Meet The Cairn Terrier
History, Character and Health
True History Of The Cairn
My hobbies include studying the history of domestic dog breeds. (I'm working on a book about this subject at this time.) Scotland and the areas where England and Scotland share a border are home to several distinct terrier breeds. Experts agree that of all these breeds the cairn terrier has retained the truest characteristics of the original terrier type of Scotland.
The foundation dog from which the scottish terrier breeds of today evolved lived and worked for untold centuries in obscurity. These were not royal hunting hounds with long written pedigrees. They were certainly important to the Scottish farmer in his constant battle with vermin, but for obvious reasons written evidence goes back only about 500 years.
First, the history of the cairn itself. It is ironic that while the exhibitions breeds developed FROM the cairn, the Scottie, Westie, Sky and Dandie, were being developed, the foundation dogs were considered too "common looking" to be show dogs. In a way this was true - for the cairn had no exaggerated features upon which ribbons could be awarded. So the cairn was overlooked until sometime after all the other breeds were given kennel club recognition. Which is something I think we should all be thankful for. Exhibition breeding has never, not once, improved a working breed.
The cairn terrier was finally "discovered" by the dog show crowd and was accepted as a registered breed by the UK Kennel Club in 1912. Before this the breed was referred to as "short-haired Skye". This reference certainly indicates that the original cairn terrier was never a long-coated dog.
The West Highland White terrier (Westie) is the closest in type to the cairn terrier being a very recent offshoot. Cairns and Westies were considered the same breed, just different colors at first, and the UK Kennel Club allowed "purebred" Westies to have cairn terriers in their pedigrees up until 1924. 1908 is the first time the term West Highland White terrier is seen. The breed was developed by Edward Donald Malcolm, 16th Laird of Poltalloch, who, it is said, was grieved when one of his reddish colored cairns was mistaken for a fox during a hunt and shot. After this he concentrated on producing pure white cairns which were known as "Poltallock Terriers". The name was later changed to West Highland White and they were ultimately registered as a different breed from the cairn. Today there are several differences between cairns and Westies, the main one being the Westie having a much softer, profuse coat.
From the early 16th century the term "Skye terrier" was used to describe ALL the original Highland terriers of Scotland due to their popularity in the Skye Island area. The ancestors of the Scottish, Skye, cairn and Westie were all called "Skye" terriers for hundreds of years. There is no real rhyme or reason why the Scottish terrier breeds ended up with the names they did - dog breed names are notoriously inaccurate in many cases - but the breed called "Skye" today developed 400 years ago when there was an admixture of Spanish dogs with the native cairn type dogs.
It is generally accepted that dogs which survived the wreck of Spanish Armada ships around 1588 (in the area of the Isle of Skye) crossed with the local cairn type dogs of the area. These dogs were described as longer, larger and with a profuse, soft, silky coat. This long coated breed has been seperate from original cairn stock for over 400 years.
The dog which ended up with the name "Scottish terrier" evolved from the original cairn type working dog as strictly an exhibition breed. Great length of head, depth of chest, shortness of leg were all points stressed and bred for, resulting in the dog we know today as the "Scottie". Scottish terriers are known for being black in color but they also come in other "cairn terrier" colors such as wheaton and brindle.
Please CLICK HERE for a very interesting read on the early history of the cairn terrier.
CLICK HERE for a gallery of historical cairn terrier pictures.
The foundation dog from which the scottish terrier breeds of today evolved lived and worked for untold centuries in obscurity. These were not royal hunting hounds with long written pedigrees. They were certainly important to the Scottish farmer in his constant battle with vermin, but for obvious reasons written evidence goes back only about 500 years.
First, the history of the cairn itself. It is ironic that while the exhibitions breeds developed FROM the cairn, the Scottie, Westie, Sky and Dandie, were being developed, the foundation dogs were considered too "common looking" to be show dogs. In a way this was true - for the cairn had no exaggerated features upon which ribbons could be awarded. So the cairn was overlooked until sometime after all the other breeds were given kennel club recognition. Which is something I think we should all be thankful for. Exhibition breeding has never, not once, improved a working breed.
The cairn terrier was finally "discovered" by the dog show crowd and was accepted as a registered breed by the UK Kennel Club in 1912. Before this the breed was referred to as "short-haired Skye". This reference certainly indicates that the original cairn terrier was never a long-coated dog.
The West Highland White terrier (Westie) is the closest in type to the cairn terrier being a very recent offshoot. Cairns and Westies were considered the same breed, just different colors at first, and the UK Kennel Club allowed "purebred" Westies to have cairn terriers in their pedigrees up until 1924. 1908 is the first time the term West Highland White terrier is seen. The breed was developed by Edward Donald Malcolm, 16th Laird of Poltalloch, who, it is said, was grieved when one of his reddish colored cairns was mistaken for a fox during a hunt and shot. After this he concentrated on producing pure white cairns which were known as "Poltallock Terriers". The name was later changed to West Highland White and they were ultimately registered as a different breed from the cairn. Today there are several differences between cairns and Westies, the main one being the Westie having a much softer, profuse coat.
From the early 16th century the term "Skye terrier" was used to describe ALL the original Highland terriers of Scotland due to their popularity in the Skye Island area. The ancestors of the Scottish, Skye, cairn and Westie were all called "Skye" terriers for hundreds of years. There is no real rhyme or reason why the Scottish terrier breeds ended up with the names they did - dog breed names are notoriously inaccurate in many cases - but the breed called "Skye" today developed 400 years ago when there was an admixture of Spanish dogs with the native cairn type dogs.
It is generally accepted that dogs which survived the wreck of Spanish Armada ships around 1588 (in the area of the Isle of Skye) crossed with the local cairn type dogs of the area. These dogs were described as longer, larger and with a profuse, soft, silky coat. This long coated breed has been seperate from original cairn stock for over 400 years.
The dog which ended up with the name "Scottish terrier" evolved from the original cairn type working dog as strictly an exhibition breed. Great length of head, depth of chest, shortness of leg were all points stressed and bred for, resulting in the dog we know today as the "Scottie". Scottish terriers are known for being black in color but they also come in other "cairn terrier" colors such as wheaton and brindle.
Please CLICK HERE for a very interesting read on the early history of the cairn terrier.
CLICK HERE for a gallery of historical cairn terrier pictures.
A Wee Stubborn Scott!
Health Concerns For The Breed
To live in harmony with a cairn terrier you MUST have a sense of humor and a fair amount of patience.
If your belief is a dog should obey instantly and without question - the cairn is not for you! Some breeds are hard to train because they are "aloof" or "not overly bright". This is not the case with terriers. Absolutely brilliant (and they know it) the cairn simply does not always agree with your decisions. They also have a contrary streak that can be maddening.
The best way to deal with a cairn terrier is to start as young as possible using positive methods (called "marker training") to ingrain basic skills such as the recall, standing for grooming and nail trims and tolerance of other animals such as cats or chickens.
In my opinion males are far easier to train than females. The girls have quite a "what have you done for me lately" attitude whereas the boys just love you unconditionally.
While cairn terriers are small dogs (16 pounds) they do not have any of the negative behaviors often associated with "little dogs". They are not yappy dogs. My cairns only bark when playing and when shouting threats to passing coyotes.
They are not snappy dogs. ALL my cairns have gentle, loving temperaments with people and love children even though they are not raised with them. Cairns are fun loving, happy, playful, but not hyper-active. They are truly dogdom's best kept secret in my opinion.
Can cairns live with other animals? Absolutely. Its a matter of introducing them young. I have raised numerous cairns to live with free roaming chickens and sheep. Many of my cairns live in homes with cats and birds. But understand the prey drive in cairns can be quite high, so early introducion and firmness is important. Remember, the origins of the cairn are as a farm dog.
Cairns do have a strong desire to find and kill rodents, so expect them to try and kill squirrels, rabbits and such if not specifically trained not to.
If your belief is a dog should obey instantly and without question - the cairn is not for you! Some breeds are hard to train because they are "aloof" or "not overly bright". This is not the case with terriers. Absolutely brilliant (and they know it) the cairn simply does not always agree with your decisions. They also have a contrary streak that can be maddening.
The best way to deal with a cairn terrier is to start as young as possible using positive methods (called "marker training") to ingrain basic skills such as the recall, standing for grooming and nail trims and tolerance of other animals such as cats or chickens.
In my opinion males are far easier to train than females. The girls have quite a "what have you done for me lately" attitude whereas the boys just love you unconditionally.
While cairn terriers are small dogs (16 pounds) they do not have any of the negative behaviors often associated with "little dogs". They are not yappy dogs. My cairns only bark when playing and when shouting threats to passing coyotes.
They are not snappy dogs. ALL my cairns have gentle, loving temperaments with people and love children even though they are not raised with them. Cairns are fun loving, happy, playful, but not hyper-active. They are truly dogdom's best kept secret in my opinion.
Can cairns live with other animals? Absolutely. Its a matter of introducing them young. I have raised numerous cairns to live with free roaming chickens and sheep. Many of my cairns live in homes with cats and birds. But understand the prey drive in cairns can be quite high, so early introducion and firmness is important. Remember, the origins of the cairn are as a farm dog.
Cairns do have a strong desire to find and kill rodents, so expect them to try and kill squirrels, rabbits and such if not specifically trained not to.
As a dog breeder I am so happy to live in a time where science allows us to protect our dogs in ways our predecessors could never have dreamed. "Health testing" is something you - when searching for a puppy - should become well informed about.
This website is designed to provide resources in a clear manner permitting you to make informed decisions when purchasing your pup.
Today EVERY ethical breeder provides proof of health testing on any dogs they breed. "Health testing" is not taking a dog to the veterinarian for a checkup. It is specific tests, either DNA or physical such as xrays or specialized testing of body parts such as eyes, heart, patellas or other joints or organs. Results from these tests are recorded with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
DNA testing is very helpful to breeders. A dog can be a "carrier" of a disease while not showing any symptoms. Before DNA testing there was no way to know if a dog was a "carrier" until they were bred - and unfortunately then it was too late. A "carrier" in most cases will be a healthy, unaffected dog, so have no fear of buying one as a pet; but it should not be used for breeding.
Health testing is, sadly, not taken advantage of by far too many "breeders". Why? Often, in the case of so called "backyard breeders" (meaning people who just put two dogs together to produce pups for resale and have no real plan or knowledge of breeding) it is simple ignorance. These folks have never given much thought to producing pups and are often completely unaware of any of the common diseases or the testing which can detect them. Too often even "breeders" who know better, and may be involved in showing their dogs, just don't want to spend the money. Why should they when many puppy buyers don't know enough to ask about the health of the parent dogs? They charge a pretty penny for their pups - but none of that money goes back into the improvement of the breed. A sad betrayal of their dogs! A few know their dogs have or are carriers of specific diseases or conditions and simply don't want it brought to anyone's attention.
I have a very extensive educational section on the health concerns of the cairn terrier. Please familiarize yourself with this material before you purchase a pup. Know what questions to ask a breeder, and how to understand results. Please click the link below:
CAIRN TERRIER HEALTH 101
This website is designed to provide resources in a clear manner permitting you to make informed decisions when purchasing your pup.
Today EVERY ethical breeder provides proof of health testing on any dogs they breed. "Health testing" is not taking a dog to the veterinarian for a checkup. It is specific tests, either DNA or physical such as xrays or specialized testing of body parts such as eyes, heart, patellas or other joints or organs. Results from these tests are recorded with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA).
DNA testing is very helpful to breeders. A dog can be a "carrier" of a disease while not showing any symptoms. Before DNA testing there was no way to know if a dog was a "carrier" until they were bred - and unfortunately then it was too late. A "carrier" in most cases will be a healthy, unaffected dog, so have no fear of buying one as a pet; but it should not be used for breeding.
Health testing is, sadly, not taken advantage of by far too many "breeders". Why? Often, in the case of so called "backyard breeders" (meaning people who just put two dogs together to produce pups for resale and have no real plan or knowledge of breeding) it is simple ignorance. These folks have never given much thought to producing pups and are often completely unaware of any of the common diseases or the testing which can detect them. Too often even "breeders" who know better, and may be involved in showing their dogs, just don't want to spend the money. Why should they when many puppy buyers don't know enough to ask about the health of the parent dogs? They charge a pretty penny for their pups - but none of that money goes back into the improvement of the breed. A sad betrayal of their dogs! A few know their dogs have or are carriers of specific diseases or conditions and simply don't want it brought to anyone's attention.
I have a very extensive educational section on the health concerns of the cairn terrier. Please familiarize yourself with this material before you purchase a pup. Know what questions to ask a breeder, and how to understand results. Please click the link below:
CAIRN TERRIER HEALTH 101