Cairn Terrier Breed Description

An Owner's Cairn Terrier Description
Let me introduce BooBoo, my Cairn Terrier. BooBoo is inquisitive, intelligent, alert - - and aggressive when it comes to small outdoor animals. That last comes from the fact that his breed originally was bred to hunt foxes and to hunt and kill small vermin.

BooBoo's also got a movie credit -- indirectly, by breed only. You see, another Cairn Terrier was used in the movie "The Wizard of Oz". Does the resemblance to ToTo, Dorothy's little dog, bring back memories? I believe my dog has just as much talent and character as his Hollywood ancestor!

BooBoo has a gift for entertaining. He's not shy and loves to be the center of attention. There are times that he will act clownish just to get laughter and applause. His curiosity about people actually makes him a pretty nice watchdog, not much slips by him unnoticed. And BooBoo has a way of letting us know if there is someone he just doesn't care for. .

He enjoys learning as much as performing. BooBoo requires a lot of mental stimulation which is why we change up the way we play old games.

I wonder if I actually got BooBoo into the movies, would it go to his head? He can get pretty full of himself. He'd probably want his own agent, dressing room and a Nickelodeon cartoon. He'd just better remember who got him there in the first place!

 

 

Introduction

The Cairn Terrier is one of the oldest terrier breeds, dating back to sometime around the 16th century. They originated on the Isle of Skye in the Scottish Highlands. Highlanders would make small piles of stones, called cairns, to mark property boundaries. Often this is where small animals would seek to live. The little terrier was used to hunt out the vermin and thus earned its name as the Cairn Terrier. It is a rugged, fearless little dog that at the same time is sweet, friendly and very happy. The unkempt look of their coat is a favorite characteristic of the breed. It gives them such an adorable appearance, especially with their expressive eyes and slight smile of the mouth. The coat has a rough outer coat that tops a soft dense undercoat. Groomers keep the coat in shape by using a technique called “stripping” by using special grooming tools that lift out dead hair from the coat. The Cairn Terrier comes in any color but white and is typically seen as cream, tan, red and black. They are intelligent little dogs that learn quickly. This same temperament can often put this breed at odds with other dogs. This really is a very adorable, cute and loyal dog that at 13 to 14 lbs does well in almost any family living space.

Colors

All colors are acceptable with the exception of white. Brindle, black, tan, sand, red and gray are often found in the same litter.

Living Area

Indoor with regular exercise.

Recognized By

CKC, FCI, AKC, UKC, ANKC, NKC, NZKC, APRI, ACR

Pets4You offers listings of Cairn Terrier breeders with puppies for sale.