Cairn Terrier Club of America
For more in depth information about Cairn Terriers, you should also visit the Cairn Terrier Club of America (CTCA) which is a USA based national organization committed to providing a source of information about Cairn Terriers to responsible pet owners.
The CTCA is a membership based organization which has several publications you can purchase in their store as well a members message board.
Please be sure to familiarize yourself with this worthwile organization by visiting the Cairn Terrier Club of America.
Slicker Brushes
For a quick comb through, you can pick up an inexpensive slicker brush at any pet shop. It comes in handy when a stripper is not what you need because you simply want to brush the Cairn or detangle any areas.
I use a slicker brush made by Millers Forge. It is of professional quality and has a particularly soft touch on the Cairns' coat. Our Cairn Terriers love to be brushed and I started brushing them with a slicker brush when they were puppies even when they didn’t need to be brushed.
I wanted to get them used to being brushed and handled on the grooming table. So for just a few minutes a day for about a month, I simply put them on the grooming table and used the slicker brush.
To this day they look forward to being brushed and even stripped! Now the toe nail trimming challenge is another matter all together.
Kongs for Cairns
What is a Kong? It is a peculiar word, and I didn't know what a Kong was either. When my Cairns were puppies I kept reading a reference to a Kong in all of the dog training books. Whatever this Kong was, it seemed to be used as a treat or reward. It had been 20+ years since I'd had a puppy so this was all new baby stuff to me. It was also a fun learning experience.
Kongs are made of rubber and are hollow inside. They come in all shapes and sizes but the original shape and most popular is the hive-like design. They have the ability to bounce although we don't use them for that purpose.
When Molly and Jack were puppies we bought Kong Stuf 'n Paste which is a canned (like a whipped cream dispenser) that contains whipped peanut butter or liver flavored paste. Although they liked the paste for awhile, we decided it was far easier and probably more nutritional to use real peanut butter and cream cheese in the hollow Kong.
Using the Kong with stuffed goodies is ONLY for special times. The Cairns know that when they get peanut butter in a Kong they have done something really, really good. When they get cream cheese in a Kong, they know they are going to spend some time in their crates. They don't care. They love the stuffed Kongs and since the use of them with stuffed goodies is not over-used, they look forward to these special times.
Other treats can be stuffed in the Kongs and are fun for puppies to work with when they are bored. Entertaining a Cairn Terrier non-stop can be work, but tightly packing a Kong with pieces of broken dog biscuits can be a fun task for a puppy. We used this technique with Molly and Jack on occasion when they were young pups and when us ole human adults needed a break for the youngins' high energy.
Snoozy Sleeper - Dog Security Blanket?
This might sound a bit odd, but both Jack and Molly, our lovable Cairn Terriers, have what we call their "momma". Basically momma it is a black Snoozy Sleeper, that we bought from the local pet shop.
It was actually Molly's first crate mattress pad, but she continually dragged it out of her crate and gently held it in month. The scene often looked like she was trying to nurse it. Oddly enough Molly did not start doing this until the day after she was spayed. I am not a pet psychologist, but it seemed to me that the spaying process was a little to traumatic for her and she felt comforted by what might have made her feel she was with her maternal mother again.
So I simply went along with her routine and bought her the Cratewear Crate Bed Set instead. To this day Molly still lays on momma and holds it in her mouth. We keep it under an end table in the living room and it doubles as a safe place for her.
When we got Jack he too quickly picked up on Molly's nursing behavior. So we bought him his own Snoozy Sleeper momma as well. Whether or not this is normal behavior for a Cairn Terrier I don't know. I rather doubt it. But we didn't make a big deal out of it. In fact, we encouraged their means of security, if that is what it is. I honestly doubt though that Jack would have repeated the behavior had he not learned it from Molly.
Cairn Terriers are very smart and they pick up on things quickly. They have a memory like an elephant and brain that absorbs everything like a sponge. I believe their motto is "if it feels good do it", and apparently the Snoozy Sleeper felt good to them. That's okay though. We don't grade or rate them on their behavior. We just want them to develop their own personalities and be happy.
The Pet Yard
Of all the dog supplies I've purchased for Molly and Jack, the Pet Yard plastic panels has to be the best investment ever.
I wish I had taken photos of every place I've had these hinged, snap apart plastic panels in my house, outside, garage, basement and wherever I take the Cairns for an overnighter.
I first saw the Adjustable Size Pet Yard Kit
at the breeder's when I picked up Molly. She had them in her house with the puppies inside like an exercise pen. When I got home, I realized it was a fantastic way to have mobile fencing whenever, wherever and however I wanted it. So I called her to find out where she got it, and I ordered one set.
Well, needless to say I eventually ended up with three entire sets of the Adjustable Size Pet Yard Kit, and I cannot tell you how much they have helped us. We had some work done to our decking last summer, so we just used the Adjustable Size Pet Yard Kit
plastic fencing panels to re-route the Cairns to another area. It confines them well even as adults.
Since they grew up with it, they became accustomed to it as a boundary. Therefore, they do not try to escape nor do they realize it's just a temporary barrier. It's easy to snap panels together to make the fencing as large as I want, and when I'm not using it or want to take it to my sister's (my dog sitter when I'm away), I can fold it up and snap a handle on it to carry it.
Posted on April 30, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)Frontline
I have tried many kinds of flea and tick control products but nothing compares to Frontline®. The no name brands either didn't work or made the Cairns coat very greasy.
With Frontline Top Spot® I can actually put it on them myself with no problem at all.
The best time to apply the Frontline Top Spot® is while I'm grooming and stripping their coat. By combining these two processes, it's just one less thing they have to endure and it's a great reminder for me. I just put the little sticker on their Cairn Terrier wall Calendar, and it tells me automatically when it time again to groom them and protect them from pests.
See related grooming article, (HeartGuard® too).Posted on April 30, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Cairn Terrier Wall Calendar
Everyone knows that pet related wall calendars are fun. I buy one every year with photos of only Cairn Terriers on it. But I buy a calendar for several reasons and not just because I love the Cairn Terrier breed.
I use our Cairn Terrier wall calendar to make notes about everything regarding the Cairns. After that year is over, I save the calendar because it’s a complete documentation of their medical records, activities, training, etc. At a quick glance, I can see that this calendar is about Molly and Jack.
Here's a list of some of things I write on the Cairn Terrier wall calendar.
• vet appointments and what they had done
• groomer appointments and what they had done
• any grooming or stripping I did
• weight (I weight them periodically to see how they are doing.)
• flea and tick control reminders – I recommend Frontline Top Spot®
• HeartGuard® reminders
• any new things they successfully learned in their training
• anything else that is specific significance or has to do with them
In addition to the records I keep, the calendar also has photos of Cairn Terriers, of course. These photos are a fantastic reference as to how Cairns are stripped or groomed and their various coat colors. It's fun to turn over the next month's page to see what color Cairn we'll see.
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Canine Cooler
If you have a hot bodied little Cairn Terrier like my Happy Jack, your dog will love the Canine Cooler pad. I bought this pad several years ago for my older dog (now deceased) when he was having terrible arthritis problems.
I just bought the pad and put it into an old pillowcase which I can change and wash as needed. In the summer, I put it in a shaded place on the back deck so Jack and Molly can stay even cooler.
They absolutely love it. When they are outside during the hot and humid summer months, you can be sure to find at least one of them enjoying the cool spot.
The best part is that fits nicely inside their crates too and it doesn't take any electric. Just simply fill it with water once. I filled mine about four years ago, and haven't done a thing to it since. Since it's cool to the touch, fleas don't like it either.
I've never had a dog that was so hot all the time as Happy Jack. When he was a pup it was winter time here in Ohio and there was snow on the ground when we brought him home. One of the first things he'd do when I took him outside was to lay flat out on his stomach with all four legs out to cool his belly in the snow. So this little cooling pad is ideal especially for him but Molly likes it too. It was also a help with my older dog's arthritis problems.
Crate Training
Both Molly and Jack are crate trained. What's a crate? Isn't that mean and considered cruel?
A crate is simply a wire cage for a quick description. But it is really so much more and it's certainly not mean or cruel to crate train your Cairn. For a more appropriate description it is their safe house, their den, their space, their bedroom. The crate is that one place in your home that is just theirs and no one else’s. It's a private area for them that they can go to whenever they want and feel safe.
Before Molly and Jack, some 25+ years ago when I had my first two mix breed dogs, I'd never heard of crate training. I honestly don't think it was a well known concept. I housebroke my dogs to use newspaper in our basement, when they were inside and I was at work. So crate training was quite new to me and I had to learn it before I could teach Molly and Jack. After all, the student is no better than the teacher teaching.
I read a great deal about crate training before I got my first Cairn, and I was suspicious that it wouldn't work. In fact, I was sure it wouldn't work. I was wrong. Dead wrong.
Dogs have a natural instinct to keep their bedding clean, so they hold their busy work for when they are away from their bedding. If you think about it, how many dogs do you know that sleeps in their own poop?
As long as you respect their habitat and routinely take them out to do their business within a reasonable timeframe, crate training is one of the easiest things you'll teach your Cairn. It is far easier than training them to use newspapers in a specific area of your home.
I was shocked and astonished at how easy it was and I kept expecting to see accidents. Jack has never had an accident in his crate. Molly had one but it was when I brought her back from being spade. She was crying and whimpering. I thought she was in pain. That part may be true but she also had to do her business! My fault and I totally swatted myself with the newspaper.
Molly and Jack both sleep in their own crates at night, and when we are away. During the times when we are away that is outside of the norm, they get a special treat when we put them in their crate. This tells them that they will be having a nap for a period of time. They don't mind though. Here's why ...
I stuff a pat (1/8 ounce) of cream cheese inside a rubber kong and all I have to say "cream cheese" and they run to their crates (they know which one is theirs) and get inside. This too was so easy to teach them.
I taught Molly since she was our first Cairn, and then she taught Jack.
To learn how I trained Molly to go to and get into her crate, read my article, "Cairns Go to Bed". It is important to note that I am not a professional trainer. I simply love to teach my Cairns and I do it at my leisure, with my own methods and at their leisure. Cairn Terriers love to learn new things regardless of how small it may be. And they are very smart, so they learn fast.
Cairn Terrier Coat Colors
Choosing a specific color Cairn Terrier puppy is no guarantee the adult dog won't change colors. In fact, some Cairns change colors several times throughout his/her life. In this article I explain the various colors available with photos of the fur or coat, what is acceptable, why some colors are not acceptable, and why the Cairn's coat will often change sometimes more than once throughout the dog's life.
I had my heart set on a Toto dog, a dark brindle color. But when I went to pick out my puppy from the breeder, the only pups she had left to choose from where lighter in color. This was the same situation when we picked out Happy Jack. It's not too surprising that the darker Cairn Terrier puppies are the first to go from the litter. We have Toto from the Wizard of Oz to thank for their popularity.
Molly May is registered as a wheaten color and Happy Jack is a brindle. Nonetheless, they are absolutely wonderful dogs and I wouldn't change my decision now anything.
There are three colors that are not considered acceptable in a Cairn Terrier: white, black. There are two color patterns that are not accepted: black/tan, spotted
This is because white is generally associated with the Cairn Terrier's cousin-like breed, the West Highland Terrier. And the black is associated with another branch of the family, the Scottish Terrier (or Scottie as some folks refer to them).
A brindle color means that a single strand of hair has variations in color from the skin to the tip end. It is said that it is this brindle gene that often causes the Cairn terrier breed to change colors throughout the dog's life.
Today Molly is now 2 years and 3 month old. Her wheaten color has changed to a variation between red brindle and dark brindle. Some day her coat may just turn toward a dark brindle just like Toto. This is just another interesting characteristic of the Cair Terrier.
Happy Jack's coat on the other hand has become a little bit lighter in color since he as a puppy. This means absolutely nothing really. He too may change his coat color a number of times throughout his life. As of today (the day I wrote this article) Jack is 1 year and 3 months old.
Here is a list of some of the most common Cairn Terrier colors and a quick view color swatch guide to help you distinguish the differences.
 crème |
 light brindle |
 wheaten |
 medium brindle |
 dark brindle |
|
 red |
 red brindle |
 dark red brindle |
 grey |
 grey brindle |
Popular coat markings that make a Cairn more interesting looking or just plain ole cute are dark areas such as ear tips, snout, full or partial mask, and tail tip.
I hope you find this information helpful. I did a lot of research and read a great deal about Cairn Terriers, before I became a Cairn pet owner. I wanted a pup that was as close to the breed as possible, but most of what I found was targeted toward show dog owners.
Grooming a Cairn Terrier (not for Show Dogs)
This article is not for show dog owners, of couse. I wanted to be sure that if you are solely a Cairn Terrier pet owner, that you didn't make the same mistakes I did. I bought a number of grooming books specifically for Cairn Terriers and a multitude of grooming supplies. Then I discovered that it was all unnecessary and the books I read were targeting show dog owners.
Their grooming and stripping techniques were way too complicated and in my opinion unnecessarily put the dog through far too much.
Here are the facts for grooming a pet Cairn Terrier if you just want to keep their coat healthy and looking nice.
- Unlike some dogs, Cairn Terriers should not be bathed often. A maximum of 3 times a year, if possible. Only bath them when necessary. Use a well recommended shampoo for hard coats. I'll tell you what I use later on in this article.
- Do not trim your Cairn's fur with grooming or trimming shears. Their hair needs to be stripped instead. Don't let that scare you. I found an easy way and so far it has worked quite well for me. Molly and Jack wouldn't win any show dog awards in the ring, but they look just fine to us and their skin thus far is healthy.
- Keep your Cairn Terrier's toenails trimmed if they are not active. We had trouble with this one because Cairns are known to dislike the nail trimming challenge. So we take them to a vet or groomer to only have their nails trimmed. We hope that in time they will become accustomed to it so we can do it ourselves. Since they are both very active dogs and we take them daily on off-leash excursions, it wears down their toenails, so we don't have to have their nails trimmed every month.
- Check your Cairn's ears and make sure they stay clean and free of excess hair. Remove any excess wax or dirt with a gentle ear cleansing solution on a cotton ball.
While stripping my Cairns, I put them on a grooming table with a tether that wraps around their neck when I want them to be still. I use a Grooming Table from MIDWEST
. It works perfectly for grooming both of my Cairn Terriers.
Caution: Make sure that you never leave your Cairn Terrier unattended on a grooming table especially if they are tethered. In the spring, summer and fall, we keep the grooming table outside on the back deck which is shaded.
I try to make the grooming process is a time of fun and something they look forward to. I simply tap the top of the grooming table and they come running. They know it's going to be fun. They get treats periodically throughout the grooming process. They never really know when the treats are coming, so they are attentive. These kind of treats they only get when they are being groomed so they don't get accustomed to them and know what's coming.
Another method I use during the 6 months of the year they need mosquito, flea and tick protection is to take this opportunity to give them their monthly dose of Heartgard and Frontline.
Heartgard protects them from mosquito larva which could seriously injure or kill them and it comes in treat-like bars to make it look appealing like a treat. Molly and Jack love them.
Frontline protects them from ticks and fleas and it is very easy to apply. We have three adult house cats, so with five animals in the house, tick and flea protection all around is a must. :) One this I must stress is to not buy a cheap brand for flea and tick protection. I made this mistake too many times with other dogs I've owned and finally learned that I saved money and stress on the pets if I simply use Frontline.
Another money saving tip about Frontline is that you can usually get the best prices if you buy it online. Vet offices and pet shops are going to charge you more. Right now 1-800-PetMeds has the best Frontline value
I've found right now.
Mars Coat King -- Favorite Cairn Terrier Stripping Tool
My favorite stripping tool is the Mars Coat King. I would be lost without this little grooming tool. I have other stripping knives, smoothing stones, brushes, combs, etc., but not one of those tools can compare to the value of a Mars Coat King. I have two sizes but I could have easily been able to use only one had I known that Jack's coat was going to be far thicker than Molly's. They are expensive, but like I said they are invaluable. They are priced on average of $40 and the fewer amounts of knives in the tool, the more you'll pay.
Since we had Molly first and she doesn't have much undercoat, the Mars Coat King with 16 blades is what we used for her. Along came Happy Jack a year later, who has a much thicker undercoat. I bought the 10 blade Mars Coat King stripping knife (few knives that are spaced further apart) for Jack. I found that this new Mars Coat King worked fine on Molly too. But the one we were using on her wasn't working well enough on Jack because of his thicker undercoat.
With this handy little stripping tool, all you really need to do is brush them with it and the loose, dead or excess hair just comes right out. Getting in around smaller areas like the head and face can be more challenging but its a wonderful little grooming tool I couldn't live without. Don't let the knives scare you. You cannot accidentally cut them or yourself with this tool.
During the winter months, we keep the grooming table in the basement. Sometimes though a quick comb through is a must, so I found that putting an old towel on the washer in the laundry room and putting them on it to do some quick grooming (less than 2 minutes) is fast and easy. Caution: Again never leave your Cairn unattended on a grooming table.
The more you work with them, the easier it will become. When Molly was a puppy, I brushed her every day. She didn't need it, but I did it anyway. She loves the attention, and she knows she's getting pretty. When Jack came along, he wasn't quite as easy because I failed to work with him as much. But he saw that the process didn't hurt Molly and that she loved it. He is getting easier to work with all the time.
Posted on April 27, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (4)Housebreaking a Cairn Terrier
First let me say that Molly and Jack have completely different personalities. Both are smart, but Molly was a challenge in the housebreaking process. It had been 20+ years since I had housebroke a dog, so everything I knew I had completely forgotten.
It wasn't until we got Jack a year later, that I realized what I suspected. Molly simply wanted to do things her way when she wanted.
It wasn't that she didn't "get it". She did. She only did it when "she" wanted to. Ah yes, the spunkiness of the terrier shines through. On the other hand though, we got Jack a year after Molly and he was completely house broke within a few weeks. Mostly because Jack responded well to praise and Munchkin talk (aka high pitched baby talk) where Molly acted like she didn't care how much I praised her or what kind of treats I pulled out of my bag. Sometimes she acted as if the Munchkin talk was beneath her. Another reason I believe that Jack was easier was because he had another dog as a mentor. It may seem like a silly notion, but puppies absorb everything that goes on around them. They are so impressionable and having another adult dog around certainly helps them learn good things faster. It can also have the opposite effect; they can learn bad habits faster too. Between my extra-abundant praise and watching Molly "get busy", he was trained in no time.
As I write this Molly is currently 2 years and 3 months old. It was only 5 months ago though that I left for a business trip out of the country and my husband's sister let the dogs out for potty breaks during the day while my husband was at work. Molly took this time to let us know she wasn't happy about the situation and blatantly squatted and peed on the carpet because she didn't want to be put back into her crate. Ah yes, the terrier spunkiness can rear its ugly side on occasion.
I had a difficult time with her when she was a puppy. We went outside for “just in case breaks” dozens of time per day, and nothing the dog training and housebreaking books I bought said would work came close to helping. She simply didn't care about praise or treats. She was more interested in having fun, of course, and even as a puppy being alpha dog was important to her.
Posted on April 27, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1)Personality of Cairn Terriers
Wow, there is so much to write about regarding Molly and Jack's personality. Let me first sum up their spunkiness with one little three letter word: FUN
It's never a dull day in our home with Jack and Molly around. They are very active and have a high energy level. They both love to run freely off leash, even though the AKC does advise against allowing a Cairn to roam free off leash.
They really like it when you pay attention to them and do fun things with them. Their little minds are going constantly, and they like to learn new things. Just like a little child, they are learning things from us even when we don't realize it. We often have to be careful about what we do, how we say something, or the method in which we do something to be sure we aren't teaching them bad behavior.
I worked with Molly a great deal when she was a puppy. She was a difficult one to housebreak. Oh, she knew what I wanted her to do. But she only did what I wanted when she wanted to. ;)
Molly is very smart and sometimes I think she's thinking ahead of me. She wants to learn new things all the time. Unfortunately, if Molly had her way, there wouldn't be enough time in the day to teach her everything she could absorb.
Jack is smart too but quite honestly I didn't work with him as much. My timetable during the period we got him as a puppy was hectic and I'm sure once things slow down, and we get to work on his belated puppy schooling, he'll do fine. His first experience with the clicker wasn't a good one, but I'm sure that will pass once a daily routine is established.
Cairns like all dogs love routine. They more routine you can make their lives, the happier they are. Occasional surprises are fun too but routine is so important especially in the first few years of their lives.
Posted on April 26, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1)Discouraging Cairns from Digging
We tried a number of things to discourage the Cairns from digging holes in their fenced in yard. But only one trick worked for us most of the time.
Although it is crude and unusual, placing a few pieces of their poop in their freshly dug hole and covering it back up discouraged the digging. Think about it, its no long fun unearthing your own poop, right?
So to counteract our dirty little trick and keeping in mind that Cairns as well as other Terrier are diggers, we bought a child's sandbox from the local Walmart. We filled it with a number of fun stuff that dogs love to unearth: sand, pebble rocks, roots, sticks and other weird but curious things for a dog.
They loved it and it is only on rare occasions that they dig holes in the lawn anymore. The total cost was about $18 USD and the sandbox we bought was a green plastic turtle with a lid, so when it rains we simply put the turtle's shell back on. :)
It also doubles as a cool lookout point for them, because they jump up on the turtle shell to see from a higher viewpoint and sometimes they play king of the mountain with each other. Hey, a dog's gotta do what a dog's gotta do, right?
Why Cairn Terriers are Popular
Most people don't realize that the infamous dog on the 1950s film the Wizard of Oz was in fact a Cairn Terrier. That one high profile aspect itself makes the Cairn so lovable. Who couldn't resist hugging that little Toto dog with Dorothy or cheering when Toto jump from the Wicked Witch of West's bicycle basket?
Cairns are also very photogenic. You often see photographs of them used on dog calendars, t-shirts, commercial product packaging, greeting carts, coffee mugs, etc. Their image tends to represent the all around fun and cute dog.
When I purchased by first Cairn Terrier puppy I was surprised to learn that even though people had such fantastic dog-loving reactions to my new puppy, most of them have never heard of a Cairn Terrier. Cairn in pronounced different ways by different people too, so even if the person had known of the breed, I might not be pronouncing it the same as they are familiar.
Cairns are loveable little dogs. They are part of the terrier family and have a unique, sassy personality all their own. Some folks might refer to a terrier as stubborn. I like to call it genuine spunk that gives them a unique personality. That's what makes them so interesting. Even though all dogs have personalities, the terrier family is known for their spunk and fun loving attitude. They like to hunt rodents of any kind and are known to seek their way out of any type of confinement.
Hey can you really blame them? All dogs just want to have fun!
Posted on April 24, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)Kiddie Pools - Fun for Cairns too!
Here in the southeast central part of the USA, summers are brutally hot and humid. Molly and Jack love to be outside even though it's blistering hot, so we bought them a kiddie pool to wade in. Yes, you read that right.
A trip to the local Walmart was well worth the $11 expense to see these two silly dogs wading, splashing, pawing, and yes, drinking the pool water. We keep the kiddie pool in a cool shaded area too so the water doesn't heat up in the sun.
A bit of added fun is to place something flat in the bottom of the pool that isn't really easy to grab a hold of. They paw and snout dive for it. We used just a small, flat rock. Not too small to easily swallow or pick up, but not too large either.
They especially like it when I put my Ice Cube Jerky Treats in their swimming pool. What a splashing, doggon good time they have.
After their daily walk, we all get in the pool and cool our hot feet. It's become a fun and crazy summertime tradition. In the spring, when the pool comes out, they are the happiest dogs in the world.
Before we actually purchased a real Kiddie Pool though, we tested how well they would like it and use it with an old storage container.
The Hard Coat of the Cairn Terrier
Most folks who have never owned a hard coated dog are surprised to learn how they feel to the touch. I know we were.
We had Poodle mixes in the past, and as most folks know a Poodle is very soft. The feel of the Cairn Terrier's fur is rough and somewhat harsh. It's not a bad feeling, it actually kind of nice and comes in handy when they get wet because their coat dries very fast.
The have what is called a double coat. This means that they have a soft but dense coat underneath the harsh coat. This undercoat protects their skin from the weather.
I've read that Cairns can develop skin allergies if they are not groomed properly. We have not run into this issue yet, but any new developments in our Cairns lives will certainly be posted on this website.
Grooming a Cairn is quite different as well. You can read how I groom my Cairns in the related article, "Grooming a Pet Cairn Terrier (not for show dogs)".
I have also listed all of the grooming supplies I use in the related article, "Cairn Terrier Grooming Supplies You'll Need", and I mention what I found didn't work for me.Posted on April 22, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Cairn Terrier Breed Standards
I won't go into too much detailed information about all of the Cairn Terrier breed standards. For that information, I'll direct you to the officials in that area, the AKC (American Kennel Club). But I will tell you a few things that you should know from an ordinary pet owner's perspective especially when you are at that stage of deciding whether a Cairn is for you and what to expect as it gets older.
Adult Height: 9 to 13 inches (22-23 cm) at the withers.
Adult Weight: 13 to 18 pounds ( 6-8 kg)
Acceptable Coat Colors: crème, light brindle, wheaten, medium brindle, red, rich red, red brindle, dark red brindle, grey, grey brindle, dark brindle
Not* Accepted Coats: white, black, black/tan, spotted (*Of course, if you are a pet owner, you are adopting or buying your pet to love them no matter what color they are! Just be aware of the standards.)
Cairn Terriers will change color, so don't expect your new pup to be the same color years down the road!
See my related article, "Cairn Terrier Coat Colors" which includes a color chart guide.Posted on April 21, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Read more about the Cairn Terrier breed at the American Kennel Club and Cairn Terrier Association of America.
About Cairns Terriers Website
This website is owned by a family who loves the Cairn Terrier breed. We are ordinary pet owners. When we were looking to add a dog to our family in 2004, we chose this breed. Unfortunately, we had difficulty finding useful information online about Cairn Terriers that was written by and for ordinary pet owners.
Instead we found information for show dog owners. That is why I decided to create this website in hopes that other Cairn Terrier owners can find the information they need quickly and directly from another ordinary Cairn Terrier owner.
It's not that I have anything against show dogs or show dog owners. I love to attend dog shows just for fun and I do almost every year! But sometimes exchanging information with an ordinary pet owner who loves the Cairn Terrier breed can really help those of us who want our dogs to enjoy life and love us without having to go through detailed and in depth instructions written by and for show dogs owners.
Since that time we are the proud owners of two Cairn Terriers, Molly May and Happy Jack. This website is about tMolly and Jack and it's about the Cairn Terrier breed. I hope you find it helpful.
Got a Cairn Terrier Question?
I invite you to ask me any question you wish about my Cairn Terriers, what worked for me in training them, what didn't work, what dog supplies I use, which treats and toys Molly and Jack love, etc. You ask, I'll answer.
Just complete the feedback form below. Feel free to comment on other Q&A posts so we can all learn from each other!
