Cairn Terrier

The Cairn Terrier is a small, shaggy Scottish working terrier — the breed Toto was, and one of the oldest terrier types in the Highlands.

History

It was worked in the Scottish Highlands and on Skye to bolt foxes and vermin from the cairns — the stone piles that give the breed its name — and it shares ancestry with the Scottish and West Highland White Terriers, which were separated out from the same stock.

Temperament

The breed is known for being hardy, curious and cheerful, a busy small dog with plenty of terrier self-belief and a strong instinct to dig and chase.

Care and training

It needs moderate exercise and a secure garden, since a terrier that finds a scent will excavate towards it. The harsh double coat should be hand-stripped rather than clipped to keep its texture, and needs regular brushing.

Health

Known tendencies include patellar luxation, inherited eye conditions and, in some lines, a metabolic disorder breeders test for. These are patterns for the breed rather than a forecast for one dog; the measured facts are in the panel.