops from badgers.
Not surprisingly, the popularity of the Cairn Terrier has grown so much that it was difficult to acquire a purebred puppy of this breed.
Now cairns are popular not only in their homeland. These dogs are appreciated and loved in European countries, especially in France. Representatives of the breed entered the territory of the former Soviet Union at the end of the twentieth century, immediately gaining recognition from terrier lovers.
