The Cairn Terrier is often referred to as “scrappy”, and if you’ve ever owned one, you sure know why! These are energetic and tough little dogs that are sure to have you running for your money if you let them. Even for terriers, they are very athletic, hyperactive, and stubborn. Nine times out of ten, your Cairn Terrier will tire you out long before you are ready to finish.
Cairn Terriers are an adorable breed and are often mistaken by those looking for a new pet for potential lap dogs. The Cairn Terrier will not and cannot be happy like a sedentary puppy. This breed needs a lot, a lot of exercise, and will constantly behave if not stimulated properly. A tired Cairn Terrier is a happy Cairn Terrier – if your dog isn’t getting enough physical activity in his day, he will no doubt resort to chewing, digging, or any other destructive behavior.
The Cairn Terrier is also a small Houdini dog. This breed is known for escaping from the most complex situations. For this reason, you should take extra steps to “protect against terriers” in your garden and home. They are excellent diggers and will find a way to get under your fence and run away, that is, if they can’t figure out how to get past it! Pouring cement at the base of a fence or gate is the easiest and most effective way to curb this behavior, but even that is not foolproof. It is very important that you never leave your Cairn Terrier unattended outdoors, even for just a moment.
The Cairn Terrier, being a very intelligent breed, is also very stubborn. Because of this, it is imperative that one enroll their dog in obedience training courses at a very young age. The benefit of using a course compared to home training is twofold: it provides a regulated resource for learning new tricks and curbing negative behavior, and it also provides invaluable socialization with other people and animals. If your children are old enough, they should also accompany you to obedience classes to learn how to properly handle and care for your family’s new pet.
While Cairn Terriers are generally very happy and friendly, they are not recommended as pets for extremely young children. Cairns may not know how to act or respond to a baby or infant, and active children from a young age are often too aggressive or rude for such a small dog. Regardless of age, your children should be taught how to handle their new dog on a leash or around the home gently. Cairn Terriers, although robust and playful, can be quite fragile in certain settings. A strong pull on the collar can cause a complete tracheal collapse, which will of course kill the dog.
It is important to work with your children so that they understand the needs and weaknesses of owning a Cairn Terrier, which is why the breed is recommended primarily for families with older children who are capable of understanding this. The Cairn Terrier will make a loving and entertaining family pet, provided he is treated with the care he deserves!