Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier is the oldest of the Scottish terriers, taking its name from the piles of stones on the Isle of Skye and the western Highlands in which it hunted otter and fox…
About the Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier is the oldest of the Scottish terriers, taking its name from the piles of stones on the Isle of Skye and the western Highlands in which it hunted otter and fox. It is a small, shaggy, unexaggerated dog that has changed less than most breeds in a century of showing, and Toto in the film of The Wizard of Oz was one.
Cairns stand about 28 to 31 cm and weigh around 6 to 7.5 kg, with a harsh, weatherproof double coat in any colour except white, often brindled and often darkening with age. The breed is plucky, affectionate and quick to dig; a stud with a sound, friendly temperament and a correct harsh coat is the priority, because soft coats have crept into some lines.
The Cairn has a DNA test for globoid cell leukodystrophy, a fatal nervous-system disease of puppies, and a stud owner should have used it. Ask about a current eye certificate, since ocular melanosis and cataract appear in the breed, and about patella examination and Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease. Portosystemic liver shunt also occurs, and a question about it in the line is a fair one.
Health & breeding
We check every hip, elbow, eye and DNA result you give us against the Royal Kennel Club’s public records by hand, and we record who checked it and when. The Royal Kennel Club’s public records may not include all the screening a dog has had, so a dog with no Royal Kennel Club record showing is not necessarily untested.
Breed Right’s summary — under The Royal Kennel Club Health Standard
Health tests for the Cairn Terrier
This panel is Breed Right’s summary of the testing that matters for the breed under The Royal Kennel Club Health Standard. The Health Standard is the Royal Kennel Club’s guidance for breeders, not a registration rule. It describes tests to ask about — it is not a report on any individual dog. The Royal Kennel Club’s public records may not include all the screening a dog has had, so a dog with no Royal Kennel Club record showing is not necessarily untested.
Best Practice — further tests it recommends
Completing these as well as the Good Practice tests is what the Royal Kennel Club calls Best Practice.
| Test | Type | Scheme | What’s involved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eye testing (BVA/KC/ISDS) | Screening scheme | BVA/KC/ISDS | Result printed on the eye certificate. |
At stud now
Cairn Terrier stud dogs
No Cairn Terrier studs are listed right now
When a Cairn Terrier on the Royal Kennel Club Breed Register is listed at stud, it will appear here.
Also available
Cairn Terrier litters
No Cairn Terrier litters are listed right now
Litters appear here as breeders list them. Check back soon, or browse other breeds.
