Some Thoughts on Adopting a Cairn Terrier
by Medha Isaacs, Best Friends Network
Who can forget the intrepid Toto, Dorothy’s feisty companion who bravely stood up to the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz? Toto was actually a female Cairn named Terry. She was an established trouper who had co-starred with the likes of Spencer Tracy and Shirley Temple in 6 films prior to her cameo appearance in the Wizard.
Almost 2 dozen Cairns were among the 175 dogs and puppies that Best Friends Animal Society recently rescued from a commercial breeder in Virginia. These dogs are getting ready for their new lives in homes where they’ll get to be the exuberant and clever companions they were meant to be.
Snuffles (pictured at top) was one of these dogs. She’s no more than a few years old and she’s already given birth to numerous puppies. Snuffles was headed for a life sentence of non-stop breeding in a crate she would live and die in. She came in to the shelter with a heavy chain collar and metal tag stamped No.106. Kelli Ohrtman, our Best Friends Puppy Mills Campaign Specialist wrote from Pets Alive, “Today I put a pretty blue collar with little snowflakes on Snuffles. I wrote her name--Snuffles on it. She deserves a pretty collar after wearing that chain!”
Snuffles is thrilled with her newly expanded life. She loves going for walks and finding out more about the world than she’s ever known, munching on leaves and cuddling into people’s shoulders just for the joy of snuggling. She’s also beginning to find out what it means to be a terrier and how much fun that can be!
Cairns are one of the oldest breeds of terriers originating in the Scottish Highlands They were named for the stone piles (called cairns) they burrowed under when hunting for the rats they were bred to control.
In addition to being a great defense against witches, these little charmers are extremely intelligent and exceptionally easy to train. Training isn’t an option for Cairns: it’s a necessity! Because they are a working breed, they need a job and a sense of purpose to be the best dogs they can be. A bored and untrained Cairn is at risk for digging to China through your backyard and barking your neighbors into a state of breakdown. Training not only makes them great film stars but also gives these terriers appropriate channels to express their loyalty, strength and fearlessness.
It’s frequently mentioned in the literature about Cairns that they make great family pets and are wonderful with children. This may be a somewhat antiquated description from the times when families lived on farms on the Scottish moors and these terriers were busy with "vermin" control and running the fields behind chore-occupied children.
If your family and your children like exercise and athletics, Cairns will be a good match for your active lifestyle. If you or your children would enjoy computer games more than taking your Cairn through agility training, you might want to reconsider your breed choice. It’s not that you can’t turn on the TV and kick back if you have a Cairn: just park your dog on the couch next to you and brush that wiry coat out while you watch! Cairns have double coats of hair and they need regular brushing to maintain their deceptively unkempt appearance. These dogs can weigh between 7 to 24 lbs. and come in shades of grey, sand, black or red. If they are white, they’re a West Highland Terrier, not a Cairn.
Cairns are for people who are looking for dogs that are as smart as they are – maybe even a little smarter! They are born with the impression that they are in charge of the world and will need to learn that you really mean what you say - every time you say it! If you are a potential Cairn companion there are a few other things to consider about these terriers:
These dogs have a highly developed sense of justice: they don’t respond well if they feel they are being over disciplined. Reward based positive reinforcement training is the key to their hearts.
Don’t ever imagine that you can trust your Cairn off leash – if they see something that requires chasing or investigation, no amount of calling, shouting or cajoling will get them back!
If small animals who love to run are already part of your family, it’s not wise to invite in a Cairn. These dogs have a high prey and chase drive that is hazardous to the health of your smaller pets.
Cairns are also escape artists, so fences need to be higher than what you might think is necessary for a dog their size. It may also be necessary to sink fencing below ground level and to secure your gates with intricate terrier proof locks.
If you are considering getting a Cairn, a great way to find one who would be a good match for you, your family and your lifestyle is by checking out a breed rescue. These groups take in dogs from people who can no longer care for them for reasons like a death in the family or a personal illness. Legitimate breed rescues strive to provide great animals and direct people away from puppy mills, pet shops, and irresponsible breeders like the one Snuffles was liberated from.
Because these rescues are small, they frequently foster their animals. As a result they have detailed information on the characteristics of the dogs like how they are in a home, what their activity level is and how they get along with other pets. They make sure the dogs are ready for adoption and can let you know their great traits as well as the areas they may need to improve in. By adopting from breed rescues, you also help these organizations save and care for other dogs in need through your paid adoption fee.
To search for an adoptable Cairn,
please visit Petfinder.com.To find out more about breed specific rescues please visit the Best Friends Network blog.You can also learn more about breed rescues by going to the site of the
New York Breed Rescue Alliance which is a sub-coalition of the Mayor’s Alliance for New York City Animals.
HOW YOU CAN HELPREAD MORE about the puppy mill rescue.
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