Are Cairn Terriers Good Family Dogs? 9 Pros and Cons

You may acknowledge Cairn Terriers from The Wizard of Oz. Toto was a Cairn Terrier! These dogs are bred to be similar to Toto was – reliable and spirited.

Whether you’re fascinated by them out of nostalgia or just as a result of their adorableness, it’s essential to see all sides of a canine breed earlier than deciding to undertake one. Cairn Terriers are recognized for his or her adaptability and playfulness, however they can be a bit a lot for some house owners.

Here are some execs and cons you need to take into accout with these terriers:

1. Sturdy Yet Small

Cairn Terriers are fairly small. They weigh round 13 to 14 kilos, in keeping with the AKC. Therefore, they’re adaptable to residence residing (if their train want is met) and are simple to deal with bodily. You don’t want to fret about one among these dogs pulling you round on a leash.

Despite this, they’re additionally fairly sturdy. They aren’t the fragile toy dogs that the majority smaller breeds are. You can belief them to carry their very own in most circumstances.

2. Rugged, Natural Appearance

These canines don’t look dainty or superfluous like many different smaller breeds. They require minimal grooming and don’t want skilled haircuts. They appear to be a rugged, well-weathered canine.

Many folks like this extra pure look. It’s a rarer discover today, with lots of the fancier breeds rising in popularity.

3. Moderate Exercise Needs

Cairn terriers will not be going to put round all day. They aren’t lapdogs. However, they don’t want almost as a lot train as some extra hyperactive dogs. About 15 to twenty minutes of brisk walking twice a day is loads to maintain them joyful, particularly if you happen to interspace their walks with playtime!

These canines do profit from a fenced-in yard. However, they don’t completely have to have it. If you train them sufficient (which isn’t laborious for an lively individual), then they will adapt to residence residing.

4. Great Watchdogs

These terriers are very alert – similar to different terriers. While they aren’t large enough to protect something, they may provide you with a warning to any strangers outdoors of your home. You received’t have to fret about anybody sneaking up on you with a Cairn Terrier in the home.

Of course, these dogs profit from socialization and coaching to assist them solely alert when crucial. Otherwise, they could bark a bit an excessive amount of, which wouldn’t be notably useful.

A canine that alerts to all the pieces isn’t an excellent watchdog.

5. Fiesta Temperament

These dogs are sometimes described as gratifying to personal, and so they typically are for the proper individual. However, they’re a bit a lot. They could be very feisty, full of life, and protracted. Terriers are susceptible to chasing almost all the pieces and have a tendency to bark rather a lot. They’re a variety of canine shoved right into a small physique. It’s essential to know what you’re stepping into earlier than you undertake one among these dogs.

Luckily, Cairn terriers will not be as high-strung as others. Overall, this breed tends to fall someplace within the center. However, individual temperaments can fluctuate extensively, so be ready for a really “much” canine.

6. Potential Hyperactivity

Yes, these dogs solely want reasonable train, however they nonetheless want train. Cairn terriers could also be small, however they aren’t appropriate for households which are extra laidback. If you don’t wish to spend round an hour exercising along with your canine every day, you shouldn’t get a Cairn terrier.

These dogs additionally want loads of psychological train. Without it, they will develop into bored and harmful. (If you allow these dogs alone for half-hour with out something to do, they may discover one thing to do.)

7. Dog-on-Dog Aggression

Many Cairn terriers get alongside simply high-quality with dogs when correctly socialized. However, these dogs are very feisty and received’t again down from a problem. If one other canine will get of their house, they may allow them to know, and this conduct can inevitably result in fights. They are typically slightly scrappy.

Socialization might help with this, but it surely’s nonetheless essential to know your canine’s innate temperament. Due to their smaller measurement, leaving them alone with a bigger canine is usually not really useful.

8. Running and Running Some More

Cairn terriers have an innate intuition to chase. If they see one thing operating, they may chase after it – and preserve going. For this cause, they have to be saved in an enclosed house or on a leash. You merely can’t belief them to return when known as if their eyes are already on one thing else.

They could be fairly distractible dogs because of this, as effectively. Even in the event that they see one thing operating outdoors the fence, they’re susceptible to leaving a coaching session to “chase” it. Don’t anticipate them to take heed to your instructions when there’s something fast-paced round.

9. Independent

Like most terriers, Cairn terriers are very unbiased, which makes them difficult to coach. You should begin obedience coaching at an early age and keep on with it. Otherwise, they will shortly develop into unruly and self-important. Cairn terriers typically suppose they’re the middle of the world, and coaching is important to forestall bossiness.

Of course, even with correct coaching, these dogs won’t ever be as obedient as a Labrador Retriever or the same breed. It simply isn’t attainable.

The picture featured on the prime of this put up is © studio-laska/iStock through Getty Images