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Stainless Steel Dog Bowls with Removable Liners
I use stainless steel dog bowls for water. I also use stainless steel dog bowls with removable, washable liners for their dog food. It might surprise you to know that I purchased several sets of the removable liner stainless steel dog bowls from one of my favorite online dog supply stores. Let me tell you why.
All of the stainless steel dog bowls I use are weighted so that they do not tip over. They have a rubber band type material on the bottom to prevent them from moving across the floor. Those stainless steel bowls I use for dog food have a removable inside bowl liner so I can pop the liners into the dishwasher.
I bought 6 sets so I have extra inside liner bowls whenever I need to replace a dirty bowl with a clean one. In this way, I'm not under pressure to wash the bowl before I can use it again. With just my husband and myself, we don't have enough dishes to run a dishwasher load that often, so it only makes sense to have extra stainless steel dog bowl liners on hand.
The stainless steel finish goes with nearly any home decor and it maintains a clean, shiny look even when it might be dirty. With so many advantages to using stainless steel dog bowls, I wouldn't use any other type of dog food bowl. In fact, I cannot think of one disadvantage to using them.
Get more info: 2-Piece Stainless Steel Dog Bowls with Removable Liners
Posted on May 30, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)What to Do When You Don't See Your Puppy Misbehaving
If you do not see your puppy misbehaving, do not scold him. He will not understand why you are suddenly behaving in a not-so-friendly way. Trust me, he will think you have lost your mind or worse, he will become afraid of you or develop distrust.
Scaring or bullying a puppy into behaving the way you want him to will cause more harm than benefits. This is one of the biggest mistakes made by most dog owners. Your puppy does not understand why you would be scolding him, when three hours ago, he tore up an entire box of tissues.
Your Cairns terrier puppy's attention span is very short. He doesn't remember that three hours ago he misbehaved. Nor does he understand that tearing up a box of tissues is a bad thing. It was sure alot fun for him at the time.
It is important that you understand that when you train your puppy, that behaviors you do not like are corrected immediately as soon as you see the behavior you do not approve of. Otherwise, you are confusing your puppy, and he's not going to receive the dog training that you are trying to provide him.
A good rule of thumb in training your puppy is if you do not catch him in the act, ignore it. Chances are it won’t be repeated anyway.
It took me a couple of months to train Happy Jack not to take toilet paper off the roll and tear it into bits. He did understand that it wasn’t acceptable behavior, but it was too much fun. So during that phase, and it was a phase that passed, we kept all toilet paper rolls on the toilet tank lid where he couldn’t reach them.
Giving Your Cairn Terrier a Pill
Sometimes getting a dog to take a pill can be a difficult task. However, I found a way that works great with my Cairn Terriers.
I simply take a small slice of cream cheese and cut it into small portions. Then I put the pill into the cream cheese and hand it to my cairn Terriers and say "Pill?".
It works every time. They do not get cream cheese very often. So when they do get cream cheese in the form of a pill, they will always eat it eagerly. In this way, there is no difficulty in getting my Cairn Terriers to take a pill but I do have to be sure that they indeed swallow it or that one of them doesn’t try to take it from the other. They just love those pills!
If your dog does not like cream cheese, find something that he does love. It works every time (even when they are not feeling well) provided I don't make cream cheese part of their routine treats. I have tried Velvetta cheese and hot dog bits too. The work well, but my Cairn Terriers love cream cheese the best.
Dog Photo Albums
A fun activity for your family and your Cairn Terrier is to create a dog photo album. With the popularity of digital cameras these days it is quite easy and inexpensive to shoot and print quality photos of your dog's mug shot.
Here are some of my Cairn Terrier Photo Album ideas for you, your Cairns and the entire family to work on together. It's a lot of fun and will freeze those precious memories of your Cairn forever.
Name the album something like, "Happy Jack's Adventures" or "The Life of Molly May".
Decorate the outside of the album with one huge photo or a collage of many.
Arrange the photos in categories by theme such as Happy Dog Moments, Wet Dog, Dirty Dog, Sleepy Boy, Playful Pooch, Christmas with Happy Jack, Halloween Dog, Happy Jack's Friends (with other family pets), Birthday Boy, Silly Jack, etc.
Use an album (acid free scrapbooking albums work great) that you can write in and record your thoughts, captions, dates, etc for as many photos as possible. Ask your family for help because everyone remembers things differently.
Don't forget to include other scrapbook type things like newspaper clippings, dog show awards and ribbons, important papers, etc. that relate to your pooch.
You can even write silly captions that your Cairn might be thinking when the photo was taken. I'll be included a few of our Cairn Terrier's funniest moments in the "Funny Cairn Photos" section of this website soon.
If you have funny Cairn Terrier photos too, let me know. I'll post them here with your Cairns funny caption and information about you, website if you have one, and your Cairn Terrier.
Posted on May 26, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)Dog Waste Removal Tools
If you have a fenced in area for your Cairn Terrier, then you will need to remove the dog waste on a regular basis. You should keep you Cairn Terrier's outside play area separate from his elimination area if possible. Generally the dog is a clean species and the Cairn Terrier is no different. Dogs don't like playing or stepping in poop or urine. Makes sense, right? You wouldn't either. ;)
I have not yet invested in any commercial dog waste removal tools because my method has been working fine for me. It's fast, easy and no cleanup of tools is required.
If you don't mind picking up doggie doo with your hands and you do not have difficulty bending over to pick up the waste, then this method might be for you too.
I buy no-zip sandwich bags to put over my hand while I pick up the doggie doo and place it into a zipped storage bag. When I am ready to take it off my hand, I simply pull it off starting from the wrist area which turns the bad inside out and any doggie doo which might remain on the bag is now on the inside of the bag away from my skin. It goes into the zipped storage bag as well and into the weekly garbage pickup. The zipped storage bag is sealed so it doesn't emit odors.
I use this same concept while traveling but I also keep a large coffee can with a lid in my van for extra anti-odor protection until I get home or somewhere that I can discard the zipped storage bag.
Maximum Puppy Crate Training Time by Age
Technically your Cairn Terrier is a puppy until she reaches one year old. Until her first birthday she is not physically mature enough to sustain long periods of time in her crate without accidents. This is especially true when your Cairn Terrier puppy is under 6 months of age.
Teaching a Cairn Terrier puppy bladder control is the human's responsibility, and if she fails it generally because of something we did or did not do. Sometimes it is because of our own ignorance. Reference my article, "Housebreaking a Cairn Terrier".
Below is an age chart showing the maximum amount of time a puppy can stay in her crate without a potty break. I used this reference chart when I crate trained both of my Cairn Terriers.
| Age of Puppy | Maximum Time in Crate |
| 8 weeks | 30 minutes |
| 3 months | 1-2 hours |
| 4 months | 4 hours |
| 5 months | 5 hours |
| 6 months | 6 hours |
| 1 year | 8-9 hours |
Of course, every puppy is different and you need to learn your Cairn Terrier puppy's body function patterns. Reference my article, "Puppy Housebreaking Chart Template".
After your Cairn Terrier puppy reaches the age of 3 months, a good rule of thumb to remember is that she can stay in her crate for as many hours as she is months old. As you will notice from the chart above a 4 month old puppy can stay in her crate without a potty break for 4 hours, etc.
You need to also keep in mind the amount of water and her last bowel movement prior to being placed in her crate. Generally a puppy will let you know if she has to potty by whining. But make sure that if you take her outside to eliminate, that she does indeed do her business.
The concept of crate training is for the puppy to let you know when she has to potty, and not when she wants attention.
When you first get your puppy you may need to get up every 2-3 hours during the night for a potty break until you learn her body function patterns. After that time and when you are confident she understands that the crate isn't a place to eliminate, she will let you know by whining during the night if she has to go outside for a potty break.
To read all of my articles about Puppy Crate Training - Click Here.Posted on May 24, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Puppy Chewing Phase
Let me first say that all puppies go through a chewing phase that they will grow out of if trained properly. Let me also say that if your Cairn Terrier chews something he should not have chewed, the majority of the responsibility for this unacceptable behavior is not the puppy's fault.
It is the owner's responsibility to teach their Cairn Terrier puppy what they can and cannot chew. I know that sounds harsh and quite the opposite of what most of us are taught about training a dog, but all I ask is that you seriously think about that statement. It is a fact. Once you understand that you will be well on your way to a trained Cairn Terrier.
How Puppies and Dogs Learn
Puppies and dogs learn and touch with their mouths. That is the only way for them to experience the world through the touch sensory. Humans feel things with their hands but the dog's paws are not like our hands at all.
To prevent unacceptable chewing of objects you don't want your dog or puppy to chew, make sure you have plenty of chewing toys available for them especially during the puppy chewing stage. Softer chew toys for younger puppies and harder rubber chew toys as your Cairn Terrier matures. The right hardness of a chew toy for your dog's age is important.
Puppies go through a teething stage just like babies when their baby teeth begin to fall out and their permanent teeth come in. It's part of the puppy life stage. During these times you need to have cold chew toys on hand as well. Reference my article, "Summertime Chew Toy - Great for Teething Puppies Too!".
Keep all objects out of the reach of your Cairn puppy (or adult dog) that you don't want him to chew. Sometimes this isn't always possible like electrical cords or phone wires. In these type situations, do not allow your puppy around wires at all when you cannot be there to supervise him 100%.
If you discover your Cairn puppy chewing on an object you do not find acceptable, scold him but not too harshly. Your Cairn puppy needs to know that the object he is chewing on at that time is not acceptable. Take the object away but replace it with his chew toy. He will soon learn what is and is not acceptable to chew on.
This phase will pass and most dogs including Cairn Terriers will grow out of it if properly trained when they are young. Proper dog training means consistent, repetitive commands and actions each time you see such a behavior and by every member of your family. So make sure each member of your family knows the routine and practices it.
If you did not see your puppy misbehaving, do not scold him. He will not understand why you are suddenly behaving in a not-so-friendly way. Trust me. This is one of the biggest dog training mistakes made by dog owners.
Read my related articles, "What To Do When You Don't See Your Puppy Misbehaving" and "Dog Training Command: Drop It"
Just because you don't see an object in your puppy or dog's mouth, doesn't mean he doesn't have something he should have. Happy Jack often carries things around inside his mouth and pretends he doesn't have anything. Usually we can tell by the way he acts. He looks at us suspiciously, dances around too happily, doesn't have his mouth open or isn't panting. His behavior gives him away every time.
Once he had a live baby mouse concealed in his mouth that he brought in from outside. He wasn't acting like his normal self which gave his mouthful of mouse away.
I have trained both of my Cairn Terriers to drop whatever they have in their mouth by simply doing the same thing each time it happens. I state "Drop It" in a stern voice and 99% of the time they will open their mouth and spit out whatever they have inside. Occasionally I have to insert a finger in their mouth to get out whatever it is in a hurry especially if it is something I think might harm them if swallowed.
Are Cairn Terriers Hard to Housebreak?
"I'm having difficulty housebreaking my Cairn Terrier puppy. Is this breed difficult to housebreak? Can you help me?" ~Jonella
Hi Jonella. Every puppy is different regardless of what breed you are working with. Don't expect too much with any puppy until it is at least six months old. Starting your puppy off right from the beginning in puppy housebreaking bootcamp will certainly help. A good rule of thumb is to remember that for each accident your puppy has in an unacceptable location, the longer it will take to fully housebreak your pup. This is one reason why it is so important that the main person who will be training the puppy be available to oversee the process as much as possible in the first month.
Cairn Terriers are not any more difficult to housebreak that other dog breeds. Molly, my first Cairn Terrier puppy was harder because she had a different personality than Jack. She's a girl with an attitude who wanted to be alpha dog. BUT just as important it had been 20+ years since I had housebroke a puppy. I had forgotten everything plus the training rules had changed.
I have listed below a number of the articles I have written about housebreaking my Cairn Terriers, Molly May and Happy Jack. Please read them at your convenience, and contact me if you have any questions. In addition, I am positive you will benefit from using my FREE Puppy Housebreaking Chart Template.
Posted on May 22, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (2)
Poisonous Flowers and Plants Every Dog Owner Should Know About
Below is a list of poisonous flowers, trees, vines and other plants that every dog owner should know about. As I find more and can confirm the research as accurate, I'll add them to the list. They are listed in alphabetical order for your convenience.
Acorns
Almond trees
Aloe Vera
Apple tree's stems and leaves
Apricot trees
Asparagus Fern
Azaleas
Balsam Pear
Caladium
Cherry tree
Colocasia (Elephant's Ear)
Deiffenbachia (Dumb Cane)
English Ivy
Ficus Lyrata
Ficus(Cuban Laurel)
Flower bulbs
Japanese Plum
Jasmine
Matrimony Vine
Mistletoe
Mum (Pot and Spider)
Oak trees
Peach trees
Philodendron (Devil's Ivy)
Philodendron (Saddle Leaf, Split Leaf)
Poinsetta
Privet hedges
Umbrella Plant
Virginia Creeper
Wild Cherry trees
Wild Mushrooms
Yew (American, English, Western)
Puppy Proofing Your Yard
Along with Puppy Proofing Your Home, you will also want to Puppy Proof Your Yard. Your new Cairn Terrier puppy is a great explorer. Cairns love to snoop and discover new territory. The Cairn Terrier breed is also known for their keen ability to hunt and track prey and is often deaf to your commands to come back when sniffing the trail of a rodot.
The AKC warns that a Cairn Terrier should never be allowed off leash unless it is fenced in or tethered to a chain. I myself don't like to see dogs tied out, so we had chain link fence installed. Every spring season, as we can afford it, we have the fenced in area enlarged for them.
If you are fortunate to live in a secluded area of the world and feel that your Cairn can roam freely without fencing, remember that there are other potential dangers to your Cairn Terrier.
There are many types of poisonous plants, toads and snakes depending on the area in which you live. Other preying animals such as hawks, large owls and in our area, coyotes, could also be a risk to your Cairn.
In addition, stray animals may come into your yard to pick a fight. Puppies are no match for an adult dog in a fight; it would only take a second for an adult dog to permanently injure or kill a puppy. Also, as much as I hate to mention it, there is a growing problem of purebred dog theft in some parts of the world.
Cairns are also known to be territorial - especially males. So do not be surprised if your Cairn Terrier (adult or puppy) will suddenly seem aggressive toward another dog that comes into your yard regardless of the size of the stray dog. Cairns for the most part are very fun loving and excellent family dogs, but just like some people whom we dislike to interact with, there are some dogs they dislike too.
Make sure your yard is a safe place for your Cairn puppy to roam and play. If you fertilize your yard or use insecticides, wait the allotted time before you allow your Cairn access.
If you have a fenced in area, remember that Cairns are diggers and expert escape artists. Have a plan should your Cairn realize that digging out is fun. Many people place railroad ties around the outside area of their chain link fence to discourage diggers.
Cairns are also known to climb fences, so watch for it. I'm lucky. Neither of our Cairns have tried to dig out or climb out of their fenced in area.
See my related article, "Poisonous Flowers and Plants Every Dog Owner Should Know About".Posted on May 20, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Puppy Proofing Your Home
Your new Cairn Terrier puppy will be naturally curious about her new home and will want to explore every corner of it. Since puppies cannot yet distinguish between acceptable play things and things that might hurt them, you will need to teach her beginning the moment she enters your home that first day.
To determine what your puppy might see and from her perspective, get down on your hands and knees at your pup's nose level and take a look around. What might seem like an average household item to you, will be completely new to your pup. Look at your home from a new viewpoint and you will instantly see dangerous objects.
Remove anything which is not absolutely needed that she could hurt herself with or which you don't want chewed. This includes furniture, electrical cords, shoes, cleaning supplies, etc.
Puppy proofing your home is similar to baby proofing your home. Except your new Cairn Terrier puppy will be able to walk, run, climb, root around into tiny areas, and jump, so make sure what you put out of reach really is out of reach.
Until your Cairn Terrier puppy is used to her surroundings and graduates from housebreaking bootcamp, you will want to limit the area of your home in which she can roam freely. I used the Adjustable Size Pet Yard Kit
fencing. It is mobile, can be increased or decreased in size and can be used outside or inside. It was one of the best dog supplies I purchased. I still find uses for it today even though my Cairns are now adult dogs.
Reference my related article, "The Pet Yard".
You will also want to be with your Cairn Terrier puppy at all times when she's not in her crate. So be prepared to mainly live in this same area of your home for at least a couple of weeks too.
Reference my related articles, "Crate Training a Cairn Terrier" and "Crates for Cairns".
Once your Cairn Terrier puppy has earned the right to explore more territory of your home, be sure to remove any of the following dangerous household items from her reach. This is merely a partial list of example items that are dangerous or of value to you. Use common sense for your puppy's safety.
medicines
matches
cigarettes
candy
chocolate
alcoholic beverages
shoes, socks, or other articles of clothing
valuables of any kind
fertilizers
insecticides
cleaning products
other poisonous products
plants and flowers
Recommended reading, "Puppy Proofing Your Yard".Posted on May 19, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Greenies: Good, Bad or Mildy Dangerous?
A few months ago while listening to an online pet radio show I heard some alarming information. I heard the rumor that the most popular dog treat, Greenies, was actually dangerous to give to dogs. It was about that time that I discontinued giving my Cairn Terriers, Molly and Jack, their Greenie treats.
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I had just bought a very large and very expensive one pound bag of Greenies because Molly and Jack loved them so well. Greenies are marketed to have very positive effects for good teeth care in dogs too. Then on February 14, 2006, CNN had a special short broadcast about Greenies and a family who was suing the manufacturer of Greenies because they claimed that Greenies were the cause of their family dog's death.
Although the manufacturer of Greenies says that the number of deaths from partially digested Greenies is very small in comparison to the number of dogs with healthy teeth and have not had any issues, I am naturally concerned. I honestly hope the incidents of the death of these dogs were rare cases, but I am not willing to take the chance with my Cairn Terriers.
It saddens me to throw away the one pound bag of Greenies I purchased, not because of the expense involved. But because Molly and Jack love them so much. It's a decision every pet owner needs to make and a personal decision that no one else can make for you.
Nothing would please me more if the manufacturer of Greenies was able to provide 101% proof that the death of these dogs was coincidental and unrelated to Greenies. We can certainly hope.
Do you give your pets Greenies? If so, will you continue?
Posted on May 18, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)Choosing the Best Dog Toys
Cairn Terriers love toys especially if you introduce toys to your Cairn while he's a puppy. Choose toys with different textures since puppies feel and learn with their mouths.
The best dog toys are those that have many different textures within a single toy. Likely you'll find that is your puppy's favorite toy which is carried everywhere, and unfortunately wears out the fastest.
When a toy wears out, replace it with the same or similar toy immediately. Speaker toys, soft plastic and string toys can be dangerous if they go un-inspected by you for too long.
Today there is a multitude of different kinds of dog toys you can buy your puppy or adult dog. Floppy plush animals with squeakers are a favorite as well as balls and various types of puzzle toys.
Kongs and puzzle food cubes are a hit these days and can be stuffed with treats. This provides hours of fun for your puppy trying to get the treats out of the Kongs or cubes. It's also an interesting reward system which automatically gives your Cairn Terrier a treat if he spends enough time trying to figure it out.
Read my related article about Kongs and how I use them with my Cairn Terriers.
Puppies will go through a chewing phase. It is a natural phase and temporary provided the behavior is responded to properly. Read my article, "Dog Training Command: Drop It".
Make sure you have plenty of chewing toys available for your puppy. Softer chew toys for younger puppies and harder rubber chew toys as your Cairn Terrier matures.
The right hardness of a chew toy for your dog's age is important. I learned this when I bought Happy Jack a hard rubber chew toy that double as a tooth cleaner. When he was a puppy he didn't pay a bit of attention to it. It was far too hard for his soft little baby teeth. Then at the age of 11 months old, he has suddenly decided he likes to chew on it. It's now one of his favorite chew toys.
Reference my article to see which toys Happy Jack likes the best.
I keep all of my Cairn Terriers' toys in a dog toy boxes, of course. Also reference my related article, "Does Your Dog have a Toy Box?"
Posted on May 17, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)Dog Training Command: Drop It
Just because you don't see an object in your puppy or dog's mouth, doesn't mean he doesn't have something he shouldn't have. Learn to read your dog or puppy's behavior. If he isn't acting normal, there is likely a reason why.
Happy Jack often carries things around inside his mouth and pretends he doesn't have anything. Usually we can tell by the way he acts. He looks at us suspiciously, dances around too happily, doesn't have his mouth open or isn't panting. His behavior gives him away every time.
"Soap bubbles aren't just for kids! We Cairn Terriers love to play with bubbles too." 
Happy Jack
Once he had a live baby mouse concealed in his mouth that he brought in from outside. He wasn't acting like his normal self which gave his mouthful of mouse away. A few other times, he had concealed dead mouse and all you could see was a tail hanging out of his mouse.
Imagine my husband's surprise when he bent down to remove what he thought was a string hanging from the corner of Happy Jack's mouth and discovered it wasn't a string at all but a dead mouse.
I have trained both of my Cairn Terriers to drop whatever they have in their mouth by simply doing the same thing each time it happens.
Now all I have to state is "Drop It" in a stern voice and 99% of the time they will open their mouth and spit out whatever they have inside.
Occasionally I have to insert a finger in their mouth to get out whatever it is in a hurry especially if it is something I think might harm them if swallowed.
Dogs will be dogs. As humans we just need to learn to read their behaviors and teach them what is acceptable per human terms. They want to learn and they certainly want to please us.
Dog Coupons and Discount Offers
This page will be changing periodically as I receive more special savings coupons and discounts to offer you from some of the Internet's top pet supply companies. Some of the offers are seasonal so take advantage of them while you can.
First, bookmark this page and then simply click on the link to take advantage of the current offer shown. When you want to purchase again, come back to the page you bookmarked to be sure to qualify for the same savings or any new offers that have been made available. Everyone likes to save money, so why not take advantage of the savings while you can.
- Save up to 25% during the PETCO.com Site Wide Super Sale!
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- Save $15 and Receive FREE Shipping on Orders Over $115 at PetCareRx
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Posted on May 12, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Funniest Dog Videos Ever!
I've been online for many, many years and have seen some funny websites, videos, etc. but this website with non-Cairn Terrier dog videos has to be the funniest I've seen in a long, long time. These all beat America's Funniest Videos by a long shot. But then perhaps I'm just partial to dogs.
Go to www.dogblogtv.com to watch them. As of today, I've watched the first 11 videos and signed up to receive an email notice when new videos are available.
My favorite video is "Teddy Hunt" but quite frankly they are all so good it was hard to choose just one favorite. What's yours?
Incidently, when I started playing the first video, Happy Jack ran over and began pawing at my computer desk. LOL ... so funny!
Posted on May 12, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (2)Choosing a Dog Treat
I don't give my Cairn Terriers a treat every day, but when I do I often let them choose their own treat. The exception would be if I'm watching a TV program and I want more than few minutes of quiet time to enjoy it. Then I'll choose a longer lasting treat for them like pig ears or large bone.
"Mom taught me to jump through a hoola hoop. It was really easy because Cairn Terriers like me are smart. Find out how I learned, "Dog Trick: Jump Through a Hoop"." Molly May
Molly and Jack both know where the treat cabinet is in our home. All I have to do is ask them if they want a treat, and they beat me to the cabinet door. Sometimes I'll whisper it in their ear as a little game.
I keep a variety of Dog Treats in a plastic container in the treat cabinet. I place the opened container on the floor, and they choose which treat they want. I have found this puts the decision making task on them. If they choose a treat they don't like as well as what the other one has, they will choose wiser next time. It's also a lot of fun for them to see a big selection of treats in front them but they only get to choose one.
I never give my Cairns what I would consider a supervision only treat, unless I will be there to watch them while they eat it. Supervision only treats are anything they could choke on like rawhide bones.
Molly and Jack sniffed out some yummy Dog TreatsPosted on May 12, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1)for your Cairn Terrier.
Ice Cube Jerky Treats for Dogs
Summer will soon be upon us and so will the hot weather. To keep my hot dogs cool, I throw a few ice cubes in their water bowl. But an even more interesting cool treat is what I call ice cube jerky treats for dogs.
Ice cube jerky treats are a fun mid day surprise for my Cairn Terriers. They are real ice cubes with a piece of dog beef jerky frozen in the middle.
I sometimes throw them in their dog swimming pool for a doggone splashing good time.
Posted on May 11, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)Doggie Hide and Seek
Doggie hide and seek in our house isn't played too often, but when it is my Cairn Terrier's love it.
"Have you seen my Cairn Terrier puppy photos yet? How cute do you think I am?" Happy Jack
While your Cairn is outside, leave a trail of popcorn leading into a back room or closet. Then hide in the closet and surprise them when they find your popcorn trail. They'll love the treats and the surprise greeting; they take to this little game very well.
I use hull-less popcorn because it is easily digestable. If your Cairn Terrier is allergic to corn like some dogs, use other type treats instead like pieces of bread or cracker bits.
Or you can also try various commercial dog treats instead to see which type of dog treats
your Cairn prefers.
Summertime Dog Chew Toy
Here's a favorite dog chew toy with my Cairn Terriers during the hot summer months.
"Have you seen my Cairn Terrier puppy photos yet? How cute do you think I am?" Happy Jack
Soak a dog rope toy in water and then freeze it. It's the perfect chew toy for hot dogs on hot muggy days or after a long walk in the woods. I got this idea when I bought a wet and freeze toy specifically for this purpose, but it works with most any non-squeaker toys. This frozen dog rope toys
is great for teething puppies too.
Happy Jack's Dog Treats Recipe
I'd like to share with you Happy Jack's favorite dog treats recipe. It's fast and easy, and he loves to dig them out of his sandbox. A little sand won't hurt any Cairn. ;)
"I like getting brushed. It makes me feel pretty, and once a month I get a treat they call Heartguard when I'm being brushed. Cool!" Molly May
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/s cup natural peanut butter (no nuts)
1 egg
1-1/4 cups water
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup of cornmeal (leave out if your Cairn is allergic to corn)
1/2 cup of quick oats
4 cups whole wheat flour
Preheat over to 350 degrees. In a large bowl combine all dry ingredients. In another bowl combine all web ingredients. Combine the wet and dry ingredients together; mix well. Roll out dough onto a floured surface about 1/4 inch think and cut out shapes. I use a dog bone cookie cutter. Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 40 minutes. Store in a sealed container for to maintain freshness. Yields 25 hummy treats.
Posted on May 10, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)Homemade Dog Toys from Socks
If you have any old socks laying around, why not make some homemade dog toys from socks. Here are two homemade dog toys I've made from socks contributed by my entire family!
Sock Ball Dog Toy
How large of a ball can you make from rolled up old socks? Or make lots of small sock ball dog toys and place them outside, in the car, at friends homes, etc. They are soft and won't harm your furniture.
Dog Tug Toy from Socks
How long of a dog tug toy can you make from old socks knotted together? Or make several of them for different areas of your home or to play with while on the road.
Note: If your Cairn Terrier decides to chew or play with your good socks, simply say No in a stern voice and replace your good sock with the homemade dog sock toys. This teaches your Cairn that there are two kinds of toys, yours only and his.
Posted on May 10, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1)Dog Trick: Jump Through Hoop
Since Cairn Terriers are super smart, it doesn't take long to train them basic dog tricks. I taught Molly how to jump through a hoola hoop in as little as 10 minutes using a clicker, of course.
"My mom sometimes talks in Munchkin to me. I love it because Toto is my hero!" Happy Jack
Basically all I did was hold the hoola up just far enough off the ground so she'd have to jump to get through it. I then held a small bit of training treat on the other side so she'd have to jump over the hoop to get it. As soon as she jumped, I clicked and said, "jump". As soon as I get the hoola hoop out, she's ready to jump.
With enough repetition I fully expect that simply saying the word jump without a hoola hoop will be enough. I'm getting her ready for more advanced, fun dog tricks like using the home agility kit I bought a few days ago.
Incidently, if your Cairn Terrier won't jump up through the hoop, just lay the hoop on the ground and gradually raise it. You'll be surprised how easy your Cairn Terrier will learn this fun dog trick.
Posted on May 10, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)Get Notified of New Cairn Terrier Articles
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Win $1,000 - Cutest Pet Contest
Want a chance to win $1,000 in monthly Cutest Pet Contest? Here's your chance. Enter each month but for the best chances of winning, be sure to submit your cutest pet photo.
I will be entering Molly and Jack's photos this month, and I'll post a link here to their contest pages so you can vote for them!
If you'd like to post your pet's contest pages here too, that's fine too!
Submit Your Cutest Pet Photo Here to Win $1,000Posted on May 05, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Cairn Terrier Housebreaking Supplies You'll Need
Below is a list of all the Cairn Terrier puppy housebreaking supplies I used successfully with my Cairn Terriers. I bought other supplies as well, but I didn’t use them or they didn't work. By reading this article, I'll be saving you money on supplies you don't need.
Keep in mind every Cairn puppy is different, so I listed at the bottom of this article what other supplies I tried and why I feel they didn't work for my Cairns.
- Pre-determined outside area for elimination (use it always and don't change it)
- Nature's Miracle
- Crate
- Exercise pen or portable fencing (I highly recommend the Pet Yard. It was one of the best investments I ever made and we still use it.)
- Baby or dog gates (to section off areas of your home where your Cairn puppy will not be allowed to roam until he graduates from housebreaking boot camp.
- Old rags
- Waste removal tools (quite honestly I use zipper plastic bags and sandwich bags)
- My FREE Puppy Housebreaking Chart Template
Reference my related articles, "Housebreaking a Cairn Terrier" and "Nature's Miracle".
Here is a list of supplies I bought that did not work, but they might for you if the above list and my related articles, doesn't work with your Cairn Terrier's housebreaking experience.
• puppy piddle pads (Our first Cairn Terrier, Molly May, thought the puppy piddle pads were a toy and she carried them around and tore them apart.)
• piddle pad frames that fasten to the floor (After finding out that putting the puppy piddle pads on the floor didn't work, I bought the frames that temporarily fasten them to the floor. Molly took that as a challenge to remove them from the frame or the floor.)
• pee post (Molly only sniffed it and walked away even though it sure smelled like urine to me.)
Free Puppy Housebreaking Chart Template
If you are serious about housebreaking your puppy then you need to learn your puppy's behavioral patterns and body functions. Every puppy is different. Some learn faster than others, and I've heard it said that larger breeds are easier to housebreak. I cannot say whether that is a true statement, but it does make sense.
One of the tools I used to help me keep track of my Cairn Terriers' behavioral patters and body functions for the first few weeks is a Puppy Housebreaking Chart. I developed this chart myself and used it for both of my Cairn Terriers when they were puppies.
Basically what I did was keep track of when they ate, napped, eliminated (and where), and any other things that might effect their body function patterns like heavy play time.
It also helped me remember when I took them out to eliminate the last time and whether they did anything while they were outside. If you keep accurate enough records, you can soon begin to see a pattern and can be prepared to avoid any possible accidents.
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The few accidents your Cairn Terrier puppy has in the house, the sooner they will be housebroke. That is definitely a fact. If they do have an accident, it is not their fault. Keep that in mind. It is your fault because you didn't watch them close enough to help prevent it.
If you would like to receive a copy of my free Puppy Housebreaking Chart template in PDF format, just sign up for my newsletter below, and I'll send it out to you right away.
Once you receive it, you will need to open it with Adobe Reader (it’s free software that you can download here). Print several copies of it and put it and a pencil or pen near the door where you will taking your Cairn Terrier out to eliminate. In this way, when you come back inside, you can write down exactly what happened.
Always stay with your Cairn Terrier puppy until he eliminates. In this way you can keep him focused on the task at hand, and you know whether he did his business avoiding the possibility of a near future accident.
Posted on May 03, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1)Your Cairn Terrier's Toy Box
Puppies and dogs love toys and a Cairn Terrier puppy or dog is no different. Our first Cairn Terrier, Molly May, doesn't play with toys as much as she did when she was younger. She is now as of the writing of this article 2 years and 4 months old. Happy Jack though is now 1 year 4 months old and he still actively plays with toys. In fact he love them.
"Mom taught me to jump through a hoola hoop. It was really easy because Cairn Terriers like me are smart. Find out how I learned, "Dog Trick: Jump Through a Hoop"." Molly May
I have one main toy box which is a footstool (hollow for the toys) in our living room. And I make only a few toys available at a time so that it seems to our Cairns that the toys are somewhat new. If I were to let them have access to all the toys all the time, they would quickly get bored with them and never play with any of them.
I also have specific toys for specific areas like toys they play with outside. They have a small weather resistant toy box on the back deck. And a small enclosed plastic container in our family mini van. These toys stay in their respective areas.
Our Cairn Terriers are permitted to choose one toy to take into their crates at night (non-squeaker toys of course). They have grown so accustomed to doing this that as soon as they come inside from their last elimination for the day, they go over and choose their toy before heading to the bedroom. Molly generally chooses a large bone. Jack chooses a safe for the crate chew toy or plush toy.
Read about some of Happy Jack, our Cairn Terrier's favorite toys and how he plays with them.Posted on May 03, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Dog Toenail Trimming Challenge
I admit I do not trim my Cairn Terriers' toenails. Molly and Jack hate to have their nails trimmed so for now I take them to the vet or an experienced groomer who is far more experienced than I. I stay with them and watch to be sure that the vet or groomer knows what they are doing and is not careless in the process.
"Have you seen my Cairn Terrier puppy photos yet? How cute do you think I am?" Happy Jack
It is important to me that the toenail trimming challenge is not a scary experience for my Cairn Terriers. Every attempt I've made to trim their nails was leaning toward the scary direction. That is likely because I'm approaching that age where my up close vision is no longer dependable.
I am hoping that after enough pleasant trips to the vet or experienced groomer to have their toenails trimmed will help them get used to the toenail trimming process. By that time, I hope bifocals will correct my up close vision permanently but right now I'm just in between that need for bifocal lenses.
Just for the record almost all Cairns vigorously protest having their toenails clipped but it is important and necessary for the health of their feet. If your Cairn associates this process with negative feelings because the nails were cut too short which is painful and makes the nails bleed), it will always be a problem.
Posted on May 03, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)Teaching Your Cairn Terrier English
Think of your Cairn Terrier puppy's brain as an empty slate that is eager to absorb any knowledge it can find. Puppies have instincts and they did learn some things from their maternal mother. They are very impressionable and know nothing about living in the human world. Their mother's did not teach them about co-existing with humans.
Puppies and dogs will learn most of everything they know in their lifetime from you. They depend on you to care for them, of course, but they also depend on you to show them how to live with humans and understand the English language.
"Soap bubbles aren't just for kids! We Cairn Terriers love to play with bubbles too." Happy Jack
It's tough for a dog to learn the English language. Think of how difficult it would be for humans to try to learn how to speak dog language that is being taught by a dog. As silly as it may sound, dogs do have a way of communicating with each other and other species including humans. Most of the time, humans are too busy with their lives or close minded to understand that their dog is trying to communicate with them. Just because a dog doesn't speak like we do, doesn't mean that they cannot communicate with us or that they don't want to. They are likely communicating with us even when we don't realize it.
Dogs are just like us in many ways. They want to have fun. They want to be happy. They want you to love them and accept them for who they are. They want to learn new things and experience new adventures. They also want you to teach them how to do all of these things because when they are puppies, they don't know.
Training a dog to understand English is far easier than a human learning to communicate in dog language. The key is to keep your training simple and heavily reward the behavior you want. Don't completely ignore bad behavior but don't reward it in any manner either.
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Dog Training Commands
Basic dog training commands should be one syllable words like sit, say, down, off, enough, out, come, okay or done.
Important dog training commands should be used in case of an emergency (life threatening situation) and used in a tone that startles your dog like a stern STOP.
Significant dog training commands that you use for things that could be misunderstood like when you want them to eliminate, should be well thought out. I use the command "get busy" when I want my Cairn Terriers to eliminate. This is their cue that they are suppose to either pee or poop. Generally they will do one or the other. If the pee, I will ask ... "poopoo too?" If they poop, I will ask ... "peepee too?" This tells them that I am asking if they have to do more. Sometimes they will and sometimes they won't. I give them that responsibility to make the decision. I ask to simply remind them since Cairn Terriers are easily distracted when they are outside.
Choose your significant dog training commands wisely. Don't use a phrase or command word that you would use often while you are in a place with your dog that you wouldn't want them to misunderstand you. For example, if you taught your Cairn to eliminate with the phrase "get'r done" and you were at a friends home and their children were saying this popular phrase, your Cairn just might eliminate exactly where he stands.
The same is true if you are in a public area and don't want to say to your dog, "piddle?" I don't use the phrases "poopoo too" and "peepee too" in public.
Don't use long phrases or commands or vary your commands each time. In other words don't say things like, "Piddle for mommy?", "Time to go potty now baby girl", "Do you have to peepee?", "Show me how good of a boy you are and go potty for me", etc. These phrases are too long and if you use a different phrase each time you want your Cairn to eliminate, you will be confusing your Cairn and they will not learn housebreaking.
Be consistent. Keep it simple. Stick with a routine and insist that every member of your family adhere to he same routine. Think before you teach your Cairn Terrier anything new. Often times Cairn Terriers and other dogs are learning when we are not intentionally teaching them. They are constantly watching us and picking up on the things we say, how we say, what we do and how we do things. They too are looking for a pattern in our human lifestyle so that they can better understand us and what pleases us.
Posted on May 03, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)How Often Should a Cairn Terrier be Stripped?
Every Cairn Terrier dog is different. But as a rule of thumb I completely strip my Cairns when their coats just begin to part down the middle of their back. (I use the Mars Coat King stripping knife.) For my Cairns this timing varies but is approximately every 3-4 months.
However, I brush my Cairns at least twice a week with a slicker brush. The experts will tell you to brush a Cairn Terrier every day. That is difficult to do unless you set a specific time every day to brush your Cairn while you are doing something else you normally would do every day like watching TV in the evening.
If you are a Cairn Terrier pet owner and not raising show dogs, I highly recommend using a Mars Coat King stripping knife.
Brushing a Cairn makes their skin healthier by removing mats, dead hair and skin cells, and my Cairns love to be brushed too. I think this is because when they were puppies I made it a daily routine of 2 minutes or less and made it a fun task. Now when I pick up the slicker brush, they both come running.
Read my related articles, "Grooming a Cairn Terrier (not for Show Dogs)" and "The Hard Coat of the Cairn Terrier".Posted on May 03, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (8)
How Often Should a Cairn Terrier be Bathed?
A healthy Cairn Terrier coat is what you want to maintain. Frequently bathing a Cairn Terrier will remove the natural oils in their coat which protects them against rain and snow. It also loosens the coat and dries out the skin and hair. It can lead to skin problems, doggy odor and allergies.
"Hehe ... it's great fun when my Mommy whispers in my ear. I never know what she's going to say. I especially like it when she whispers, "Ready to go for a walk?"" Happy Jack
Cairn Terriers should only be bathed a few times a year. We try to keep the number of bath times per year at three. That may seem crazy to other dog owners, but the Cairn Terrier coat is different.
Since they are terriers and you know how the terriers can be, there are times when a bath is needed. We use a shampoo formulated specifically for harsh coated dogs such as the Cairn Terrier. We have had good experiences with the brand __________. When you use a shampoo on your Cairn make sure you rinse all of the soap out of their coat. Remember, the Cairn Terrier's coat is water resistant, so it takes more time than usual to lather them up and rinse them out.
In between those full shampoo bath times and they get into some messes; we do what we call faux baths. It is a simple and quick rinse and scrub without any shampoo at all. Sometimes just scrubbing an area on their coat with a wet cloth (no shampoo) will suffice.
Earthdog Backyard Fun
I love teaching our Cairn Terriers new things. They love learning and most of the time what I teach them isn't hard. The Cairn Terrier breed is smart, agile, and full of energy. They thrive on learning new things or they get bored. My next project will be a fun one, and I'd like to take you along with me while I teach them. I'm calling this project "Earthdog Backyard Fun" and the concept is based on the dog sport, Earthdog Testing.
"After coming back from a long walk yesterday with Dad, Mom greeting us with a Summertime Dog Chew Treat. Wow, did that feel great!" Molly May
Earthdog Testing is the concept of teaching your Cairn or other terrier to go through a tunnel in record time chasing a rat. Well, I don't intend to make it a timed event nor use actual rats. What I want to do is convert a small section of our backyard into an Earthdog tunneled play area.
First though, I need to come up with enough money to fence in a larger part of our backyard. Each year we add more chain link fence to our backyard as we can afford it. Once the area is large enough to accommodate an eliminate area, play area for their sandbox, home agility training, and other activities we do, plus the Earthdog area, I'll take you along with me on how I built the area and how I train Molly and Jack, our two Cairn Terriers.
I have no doubt they will learn quickly and it will be great fun for them in the process. We will all learn something new and have fun doing it. Keep your eye on this article for more information on when that day comes. Or better yet, subscribe to my newsletter (email or US mail) where I'll be sure to announce it.
Posted on May 03, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)Dressing Your Cairn in Dog Clothes
Should you dress your Cairn Terrier in dog clothes? I admit that I think some dog clothes are cute. I admit that it can be entertaining for humans to see especially during the Halloween season. I admit that I have bought Molly, our first Cairn Terrier a winter coat.
However, Molly did not take too kindly to wearing her Scottish plaid winter coat I bought her for Christmas 2004. In fact, she hated it. Although many experts would disagree with me, I think each dog is different.
"Hehe ... it's great fun when my Mommy whispers in my ear. I never know what she's going to say. I especially like it when she whispers, "Ready to go for a walk?"" Happy Jack
I feel that as long as something like dressing your dog in clothes is not dangerous to the Cairn and the Cairn doesn't mind or in fact loves it, I see no harm. I know of several dogs owned by people who love to get dressed up and show off. If that makes the dog happy and it doesn't impend their quality of life or puts the dog in danger, I see nothing wrong with it.
My Cairns, Molly and Jack, do not wear clothes nor do I dress them in Halloween dog costumes. But I sure love to go to Halloween dog shows and check out the dogs that strut their stuff with pride.
Dominate Female Cairn Terriers
Since it had been more than 20 years since I housebroke a puppy, I found myself learning the concept all over again. But this time, however, the rules were quite different and positive dog training techniques was now the concept. I admit I was skeptical. Although I have never and would never harm a dog, I wasn't sure how being super nice would actually help train a dog either.
I read all of the best puppy housebreaking books on the market before I brought our first Cairn Terrier, Molly May, into our home in March 2004. I thought I had it all figured out, but Molly's personality turned out to be "not the norm" in regard to how all of the books advised.
"Hehe ... it's great fun when my Mommy whispers in my ear. I never know what she's going to say. I especially like it when she whispers, "Ready to go for a walk?"" Happy Jack
I now know that Molly is in fact what the experts call a dominate female Cairn Terrier. She is what I call a girl with an attitude and a bit of a tomboy. She wants to be boss or alpha dog. She often lifts her leg to pee, marks her territory during walks and is somewhat of a bully when it comes to our other pets. She has a petite stature so it's rather comical to see her try to force Happy Jack into submissiveness when he outweighs her by almost 8 pounds.
Molly is extremely smart and was super easy to train with other dog training commands. Housebreaking was her biggest roadblock. She did not care about positive praise, toys, or treats when I was trying to housebreak her. All she wanted to do was do whatever she wanted and when she wanted. At first I thought perhaps she had hearing problems or was a male. But that wasn't the case.
Molly is of course now housebroken and has been for many months (she is now 2 years and 4 months old as I write this article). It took far longer than I expected or the books said it would take. It was partly my fault due to my ignorance of her sense of smell, which I explain in more detail in a related article, "Nature's Miracle". Until we brought home our second Cairn Terrier, Happy Jack, however, I thought I was a failure at housebreaking. I just couldn't imagine what I was doing wrong.
Since Molly does have a dominate personality though, she will on rare occasion purposely urinate in the house when she wants to tell me she does not want to do something I am asking her to do. This has only happened twice in the last year when she was being put into her crate and we were leaving without her for awhile. In my opinion she knows how to push my buttons. Needless to say, it did shock me after a year or more of being accident free, but she did not get her way. To date she has not tried that tactic again.
Dental Care for Cairn Terriers
If anyone reads this article that has successfully been able to regularly brush their Cairn Terrier's dogs teeth, I would be glad to hear how you did it and share it with my website visitors (giving you credits for the article).
"My mom sometimes talks in Munchkin to me. I love it because Toto is my hero!" Happy Jack
Cairn Terriers are wiry little dogs and don't like to have their teeth messed with. At least that has been my experience my two Cairn Terriers, Molly and Jack.
I have tried a number of times to brush their teeth and it was not a successful experience. However, if it continues to be a problem, I will do what other responsible dog owners do and have a dental scaling done by the vet under short-acting anesthesia.
Tarter build up on teeth can cause a great deal of other problems in dogs. Both of my mixed breeds have teeth and gum problems which eventually lead to other type infections. I will not make that mistake with my Cairns. Back in those days though, brushing a dog's teeth was unheard of. Little did we know then about proper canine dental care.
Posted on May 03, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1)Cleaning a Cairn Terrier's Ears
During my Cairn Terrier's grooming sessions, I always make sure to check their ears. The inside of a healthy Cairn Terrier's ears should be pink, healthy looking and should not have an odor. Yes, I smell their ears. It is important that their ears are healthy.
"Soap bubbles aren't just for kids! We Cairn Terriers love to play with bubbles too." Happy Jack
One of my mixed breed dogs went deaf which we are still unsure why other than simply old age. It is sad to see a dog's hearing fail. When they look at you it is like their eyes are asking you why you don't talk to them anymore. It's heart breaking.
So I take every precaution to be sure that Cairns' ears do not have any dirt, hair, or wax deposits in the outer part of the ear canal. During their grooming session, I wipe the outer part of their ear canal with a cotton ball soaked in dog ear cleaning solution. The brand I use is _________.
Posted on May 03, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)Cairn Terriers and People Food
Is it okay to feed your Cairn Terrier people food? Although I do occasionally give our Cairns small bits of people food (mostly during the training process), I personally feel that the less amount of people food you give a dog is better and here is why.
Commercial dry dog food is always the best because it contains specially formulated vitamins and essential minerals that the Cairn Terrier needs. Dry dog food helps with tooth tarter control and is far less expensive than canned dog food.
Once you start feeding your Cairn canned dog food or people food, it will get very expensive quickly and stopping will be difficult for both you and the Cairn. It can also lead to finicky eaters and irregular eating habits which causes digestive problems.
"Soap bubbles aren't just for kids! We Cairn Terriers love to play with bubbles too." Happy Jack
I have often seen instances when a dog was given canned or people food all of its life, the dog had serious problems when it approached its senior years. A dog's digestive tract changes in his old age and can no longer tolerate most people food giving them gas and diarrhea which they are often not able to control. Many of these dogs could have lived years longer but are generally put to sleep because their owners couldn't handle their accidents. When all that was needed was providing them with health diets formulated for canines from the start.
Even though we may mean well, our intentions may not be of the best interest for the Cairn's overall health and quality of life.
Cairn Terrier Grooming Supplies You'll Need
Below is a list of all the grooming supplies I use regularly on my Cairn Terriers. I have other supplies as well, but I don't use them and by reading this article, I'll be saving you money on supplies you don't need.
• Grooming table with an arm extension for tethering (unless you have another safe area to work in)
• Shampoo formulated for hard coats
• Mars Coat King stripping knife
• Fine tooth metal comb or detangling comb
• Slicker brush
• Toothbrush and paste (if you do this yourself)
• Nail clippers and file (if you do this yourself)
• Ear cleaning solution
• Cotton balls
• Sharp scissors with a blunt tip
• Thinning shears
"Cairn Terriers like me love it if you scratch those hard-to-reach spots. Awww ... it feels so good." Molly May
I wish I would have found such a list when I was searching for Cairn Terrier pet owner grooming supplies. Most of what I bought was based on reading material geared toward show dog owners. I hope you find this list helpful and it saves you money.
I keep all of my Cairn grooming supplies in an enclosed plastic container and it sits on the grooming table. In that way everything is there when I need them, and I do not have to stop the grooming process for "any" reason once I begin.
Caution: Never leave a Cairn Terrier in a grooming table unattended. Keep a close eye on them at all times when they are on the grooming table. This is especially important if they are tethered to an arm extension by their neck.
Posted on May 03, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (2)Be Cautious with Cairn Terrier Information Sources
One of the things I learned about sources of information regarding Cairn Terriers or dogs was that not all information you read is accurate and many times is written by people who do not own dogs. Yes, that is correct.
Unfortunately, there are people who write books or develop websites that do not own dogs and never have. They do it solely to make money and in doing so are providing mis-information to unsuspecting dog owners who are truly seeking information to help them.
"On those rare occasions when my sister, Molly and I don't feel good, we get a third eye massage right down to the tip of our nose. Awww ... it feels so nice." Happy Jack
Another thing I learned while reading all of these dog books several years ago was that writing a book and then having a book published isn't difficult. It doesn't mean the author of the book is actually an authority on the topic at all. He or she may have outsourced the book to a ghostwriter who simply read other books and wrote about what they read.
The same is true about developing Cairn Terrier or other dog related websites. Anyone can create a website these days very easily and much of what you read is either republished articles, plagiarized material or just plain wrong. Some of what I read was on websites owned by people who didn't have a dog.
The articles you will find here at AboutCairnTerriers.com were all written by me and are based solely on what I have experienced in working with my two Cairn Terriers, Molly and Jack.
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I am not a professional dog trainer. Just a dog loving person who has personally owned four dogs in my life. A small percentage of the articles on my website are reprints from other authors, but I do not publish any article unless I feel it contains original, worthwhile information for our website visitors. I also add my own comments about what I felt was important about the article I reprinted (with legal permission of course) or other thoughts I have about the article that relate to Cairn Terrier owners. My reputation is important to me and my mission or reason for this website is to help other Cairn Terrier owners by sharing what worked and what did not work for me.
I love dogs and cannot imagine ever being without a dog in my life. After our last mixed breed dog passed away and before I bought our first Cairn Terrier, Molly May, there was a time lapse of about 9 months. It was the most difficult nine months of my life.
It has always been my belief that dogs are a gift to humans and were put on this earth to help humans understand the true meaning of unconditional love. And mostly I feel bad for people who do not or would not consider having a dog because they are missing out on experiencing a different type of love and bond that they will experience anywhere else.
Posted on May 03, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1)Choose Your Cairn Terrier's Groomer Wisely
Did you know that right now in the grooming industry in the United States, no prior education requirements or examination processes exist to become a groomer? That means that anyone can set up a card table in their basement, buy a pair of Wal-Mart clippers and hang their shingle out as a "groomer."
These animals have no way of communicating what horrors they might encounter at the hands of an inexperienced groomer who lacks proper training. Grooming is a dangerous business: very sharp objects directed at constantly moving targets. The animals are helpless and at the mercy of whoever is handling them, and cannot fight back or complain. Most pet owners are under the assumption that their groomers have had to pass some sort of exams or undergo a licensing process which qualifies them to work on their precious pets. But, this is not the case. Ironic, isn’t it, that hairdressers have to have proper schooling and state-issued licenses to work on people, but pet groomers don’t have to complete anything?
"Cairn Terriers like me love it if you scratch those hard-to-reach spots. Awww ... it feels so good." Molly May
Of course the most obvious issue in the lack of proper training is the quality of the grooming job. This is important as the goal of having your pet professionally groomed is usually a haircut of some sort, a bath, pedicure, etc. Some of that information can be gleaned from books, but that really isn’t the big danger. It is vital that groomers be properly trained, not just to give fun haircuts, but also to be well-versed in health and skin issues, diseases and dangers, safety issues, etc.
Groomers work constantly around chemicals, using them on pets for pesticide treatments, etc. In only a few states, a pesticide application license is required for groomers. These chemicals are very harsh and dangerous to both the pet and the groomer, and can cause permanent damage with improper use. It is best to seek out a groomer who utilizes botanical pesticidal treatments as a safe and effective alternative. Proper training is vital for groomers, not only for the pets’ sake, but the groomers’ health and safety as well.
Because grooming involves live animals, many perilous situations can present themselves. For instance, in the past, groomers only had one type of hair dryer available to them for use, the old-fashioned heated dryer. For many years, groomers had no choice but to use them to dry the pets in their shops. They would often times use these heated dryers as cage dryers to speed up their productivity. However, these dryers present great dangers, as dogs become overheated very quickly in small crates with the hot air blowing directly on them, and can die in just a matter of a few minutes.
It still happens in grooming shops all over the country every single day, because many groomers are still unaware that new, unheated forced-air dryers are available, and are very safe for cage drying. This situation could be alleviated by an inspection process (possibly performed by a state-entity) of groomers seeking licenses to open salons, if such a thing existed. But alas, it doesn’t.
How about the issue of health concerns? Elderly and convalescing pets need special care and treatment while being groomed. Pets suffer many of the same maladies that people do, and some of these things can be life threatening in a stressful situation. Grooming is somewhat stressful for a healthy animal, so it is no surprise that the grooming process can be very taxing to a pet whose health might be in some way compromised.
These pets need special care and handling by someone well versed in these health issues and proper safety precautions. And, how about pets who have contagious conditions or parasites? Without proper sanitation methods, many of these things are easily transferred to other pets.
These are just a few of the many reasons why groomers should be required to have proper training and mandatory licensing. Many professional groomers are fighting for state and federal regulation of the grooming industry. But this battle proves to be a lengthy and costly one, but it will be won, someday. The tide is slowly turning as the awareness of the problem gains publicity. Recently West Hollywood became the first area to require licensure, after a dog died in a grooming salon. Hopefully the trend will gain momentum, for the pets' sake.
In the mean time, the only measure of professional education in the grooming industry is the certification process. In the mean time, if you are seeking out a professional groomer, ask many questions. Ask for references, and followup with them. Having your pet groomed can definitely be a pleasant, rewarding activity, if you have carefully chosen your professional groomer. Educate yourself and make the best choice for your precious pet. After all, doesn’t he deserve to be safe?
Written by Guest Author: Shannon Lynnes Heggem
About the Author: Shannon Lynnes Heggem is an international speaker with a strong background in the pet care industry. In the 1990's, she established an upscale boarding resort and grooming spa in Havre, Montana. She then founded the Fast Track Institute of Pet Careers, a vocational school focused on pet-related careers. Shannon quickly became one of the top experts in the pet care industry, as an educator, business consultant, speaker, and contest judge. She was the first Certified Master Groomer in Montana, and went on to become a Certified Kennel Operator. Only four people in the world actually hold both of these certification titles.
Comments about this article by AboutCairTerriers.com:
The subject of this article, "Choose Your Pet Groomer Wisely" is disturbing and alarming. Most pet owners do not realize that a license is not needed to setup shop as a pet groomer. In addition to the authors warnings, as a Cairn Terrier pet owner, be sure that the groomer you hire for your Cairn Terrier understands that your pet should not be washed or clipped with the standard dog trimmer shears. I found that many groomers do not understand the hard coated wire haired breeds like the Cairn Terrier and want to shear away the hair like they would groom a poodle. Shearing the hair on the Cairn Terrier in this manner will eventually damage the coat and possibly cause skin problems.
When I took my Cairn Terriers, Molly and Jack, to a groomer once and requested that she trim their toenails ONLY, she asked me to leave them and she'd give them a nice bath and trim their hair. Even though I specifically said toenails ONLY and stressed the word ONLY, she thought she was being nice and would give my Cairn Terriers the works. I had to educate her on the grooming methods of a Cairn Terrier. She didn't know and quite honestly I suspect she didn't believe me.
Posted on May 03, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1)Puppy Food
When we brought Molly, our first Cairn Terrier, home from the breeder we fed her exactly what the breeder was feeding her, Science Diet Puppy Food. If you get your Cairn Terrier puppy from a breeder, be sure to ask what the pup has been eating, how often and how much.
A responsible breeder will be feeding them regularly with a quality brand puppy food. Young puppies need lots of water in front of them all day long and they eat four times a day. Check the bag of the puppy food you buy to see how often they recommend you feed.
"My mom sometimes talks in Munchkin to me. I love it because Toto is my hero!" Happy Jack
One of the things I noticed pretty quickly was that Molly wasn't eating as much per day of the puppy food as what it said on the puppy food bag that she should be eating. Then I started experimenting to see just how much she was eating, and discovered that she was eating about 30% less of what it stated per day. This concerned me but she seemed healthy and satisfied.
I asked the vet about it, and she said to feed my Cairn puppy only what she wanted. I left the food in front of her for about 10 minutes. After that time, I remove it. However, I gave her access to as much water as she wanted because puppies dehydrate quickly and water should always be available to them.
When we got Jack a year later, it was the same situation. Jack was eating about 25% less than what it said on the commercial puppy food bag that he should be eating. Then I realized what was happening.
Consumer Tip: The more you are advised to feed your puppy by the commercial manufacturers, the more puppy food you will buy from them! It doesn't matter to them if you are over feeding your puppy. Even if the puppy doesn't eat it, some folks will throw the uneaten food away.
Each puppy is different so watch how much your puppy eats and don't overfeed him. When Molly and Jack were very young pups, I weighed them once a week and recorded their weight on the Cairn Terrier Wall Calendar as a record of how they were doing.
When Jack came to live with us, his breeder was feeding him Iams Puppy Food. Wow, now we had two types of food to buy and since Science Diet was not available at Walmart where we did most of our shopping, we slowly switched Molly over to Iams Adult Dog Food. We mixed her Science Diet feed with the Iams Adult Dog Food for a couple of weeks.
It is recommended to feed puppies quality commercial puppy feed (not adult dog feed) for 12 months, and that is what we purchased and fed our Cairns. When each of our Cairn Terrier's turned one year old, we slowly transitioned them into adult feed by mixing the puppy feed and adult feed together for a couple of weeks so as not to upset their stomachs.
Pip Squeaks Dog Toys
There are few toys that every dog or puppy loves. Our first Cairn Terrier, Molly May, wasn't real big on any specific toys but Happy Jack , our second Cairn Terrier, has a completely different personality when it comes to toys.
When Jack was a puppy every day he had a different favorite toy. That's the nature of some puppies.
However to this day, he is now over a year old and he still loves a few of those special toys.
One of those toys is the duck Pip Squeak talking toy. It's a very soft plush toy that has a removable sound box. When Jack picks it up or nudges it, it quacks. In fact, Jack has been through two ducks and he also has a pig, elephant, monkey and donkey. He has one of each of every animal character that the manufacturer has made thus far.
Jack has never tried to remove the sound box. If he had, it may not have been his favorite toy because we would have had to remove it. Sound boxes in dog toys should be watched carefully. They can be dangerous if swallowed. Jack is simply satisfied throwing the Pip Squeak talking toy in the air to make it talk and then running after it. He also likes to shake it.
"Cairn Terriers like me love it if you scratch those hard-to-reach spots. Awww ... it feels so good." Molly May
My husband and I thought it was funny that Jack likes to throw toys and then run after them. It's quite comical to watch. However, if your think about it, it really isn't all that unusual. How many young boys do you know that play ball by themselves. They throw the ball in the air, hit it with a bat and run after it. :)
Jack's full registered AKC name is Happy Jack. We named him Happy Jack because he is always happy no matter what. If he could laugh, I'm sure he would do it all day.
It is my fantasy dream to see a dog laugh or smile. That would be the highlight of anyone's life. Think how much fun that would be if all dogs could laugh.
Posted on May 02, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1)Pig Ears for Dog Treats
It sounds odd and I'm not real sure whether roasted Pig Ears are healthy for an older Cairn Terrier, but my young Cairns love them.
"Mom taught me to jump through a hoola hoop. It was really easy because Cairn Terriers like me are smart. Find out how I learned, "Dog Trick: Jump Through a Hoop"." Molly May
Generally I give Molly and Jack each a Pig Ear as a treat about once a week. Some weeks they might not get them at all. Since they love them so much and it takes about 30-40 minutes for them to eat one, that's 30-40 minutes of pure silence for me to watch a favorite TV show like Survivor without interruptions. ;)
As I mentioned before, feeding your Cairn Terrier treats or anything that is not their regular dog food, should be done in moderation. The more treats you give outside of any training, the more spoiled and finicky they will become.
If you want a spoiled and finicky Cairn Terrier, that's fine. But don't expect great training results or consistent good behavior. Cairns are very smart and have a way of just melting your heart with all that pure cuteness.
My Top 5 Online Pet Stores
I buy nearly all of my pet supplies from online stores. We live in the country and the closest pet shop is 30 minutes away and it is very small shop with a limited selection. Walmart which has a limited selection of pet supplies is also 30 minutes away for me.
Since I like to compare brands, prices and have a large selection of products to choose from an online store is perfect for me. A physical store like those I shop online would be 2 hours drive for me. But it's only one mouse click away online. Online shopping with a reputable store is safe these days and online retail sales are increasing every month. It's fast, convenient and clicking from one merchant store to another to compare prices only takes seconds.
Here are my Top 5 Online Pet Stores that I regularly buy from. I have listed them in the order by which I buy the most. Generally I buy the most from an online store based on their prices, selection, availability, and how easy their store is to use.
Also, I have noted what I like about each online pet supply merchant I have listed. I hope you find this information helpful as I am often asked how on earth I find such great deals and helpful dog supply products. As a special dog owner treat (we all love bargains, don't we?), if you buy anything through my links you'll save even more money.
1. Petco - Get Free Shipping on orders of $55 or more through THIS LINK!
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Nature's Miracle for Housebreaking a Dog
There is one thing that every dog owner needs who is trying to house train a puppy and that is Nature's Miracle. I tried a number of stain and odor removers for puppy accidents and nothing can compare to Nature's Miracle
. I bought my first bottle in the local pet shop. I was amazed at how well it worked once I understood that part of Molly's housebreaking problem was not really her fault. It was my oversight.
Prior to getting our Cairn Terriers, Molly and Jack, we had to mixed breed dogs that lived to be a very ripe old age. They both began to have accidents in the house about six months before they died. Even though these accident spots were cleaned and the carpet professionally shampooed, dogs can still smell the odor of urine and feces unless it is cleaned with a neutralizing substance that permanently removes the odor.
A dog's sense of smell is 100 times stronger than a human. This means that when a dog passes by a bakery, instead of smelling bread, they smell flour, eggs, milk, sugar, etc. It is hard for us to imagine such a strong sense of smell, but that is the power of a dog's nose.
The only way to guarantee the long-term success of housebreaking a dog is to be sure you clean up any accidents thoroughly with a commercial enzyme neutralizing solution. Nature's Miracle
is indeed a miracle. I have recommended to many of my pet owner friends (including cat owners) and all of them have had great success with it.
In order for me to be able to see all the areas on our carpet that were former accidents, I purchased a black light and during the evening hours when it was darker, I went around on my hands and knees to detect each spot. I thoroughly soaked and scrubbed each spot.
You can buy a black light bulb at any local department store and put it in a trouble light if you have one. That is the least expensive way. If you don't have a trouble light, there are a number of different types of portable black light devices manufactured specifically for pet owners for this purpose.
Simply shine the black light on your carpet, flooring, furniture, etc. and the stain spots which are unable to be seen with a human eye will be obvious to you under black light. Soak the stained area and scrub it thoroughly. Don't skimp on this odor and stain neutralizing enzyme.
After that process, Molly's housebreaking became easier. She finally understood that the carpet was not where we wanted her to go to relieve herself. If she had an accident after that it was thoroughly soaked and scrubbed with Nature's Miracle. It was not time at all after that when she graduated from housebreaking boot camp.
To learn more about Nature's MiraclePosted on May 02, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0).
Munchkin Talk
One of the things you learn about positive dog training techniques is to praise your Cairn repeatedly when they do something you approve. For some reason this concept didn't work with Molly at all.
Clicker training with Freeze Dried Treats worked the best with Molly. But Happy Jack responded very well with praise and in fact, I took it a little further. Instead of simple praise, I used what I call Munchkin talk. If you are a Wizard of Oz fan, than you know the Munchkin character.
I created my own Munchkin dialect which Happy Jack responded to very well. It's rather sickening to humans {wink} but it worked and he was trained in no time.
To this day I still talk Munchkin to him when he does something exceptionally well and I sometimes sing Munchkin tunes from the Wizard of Oz song track to my Cairn Terriers. It gets them all excited and they run around, growl, and jump. I'm not sure whether that means they like my singing or they want me to stop. ;)
It's on TV
One of the things I taught my Cairn Terriers merely by accident was the command, "It's on TV". My Cairns dislike the sound of sirens and have trouble distinguishing our doorbell or phone ringing from those they hear on TV.
"I like getting brushed. It makes me feel pretty, and once a month I get a treat they call Heartguard when I'm being brushed. Cool!" Molly May
So if we are watching TV and they start to bark or puff suspiciously, all I say is "It's on TV" very calmly and they settle down quietly. I really don't know how they learned this other than the fact that I said it calmly like it was no big deal and didn't get up to let them out. Of course each time they did it and it really was on TV, this is what I said and did. Consistency and repetition is the most effective way to successfully train a Cairn.
It is simple things like this that we humans wouldn't notice at all that they quickly absorb and remember every time.
Freeze Dried Training Treats
I am often asked what kind of training treats I used to train my Cairn Terriers. First let me say that I am not a professional dog trainer. I have not had any dog training experience other than what I've read or taught myself. Most of what I tried worked but usually after lots of repetitive practice and patience.
What I learned about Cairn Terriers though is that they pick up on things around them very quickly. They are like highly absorbing sponges that want to learn and learning is fun for them. It gives them something to do and challenges that they enjoy.
"My mom sometimes talks in Munchkin to me. I love it because Toto is my hero!" Happy Jack
Nearly everything my Cairn Terriers were trained to do was with the use of a clicker. Molly was trained a great deal with the clicker. Jack was not simply because during the time he became part of our family I was busy working on special projects with my work at home job. But even so, Jack quickly picked up much of the training Molly knows simply by watching her.
The only training that did not work with treats and the clicker with Molly was housebreaking. In a previous article I wrote why the process of housebreaking Molly was slower than usual. It was in fact partly my fault and you can learn about it in my articles, "Nature's Miracle" and "Housebreaking a Cairn Terrier".
All of things I trained Molly to do worked best with the use of Pro-Treat's Freeze Dried Training Treats. Since she was a young pup (9 weeks old) when I started working with her, I diced up each freeze dried cube into 5 or 8 pieces. They training treats should be very small. In this way you are not over feeding your Cairn.
I started out working with her a couple minutes at a time about two or three times a day. The attention span of a puppy is very short and in this way she was getting several sessions a day with repeated training over and over again. Once she successfully learned exactly what I wanted her to do, she got a jackpot of training treats fed to her quickly one at a time. She then knew that what she just did was exactly what I wanted her to do.
I go into far more detail about clicker training with mini treats in my article, "Clicker Training".
Other treats I tried before purchasing the Pro-Treat's Freeze Dried Training Treats were tiny slices of hot dog, tiny bits of cheddar cheese, tiny bits of thoroughly cooked chicken breasts, tiny pieces of dog jerky treats, and tiny slices of cold cuts. None of these worked as well as the Pro-Treat's Freeze Dried Training Treats for my dogs. I'm not sure why but I'm glad they did because the training was well worth it.
Your Cairn Terrier pup may respond well to other treats. The trick is to find which treat works best for your dog. Remember that the treats must be very small or the pup will get full and not respond as well to your commands. Feeding too large of treats or too often may also spoil them and they won't eat their puppy food as well.
Toto, the Movie Star Dog
Credits for the cause of the huge popularity of the Cairn Terrier even to this day should be given to Toto, the movie star dog from the popular 1939 film, "The Wizard of Oz".
Toto the dog was the main character's pooch who traveled with her to the dream land of Oz to seek help from the wizard so Dorothy (played by the late Judy Garland) and Toto could go home to Kansas. Along the way to Oz though Dorothy and Toto meet several friends and are constantly trying to be stopped by the Wicked Witch. The adventures they go through are entertaining and fun for people of all ages.
If you are a Toto fan like myself, you might want to purchase the book, "I, Toto" which is an autobiography of the dog who played Toto in the Wizard of Oz movie. It was written by Toto's trainer, Carl Spitz who died in 1976. It was literally unearthed, edited and published by Willard Carroll in 2001. "I, Toto" is filled with a dog's lifetime of information about the real dog we have all come to know and love as Toto.
There are a lot of Toto facts in the book that most people don't know as well as many, many pictures of Toto (Terry) and the cast of many of her Hollywood films.
For example, did you know that Toto was female and her name was Terry? That's true.
Did you know that Toto was in more scenes in the Wizard of Oz film than anyone else including Dorothy? That's true.
You'll also learn about other movies you can rent in which Toto (Terry) starred two films with Shirley Temple.
You'll also learn some of the things Toto (Terry)'s trainer taught her, and how he taught her to do some of the scenes she performed.
One of the most curious things I learned about Cairn Terriers is that most people recognize the breed as that "cute breed" but very people know that "cute breed" is a Cairn Terrier or that Toto was a Cairn Terrier.
Curious too is when I run into someone who not only never heard of the Cairn Terrier breed, but they have never heard of the movie, The Wizard of Oz! What a shame.
If you have children, I urge you to pick up a DVD of the Wizard of Oz for your DVD collection. It is very inexpensive. The adorable Cairn Terrier breed lives through this motion picture box office smash hit and every child should get to know the Cairn Terrier through Toto.
Think of it this way. What if the character Toto were taken out of the script of this film? Chances are it may not have been as big of a hit movie. This adorable breed makes you want to hug, hold and spoil them rotten. The happy feet of the Cairn Terrier dog, brings a smile to everyone's face.
To learn more Toto facts that you may not have known, read my related article, "Facts About Toto, the Dog".Posted on May 02, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Facts About Toto, the Dog
Here are 10 facts about Toto, the movie star dog that most people don't know.
1. Terry was the real name of the dog who played Toto in the Wizard of Oz. Terry was female even though she played a male dog in the movie.
2. Terry's trainer, Carl Spitz died in 1976.
3. After Toto died Carl Spitz was so heart broken, he wrote the autobiography of Toto and then buried it a metal box in the San Fernando Valley of California near Spitz' training center.
4. In 1993 during the construction of a major highway through the San Fernando Valley of California, Williard Carroll, found the autobiography of Toto buried in the ground. He unearthed it, re-edited sections and published it in 2001. The book title is, "I, Toto"
5. Terry starred in many Hollywood films including one with Shirley Template, "Bright Eyes" filmed in 1934.
6. During a pleasure visit Terry had with Clark Gable, she accidentally knocked out Clark Gable's false teeth, making him flee quickly to another room. Mr. Gable returned laughing and was not upset with Terry.
7. Terry's favorite Wizard of Oz cast member was Margaret Hamilton who played the Wicked Witch.
8. The ole Wicked Witch wasn't scary to Terry at all. She loved Margaret Hamilton. But Terry's biggest fear during the filming of the Wizard of Oz was the Winkies which were the huge guards during the drawbridge scene. Silly dog!
9. During the corn field scene when Dorothy meets the Scarecrow, Terry (Toto) was reprimanded by the film director for trying to chew on the Scarecrow's costume. Hehehe...
10. It is not known the exact date when Terry died, but it is known it was sometime toward the end of World War II. She was buried in the backyard of Carl Spitz's training center.
See my related article, "Toto, the Movie Star Dog"Posted on May 02, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1)
Clicker Training DVD Videos
If you don't like to read or you like DVDs and videos instead, I can personally highly recommend the following clicker training videos.
Sometimes seeing the process is much easier to learn than reading about it. After all, you have to learn the training technique first before you can teach your Cairn. It is indeed worth it.
See my related article, "Clicker Training a Cairn Terrier"Posted on May 02, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Clicker Training a Cairn Terrier
If you want to train your Cairn to do even the smallest little tasks, I found clicker training to be the quickest and most efficient long term dog training technique. Even to this day after more than a year of non-practice with Molly, my first Cairn Terrier, she remembers exactly what I mean when I say any of the following:
1. sit
2. down (lay down)
3. roll over
4. ring the bell (to go outside)
5. shut it (shuts the refrigerator or cabinet door)
6. stay
7. come
8. enough (stop whatever she's doing)
9. jump (jumps through a hoop or onto a foot stool)
10. go to bed (she goes to, walks into and sits down in her crate)
I taught Molly to do all of the above using a clicker and following Karen Pryor's 74 page easy to read guide to "Clicker Training Dogs". Trust me when I say that if you have a small amount of patience, determination and your Cairn likes to learn new things like most Cairn Terriers do, you too can train your Cairn to do any of the above and much more.
If you buy Karen's book through my link below, she'll send you a free clicker with your book.
Instead of repeating Karen's clicker training techniques here, I'd rather let you buy the book (very affordable) and read for yourself how easy it is. The only training that the clicker didn't seem to work with Molly was housebreaking, although she knew what I meant when I said "get busy" and if she has to go, she will usually go now that she's an adult and a little less bullheaded.
To my surprise the very first thing Molly learned during her clicker training was how to ring a bell. I placed a desktop call bell beside the door for her to ring when she wants to go outside. This to me would have been one of the hardest tasks to teach a dog, but it was the first thing she picked up on. Do you know how long it took her to learn? She was ringing the bell within 15 minutes and she was only 4 months old at the time.
That is the power of the clicker. Clicker training is based on positive reward system using mini treats, praise, toys, or whatever your Cairn will respond to and within milliseconds clicking the clicker to let the dog know exactly the moment when they did what it was you wanted them to do.
Before you practice with your Cairn, you'll want to practice the technique yourself. The key is to click instantly when the behavior you want is done - not before or not after. In that way the Cairn is positive that what they did at the very second will be rewarded in the future if they do it again.
Let me tell just how powerful clicker training can be. You saw from the list of things above that Molly learned a great deal. All of these behaviors were learned by her before she reached the age of 6 months. So within two months she was doing all of these tasks with ease.
When I went from one practice review session of something she already knew like "ring the bell" to something new like "jump" and she wasn't quite sure what I wanted her to do yet, she'd go through most of the commands on the list stated above trying to get me to click!
Seriously, it is a comical moment when your Cairn will sit, lay down, rollover, ring the bell, tap a cabinet door all within a matter of seconds just to see which action is the one you want her to learn. She was waiting for that click!
You've got to love the Cairn Terrier breed. They are cute, comical and so darn smart!
See my related article, "Clicker Training DVDs and Videos"Posted on May 02, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Choo Hooves
My Cairn Terriers find Choo Hooves which is a name brand of cow hooves that are trimmed and cleaned to be irresistible. They will spend considerable time gnawing on them.
Choo Hooves are what I give them instead of Rawhide Treats and Bones when I cannot be their to supervise them.
They like the cheese stuffed Choo Hooves too but when mixed with dog saliva it gives off a pecular odor that I find offensive. So the regular Choo Hooves is what I now stock. They last a long time too which amkes them agreeable to my budget.
I try to give my Cairn specific treats for specific activities, so I give them the Choo Hooves only when we are in the car traveling. The Choo Hooves are their traveling treats.
Jack's Puppy Photos
As of the writing of this article, Jack is 1 year and 4 months old. Jack's AKC registered name is Happy Jack. We named him Happy Jack because he is always happy no matter what he's doing or the time of day. Often when Happy Jack wags his tail, it is not just from side to side but in a circular motion.
This is Jack at the breeder's house. We visited him a couple of times before we took him home. He's about 4 weeks old in this photo.
Here is Happy Jack sleeping in his crate the day we brought him home. He was 6 weeks old. Jack was also very easy to crate train. Since Jack grew much faster than Molly did he was introduced to his Midwest Life Styles folding crate much sooner. The of course when he graduated from housebreaking boot camp (one month without any accidents in the house), he too was rewarded with the luxury of a Dog Crate Bed Set.
Here is the little guy at approximately 2 months old. But he grew quickly and he didn't stay a little fellow for very long.
Molly's Puppy Photos
Everyone loves puppy photos and Cairn Terrier owners are no different. Below you will find lots of baby photos of our first Cairn Terrier, Molly May. As of the date that I write this article, Molly is 2 years and 4 months old.
The picture above is Molly at about the age of 2 months sitting next to the white exercise fencing I used, The Pet Yard.
Molly with her Kongs at the age of approximately 2 months.
Molly, our first Cairn Terrier, playing with a homemade toy. Sometimes real dog toys just weren't interesting enough for her.
In this photo Molly is a little older, approximately 3 months old. She liked to sit and lay in her bone toy box and dig up some interesting toys.
Molly inside her first dog crate. She was very easy to crate train. Her first crate was a plastic pet carrier since we already had it. Then as she got older, we introduced her to the Midwest Life Styles folding crate. When she graduated from housebreaking boot camp, she was rewarded with the luxury of a Dog Crate Bed Set. Ahhh ... the padded comfort felt so good.
Posted on May 02, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (1)Cairn Terrier Rescue Networks
This article is an ongoing post of Cairn Terrier Rescue networks throughout the world. If you are not familiar with Cairn Terrier Rescue services, they are professional non-profit organizations developed to help find abandoned Cairn Terriers permanent and suitable homes.
Before buying a Cairn Terrier puppy from a breeder, you might consider adopting a Cairn Terrier dog that matches your family’s environment based on the profiles posted about these homeless dogs. You will be required to complete a length applicaton with important background information.
These organizations are not looking to make money. They are looking to match a puppy who needs love and care with the right family or owner. Any costs involved merely (or barely ) covers the costs they incur to operate the service.
Dogs that are available through these rescue services have been rescued from animal shelters because their owners could no longer take care of them for some reason. There are also many Cairn Terriers which were obtained from breeding stock by what is commonly referred to as puppy mills, puppy mill auctions and backyard breeders whose bitches and studs are no longer of use to them. It is sad to see any dog abandoned but when you love the Cairn Terrier breed as we do, you want to try to help in any way you can.
If you are involved with a legally registered non-profit Cairn Terrier Rescue network or organization, please contact me with your organization’s credentials, contact info, website URL, etc. and I will list your organization on this page. Together we can find adorable Cairn Terriers with loving and secure homes.
American Kennel Club
For more in depth information about Cairn Terriers, please visit the American Kennel Club. If you buy a Cairn Terrier puppy, this resource should not be ignored even if you are buying your Cairn for a pet.
American Kennel Club sets the standards for all Cairn Terriers. It is a valuable resource for all types of professional information relating to the breed.
If you buy a registered Cairn Terrier from a breeder, you can now register you puppy online instead of filling out the forms and mailing them.
Please be sure to familiarize yourself with this lovable, fun and intelligent breed by visiting the Cairn Terrier section at the American Kennel Club.
Posted on May 01, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)Rawhide Treats and Bones
We occasionally give our Cairn Terriers rawhide bones and treats. However, we never give them access to any type of rawhide when we are not around or cannot be right there to watch them while they chew or eat it.
Rawhide bones can become soft and pliable. They are especially dangerous when they are small, becasue they can lodge in a dog's throat and choke them if they are unsupervised. When a rawhide bone becomes small or too wet (as we like to refer to it), it is thrown away.
This sometimes requires us to distract tour Cairn Terriers until the rawhide is removed. We usually distract them by initiating some play activity. It might seem cruel in a way, but it is for their best interest and health that anything they could choke on be removed quickly.
If you give your Cairn Terrier rawhide products, please be sure to do so only under supervision. Never give a Cairn a rawhide bone and leave the house.
During those times when we cannot supervisor our Cairns with rawhide bones, I give them Choo Hooves instead.
Posted on May 01, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)Kidco Doorway Gate
The Kidco Doorway Gate is a temporary pressure mounted gate and was yet another of the best investments we made in dog supplies. Our doorway from our carpeted living room into the dining room which has vinyl flooring is very wide. A standard baby gate or dog gate wasn't wide enough - not close. We didn't want the gate to be permanently mounted but we did want it to be sturdy enough to handle a puppy.
I have used a number of baby gates before that I had to step over to get to the other side. A friend of mine broke her leg stepping over a baby gate she was using for her puppy. I nearly fell also trying to step over a dog gate that did not have any other means to pass through.
About the Photo: In this photo Molly and Jack (still being housebroke) are patiently waiting at the Kidco Doorway Gate fence.
When I found the Kidco Doorway Gate, I was skeptical. Since it was pressure activated, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to tighten the bold tight enough or the swinging gate section wouldn't work or be too difficult to unlatch. I was wrong.
When we were housebreaking both Molly and Jack, the Kidco Doorway Gate came in handy. If they had an accident in the house, we wanted it to be on vinyl, not on carpet. Puppies get used to feeling a certain texture under their feet when the relieve themselves. We wanted that feeling to be grass. If there was an accident in the house, we wanted that feeling to be vinyl. Therefore, for the first couple weeks of their puppy life with us, they were barricaded into the dining room using the Kidco Doorway Gate. It worked great. It also allowed us to pass through the gate by lifting up on the latch and walking through.
After the Cairn Terriers were accustomed to the feel of grass under their feet when they relieved themselves, and we were confident they wouldn't have an accident on carpet, we moved the Kidco Doorway Gate so that they had more area of our home to play - they living room only. We placed the Kidco Doorway Gate this time in the hallway so the Cairns couldn't go down the hall into the rest of the house.
As they grew older and graduated from housebreaking (a minimum of one month without an accident the house), we opened up more territory for them to roam.
We used the Kidco Doorway Gate for other training purposes too. Remember, puppies love to explore and chew. They can get into lots of human stuff and ruin it. Their territory in our home expanded as they passed through several puppy stages, like chewing on electrical cords, digging, chewing on shoes or anything else they find that isn't a toy, etc.
The Kidco Doorway Gate also came in handy while we were trying to train them to "stay". We opened the gate and walked through while they "stayed" or "sit" whichever we stated.
I work from home and often have my assistants come to my home to help in our home office. Until our Cairns became used to my assistants coming and going, we used the Kidco Doorway Gate to limit their time they could visit with my assistants when they arrived. Our Cairns love people and are very friendly. If we didn't limit their time with my assistants, they'd be monopolizing all the in-office time and not much work would be done. :) After all, Cairns do love to have fun.
Posted on May 01, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)I Qube for Active Cairn Terriers
Another of Happy Jack's favorite toys is the I Qube. The I Qube is a soft plush toy in the shape of a cube. It's primarily a puzzle for dogs and it contains four plush balls with squeakers. Jack likes to throw the balls or have us throw the balls for him. He fetches and brings them back to us.
When Molly was a puppy she liked to take the balls out of the cube and then stick her head in the empty cube and shake it. I don't know why dogs like to shake things. I'm guessing it is an instinctive kill thing that makes them feel like they are defeating their prey.
We now have two sets of the I Qube: junior and jumbo. To this day both Molly and Jack fetch the balls. We usually squeeze the ball as we throw it so they can hear the location of the ball's destination, go get it and bring it back for me fetching fun.
Posted on May 01, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)Crates for Cairns
We started both of our Cairn Terriers, Molly and Jack, with plastic pet carriers as their crates. It was pretty simple to get them accustomed to the crate. By establishing regular nap routines and night bedtime routines for a couple weeks, they understood that the pet carrier was "their special place" in our home.
As they got older we purchased Midwest's Life Stages Folding Crates. It's a wire cage type crate and it includes a divider panel that gives us the ability to adjust the side of their sleeping area as they grew.
When you are crate training a puppy, you don't want the crate too be too big or the pup will soil in one section and sleep in another. So the Midwest Life Stages Folding Crates were perfect for us because we didn't have to continue buying larger sized crates as the Cairns grew bigger. We could have easily started Molly (our first Cairn) out using the Midwest Life Stages Folding Crate but we already had a plastic pet carrier, so we used it until she outgrew it.
The crate also has a removable, easy to clean plastic tray that you can pull out and clean if necessary. Since the Midwest Life Stages Crate is foldable, it's great to take on the road too if needed.
Both Molly and Jack's Midwest Life Stages Folding Crates measure at 36 inches long, 24 inches wide, and 37 inches high which is slightly too big for Molly and slightly too small for Jack. But it works fine. We have their crates sitting side by side in our master bedroom so even though they sleep separately from us, they still feel like part of the pack since they are in the same room.
Reference my article on "Crate Training" to learn how I crate trained my Cairn Terriers.
Reference my article on "Crate Bed Sets" we use with our favorite, portable folding crates.Posted on May 01, 2006 | Permalink | Comments (0)
Crate Bed Sets
When our Cairn Terriers, Molly and Jack, were both puppies, we lined their Midwest Life Stages Crates with old rags and towels. When we felt like they had graduated from housebreaking (one month without any accidents in the house), we bought them Cratewear® which is a 3-piece Crate Bed Set.
The Crate Bed Set consists of a comfortable mattress type pad that fits nicely in their wire crate, a bumper pad that fastens to the interior walls of crate for padding like in a baby's crib, and a crate cover for a den-like atmosphere. The cover also matches our master bedroom color scheme (hunter green) and their crates seem like part of the decor.
All of the dog Bed Set pieces are machine washable, so when needed, I throw them into the washer and then hang them to line dry.
