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Years in the past I had the nice fortune to puppy sit down for a chum who had a number of canine, one among whom was once a Cairn terrier. Duffy was once an older canine after I met her, however nonetheless an lovely, feisty wee factor, certain of herself and the epitome of a scruffy little terrier. She was once the smallest canine of the 3 canine my buddy had and she or he utterly charmed me, an avowed “big dog” individual.
I’ve cherished the breed ever since and continuously say a Cairn shall be my canine for my Golden Girls years when I am getting too outdated or infirm to deal with a formidable massive breed. And I would possibly get one faster than that! Here are 8 information about cairn terriers that breed lovers know by way of middle.
A well-known film superstar canine
Cairn terrier lovers know that Toto, from the long-lasting film The Wizard of Oz, was once just about the quintessential Cairn: feisty and impressive, good and decided (as just a terrier will also be!). Who can fail to remember Toto trotting jauntily along side Dorothy and her 3 partners alongside the yellow brick street, or pulling again the curtain for the large divulge of the sham “Wizard”?
Photo by way of Jp Valery on Unsplash
Toto was once a woman!
In actual existence Toto was once a ‘she’ and her title was once Terry. Furthermore, the most productive recognized Cairn terrier of all time was once necessarily a rescue canine. Her unique homeowners, not able to housebreak their cussed pet, introduced her to a instructor, Carl Spitz, and mainly deserted her there.
Mr. Spitz skilled Terry and this secondhand canine went directly to turn into a canine who went down in historical past, whole together with her personal memorial on the Hollywood Forever Cemetery (her title was once in the end modified to Toto, in honor of her well-known position).
Cairns bark with a burr (every other Scottish breed)
Cairn terriers, like any of the well known terrier breeds, originated in Scotland. Once a part of the collective referred to as “Scotch terriers,” it wasn’t till the 1800s that fanciers started to refine the more than a few varieties into unique breeds.
This introduced us such notable breeds because the West Highland White terrier, the Skye terrier (Cairns are now and again known as short-haired Skye terriers in ancient accounts of the breed), and naturally the Scottish terrier.
Named for the rock piles the place they hunted
An outdated Scottish phrase, a cairn is a mound of stones piled up both as a memorial, to mark assets strains, or as a path/trail marker. On Highland sport preserves, rodents have been recognized to are living underneath those rock cairns. Small and plucky, Cairn terriers have been fearless of their digging across the cairns to get on the rodents below them.
Cairn terriers have been a breed discovered within the western Highlands of Scotland as early because the 1600s, however the title Cairn terrier wasn’t authentic till the past due 1800s.
Wee however mighty
Tenacious is a phrase that turns out love it may have been coined in particular for the terrier temperament. Although some of the smaller of the 30-plus AKC-recognized terrier breeds, Cairns are not any exception to that description of unwavering choice.
They’re sufficiently small to suit with ease for your lap (even supposing they aren’t vulnerable to spend a lot time there), and sport and durable sufficient to proceed their conventional paintings of searching rodent pests—together with squirrels for your backyard!
Energetic and easygoing
Cairns are thought to be proper within the center vary for terrier task: much less intense and no longer as scrappy as probably the most different terrier breeds, however nonetheless possessed of sturdy instincts to chase and assault small fleeing creatures. Your cats are most likely protected, however puppy hamsters or gerbils shall be in danger. Keeping them on a leash when out strolling is most secure for them and the group squirrels alike.
Digging comes with the territory
It is, in any case, a part of their title. According to Merriam Webster, “Terrier is derived from the Middle English terryer, terrer, from Anglo-French (chen) terrer, actually, earth canine, from terre earth, from Latin terra.”
If you will have moles, your Cairn will handle them. But after he’s achieved, you could want you simply had moles.
Small however no longer little
Cairns are about 11-12 inches tall and weigh from 14-16 kilos. They have entrance paws which are higher than their rear paws, a bonus when digging within the pursuit of rodents. They’re additionally recognized to have massive tooth for a canine in their dimension. Mostly, despite the fact that, they’ve a large character and the terrier self assurance that endears them to their other folks.
Or, as one British breed membership places describes the Cairn terrier: they’re “the best little pal in the world.”

