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When you look at a Cairn Terrier, you see an adorable dog with soft eyes, small in stature and huge in personality. This leads many would-be pet owners to believe that this little breed would make a delightful home pet. In many circumstances, those people would be right. However, as anyone who already owns a Cairn Terrier knows, they are not very good lap dogs and should not be expected to be a quiet companion. Cairns were originally bred as hunting companions and ratters and because of this they have extremely high energy levels! Their cute appearance and docility at the puppy stage can often be deceptive and lead to the purchase or adoption of a pet that the new owner cannot handle.

If you are considering adopting or purchasing a Cairn Terrier puppy, or if you have already done so, it is imperative that you enroll your new dog in an obedience training course. Cairn Terriers are a reactionary, hyperactive, and high-energy breed. Having been bred to eliminate vermin or game animals, they are easily excited by other animals, especially when they can be considered prey. An untrained Cairn Terrier will live true to its instincts, barking and chasing any creature running in its field of vision, or even any piece of trash blown away by the wind. Obedience training courses, in addition to helping you learn to handle your overly active Cairn Terrier, can provide valuable and much-needed socialization with people and other dogs.

Cairn Terriers are notoriously stubborn and extremely intelligent. This can lead to a very complicated relationship if proper training is not pursued! Your Cairn Terrier will go out of his way to get what he wants and may sometimes misbehave just for the sake of trying to get his way. This does not necessarily have to be a challenge; As an intelligent and excitable breed, the Cairn Terrier is constantly in need of new forms of stimulation and activity.

Participating in frequent physical activity with your Cairn, in addition to the typical obedience training sessions and tricks that are mandatory for this (and any other) servant, is a good step towards keeping him happy and healthy, and staying sane! A tired Cairn Terrier is a well-behaved Cairn Terrier. A strenuous game of fetch or catch in the backyard can do wonders to keep your puppy calm indoors. If you play outside regularly enough, your cairn will eventually learn that outdoors equals playtime and indoors means quiet time.

When playing in the yard, you may notice that your cairn wants to dig, climb, or try any possible route to escape. This is not because they are unhappy, it is simply within their instincts. These little terriers are phenomenal diggers and escape artists. It is important to put obstacles to your escape in the place that you think is possible. Cement at the bottom of fences is often necessary for this breed to keep them from digging and escaping, but most of all, never, never, never leave your Cairn Terrier unattended outdoors. They are smart little dogs and will find their way out, and may never find their way back!

Choosing a leash for your Cairn is another important decision when owning one of these terriers. Although they are small and quarrelsome dogs and appear to be able to withstand the impact of a cannonball, they can actually be quite fragile. Choke collars are a general no-no for this breed; They often forget that they are tied down and charge whatever they want to chase. Small dogs like the Cairn Terrier have fragile throats and too much force from a collar could lead to tracheal collapse. Of course, the best way to curb this behavior is with extensive leash training. Teaching your Cairn Terrier to follow commands while on a leash is imperative for a happy walking environment.

Cairns can be wonderful pets, but these dogs are not designed for the inactive lifestyle! If you love to run and play and have plenty of time and patience for your new dog, a Cairn Terrier might be the perfect pet for you.

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