Cairn terrier

With the Skye Terrier, it is the oldest known Scottish terrier: small terrier dogs are mentioned as early as the 12th century. It probably comes from a cross between native terriers of the western Highlands and primitive basset-type dogs (Swedish Valhund), brought by the Vikings in the 9th century. Indeed, the Cairn is a fairly primitive type of dog, strongly reminiscent of the European Spitz (Loulou). It seems to have first spread in the western Highlands before arriving a few centuries later in the Hebrides, particularly the island of Skye where the purest subjects were found, thanks to island isolation. Until the 19th century, the Cairn remained exclusively a working dog intended to kill all sorts of pests, particularly foxes, badgers and otters. Dogs had to be capable of killing alone an opponent larger than themselves at age 6 months or they would be sacrificed. This ability as well as small size were the only selection criteria. The Cairn was subjected to strong natural selection which gave it a thick and waterproof coat and a remarkable degree of cold resistance. Indeed, dogs had to sleep outside, exposed to snowstorms, and were not fed by their owners. The Cairn nearly never gained recognition from cynological bodies who considered this utilitarian dog with a shaggy coat as a common mongrel. But thanks to the hard work of some enthusiasts, it became the 5th and last Scottish Terrier to be recognized in 1912. From then on, it was increasingly appreciated as a companion dog. Today, with more than 1,500 births annually, the Cairn is the most popular Scottish Terrier in France after the West Highland White Terrier or Westie. It is moreover the ancestor of the latter.

The Cairn is a dog renowned for its intelligence, but also sometimes difficult to handle for the inexperienced owner, because it is very sure of itself. Its training must be consistent without brutality but without laxity. Being the one of the five Scottish terrier breeds that has remained closest to the original type, it has strongly retained its terrier character and very developed hunting instincts. Even if introduced to other animals during its socialization period, it often presents a very strong predatory instinct toward other animals, particularly rodents, ferrets, rabbits, cats, small birds and poultry, and it is likely to kill them. It is a dog of a curious nature and interested in everything. It is very sure of itself and rarely shows fear. It is a particularly intolerant dog with its peers, and fights can sometimes be violent, particularly between intact males. It should be known that the Cairn Terrier is a small dog that loves to explore and therefore tends to escape if your garden is not well fenced and if its needs are not respected. It is an intelligent and resourceful dog, which can quickly impose its will on an overly lax owner. It is recommended for the owner to be firm without brutality, and to set boundaries not to cross. Of an affectionate temperament, seeking cuddles, very playful, lively and tireless, it is a good playmate for teenagers and children old enough to know how to respect an animal. It is however not recommended with babies and young children, because like most terriers, it is not particularly patient, and its exuberant displays of affection can easily knock over a little one. The Cairn Terrier is by nature fundamentally friendly, affectionate and trusting toward all humans, strangers included, so it is not a good watchdog. It is sometimes used for fur-bearing game hunting with much success, as it is a very enduring, tenacious and combative dog with its prey. It is a breed for which activities such as terrier hunting, scourging, agility, digging, tracking or dog scootering are suitable, because although the Cairn Terrier does not have a great propensity for obedience, it is the most athletic of the Scottish terriers. It is also capable of learning small tricks with great ease, using treats as rewards. It has an imperative need to spend its energy daily, and a life without regular outings that do not allow the dog to let off steam outdoors for several hours a day is not recommended, at the risk of getting a possibly destructive or aggressive animal from frustration.

The Cairn Terrier measures between 28 and 31 cm at the withers (that is, at the top of the shoulder). Its weight is theoretically 6.3 kg, but in reality it can range from 7.5 to 12 kg. Its build is compact; it is a short-legged animal but not a basset. The head, of lupoid type, is small; the muzzle is fairly short and pointed, the ears are small, triangular and well erect. The body and limbs are very muscular, showing good working ability. The tail is naturally fairly short and carried high. The coat is the most important point: it is fairly long (6-7 cm), hard, very abundant and dense. It also has a layer of very soft, woolly and waterproof undercoat. The coat must be well straight and shaggy. Color: cream, wheat, red, gray or almost black. The brindle of all these colors is admitted. Pure black, white, black and tan are not admitted. Dark extremities such as ears and muzzle are very typical. Throughout the 20th century, the Cairn Terrier underwent relatively few changes in its morphology, compared to other dog breeds. The main ones, more or less present depending on the lines, were an increase in height at the withers up to 5 cm, a slightly more compact head with a slightly shorter jaw and a more marked stop, a longer neck, a shorter back, a slightly shorter tail, slightly longer legs and a less compact build, and longer hair and more visible grooming.

The Cairn does not require very extensive grooming. To be presentable, it must be stripped but this should not be visible. It should also never be clipped, at the risk of having soft hair appear that does not conform to the standard. It should never look like a Westie, and must maintain a certain hair length that conforms to the standard. However, the fact of being stripped often causes irreversible skin irritations. So this trend is not recommended nowadays if you do not do shows. At the risk of damaging the coat, it is preferable to brush it only every 8 to 10 days. It is recommended to use a card and an iron comb. A Cairn should never be 'laid flat' like the Westie, that is, the topcoat completely stripped, with only the undercoat left, because regrowth would look like that of the Westie and the coat would become very hard and wavy. A Cairn is only stripped when new regrowth appears, dead hair clumps unattractively. It is preferable to use the thumb and forefinger, pulling in the direction of the hair, rather than a stripping knife. Proceed in small tufts, pull in the direction of the hair, and with the other hand hold the skin to avoid hurting the dog. The hair removed is dead hair that is easily eliminated this way. It is not recommended to bathe the Cairn too often, but dogs living in urban agglomerations suffering from pollution can be bathed from time to time, using special shampoo for hard-coated dogs.