Cairn Terrier: breed characteristics, content and choice of nickname

The Cairn Terrier is a charming miniature dog that cannot leave anyone indifferent. Once these active creatures took part in the hunt. Today they become cheerful companions and faithful friends of dog breeders. Let's get to know this breed better and find out what are the pros and cons of keeping its representatives.

The Cairn Terrier breed appeared a long time ago. Experts attribute Scottish hunting dogs to its ancestors. In those days, animals took part in the hunt for burrowing game. Foxes and other small wild animals then lived in the mountains, stone heaps. "Kern" just means "stone" in translation.

The dogs did not have a common type, they were united only by hunting skills, agility and speed of movement. However, gradually, 4 main types began to be clearly distinguished among them. One of them was a funny Cairn Terrier. The breed received its official name in 1910. In 1912 she was registered with the Kennel Club. This has contributed to an increase in the popularity and popularity of cores throughout the world.

Although initially the working qualities of this breed were the main ones, their appearance is very charming. The appearance of small shaggy creatures with a friendly look perfectly reflects their restlessness and positive nature. The height at the withers in boys is about 25 cm.Girls reach 23 cm... A deviation within 5 cm is allowed. A big difference is considered a flaw, such individuals are not recognized as purebred. The weight of the cores varies from 6 to 7.5 kg.

Let's consider in more detail the characteristics of the breed according to the standard.

• Head... The skull is small in size, slightly tapering at the muzzle. The hair on the head is thicker and softer to the touch. The eyes are brown, expressive, framed by lush eyebrows. The look is mischievous, curious. The jaws are strong with large teeth.
• The bite is "full scissors". The nose is black, mobile. The ears are small, in the form of regular triangles. The ears are set high to provide the animals with excellent hearing.
• Frame. The physique is harmonious, strong, but not massive. The neck is short and wide. The withers are poorly defined. The back is straight, slightly elongated. The belly is moderately tucked up.
• The tail is short, pubescent, "looks" up. The tail is not docked by the standard.
• Extremities. Legs are strong, of medium length. The front feet are slightly larger than the hind feet. This is due to the fact that earlier such dogs dug holes.

The coat of Cairn Terriers is thick, coarse, slightly tousled. Slight waviness is allowed by the standard. In this case, there is always a short soft undercoat. Since animals do not shed, coarse hairs need to be thinned regularly.

As for the color, it is diverse. Wool of sand, red, light and dark gray shades and their combinations are allowed. Usually the muzzle is highlighted in a darker tone, sometimes the paws. Individuals of completely white and black colors are not recognized as purebred.

Puppies of this breed are very playful. Adults retain fun and enthusiasm in character. At the same time, dogs are very friendly. For them, constant contact with a person is important, they love attention, they strive to take part in any events. Fuzzies get along well with children, but they do not tolerate negligence towards themselves. Therefore, if a small child tries to pull the dog by the tail or causes him discomfort with other actions, it is better not to leave him alone with your pet.

It is important to start socializing an animal from an early age. It is worth introducing him to strangers, taking him on walks to various places. Traveling in transport is also a useful experience. So the pet will grow up balanced, acquire behavior skills in various situations. Despite their small size and funny cute appearance, the cores consider themselves to be the protectors of the house. Excellent flair, keen hearing and scent allow them to sense the approach of strangers in advance. They inform the owners of this with loud barks. True, this is where the protective qualities of pets end.

In general, the representatives of the breed are non-aggressive. Animals are friendly to people. But relationships with other animals in dogs do not always develop. Cores usually find a common language with their own kind, but sometimes conflict situations occur. Surprisingly, brave kids can stand up for themselves, they never run from a fight. But cats, hamsters, ferrets and other small animals are considered by dogs as prey. Due to this you should not have such pets if you already have a small hunter. Also, do not let the dog off the leash when walking in busy places.

Cairn Terriers make great companions. They are loyal, affectionate. The activity and playfulness of animals can be attributed to their merits.

• At first, even at a mature age, dogs retain good mobility, which has a positive effect on their health.
• Secondly, such a pet is able to cheer up anyone.He will constantly call the owner in search of adventures, he will be happy to accompany him on hikes and any trips.

On the other hand, this can also be regarded as a disadvantage. The dog requires attention to his person, he needs to be walked for a long time every day, entertained, deal with him. If you leave your pet alone for a long time, he will get bored and start bullying.

Gnawed things, damaged furniture - this is not the whole list of harm that a little mischievous person can cause. The breed's curiosity does not allow its representatives to sit still. Animals are interested in everything, but such behavior may seem intrusive and too fussy to someone. If you are a calm person who prefers a quiet rest, it is better to choose a dog of a different breed.

It is important to remember that representatives of this breed treat people better than other animals. Therefore, if you still want to keep a cat or another dog at home at the same time as such a dog, you need to introduce the pets from the very appearance of the core in the house. Only in this way can you form a patient attitude towards another four-legged inhabitant of the house in the dog. As for guinea pigs and other rodents, it's best not to risk it at all.

Judging by the feedback from the owners, Cairn Terriers are quite smart and trainable. However, even obedient animals love to dig holes, this happens at the level of instincts. This point should be taken into account if you are going to keep your pet in a country house and let it go for a walk in the garden. Finally, the advantages of the breed include the compactness of animals. They eat a little, take up little space in the house.

However, this does not diminish some of the complexity of dog grooming. The fact is that the pet needs regular trimming, moreover, this procedure is mandatory, even if you are not going to take part in exhibitions. On the other side, you can seek help from professionals who can do it quickly and efficiently.

Cairn Terriers can be classified as centenarians. Dogs usually live for about 15 years. The animals are in good health. However, don't forget about timely vaccination. It is also advisable to regularly take the dog for preventive examinations at the veterinary clinic. With the timely detection of some deviations, it is much easier to cure the animal.

Representatives of this breed are very mobile. Therefore, they need to be taken outside as often as possible. Surely the best place for such an energetic pet will become a country house with a fenced spacious area. But even in a city apartment, the doggie will feel quite comfortable if you often walk it for a long time, engage in games and jogging. In case of living in a separate house keeping a dog in a kennel on the street is not allowed.

In the local area, she will be happy to frolic and run during the day, but a cozy place to sleep should be equipped in a warm room. In addition, it is important not to forget about your pet's sociability. Do not leave him alone for a long time. Pet grooming is essential. Many people think that this is the name of a professional pet grooming, but this concept is broader. It includes a whole range of dog care procedures.

Cores do not smell and do not shed... The breed is considered to be hypoallergenic. However, the pet's lack of the ability to get rid of excess hair naturally leads to the need to help him with this. Trimming is a process that replaces the shedding of a dog.... Thanks to him, the wool is renewed. Extra dead hairs are easily removed (plucked out). Subsequently, they are replaced with new ones.

Haircut cannot replace this process. Little of, you cannot cut cores. After shortening with scissors, the coat becomes thinner and weaker. The healthy shine is lost, the protection of the dog's body from cold and wind disappears. The hairs begin to roll off, an unpleasant odor appears. This not only causes inconvenience to the animal itself and looks ugly, but also complicates the future trimming process.

It is possible to shorten the hair only in the area of ​​the tail and on the toes of the forepaws. The rest of the "fur coat" is not touched with scissors. Then plucking is easy and painless. The one who neglects this rule and tries to save money by completely cutting the dog between rare visits to the master complicates the situation. The procedure for plucking short cut hair is long, difficult for the master and painful for the animal.

If you are not going to take part in such events, you can learn the trimming technique and perform the procedure yourself. The circuit is pretty simple.

• To find out if it is time to carry out the procedure, you need to assess the condition of the dog's coat. You should grab a large bundle of hairs with your fingers and pull gently. If the wool remains in your hand, then the time has come.
• First of all, you should carefully comb the terrier with a special brush, and then with a comb. You need to start trimming from the ears. They should be clearly visible. The outer side should result in a velvet-like feel. On the inside, not all hairs are removed.

During the procedure, you should hold the ear with your thumb and forefinger. You need to pluck the hairs with your hand.

• Then go to the head. Parting should be done between the ears. So it will be immediately visible where the new wool is growing. In show specimens, 40% of long hairs are removed.
• As for the eyebrows, they pluck out most of the hair that falls over the eyes. But at the same time, a little wool is left for protection. In general, trimming is carried out so that a rounded head is obtained. The transition from the ear to the cheeks should be smooth.
• The neck is tidied up, and then the rest of the pet's body. The appearance of the dog should be neat but natural.

You need to feed the core 2 times a day. Representatives of the breed are not too picky about food. The main thing is that food should be moderately high in calories and healthy. The diet must include raw lean meat. Oatmeal is also good for dogs. Good sources of vitamins are vegetables and fruits. It is also necessary to give your pet fish oil, brewer's yeast. You can opt for industrial dry feed.

The choice should be based on the age of the animal and the composition of the product. Look for premium and super premium brands with a minimum of extraneous additives.

Pay attention to the protein content (it should be high). If possible, it is better to feed your pet with food from the same company throughout its life. It's best not to change your diet without good reason. Regardless of the type of feeding, the dog should always have access to drinking water. You cannot pour tap water into a bowl unless you live in an ecologically clean area. The liquid must be spring or filtered.

Cairn Terriers are pretty smart. They can and should be brought up, instilling in them the rules of behavior, developing hunting instincts (if necessary), teaching simple commands. Training should be consistent and regular. The socialization of the animal is very important. Otherwise, he can become uncontrollable, harm things, show aggression towards other animals.

Therefore, it is important from childhood to keep your pet busy with fun games, show him your love, introduce him to other living creatures, avoiding conflicts. Curiosity and good memory allow terriers to learn commands well. Given the emotional susceptibility of dogs, they should be taught calmly, without loud shouts and punishments. It is important to show firmness and patience, be sure to praise for success. The program needs to be gradually made more complex. The pet must develop not only physically, but also mentally.

Nicknames for dogs are usually short and easy to pronounce. You can name your pet based on the color of its coat or the associations that it evokes in you. Or you can just come up with an interesting nickname that seems pleasant and suitable to you. For example, kern girls have cute nicknames like Fifi, Pinky, Bonya, Trixie, Becky, Jesse, Zhuzha, Carrie, Foxy, Sherri etc. The boy may be called one of the following names: Lucky, Larry, Archie, Jerry, Jean, Oscar, Chris, Peach, Ricci, Fox, Freddie.

For information on how to properly raise a Cairn Terrier, see the next video.