Cairn Terrier

One of the oldest breeds of terrier is the Cairn terrier. The breed originates from the Scottish Highlands, and is one of the first examples of a working dog. The breed has spread from its humble origins in Scotland to areas throughout the world. It is easy to find Cairn terrier puppies for sale at reasonable prices.

The name of the breed resulted from a compromise when the breed was first brought to the shows in the United Kingdom. When the breed was first introduced, the suggested name was the Short Haired Sky Terrier. This resulted in a conflict with the owners of Skye Terriers, though similar to the cairn terrier puppies for sale, the name Cairn Terrier was suggested as a compromise to avoid confusion.

Though the animals are known as working dogs, their main claim to fame is their abilities at hunting rodents. The dogs will search through Cairns for rats and other vermin. Cairns is a large pile of rocks that are found throughout Scotland and Ireland. These rock formations are used as landmarks. Rats, mice, and other rodents will nest in these rocks piles, and the Cairn terrier puppies for sale will hunt the critters. If one were to have a Cairn terrier as a household pet, the dog would accomplish the same tasks as a cat.

Some of the noteworthy characteristics of the terrier breed are the abundance of a shaggy outer coat, with a soft and downy undercoat. The average litter for Cairn terrier puppies for sale is between six and ten puppies. The male and females weigh between fourteen and eighteen pounds, and they stand between ten and thirteen inches tall. The prospective mouser and family pet can live between twelve and fifteen years. The breed has a high degree of intelligence, and is typically an adventurous companion. Though training can be difficult, they are possible to train if the process is begun as a puppy.

One of the few negative aspects of the breed is that they need to be hand groomed. If one were to utilize a pair of scissors or electric clippers the dog’s coat can be ruined. The dead hairs need to be pulled out by hand, allowing the new hairs to grow in naturally. Fortunately, plucking the dead hairs does not cause the dog physical discomfort.