Height: 9.5-10 inches
Weight: 13-14 lbs.
Life Span: 13-15 yrs.
Breed Group: Terriers
Overview
The cairn terrier is assertive, cheerful, eager to please, and loves to
play but can be nippy with children and may chase cats if not socialized
with them at an early age.
The cairn is an ideal companion for a single person or a couple without
children and adapts well to city or apartment living.
It is a good watchdog, but excessive yapping should be controlled at an
early age. Cairns always want to dominate--they won't pick fights but will
be happy to finish them. These dogs do well in obedience class.
Appearance
The cairn terrier has a broader head than most terriers, a short, dark muzzle,
and a well-muscled body with enough leg to allow maneuvering over rocky
terrain.
The coat is water-resistant with a firm outercoat and soft, woolly undercoat.
Coat color is cream, wheaten, red, gray, or nearly black; brindling is possible.
Grooming & Exercise Needs
Cairn terriers need to be brushed, combed, and stripped or clipped three
to four times a year. They need a couple of good daily walks on a leash
and, if possible, some vigorous play in a secured area.
Origins
The cairn terrier originated in 16th-century Scotland on the Isle of Skye,
where it searched out cairns (rocky cliff dens) for foxes.
Breed-related health concerns: globoid cell leukodystrophy (an untreatable
hereditary disease causing progressive paralysis and death), allergies.
Reference: AKC - American Kennel Club |
