From mousers to movie stars and mischievous family pets, Cairn Terriers excel at whatever job they take on! Learn more about this little pup’s personality, health, and grooming needs. Are you looking for some quality dog food to sate the appetite of your cairn-ivorous terrier? Mad Paws Dinner Bowl will give your dog some of the best raw dog food around!
Quick Facts ✔
Height – 23cm – 33cm
Weight – 6 – 8kg
Lifespan – 12 – 15 years
Country of origin – U.K, Scotland
Breed type – Terrier
- One pet households
- Families with children
- Hypoallergenic households
Cairn Terrier Breed History ♜
The Cairn Terrier is part of the group of Scottish Highland dogs known for their digging prowess (the Latin word for ground being terra). Like their close relatives, Westies, Skye Terriers, Scottish Terriers, and the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, the Cairn Terrier has been used as a ratting or small vermin dog for hundreds of years.
The Cairn Terrier shares their homeland of the Isle of Skye with the Skye Terrier. But, while their furry cousins took the name of the island itself, Cairn Terriers were named after their preferred hunting grounds. In Scotland, cairns are mounds of stacked stone used as landmarks or memorials placed over gravesites. And, with so many nooks and crannies to hide, they make for the perfect hiding place for rodents and small animals. The Cairn Terrier spent its days trotting from cairn to cairn to keep their beloved Owner’s property mouse-free.
By the beginning of the 20th century, a breed standard for the Cairn Terrier was finally completed, and the little pup could start making the rounds at dog shows across the UK and beyond. And, in 1939, the breed would experience a huge popularity boost when Terry the Cairn Terrier played Toto in the iconic film, Wizard of Oz.
Since then, the Cairn Terrier has remained a beloved pet around the world. While they maintain many of their terrier traits, you’re more likely to find these dogs in family homes than sniffing out rodents on farms.
Cairn Terrier Personality Traits ★
Sweet, affectionate, bubbly, and social, the Cairn Terrier comes with all the positive traits that make terriers so loveable.
They’re active and intelligent, always sniffing out the direct route to the middle of the action. If they feel that the energy in a room is a bit low, they’ll gladly brighten things up with their penchant for mischief and fun.
Thanks to their playful attitude, these puppers are a favourite with kids of all ages. They’re not likely to get overwhelmed by energetic children. In fact, these dogs may encourage kids to join in their adventures. Still, children should always be taught to play gently with this small dog.
Of course, not all terrier traits are heart-melting and fun. If there’s one thing that all terriers have in common, for instance, it’s a self-confident stubbornness. These dogs consider themselves to be in the right, and they may want to take the role of doggy director in the household.
They’re also quite chatty, and will readily use their high-pitched bark to make sure that all eyes are on them. Because they love being around their favourite humans, they can develop separation anxiety when left alone. The help of an experienced Pet Sitter may be necessary to keep them calm while you’re away.
Cairn Terriers prefer to be one-dog households, but they will learn to get along with others if properly socialised. That said, they can be a bit pushy, so they’re best paired with a pooch who won’t mind their strong attitude.
When it comes to small animals like cats, these dogs have a prey drive that exceeds their own size. Without proper training, they may take after anything that triggers their old hunting instincts.
True to their breed group, Cairn Terriers are a mix of endearing and frustrating traits. But, with so much personality packed into such a little pooch, it’s easy to see why these dogs are never out of your good graces for long.
Cairn Terrier Trainability & Training Tips
If you love a good challenge, training a Cairn Terrier will be absolutely perfect for you. Because, while these dogs are clever and full of potential, their independent streak takes a bit of work to overcome.
Unfortunately, that particular cocktail of characteristics means that many Owners don’t train their terrier as much as they should. As a result, Cairn Terriers are at high risk of developing Small Dog Syndrome. In order to quell aggression, fearfulness, and possessive behaviours, training and socialisation is an absolute must, even if it takes some extra work!
Here are a few tips to make the process easier:
- Set up the perfect terrier training area. Give your terrier the best chance at focusing by removing all distractions. Draw the blinds, turn off the television, put toys away, etc. Your goal is to make sure the most interesting thing in the room is their beloved Owner.
- Find your dog’s must-have rewards. Terriers are typically food motivated dogs who will respond well to treat-based training. If you’re still struggling with the Cairn Terrier independence, you might increase the appeal by using special treats such as boiled chicken. If your doggo isn’t interested in treats at all, you might be able to train them with their favourite toy or praise.
- Make training sessions fun. Even though your Cairn Terrier may not follow your commands enthusiastically, it will be important to maintain an upbeat attitude throughout the training session. If they sense frustration or anger, these little pups may double down on bad behaviours or avoid your commands out of fear. But, if you can match their enthusiasm for life by making training sessions exciting, your terrier will be much more likely to play along.
- Short and sweet sessions are best. With any highly distractible dog, training sessions around 10 minutes long are ideal. Anything longer than that and this adventure-seeking doggo will probably get bored.
- Keep yourself motivated to stick with it! We talk a lot about the best tips for training dogs, but the truth is, sometimes Dog Owners need tricks for staying motivated! With a dog who is known to be harder to train, it’s good to rely on the help of family members or a professional trainer to share the work. Setting realistic training goals are another good way to make sure you’re celebrating milestones and giving yourself credit as your furbaby improves.
Training a Cairn Terrier takes patience and plenty of trial and error. But once they pick up on how fun training sessions can be, the sky’s the limit for these smart little pups!
Exercise Needs & Living Conditions ⌂
Terriers are anything but lap dogs, and they’ve got enough energy to outrun many larger puppers at the dog park. An hour of exercise per day is fairly standard for these active dogs, but they may need more or less depending on their age and personality.
Luckily, these adventurous little doggos enjoy all kinds of activities, such as:
- Walking. Those little legs are much sturdier than you might think! Whether you’re walking around the neighbourhood or taking your pup for a trek through the country, Cairn Terriers enjoy a nice walk on all kinds of terrains. Regardless of the other fun exercise activities you have planned for your pup, a daily walk is key for a terrier’s mental and physical wellbeing. Don’t hesitate to call in a friendly Dog Walker on the days you can take a stroll with your pooch.
- Swimming. These muscular little dogs were not designed to be good swimmers, but that doesn’t stop them from diving right into the nearest body of water. If your Cairn Terrier likes swimming and can do so confidently, then you’re in good luck: swimming is one of the best forms of exercise for dogs.
- Lure coursing or flirt poles. We love activities that mimic a dog’s original job description, and chase-based games are perfect for terriers. A flirt pole works just like a wand toy for cats and allows your dog to chase, pivot and jump after a toy. You can increase the endurance by taking your dog to a lure coursing session, in which pups chase after a mechanical lure that moves just like a terrier’s former prey.
- Agility training. Not all dogs were born to be agility trial champions, but most dogs can enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of agility training. So, while a Cairn Terrier may get distracted halfway through the course, they will still get a great workout and bonding time with their beloved Owner.
- Play with other dogs. As we mentioned, these dogs can get a little pushy with other dogs, or even become fearful if all the puppers around them are big and intimidating. But when they find the right pack of friends to play with, they’ll be in doggy heaven. Our suggestion? Find your local terrier Owners and arrange for playdates; these dogs love socialising with other terriers!
Be warned that an under-exercised Cairn Terrier won’t wait around patiently for playtime. Instead, they’ll likely rely on their digging instincts to make their own fun.
For living conditions, one of the best things you can give this dog is an outdoor space to run around. Remember that they are independent and a bit stubborn, so they shouldn’t be left off-leash in an area where they could run off. But, a fenced backyard will give them the perfect place to roam as they please—with supervision, of course!
Mightier than their size, these dogs don’t typically have trouble climbing stairs or jumping up on the couch. But, as they age, doggy ramps and other household upgrades can make them more comfortable.
Finally, we mentioned that these dogs are vocal! So, if they’re going to be in an apartment complex, you may want to spend some extra time training them the “quiet” command. Still, they may be a bit too loud for very cramped quarters.
Cairn Terrier Grooming ✄
Thanks to their wiry outer coat, these dogs are considered to be hypoallergenic. But, how should you go about caring for that rough coat?
Grooming a wire-haired dog requires two main tasks: brushing and coat-stripping.
Regular brushing with a brush that can reach their downy undercoat will prevent tangling and matting. This task will also help distribute your dog’s natural oils and pick up any loose fur.
Coat-stripping is a more involved process and should be done from snout to tail about once every five to six months. If you’re not sure how to hand-strip your dog yourself, find a groomer in your area with wire-haired dog experience.
In terms of washing, their water-resistant outer coat keeps them quite clean. You only need to wash them about once every three to four months or as needed.
As you can see, this terrier’s coat doesn’t require much by way of regular grooming! You can be sure that their skin and coat are as healthy as possible by feeding them an all-natural diet high in essential fatty acids. It’s also a good idea to keep their nails trimmed and teeth clean to round out their grooming routine!
Cairn Terrier Health +
These dogs are long-lived and hardy, but they can experience some health concerns, such as:
- Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy, aka Krabbe Disease. Puppies who inherit this degenerative neurological disease typically don’t live longer than two years. The good news is, it can now be prevented with proper screening.
- Musculoskeletal disorders such as Legg-Perthes Disease, patellar luxation, and craniomandibular osteopathy. In most cases, surgery can correct these genetic disorders.
As stocky little pups, Cairn Terrier’s aren’t likely to be injured easily from normal play and adventure. But, it’s still a good idea to have them covered by a dependable pet insurance plan for accidents or health concerns.
Fun Fact ♥
Click your heels three times and say, “There’s no dog like Toto” because we have more fun facts about the iconic Cairn Terrier who made movie history!
Terry the Terrier was already well into her movie career by the time she traveled with Dorothy to the Land of Oz. This showbiz legend appeared in 16 films during her 11 years in Hollywood, starring alongside other big names like Shirley Temple, Clark Gable, and Joan Crawford.
And, living up to her terrier roots, Terry did all of her own stunts, certainly justifying the fact that she was often one of the most well-paid actors in her films.
Final Thoughts on the Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier is just one of the gems of the Scottish Terrier family, and you can expect them to come with all the joys and drawbacks of their digging doggy breed group.
Some of the wonderful traits include self-confidence, good humour, and a penchant for mischief. And some of the more challenging characteristics include stubbornness, distractibility, and, well, a penchant for mischief.
Don’t forget that the Cairn Terrier was originally a working dog, so keep them out of the garden, keep a Dog Walker on speed dial, and keep them away from mice. In return, you’ll have a loveable furry friend in the Cairn Terrier.
