The origin of the Cairn Terrier

While it is a highly adored and popular breed in the United States, most Americans do not know where Cairn Terriers come from. The first clue is in your name. A “cairn” is a mound of rocks or stones, usually stacked in a cone shape, that were used as landmarks or monuments in the Scottish Highlands, from where the Cairn Terrier originates. Cairn Terriers were initially bred to hunt and eliminate prey, vermin, or game animals that hid in burrows under these cairns.

The Scottish highland origin of the Cairn Terrier has a lot to do with the appearance, temperament, and abilities of the dog. The Cairn Terrier was developed for a very specific purpose. Their fur, for example, has a thick undercoat for warmth and a relatively waterproof topcoat. This balance helps the terrier survive through the variable and often severe weather and temperature patterns found in the Scottish Highlands.

The size of the cairn is another factor that has been intentionally introduced into the dog. Scottish Highland farmers needed a dog small enough to follow vermin and other pests into burrows, aggressive enough to deal with prey, and stubborn enough to finish the job regardless of the fight. that the game animal might present. Cairn Terriers excel in all of these areas due to the careful and selective breeding that went into the development of the breed.

The Cairn breed achieved much of its popularity due to its usefulness in the Scottish Highlands. In addition to being able to eradicate pests that destroyed crops or killed valuable livestock, the Cairn Terrier stranded even brought home small game animals that were fit for food.

Cairns were bred from the same breed of terrier that produced other familiar Scottish breeds, such as the similar-looking West Highland White Terrier and the infamous Scottish Terrier or “Scottie.” At the turn of the century, all of these dogs were grouped together, but after just over a decade, the American Kennel Club and the Kennel Club of Great Britain recognized the Cairn Terrier as their own breed with specific standards.

The American Kennel Club standards for the Cairn Terrier were last modified and solidified in the late 1930s. The AKC sets a minimum weight of fourteen pounds for males and thirteen pounds for females, although a healthy weight that is not shown can range from twelve to eighteen pounds. The height of the Cairn Terrier is equally specific by AKC standards (with a shoulder height of nine inches for females and ten inches for males), but a shoulder height of between eight and thirteen inches is acceptable according to the health standards that are not displayed. With this breed’s hyperactivity and love of food, there can be extreme variations in weight in any direction that are unhealthy. It’s best to monitor your Cairn Terrier’s weight closely and make sure to exercise him more if he’s getting a little porky or feed him a little more if he looks lean!

Although the Cairn Terrier is rarely used for its original purpose as a hunting dog today, its instincts and origin shine through clearly in their small, exuberant personalities.

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