Subject: rec.pets.dogs:  Cairn Terriers  Breed-FAQ
Supersedes: <dogs-faq/breeds/cairns_824086184@rtfm.mit.edu>
Date: 13 Mar 1996 13:33:57 GMT
X-Last-Updated: 1995/09/25

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                                CAIRN TERRIERS
                                       
Author

   Kathy Nicklas-Varraso, kathynv@world.std.com
   Created: 10/16/94
   Revised 9/15/95
   
   
   Copyright 1995 by Kathy Nicklas-Varraso. All rights reserved. You may
   download and print a copy of this file for your personal use. Further
   distribution must be with the explicit permission of the author. NOTE:
   Cairn Terrier Rescue organizations may freely give a copy with each
   dog they place.
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Table of Contents

     * Overview and History
     * General Information
     * "Go to Ground" Trials for Terriers
     * Obedience Training
     * Grooming
     * Health
     * Summary
     * Frequently Asked Questions
     * Resources
          + Organizations
          + Books
            
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Overview and History

   Cairn Terriers originated on the Isle of Skye, and in the Scottish
   Highlands as a vermin killing dog. They excelled at removing rats and
   other rodents from the stone cairns commonly found on Scottish farms.
   These dogs were not bred for looks, but rather working ability.
   Gradually, separate strains of terrier became the Scottie, the West
   Highland White, with the original terrier being defined as the Cairn.
   The Cairn is closest to its original ancestors, and still excels in
   flushing out vermin. This may not be terribly handy in modern life,
   but it can be very amusing.
   
   Today, the Cairn is more of a companion animal. Like all terriers,
   they are frisky, independent bundles of energy. They are long lived
   dogs, with few health problems, and many live well into their late
   teens. They are also quite sturdy, and are much tougher than their
   small size suggests. The most famous example of a Cairn is Toto from
   the Wizard of Oz. (Not my favorite example, but most people have heard
   of him.)
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
General Information

   The Breed Standard for Cairn Terriers in the U.S. states that the dog
   should be 9-1/2 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder, and weigh thirteen
   to fourteen lbs., with bitches slightly smaller. However, there are
   some Cairns out there weighing up to eighteen lbs., due to the
   influence of British breeding stock. Cairns also have large teeth for
   their size, large feet and strong nails. They have muscular shoulders,
   and very strong legs for digging.
   
   Cairns are short, shaggy dogs, fairly long for their height, with
   large heads and pricked up ears. They have a waterproof, rough coat,
   and do not shed. They come in a variety of colors, with brindle shades
   predominating. (Brindle means black hairs interspersed with the other
   fur color) A Cairn can be any color but white. Adult color cannot be
   reliably predicted based on the puppy coat, as the adult coat can be
   markedly darker, eventually approaching black. (See complete Breed
   Standard for more detailed information.)
   
   Cairn Terriers are "people" dogs. They thrive indoors, with the
   family, and soak up attention. If you aren't careful, your Cairn will
   sneak between you and your keyboard every time you sit down to write a
   breed-faq! They love children, activity and play, although you will
   have to take care that the kids don't try to ride the dog. Although
   they really are a "big dog in a little dog's body", riding such a
   little dog will squish him.
   
   Because Cairns thrive on attention, they are not suitable for people
   with "no time for a dog." If left alone 12 hours a day, they will
   certainly find a way to let you know how unhappy they are. And, like
   all terriers, they are voracious chewers. Be warned. (On a more
   positive note, I occasionally left my previous Cairn uncrated for up
   to twelve hours at a stretch, while I worked, without any problems.
   However, I lavished attention on the dog when I returned, and I kept
   the long days to a minimum. I regularly leave my current Cairn for
   eight hour stretches without problems.) A Cairn is not an appropriate
   dog for an outdoor life. He really needs to live in the house with his
   people. (I did get a note from a person in California who keeps his
   Cairn outdoors, but I really think that this is a far less than ideal
   situation. In New England where I live, it would be impossible to make
   your Cairn live outdoors)
   
   Cairns are also rather well known for their digging ability. A
   separate area of the yard, without prized shrubs or flowers would be
   suitable for your Cairn. Some people advocate filling the holes with
   water or other things to stop the digging. In my opinion, a better
   policy would be to find an out of the way area for your dog to dig,
   and not to worry about it.
   
   Cairn Terriers can be quite verbal. This does not mean that they are
   problem barkers, but they will "talk", and grumble, and arf to
   communicate. It is a very easy thing to train your Cairn to "speak",
   and to "ask" for a treat. A Cairn left on a line in the backyard may
   well become a problem barker, due to loneliness. He will also get
   eaten by the big dogs in the neighborhood, because he doesn't know
   when to back down.
   
   Cairns are very territorial. This is good for security purposes, but
   can become problematic if precautions aren't taken. Letting a Cairn
   run loose can give him the impression that a whole neighborhood
   belongs to him, and woe unto any strange dog trespassing on his land.
   Also, if you have a multiple dog household, a male Cairn Terrier
   should not live with another (unneutered) male dog of any breed. (A
   Cairn really has no clue that he is so small).
   
   As mentioned above, Cairns are chewers. They have also been known to
   dig and climb. Those are the bad points. If given plenty of exercise,
   and appropriate things to chew, these character traits need not become
   a problem. It is very easy to exercise a Cairn while watching TV. Just
   throw a tennis ball around the floor, and say "Gimme that ball." ;-)
   Unlike many of the working breeds, a Cairn need not be walked for
   miles each day. If you want to walk for miles, your dog will be
   thrilled, but it's not required. However, this really isn't a dog to
   go long distance running with. Not only will people laugh at you, it's
   too much for the dog's little legs.
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
"Go to Ground" Trials for Terriers

   Note: This section was stolen shamelessly from a Westie (eek!)
   publication. (These are also sometimes called "terrier digs" and
   "Working Terrier Trials".) The event is called Earthdog Tests because
   it is designed for dogs bred to go to ground for badger, fox, and
   otter. The event will lead to the AKC titles Junior Earthdog (JE),
   Senior Earthdog (SE), and Master Earthdog (ME). Other kennel clubs,
   such as the UKC, assorted terrier breed clubs, such as the Jack
   Russell Terrier Club and the American Working Terrier Association have
   their own, similar "Go to Ground" trials.
   
   The AKC test is limited to Australian Terriers, Bedlington Terriers,
   Border Terriers, Cairn Terriers, Dandie Dinmont Terriers, Fox
   Terriers, Lakeland Terriers, Norfolk Terriers, Norwich Terriers,
   Scottish Terriers, Skye Terriers, Welsh Terriers, West Highland White
   Terriers, and Dachshunds. Because it is impractical to use badger,
   fox, or otter as quarry in a test, the quarry will be laboratory rats
   or optionally a to-be-designed artificial quarry.
   
   A non-titling Introductory Test is similar to AWTA's Novice Class. It
   uses a ten foot tunnel with one corner, the dog has two minutes to
   reach the quarry and start to work, and the dog must work for 30
   seconds. Work is defined as digging, barking, growling, lunging,
   biting at the quarry or any other action which indicates that the dog
   is attempting to attack the quarry. The test is pass-fail and is
   designed to introduce dogs to earthwork.
   
   The Junior Earthdog Test is similar to AWTA's Open class. It uses a 30
   foot tunnel with three corners. The dog has 30 seconds to reach the
   quarry, 30 seconds to start working and must work for 60 seconds. The
   test is pass-fail. A dog who passes the test twice under two different
   judges will earn the Junior Earthdog degree.
   
   The Senior Earthdog test increases in time and difficulty. Dogs must
   have the Junior Earthdog or the AWTA CG before entering this test. A
   dog who passes the test three times under at least two different
   judges will earn the Senior Earthdog degree.
   
   The Master Earthdog test is newly designed. The test consists of
   several parts and the dog must pass each part to pass the test. The
   dog must pass the test four times under at least two different judges
   to earn the Master Earthdog degree.
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Obedience Training

   It is highly advisable to obedience train your Cairn. (Actually, I
   think that basic obedience training should be mandatory for every dog,
   if only that it makes living with your dog a whole lot more pleasant).
   Cairns learn very quickly, and the few standard commands can be
   quickly supplemented with some tricks. Training a Cairn, however, is
   not like training a Lab or Golden. Cairns won't do fifty sit/stays in
   a row, just for the heck of it. If you keep the training fun and not
   repetitive, you both will have a great time. Cairns want you to be
   alpha, and as such, really strive to please you.
   
   Cairns can be easy to housetrain, mainly due to their desire to please
   their people. I strongly recommend using a reward system to house
   train your Cairn. In short, each time you take your pup out to do his
   business, give a "potty" command (use some word that you won't feel
   foolish saying in public. I use "do it.") When the dog produces, be
   lavish with the praise, and perhaps even give a treat. If/When the dog
   has an accident in the house, don't punish the dog, and clean the spot
   with an enzyme cleaner. (It is essential that you use an enzyme
   cleaner - dogs can smell a marked spot otherwise, and will continue to
   soil your home) They keys to this method are that you take the dog
   out, not just let him out, and all the praise. Your Cairn will quickly
   learn that going outside gets him a reward, and going in the house
   gets him nothing.
   
   Every person I have spoken with that uses this method faithfully has
   reported success in a very short time. However, every person I've
   spoken with that only uses part of this method has had terrible
   housebreaking problems. The most common mistake is letting the dog out
   and not taking the dog out with you (This does not apply only to
   Cairns, I mean all the dogs and owners that I know) I know it's a
   pain, but for a month or so, it's definitely worth it.
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Grooming

   Cairns do not shed, and don't require an awful lot of special
   grooming. A few minutes with the slicker brush every couple of days
   usually does it. They are supposed to be hand stripped at least once a
   year, which encourages the growth of a new, rough, waterproof, coat.
   Hand stripping means to pull the hair out, root and all. It doesn't
   hurt the dog, but if you're a wimp, a groomer can do it for you.
   However, due to the enormous time investment involved, be prepared to
   pay dearly for this service. (You can shave a terrier in about ten
   minutes, but stripping takes a couple of hours, at least)
   
   I hand strip my Cairn about every six months. I use one hand to grip
   the hair, and the other hand's fingers at the skin to hold it in
   place. Then, I give a quick pull, and the old, dead hair, being so
   loosely rooted, just comes out. What is left is a brightly colored
   undercoat. This sounds a LOT worse than it is. My Cairn doesn't like
   being still for such a long time, but she never seems to even feel the
   hair pulling. I always do hand stripping outdoors, and I recommend
   that you wear clothing similar in color to your dog. You WILL need a
   shower when you finish.
   
   The reward for doing this is that the new coat grows in much more
   brightly colored, and looks beautiful. Also, the new coat will be far
   more weather resistant than one that hasn't been stripped.
   
   The Cairn Terrier Club of America puts out a detailed instruction
   booklet ($2), the address is listed below.
   
   Also, like all other dogs, Cairns require some very basic grooming
   steps, namely nail clipping and tooth brushing to maintain optimum
   health.
   
   Tooth brushing. In order to keep your Cairn's mouth in the best
   possible shape, and to minimize gum and tooth problems in later life,
   tooth brushing is a must. As a side benefit, "dog breath" problems are
   also greatly reduced. A gentle toothbrush, or piece of gauze wrapped
   around a finger, are all that is required. For a more thorough job,
   special Dog toothpaste (available at pet stores or from your vet)
   works quite well. Do not use "people" toothpaste for your dog's teeth.
   It can cause an upset stomach and vomiting. When starting to brush
   your Cairn's teeth, take it slowly. At first, just allow your dog to
   lick the toothpaste off the toothbrush. Later, begin brushing the
   front teeth, and gradually work toward brushing all the teeth,
   especially the outside and biting surfaces. If your Cairn already has
   a tartar problem, a professional cleaning by your vet may be in order.
   
   
   Nail Clipping. Unless your Cairn walks for miles on pavement every
   day, she may require periodic nail clipping. You can have a
   professional groomer clip your dog's nails, or have your vet show you
   how to do this yourself. If nail clipping is neglected, the overgrown
   nails can curve under, and damage the dog's foot.
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Health

   Cairns are generally very healthy dogs. There are rare cases of
   inherited diseases such as Von Willebrand's Disease, which is a
   bleeding disorder, similar to Hemophilia. The Cairn Terrier
   Clearinghouse has identified other inherited conditions that can be
   found in Cairns. This is not to say that they are unhealthy or prone
   to illness in any way. It means that the Cairn community is actively
   trying to eradicate hereditary illness in their dogs. In general,
   compared to some other breeds, Cairns are quite healthy dogs.
   
   That being said, the most notable common problem in Cairns is that
   they tend to have flea allergies. Folk wisdom says that this can be
   combated with a teaspoon of tomato sauce in each day's food. (YMMV)
   Normal flea prevention is much more effective. (Darker colored Cairns
   are reputed to be less prone to flea allergies)
   
   Like most small breeds of dogs, your Cairn can be susceptible to
   luxating patellas, or as it is more commonly called, floating
   kneecaps. This means that the ligaments holding the kneecap are loose,
   and the joint isn't as deeply grooved as it should be. A vet can
   diagnose this problem during a routine checkup. A diagnosis of
   luxating patellas can mean anything from no restriction of activity at
   all, to quite debilitating. Fortunately, most of the time, the
   condition is less severe. Even a severe case of floating kneecaps can
   be treated with surgery. (Obviously, this is a very condensed
   description, and is not meant to be the definitive answer on any joint
   condition in your dog. For more information, please contact your vet)
   
   A Cairn can thrive on any high quality dry dog food. Most adult dogs
   can be maintained on 1/2 to 2/3 of a cup of food a day, usually in two
   small meals. Cairns are prone to getting fat, so keeping a close watch
   on their weight is a must. And, as with people, proper daily exercise
   the key to maintaining the proper weight in your Cairn. As a practical
   guide, my Cairn gets 1/2 cup of food a day, which means an eight lb.
   sack lasts about five weeks.
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Summary

   Obviously, if you've read this far, you must agree with me that Cairn
   Terriers are the handsomest, best dogs out there. Cute, portable,
   loyal, not overbred, and not "sissy" dogs. Most people who have owned
   a Cairn never want another kind of dog.
   
   On that note, let me put in a plug for Cairn Breed rescue. Cairns are
   pretty near ideal candidates for adoption, even as adults. They
   quickly become acclimated to a new home and family, as long as there
   is adequate attention. My current Cairn Terrier is a rescue dog.
   Adopting her is one of the smarter things I've done in my life. I can
   be reached via email for a local contact of breed rescue, or the
   national address is listed below.
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Frequently Asked Questions

   Do Cairn Terriers Yap? (Are they "Yappy Little Dogs?")
   
     Not really. They do have a distinctive bark, which of course, is not
     the deep voice of a large dog, and no one is going to mistake the
     bark of a Cairn for the bark of a Mastiff. On the good side, they
     don't yap like a Chihuahua, either. Unless untrained, they do not
     bark incessantly. However, if you leave a Cairn, or most dogs for
     that matter, tied in the yard alone for hours, that dog will bark,
     and bark, and bark, ad nauseam. 
     
   Do Cairn Terriers shed?
   
     All dogs lose some hair at some time, just like people, but Cairn
     Terriers do not shed at all in the traditional sense - in other
     words, you won't have to sweep up Cairn fur every day, unlike some
     other breeds.
     
     For that reason, they can be especially good for allergy sufferers.
     However, if you or a family member is an allergy sufferer, I
     strongly encourage that you visit a Cairn breeder and spend time
     with Cairns before bringing one into your home. In this way, you
     will discover whether you react to Cairns. 
     
   Are they good with children?
   
     Again, like all dogs, Cairns need to be socialized in order to be
     good with people, children included. However, they are loyal family
     dogs, and are very good with children.
     
     Many reputable breeders will not sell a Cairn to a home with
     toddlers or children younger than school age. However, this is not a
     universal situation, and exceptions are often made if you can show a
     breeder that your children are careful, and know how to behave
     around a dog. As with most things, mutual respect is the key. 
     
   Are they good with other dogs?
   
     Sort of. An unaltered Male Cairn should not be housed with another
     unaltered male dog of any breed. A Cairn will be a good companion
     dog with other dogs in the house, but will still behave in a
     territorial manner with "strange" dogs. 
     
   Are they good with Cats and other household pets?
   
     Cats, yes, once the two are properly socialized with one another. I
     would not recommend a Cairn Terrier in any household that has a
     rodent as a pet, such a rabbit or guinea pig. Cairns are bred to
     kill rodents and could do some damage to such a pet. 
     
   Should I have my Cairn shaved for the summer?
   
     Well, obviously, you can do as you wish, but a Cairn is properly
     hand stripped. Most groomers style a Cairn like a Westie or some
     other kind of terrier, which of course, they are not. Also, shaving
     does nothing to remove the dead hair which builds up in the hair
     follicles. 
     
   Bonus Question: (which is asked more than any other Cairn Terrier
   question) Hey is that a Toto Dog? Alternatively: Hey is that some
   kind of rat?
   
     NO. Take a hike, buddy :-)
     
   
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
Resources

  ORGANIZATIONS
  
   Cairn Terrier Club of America
          Betty Marcum, Route 3 - P.O. Box 78, Alvardo, TX 76009
          
   Cairn Terrier Rescue Committee
          Susan DeWitt. Chairman, 28 Holiday Drive, Norwalk, CT 06851
          
  BOOKS
  
   All About the Cairn Terrier
          John Gordon, Pelham Books
          
   The Cairn Terrier
          Beynton and Fisher, et al., Arco Books
          
   The Complete Cairn Terrier
          John Marvin, Howell Book House
          
   
   
     _________________________________________________________________
   
    Cairn Terrier FAQ
    Kathy Nicklas-Varraso, kathynv@world.std.com
