Scruffy small dogs, Cairn Terriers will easily earn a place in your heart and at your side. Which is good, because these cheerful, energetic dogs do best with plenty of close contact with their favourite humans. Whatever adventure you’re planning - a walk, a tramp, an outdoor play session - they’re right there, raring to go. Sure, they might look like a lapdog but this is one active, alert dog that wants to be busy, constantly. Happy to do some rough-and-tumble with the kids, a Cairn Terrier might deign to hop into your lap at the end of a long working day for a quick cuddle but don’t expect them to stay there too long when there’s adventure to be had.
Cairn Terrier Facts
Since starring as Toto in the Wizard of Oz, Cairn Terriers are pretty famous dogs. Not only are they big-screen worthy thanks to their adorable scruffiness, but these friendly, small dogs are always up for adventure.
- Breed Group: Terrier
- Height: Female: 24cm, Male: 25cm
- Weight: Female: 6kg, Male: 6.5kg
- Life Span: 13-15 years
- Coat: Wiry, double, medium
- Colour: Various including black, cream, grey and red
What Does a Cairn Terrier Look Like?
Originally bred for outdoors work in the Scottish Highlands, digging out rats and other vermin, Cairn Terriers have a thick double coat. The outer coat is harsh and wiry, but it’s soft and furry underneath. This gives them an adorably scruffy appearance, helped by their shaggy eyebrows. Cairns’ coats come in a variety of colours, including black, cream, grey, red and brindle (subtle tiger-like stripes).
Although Cairn Terriers used to be lumped together with other Terriers under the ‘Scotch Terrier’ name, Cairns have unique qualities. Not only that shaggy double coat, but a short, wide head and a quick moving, short-legged strong body. With their head, tail and pointed ears always up and their lively hazel eyes, Cairns look like the intelligent, alert dogs that they are.
Cairn Terrier
Cairn Terrier Temperament: Busy Bee
Forget what you think you know about small dogs: the Cairn Terrier will prove to you that regardless of their small size, they’ve got big personalities and big energy levels. A lapdog this isn’t. However, after a long day adventuring by your side, Cairns are happy to snuggle down in preparation for tomorrow’s excitement.
Cairns are happy, friendly, busy dogs who easily make friends wherever they go, both two and four legged ones. Small they might be but these scrappy dogs love rough-and-tumble play which makes them popular at the dog park and with families. Cairn Terriers are great with kids and will happily spend afternoons romping with them in the garden.
As a working terrier breed, Cairns have a deep instinct to sniff out rats and other vermin. Not only will their nose be constantly twitching (Cairns are always on!), but they’ll want to chase and dig too. Keep outdoor playtime and off-leash time to secure, fully fenced areas. You might want to consider giving them their own sandpit filled with hidden toys to keep your flower beds safe from their enthusiastic digging.
Cairn Terriers are always up for an adventure with you. Whether it’s a game of fetch or a tug of war or a neighbourhood stroll or a bush tramp, they’ll do it all. Cairns need to stay busy. Without enough attention and a regular outlet for their energy, they’ll quickly become bored. And a bored Cairn Terrier is a noisy Cairn Terrier - very noisy. Known for being barkers, regular training and adequate daily mental and physical stimulation will help nip excessive barking in the bud.
Keeping Cairn Terriers Healthy: 4 Issues to Watch Out For
As working Terriers, Cairns are generally healthy dogs. Although they’re at risk of some genetic conditions, responsible breeders will provide certification to show that parent dogs have been screened for these health issues.
Joint Problems
Like most dogs, Cairn Terriers are at risk of luxating patella which causes the kneecap to move out of its normal position. A Cairn with luxating patella will have difficulty moving and possibly pain. You might notice them ‘skipping’ as they avoid putting weight on the affected leg. It can be treated with weight management, physical therapy and surgery.
Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is when the thyroid gland is underactive. This results in the dog’s metabolism slowing down, affecting basically every organ in the body. Symptoms include weight gain, lethargy and not wanting to exercise and dry, dull hair with lots of shedding. Hypothyroidism is treated with daily medication.
Diabetes
Diabetes shows up in dogs similar to how it shows up in humans. A Cairn Terrier with diabetes will be really thirsty and pee a lot. They might lose weight, even though their appetite has increased. Although it can’t be cured, it can be managed with insulin to keep their blood sugar level stable.
Genetic Conditions
Cairn Terriers are at risk of multiple genetic conditions, including Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy (GCL or Krabbe disease), Portosystemic Vascular Anomaly (PSVA) and Microvascular Dysplasia (MVD), and kidney aplasia / dysplasia.
Krabbe disease damages your dog’s neurological function and is sadly always fatal. PSVA and MVD affect your dog’s liver, causing it to not work properly. They can be treated with medication or surgery. Kidney aplasia / dysplasia is the abnormal development of one or both kidneys and there’s a range of ways to manage them, including medication, supplements and diet changes.
For all these conditions, screening breeding dogs is the only way to prevent them.
Caring for Your Cairn Terrier Dog
Cairn Terriers need a bit of everything regularly: grooming, training and exercise. But they’ll thrive getting to spend all that quality time with you and you’ll be rewarded with a content, loyal companion.
Grooming
Cairn Terriers don’t shed much so brushing and combing their double coats can be a weekly job. A soft slicker or pin brush can help get rid of any dead hair while a comb or rake will gently detangle any mats. Because their coat is weather-resistant (bred for the Scottish Highlands remember?), it’s important that you don’t bathe them too often. It can strip the natural oils from their coat, leading to skin problems. A bath every 3 months will help keep them smelling sweet.
Cairn Terriers also need to be handstripped every 4 to 6 months. This involves removing the dead hair by hand to help promote new growth. You can do this yourself or get a professional groomer to do it. Handstripping will ensure their coat remains healthy and glossy and just the right amount of scruffy.
As a small dog with a small mouth, which leads to overcrowded teeth, Cairns are at risk of tartar and plaque build-up. Starting from when they’re a puppy, brush their teeth daily. Dental chews can also help slough off any tartar. A yearly deep teeth clean by their vet will keep their smile healthy.
Finally, every 4 to 8 weeks, give their nails a clip or a grind.
Nutrition
Cairns will do well on quality commercial dog food that’s suitable for their life stage (puppy, adult or senior). Because they’re prone to dental problems, it’s important that they eat dry food (kibble / biscuits) daily. This can help remove plaque and tartar build-up from their teeth. Alternatively, you can opt for a dry kibble specifically formulated for dental care like the Royal Canin Mini Dental Care Dry Dog Food.
With training a daily fixture with a Cairn Terrier, keep an eye on those training treats. Small dogs like Cairns are prone to obesity and even a little bit of excess weight can increase their risk of health problems. If you are worried about their weight, consult your vet for next steps. They may recommend changing their diet to something like the Royal Canin Mini Light Weight Care Dry Dog Food help manage their weight.
Exercise
Cairns are less about the long daily hikes (although they’ll happily come with you if you’re going) and more about regular bursts of speed. Cairn Terriers have a need for speed which you can meet with 20 to 30 minutes of fast-paced activity every day. Think garden play sessions - fetch and tug-of-war are Cairn favourites - or a trip to the local fully fenced off-leash dog area where they can really stretch their legs.
Training Your Cairn Terrier
Bred to work alone as a hunter, Cairn Terriers are independent dogs that don’t expect to look to humans for direction or instruction. In fact, they’re perfectly content doing their own thing and have the stubborn streak to prove it.
Luckily, Cairns are very smart dogs and love their humans so they learn quickly and want to please you. But without consistent training, they’ll try to push your limits with the aim of becoming top dog and you don’t want a Cairn Terrier that thinks they’re in charge.
Start training them from when they’re a puppy. Positive reinforcement works well for Cairns. Early socialisation is important too so they can meet other people and pups. A younger, more energetic Cairn terrier can handle 1 long training session a day. But as they get older, several shorter training sessions (5-10 minutes) throughout the day works best.
It’s important to know that even with regular, consistent training, some instincts may remain, especially their instinct to dig and chase small furry animals.