Cairn Terrier

The Cairn is a loyal and affectionate dog, and due to these attributes makes an amiable companion to people of all ages (with the exception of very young children). The dog also enjoys being the centre of attention, but his feelings are easily hurt by scolding or mistreatment.

A playful dog is the Cairn Terrier and one that enjoys interaction with people. As long as the Cairn is the centre of attention and being fussed over by his clan he is happy. An opportunity to show off is never missed, but this is not a ‘silly’ dog.

Although calmer and more mild-mannered than most terriers, the Cairn still possesses a great deal of tenacity and excitability. It does not shy away from fighting other dogs when the need arises, which can become troublesome when picking a fight with a much bigger dog.

The Cairn is a highly intelligent breed but the dog must be stimulated and interacted with in order to develop this intelligence. Cairns want to please their owners and will be very upset if they think they have misunderstood a command.

Its heritage as a hunter of foxes, badgers and rats is hard to ignore. The Cairn enjoys chasing any small and scurrying animal, which unfortunately includes cats (see later). It is advisable to walk a Cairn only by the lead and not to let it have a free roam unless you are sure there is nothing in the vicinity that will pique its interest.

Adult Cairn Terriers may be friendly or reserved with strangers. They are always alert and quick to announce guests. They are quick to determine whether visitors are friends or foes.

The Cairn is quite independent but exhibits more of a stubborn streak. Like most terriers Cairns do not shy away from being the Top Dog. Early obedience training and socialization are essential measures to stem the dominance of the dog.

The Cairn Terrier is happiest when at home with his pack. He thrives on attention and feels unhappy if he is left alone for even a short period of time. In such cases the Cairn is quick to feel bored and will exhibit destructive behaviour and excessive vocalisation.

The Cairn’s stubbornness makes training an important part of his assimilation into the home. A Cairn that is not trained in a consistent and confident manner becomes bossy and over-confident. To train a Cairn properly yields excellent results: with some reinforcement of lessons the dog can be incredibly obedient.

Barking is reported to be a problem for many owners of Cairns and their neighbours! The Cairn bark is shrill and accompanies anything the dog may find interesting. All sorts of things can trigger an extended bout of Cairn barking: cars passing the living room window, people walking along the pavement, loud noises and bright lights.

The Cairn is not to be trusted off a lead. The feistiness of the terrier is not easily dampened especially when the dog is outside and amid the scents of Nature. Training and confident (not harsh) discipline can instil some sense of obedience, but even the best-trained Cairns cannot be recalled if they are on the ‘hunt’.