Wheaten cairn terrier.
Photo: Tetsu Yamazaki
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.
Special Alerts
Breed-related health concerns: globoid cell leukodystrophy (an untreatable hereditary disease causing progressive paralysis and death), allergies.
Free Download Now!
