Kern Terrier

The lively and spirited breed of the Kern Terrier, also referred to as the Kerry Terrier, has a rich history. This sturdy, little Irish dog was originally bred for herding and hunting. It is an adaptable companion, whether you’re looking for an active partner for outdoor adventures or a lively friend to keep you company at home, thanks to its sturdy build and energetic nature.

The wiry coat and expressive eyes of the Kern Terrier give it a unique appearance. This breed is renowned for its independence and intelligence, which are both charming and difficult qualities. Despite their occasional stubbornness, their love and loyalty make them a valued part of many families.

We’ll look at what makes the Kern Terrier a special and endearing pet in this article. You’ll discover why this breed might be the ideal addition to your house, from their lively personalities to their particular care requirements.

Breed	Kern Terrier
Origin	Scotland
Size	Small
Weight	13-15 pounds
Height	10-12 inches
Coat	Rough, wiry
Color	Various including black, gray, and tan
Temperament	Friendly, energetic, and loyal
Exercise Needs	Moderate
Life Expectancy	12-15 years

General characteristics of the Kern-Terrier breed

This breed of terrier gets its name from the Celtic word "core," which means "stone." This dog could find prey beneath any stone and moved between the rocks with skill. That’s why he got that nickname.

Despite their ability to eradicate rodents without the need for specialized training, they are no longer employed by hunters as hunting dogs because they prefer to chase cats and proteins. However, they are typically made as a companion. These dogs are content to go on walks, bike rides, and other adventures with their owner. You can take a car or go on foot with them. They enjoy swimming, going on nature walks, and chasing balls. They pick up tricks quickly and are competitive in dog sports.

Parameters	Characteristic
The name of the breed	Cairn Terrier (eng. cairn terrier)
country	Scotland
breed group according to the FCI classification	terriers, small terriers section
application	hunting dog, companion
appearance features	triangular erect ears, hard, tousled coat,
colors	wheaten, red, brindle, gray, black and gray
life expectancy	13-15 years
height	28-31 cm
weight	6-9 kg
aggression	low
activity	high
intelligence	smart, but difficult to train
attitude towards people	friendly, loyal, affectionate, loves children
care	coat needs trimming, almost does not shed
health	good

Pros

Due to their small size, Cairn Terriers get along well in even the smallest apartments. They are intelligent, trainable, obedient, and capable of picking up new skills. Anyone can laugh at their peculiar appearance, which includes a tousled coat and humorous antics. There are a few more benefits for these dogs:

• active, cheerful, playful;
• inquisitive, smart;
• have a friendly, peaceful character;
• sociable, loyal;
• unpretentious, easily tolerates any weather conditions;
• friendly, peace-loving;
• love children, are patient with them;
• have good health, live a long time;
• pronounced hunting and guard instincts;
• coat does not smell, does not shed, does not require cutting;
• suitable for allergy sufferers.

Cons

Not everyone is a good fit for the Cairn Terrier breed. These dogs require long walks and a lot of physical activity despite their small size. They cannot live alone and need their owner’s undivided attention. Homebodies, the elderly, or those who travel frequently shouldn’t start it. There are a few more drawbacks to these terriers that may cause issues:

• difficult to care for the coat – it needs regular trimming;
• quarrelsome, come into conflict with other dogs;
• emotional, touchy, jealous;
• can be stubborn and independent;
• noisy, bark a lot;
• because of the hunting instinct they chase cats, birds, dig up the ground.

The breed’s characteristics are enhanced by the video:

Video: Cairn Terrier, my pet

Cairn Terrier in video. Advantages and disadvantages

History of the origin of the Cairn Terrier breed

For a very long time, Scottish farmers have employed small terriers with hard, tousled hair to hunt foxes, rabbits, badgers, otters, and to keep rodents away from their crops and fields. There was no focus on outside characteristics during the impulsive breeding process. Even though these dogs differed in size, color, and hair length, they were all initially referred to as Scottish terriers.

Classification of Scottish terriers started at the end of the 1800s. They recognized one group, which consisted of West Highland white terriers, Skye terriers, and Scotch terriers. Although they were initially referred to as short-haired Skye Terriers, cairns were also included in this group. Their fur length was the only thing separating them. Captain McLeod bred them with the intention of producing dogs that were more robust, resilient, and fruitful.

These dogs weren’t recognized as a distinct breed until the early 1900s, when they were given the name Cairn Terriers. The name suggested that they would have little trouble driving game out from under rocks and hunting in rocky areas. They were initially crossed with terriers that looked similar. There aren’t many differences between West Highland White Terriers, Norwich Terriers, and Skye Terriers. The latter breed was crossed with cairns to produce a white coat.

The English Kennel Club changed the standard in 1923 and did away with the white color. It was forbidden to interbreed. The new breed started to spread in European nations in 1928 and eventually made its way to America. These dogs gained popularity fast because of their amiable disposition, lack of pretense, and working abilities. They served as friends, took part in athletic events, and had movie roles. In the well-known fairy tale "The Wizard of Oz," the most well-known Cairn Terrier portrayed the dog Totoshka. It wasn’t until the late 20th century that the breed arrived in Russia.

Cairn Terrier Breed Standard

The Cairn Terrier is a tiny, shaggy dog with fur that bristles and peculiar whiskers. It is built robustly and compactly. Regardless of gender, the average height and weight at the withers are 28–31 cm and 6–9 kg, respectively.

Head

Its head is small in relation to its body. thick hair that sticks out and creates a beard, a mustache, and shaggy eyebrows. The short, conical muzzle appears wide due to the hair that protrudes from it. There is a groove that divides the convex forehead. The nose bridge is straight, and the stop is precisely defined. The medium-sized earlobe is unavoidably black. Strong jaws, big teeth, and a scissor-like bite characterize this bite.

The eyes are dark, round, and widely set. The eyebrows are nearly invisible due to their shaggy hair, and the muzzle’s expression appears irate. The ears are erect, small, and positioned high. They have pointed tips and a triangular form.

Body

The neck is medium in length, muscular, and distinctly shows the withers. The body has a rectangular shape and is robust and compact. The loin is broad and convex, and the back is straight. The chest has plenty of room. The medium-length tail is set high. The dog does not toss it over its back; instead, it carries it elevated.

Limbs

The limbs are straight, powerful, and muscular. They look small in relation to the body. shoulders slanted. The hocks are low and the hips are large. The toes have thick pads, the paws are rounded, and the front paws are bigger than the back ones. The hind legs push strongly during the fluid movements.

Coat and color

It is a hard, double coat. The topcoat is bristling, straight, and medium in length. The muzzle is longer, and the legs and tail have feathering. The undercoat is soft, short, and fits tightly. Such a coat offers defense against the elements, wind, and branch damage.

Cairn Terriers can have a variety of colors. The following options are permitted by the standard:

• wheaten;
• red;
• cream;
• gray;
• ash black;
• brindle.

It is preferable for the color to be uneven. Typically, the muzzle, ears, and limbs have darker hair; the body may also bear brindle markings. White and pure black Cairn terriers, as well as black and tan ones, are not eligible.

The description of the appearance is enhanced by photos:

Differences with the Norwich Terrier

The looks of these two breeds are essentially identical. Nonetheless, the Norwich Terrier weighs roughly 5 kg and is shorter in stature. It appears squat because of its short legs. The Norwich, in contrast to the Cairn, has short, pointed ears and a robust, compact build. There are fewer colors available: only wheaten, red, black, and tan are permitted under the standard, no brindle. The stiffer coat of the Norwich differs from the Cairn Terrier in another way, but it still fits close to the body and does not protrude.

Characteristics of the Cairn Terrier

Typical terrier representatives are cairns. They are gregarious, lively, and restless. They find it hard to stay still; they must always be doing something or learning something new. These dogs are gregarious, happy, and enjoy playing tricks on others. They adore it when people notice and compliment them. As a result, this dog will make an effort to please his owner and demonstrate his abilities. He has a deep and abiding bond with every member of his family. They experience severe loneliness, which can lead to uncontrollable depression.

A look at this breed’s representatives reveals the following qualities:

• goodwill;
• cheerfulness;
• curiosity;
• ingenuity;
• communicability;
• resentment;
• stubbornness;
• persistence;
• fearlessness;
• initiative;
• independence;
• loyalty.

The Cairn Terrier of today is not bred for hunting. However, these dogs are still proficient hunters. They will readily eradicate the rats on the property and enjoy chasing cats and birds as well as digging up the ground to find food. They only tolerate other pets if they have lived close by since they were young. They do not get along well with other pets. Despite their lack of aggression, Cairns regard all animals as either rivals or potential food sources. They frequently clash with big dogs despite their lack of fear.

People are not aggressively treated by cairns. They behave well, show affection, and obey their owner and other family members. They enjoy playing with children because they love them. However, they won’t go into nannying. Furthermore, the Kernels are proprietors and will not have toys, a bed, or food trespassed upon. Although it will never bite a child, this dog’s growl can frighten them. Members of the breed tend to be suspicious of outsiders and will constantly bark to alert their owners. As a result, even though they are not aggressive at all, they can make excellent watchdogs.

Education and training of a Cairn Terrier

Cairn Terriers are intelligent and quick-witted dogs, but they are also a hard breed to train. An inexperienced owner might run into issues. It’s important to determine the best way to interact with the dog and to consider its unique character and behavior. Cynologists offer a number of suggestions for training virtuous pets.

• You can’t shout at or pressure this dog, they are very touchy. If a Cairn is offended, it will become stubborn and disobedient.
• These dogs often behave differently depending on the situation. Therefore, it is important that all family members maintain the same requirements and do not give the pet indulgences. Although many Cairns in the absence of the owner often do what is prohibited.
• Education must begin at an early age. From the first days of the puppy’s appearance in the house, it is important to accustom it to the rules of behavior, teach it basic commands.
• Training should be regular, consistent. You need to show persistence, firmness, but without rudeness.

• When starting to train a puppy, it is better to use the command “yes” rather than “no”. Cairns perceive prohibitions negatively, approval and praise are more important to them. This will make it easier for the dog to learn the rules of behavior.
• Training should be built in the form of a game. It is important to maintain the pet"s interest so that it does not get distracted. You need to let the dog win, win the game.
• Cairns often look for eye contact with the owner, understand intonation and even mood. They can be taught to respond to gestures.

It is a Cairn that will submit to you if you establish authority over it and raise it properly. It picks up new commands with ease and enjoys doing so. It only asks for love and care in return, and it will make an effort to please its devoted owner.

Because they are modest, cairn terriers can live contentedly in a private home or an apartment in the city. The most important things are to exercise and provide enough attention for the dog. You must set up a cozy space for the pet inside the home. A closed home is preferable because Cairns enjoy hiding, especially toys and bones. Even as an adult dog, a dog should have an abundance of toys. She won’t be overly bored by herself then.

In the event that the Cairn resides in a private residence with a plot, you must consider the behavioral characteristics. These terriers are obsessed with digging holes. It is easy for the dog to dig beneath the fence and escape. He has an innate desire to dig; you shouldn’t chastise him for it. It is preferable to set aside an area where the pet can dig quietly.

Any way to care for an adult Cairn Terrier requires two daily walks lasting one to two hours. It’s crucial to allow the dog to run around while out for a walk. Play active games, let your pet chase after a ball or a stick, search for hidden objects, and teach him agility skills. This dog may run away, so it is best to only take it off the leash if it comes to you instantly and obeys without question. It is advised to walk the pet outside and take him to dog parks several times a week.

Grooming

The Cairn Terrier needs extra attention because of its hard coat. It needs to be brushed even though it doesn’t shed. Frequently, the undercoat sheds and tangles are created. It needs to be combed with a hard brush several times a week as a result. The tangles can be cut, but it is preferable to untangle them.

The topcoat needs to be plucked because it does not fall out naturally. Cairn Terriers require frequent trimming. Three to four times a year, dogs who do not compete in exhibitions receive enough trimming. Every two weeks, show participants have a specific technique used to pluck their hair. Regular trips to a grooming salon are advised, as the pet will receive expert preparation for the show there.

Cutting a wire-haired dog’s hair is not advised. As a result, the coat’s structure is altered, becoming softer. However, Cairns are occasionally still trimmed. Show people have their muzzle, limbs, and belly hair trimmed to create a more attractive silhouette. A hygienic haircut is another option; this involves shaving off hair from the muzzle, under the tail, and on the paws. It will be simpler to keep everything clean as a result.

Giving the dog frequent baths is not advised. The Cairn Terrier’s coat can clean itself and doesn’t release any smells. As a result, bathing even show dogs is limited to once every two to three months. For breeds with wire hair, a specific shampoo is required.

Other than that, Cairn Terrier care is straightforward. Among the standard procedures for grooming are:

• clean the ears once a week, you can use a special veterinary lotion or chlorhexidine;
• examine the eyes every day, if necessary, remove discharge with a soft cloth soaked in boiled water;
• brush teeth 2-3 times a week with veterinary paste;
• wash paws after walks, lubricate the pads with oil or cream in winter;
• trim the claws as they grow;
• treat for external and internal parasites every 3 months.

Nutrition

These dogs appear to be ravenous all the time and love to eat. As such, it’s critical to manage portion sizes and resist giving in to your pet’s beseeching gaze. If not, the Kern will put on weight rapidly. It can be moved to two meals a day as early as six months of age.

You can give dry food or natural food to your pet. In the second scenario, where the norm is simpler to ascertain, the packages typically offer suggestions for the quantity. However, you must only select foods from the super-premium or holistic classes, ideally those with low carbohydrate contents. Allergens and artificial additives should not be present. Wet food, such as pates or canned food, can be added to dry food, but it’s best to get both from the same source.

Since natural food is less expensive than dry food, many breeders advise feeding it instead. It just needs to be properly put together. It ought to contain:

• 40% lean meat, offal;
• 30% porridge – rice, buckwheat, oatmeal;
• 20% fermented milk products;
• 10% vegetables and fruits.

Mineral and vitamin complexes should also be added to the food. Greens, fish oil, vegetable oil, and bone meal are beneficial. Food from your table, including fatty and spicy dishes, baked goods, sausages, and sweets, is not permitted.

Health

These terriers are immune system strong, well-maintained, and nearly free of genetic diseases. The average lifespan is between 13 and 15 years. A well-fed and well-cared-for dog can expect to live for 16 to 18 years. There aren’t many specific diseases that affect members of this breed. These include:

• Perthes disease;
• blood clotting disorder;
• predisposition to luxation of the patella;
• obesity;
• allergy;
• dermatitis;
• cataract, glaucoma.

The energetic and perceptive breed known as the Kern Terrier is prized for its compact stature, enormous personality, and unwavering work ethic. This dog, which was originally bred to hunt in the difficult landscape of Wales, is not only spirited and persistent but also a devoted and loving friend. The spirited nature and unique appearance of the Kern Terrier make it a great option for families looking for a playful, loyal pet that enjoys interaction and activity.

How to buy a Cairn Terrier puppy

It is best to get in touch with a nursery that breeds this specific breed in order to purchase a puppy. This ensures that the dog has papers, is purebred, and is free of genetic illnesses. Puppies of the Cairn Terrier are priced starting at forty thousand rubles in Moscow. The cost of an exhibition winner’s progeny starts at sixty thousand rubles.

When selecting a puppy, it’s important to consider factors other than animal care guidelines, such as getting to know the mother and observing the babies’ behavior. Puppies are sold when they are between two and three months old; at this point, not all breed traits have emerged. The coat’s true color doesn’t show until three to four months after the ears are allowed to hang down. However, the infant ought to be content, outgoing, and healthy. This is demonstrated by your activity, curiosity, and assured walk. Its coat should be free of dandruff, its eyes should be clear and discharge-free, and there shouldn’t be any bad smell.

The picture depicts the puppies’ appearance:

The breed’s description is enhanced by the video:

Cairn Terrier in video. Price, selection criteria, facts, history, care, and pros and cons

The delightful breed of the Kern Terrier is renowned for its loving disposition and energetic personality. It is a sturdy, small dog that is suitable for a variety of living environments, including country homes and urban apartments. They are excellent companions for both individuals and families because of their lively and playful nature.

Kern Terriers are intelligent, devoted dogs who are considered to be real family members. Their trainable nature allows them to learn and adjust to a variety of activities and commands. They thrive on regular interaction and exercise. Living with a Kern Terrier is always interesting and enjoyable because of this breed’s amiable nature and strong sense of adventure.

Selecting a Kern Terrier is adopting a dog breed that provides happiness, companionship, and a dash of energetic energy. They are a great option for anyone looking for a loyal and active canine companion because of their charming traits and loving disposition.

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