The bold yet still amenable, lowmaintenance Cairn Terrier, once called the Short-haired Skye Terrier, originated in the west of Scotland. Its present name comes from its original function, flushing out vermin and game hidden in piles of rocks, which are called “cairns” in Scotland. This is a happy, bossy, and mischievous breed. With its sturdy, squared body, shaggy, doubledensity harsh coat, and rustic, tousled features, it makes an ideal choice for active families. Cairns are equally at home in the town or country, with single owners or in boisterous young families. As pups grow, their coat colour can lighten considerably. Despite an urge to watchdog bark, this typically fearless terrier is quite amenable to obedience training. Cairns, males in particular, should be monitored when meeting children for the first time.

Dog breed synonyms: Short-Haired Skye

HISTORY

The true origins of the Cairn Terrier are lost in the mists of time. A widely accepted theory is that the Cairn Terrier was developed more than 200 years ago on the ancient Isle of Skye in Scotland. The breed name was derived from the word Cairn which means a rock pile used to mark landmarks.
Cairn terriers possessed enough courage to fend off unwanted pests, including foxes, badgers, rabbits and otters quite larger than themselves. Therefore their primary use was ,,pest control,,. Until the standardization of the bred dogs varied enormously in size, shape and color depending on the terrain they worked and the quarry they hunted.
Today the Cairn Terrier is best known as Toto, the scruffy, likeable, little terrier from the popular movie ,,The Wizard of Oz,,.

PERSONALITY

Everyone remembers Toto from ,,The Wizard of Oz,,. Toto went everywhere with Dorothy, helped her stop the Wicked Witch of the West and even exposed the Wizard as simply a man behind a curtain. Cairns are exactly like Toto. They are spunky, peppy, active, playful, spirited, curious, confident, fearless, loyal and a little sensible. Although they tend to be independent, they are friendly with everyone they meet.

If his owners are irresponsible, the Cairn’s fearless tenacity will definitely lead him into trouble. If given a chance, Cairns will chase any small animal, including cats. Because of their Terrier instincts they are good watchdogs, happy to announce any visitor with noisy barking.

TRAITS

Cairns are small and sturdy dogs with foxy expression. In spite of their short-legs, they move in a free and powerful manner. The strong muscles of the hindquarter produce exuberant but at the same time balanced activity. The hallmark of the breed are their deep-set, alert, hazel eyes and small pricked up ears. True to its heritage, the breed still has very large teeth, large feet with thick pads and strong nails for digging.

Cairns come in a variety of colors including red, brindle, black, sand or gray, but never white. Dark points at the ears, eyes and muzzle are favorable. The distinctive scruffy appearance is due to their differently textured double coat.

Males stand 10’’ (25.4cm) tall and weigh 14Ib (6.4kg), while females stand 9.5’’ (24cm) tall and weigh 13Ib (6kg).

HANDLING

Despite their bijou size, Cairns do not make good lap dogs. They might give you a minute or two of their busy schedule, but they got things to do and places to go.

Cairns need firm, but not harsh, training and discipline. They respond well to positive reinforcement. If enough mentally and physically challenged, they will be calm and easy-going.

Cairns are excellent companions for families of all shapes and sizes. Because they do not have a lot of patience and have been known to bite, they should not be left alone with children.

HEALTH

Cairn Terriers are fairly healthy, but can be affected by certain genetic health problems. Health issues worth mentioning are dermatological conditions (atopy), endocrine conditions (diabetes mellitus), gastrointestinal conditions (congenital bronchoesophageal fistula, congenital portosystemic shunt, microvascular portal dysplasia, congenital polycystic liver disease), haematological conditions (pyruvate kinase deficiency, haemophilia B), musculoskeletal conditions (craniomandibular osteopathy, inguinal hernia), neurological conditions (lysosomal storage disease – globoid cell leukodystrophy or Krabbe’s disease), ocular conditions (refractory corneal ulceration, ocular melanosis, lens luxation, cataract, retinal dysplasia), renal and urinary conditions (polycystic kidney disease), reproductive conditions (cryptorchidism) and respiratory conditions (congenital bronchoesophageal fistula, pulmonary interstitial fibrosis).

The Cairn’s lifespan is estimated to be 12-15 years.