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You first must decide if any of
the Terrier breeds are the right breed for you.
If you want a dog who...
Is small, yet sturdy and tough -- not a delicate lapdog
Has a natural appearance
Needs only moderate exercise
Makes a keen watchdog
Doesn't shed too much
Co-exists with other pets more willingly than some other terriers
A Cairn Terrier may
be right for you.
If you DO NOT want to deal
with...
The dynamic terrier temperament (see full description
below)
Providing enough exercise and activities to keep them busy
Aggression toward other animals -- chasing instincts
Stubbornness
Digging holes
Barking
Regular brushing, stripping or clipping of the wiry coat
A Cairn Terrier may
NOT be right for you.
Major
concerns would be:
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The dynamic terrier temperament.
Most terrier breeds are remarkably similar. The same words are used over
and over -- quick to bark, quick to chase, lively, bossy, feisty,
scrappy, clever, independent, stubborn, persistent, impulsive, intense. |
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Providing enough exercise and mental
stimulation. Cairn Terriers are active go-getters and HIGHLY
intelligent. They MUST have regular opportunities to vent their energy
and to use their busy minds to do interesting things.
Check out all the fun activities
you can do with your Cairn. |
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Animal aggression. Cairn Terriers
are less scrappy toward strange dogs than many other terrier breeds, but
they are still a determined force to reckon with if they decide to
initiate or accept a challenge to fight. Most terriers have strong
instincts to chase and seize small fleeing creatures. This can make for
conflict if you own a cat. It may be much worse than that if you own a
pet rabbit or hamster! |
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Cairns CANNOT
be trusted off-leash. They will take off after anything that runs
-- oblivious to your
frantic shouts and calling. |
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Fence security. Many terriers are
clever escape artists who will go over or under fences in search of
adventure. You may need higher fences than you might imagine for their
small size. You may also need to sink wire into the ground along the
fence line to thwart digging. Gates should have the highest quality
locks. |
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Barking. Terriers are often too
quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be
equally quick to stop them. If you work all day and have close
neighbors, terriers are not the best choice for you. For the same
reason, terriers should NEVER be left outside in your yard,
unsupervised. To make matters worse, some terriers have high-pitched
barks that can set your teeth on edge. |
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Mind of their own. Cairn Terriers
are not Golden Retrievers. Though they are more amenable to training
than some other terriers, they must still be taught at an early age that
they are not the rulers of the world. The toughness that makes them
suited to killing vermin can frustrate you when you try to teach them
anything. Terriers can be stubborn and dominant (they want to be the
boss) and will make you prove that you can make them do things. You must
show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say. |
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Defensive reactions. If you need to
physically chastise a terrier, and you go beyond what THEY believe is a
fair correction, terriers (as a group) are more likely than other breeds
to growl or snap. It may be because they were bred to become more fierce
when their prey fought back, i.e. terriers are apt to "return pain" if
they "receive pain." Obedience instructors, should always be extra
careful when putting hands on any terrier for a correction. |
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Grooming. To keep their wiry coat
free of mats, Cairn Terriers require regular brushing, and also clipping
and trimming every few months.
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So, after reading the above,
are you ready to start looking for that special Cairn?
Even if all you want is a pet,
please follow the advice given and buy only from a reputable breed or
through Cairn Rescue.
Finding a Reputable Breeder
Finding a Rescue |
November 27, 2008