The Cairn terrier is a breed of dog originally from the Scottish Highlands, and is one of the oldest Scottish terriers in existence. Like many dog ​​breeds, the Cairn terrier  has long been used as a working dog for hunting foxes, badgers, and otters.

Its name “Cairn” is Gaelic and refers to the rocky caves or mountain ranges, where this dog was used to give warning with its barks when it found the prey, until the hunter reached the place.

Previously the Cairn terrier was grouped as ” Skye Terrier ” together with the Scottish Terrier and West Highland White Terrier , but with the passage of time, the three breeds began to be bred separately. Today this breed is used mainly as companion dogs. If you want to know more about this breed in Tom Cat Wiki we explain its main characteristics.

You may also be interested in:  Welsh terrier or Welsh Terrier, care, characteristics and curiosities

Cairn terrier characteristics

• Life expectancyHeight: Male: 25-33 cm, Female: 23-30 cm.
• Weight: 6 – 8 kg.
• Coat: The Cairn terrier’s coat is waterproof and has a double coat. The undercoat is short, smooth and dense. The outer coat is thick, hard, but not rough.
• Coat Color: It can be cream, wheat, red, gray, and almost black. It typically has dark spots on the ears and muzzle.
• Head:  well proportioned to the body, and is usually shorter and wider than that of other terriers.
• Eyes: slightly sunken and with abundant eyebrows, well separated, medium, dark brown in color.
• Ears: small, erect, and pointed, not too close together.
• Tail: not set high or low, proportionate, never curved on the back.
• Muzzle: moderately short and broad.
• Nose: black.
• Legs: strong.
• Body: longer than tall, strong and compact.

The Cairn terrier has a life expectancy of between 12 and 15 years.

You may also be interested in:  Chinese Crested, care, characteristics and curiosities

Cairn terrier health

Generally this breed is usually very healthy. However, specialists have identified some common health problems in the Cairn terrier . Some of them are genetically inherited, while others occur as a consequence of a variety of non-specific factors.

The Cairn terrier also tends to be obese and to be allergic to fleas. In some cases this breed can present cataract problems , von Willebrand disease, Legg-Calve-Perthes disease and patellar luxation.

Cairn terrier care

• Brush his coat once or twice a week, to prevent the undercoat from matting.
• Periodically cut the long hairs on your eyebrows and ears to avoid damaging these organs.
• Bathe him only if he is very dirty.
• Exercise it daily, although your need for physical activity is not that high, with a daily walk you would have enough.
• Keep the vaccination and deworming schedule up to date .
• Go to the vet at least once or twice a year to do a checkup on the dog’s health.

You may also be interested in:  Shar Pei, care, characteristics and curiosities

Cairn terrier behavior

The Cairn terrier is mainly characterized by dogs very sure of themselves, they stand out for their audacity. They are commonly active, hardy, and love to dig holes or chase prey, just like most terriers.

As for his behavior with strangers, it will depend on the good socialization with which we educate him, likewise we will have as a result friendly dogs and even with children, with whom they love to share many games. Another reason for the importance of good socialization for Cairn terriers is that they sometimes tend to become destructive when bored or left alone for long periods of time.

These problems can be prevented by giving our dog a good education from puppyhood. Dogs of this breed are considered an excellent pet, due to their ease of training and of adapting well to small homes or apartments.

You may also be interested in:  Airedale terrier, care, behavior and characteristics

Cairn terrier curiosities

• The Cairn terrier reached its popularity around the 1920s.
• In the 16th century, this dog was used to guard monuments and prevent wild animals from entering them.
• This breed was brought to official dog shows in the UK in 1909.
• The AKC classified the Cairn terrier as a hypoallergenic breed .
• At the intelligence level, the Cairn terrier ranked 35 in Stanley Coren’s ranking of dog intelligence.
• This breed became popular in America because a Cairn terrier played the role of Toto in the movie The Wizard of Oz.