Skoningards Cairn Terriers - origin and history of the cairn terrier

origin and history

The cairn-terriers originally come from the scottish westcoast and the islands near the coast, the hebrides. At first they were called short coated skye terriers after one of the islands. But also in niedersachsen they feel quite well.

The first notes about "short-legged", rough-haired terriers are older than 500 years. They had to decimate rats and mice and in a pack they were used to hunt small animals from rabbits to badgers. They followed them below the ground, which is the reason for the term "terrier" (from lat. -terra- earth, ground).

hunt with pack
historical painting

Since the 16. century it is handed down, that these terriers were breeded by various clans in different shapes. Although the ability to work always was the most important quality, some breeders preferred dark-brindled dogs and others the red or wheaten coloured ones. But all the animals basically had to have excellent teeth, a good visual field, sharp ears and the rough coat with a warming soft hair underneath.

Cairns on the hunt
detail from a painting by G. Armfield

These dogs surely were the ancestors of all the four scottish terrier breeds, cairn, scottish, skye and west highland white terriers. But the cairn probably has kept the most of the appearance of this ancient type of dog.
How close the relationship is even nowadays, shows the fact, that cairn breeders up to the 1920s were allowed to use west highland white terriers in their breed.

Cairns in different colours
historical photography

Up to the end of the 19. century named as shortcoated skye terriers, in 1910 they got the name cairn terrier as an official distinction to the skyes.
In 1912 the cairns were officially accepted as an own breed and from 1928 on they were also breeded in germany.

appearance and character

The cairn is a rough-haired, double-coated terrier. Underneath the harsh outer hair they wear another thick, soft and warming coat.
Every colour is allowed, from grey to red and wheaten, brindled or not. Not allowed are pure white or black.
A dark mask on mouth, nose an ears is typical but not necessary.

The shoulder-height is about 30 cm and the weight should be 7,5 kg.

Their well-balanced and even physique with a straight and firm back, lissom forelegs and strong hind legs with a lot of power make them to be excellent runners.

The charactre of the cairn is cheerful, always frendly and vivid. They are attentive, eager to learn, sometimes a bit independent. Rather calm in the house they are curious and fearless in the outside.
As they are dependent on their pack, they absolutely love their humans.
Cairn terriers certainly can reach an age of 15 and are usually fit up to the old age.