TOTO!
In 1899 Frank Baum wrote The Emerald City, later retitled as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. At the turn of the century, Baum’s stories were adapted into a popular musical on Broadway. Some years later, the movie musical opened in 1939, with a completely new score by Harold Arlen and the 16-year-old Judy Garland starring as Dorothy. Her dog, Toto, was played by a rather scruffy Cairn Terrier. Dorothy, Toto and the cast of the movie are all still dearly beloved characters in this Hollywood classic.
Cairns, as with other terriers, can be a challenge in the obedience ring. Terriers are not easy breeds to work with in obedience as with their intelligence and independent spirit they can sometimes be more trying to train than had been anticipated. You will see Golden Retrievers, Poodles and Border Collies in abundance in obedience classes as these are breeds that are easy to work with. Not only are they intelligent, but more importantly they have a willingness to please their master. The terrier is easily distracted and busy but he is an intelligent dog and he does respond to training. Of course, when training a smart and independent dog, the handler will often learn humility while the dog is learning his sits and stays. The Cairn is a quick, alert and intelligent dog and he likes his owner to be his equal.
WORKING TRIALS FOR TERRIERS
The American Working Terrier Association offers a Certificate of Gameness at sanctioned trials. A dog must enter a 10-foot-long tunnel buried in the ground, which includes one right-angle turn. Once in the tunnel, he must reach his prey in 30 seconds. Working trials are held throughout the country and open to all terriers.
Cairns make great, loving pets, but they should not be allowed to chew on babies’ pacifiers, nor should they lick or kiss the baby, for health reasons.
If you plan to become a Cairn Terrier owner, you should be aware that this is a breed that will require some specialized grooming. Grooming will be more extensive than with a smooth-coated dog but far less detailed work than with either a Scottish or Bedlington Terrier.
HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS
Cairn Terriers are very healthy dogs, as are most terriers. However, there are health problems in most breeds of dogs and the Cairn Terrier is no exception. The potential and new owner should be aware of these problems. Do remember to buy your puppy from a reputable breeder and ask the breeder if any of these health problems are in his line. It pays to ask questions before getting attached to a lovable Cairn baby.
THE CARING CAIRN
Do you want to live longer? If you like to volunteer, it is wonderful if you can take your Cairn to a nursing home once a week for an hour or two. The elder community loves to have a dog to visit with and often your dog will bring a bit of companionship to someone who is either lonely or who may be somewhat detached from the world. You will not only be bringing happiness to someone else but you will also be keeping your little dog busy—and we haven’t even mentioned the fact that they have discovered that volunteering helps to increase your longevity!
CRANIOMANDIBULAR OSTEOPATHY (CMO)
CMO is a fairly rare disease found in Westies, Scotties and Cairns. It is apparently a hereditary disease although the exact pattern of inheritance is not known. There is a calcification of the joint between the lower jaw and the skull along with a multiplication in growth of bone cells. It usually occurs between four to seven months and it must not be confused with a teething problem or with cancer. Puppies who have this disease will have difficulty in opening their mouths. Diagnosis is made by x-ray, and cortisone and homeopathic remedies have been used with good results. This is a very painful disease for the dog.
TAKING CARE
Science is showing that as people take care of their pets, the pets are taking care of their owners. A recent study published in the American Journal of Cardiology, found that having a pet can prolong his owner’s life. Pet owners generally have lower blood pressure, and pets help their owners to relax and keep more physically fit. It was also found that pets help to keep the elderly connected to their communities.
Cairns are extremely healthy dogs, much healthier, as a rule, than most other dogs.
GLOBOID-CELL LEUKODYSTROPHY (KRABBE’S DISEASE)
Krabbe’s disease is inherited as a simple autosomal recessive defect. It is known to be in both the Cairn and the West Highland White Terrier. At about four months of age, the infected dog will show lack of coordination and hind leg stiffness. This is a lethal blood disorder for which there is no cure or treatment available.
CEREBELLAR HYPOPLASIA
This condition is also passed as a recessive gene, though it is quite unusual and is sometimes reported in cats, related to panleukopenia virus before birth. Though no conclusive study is available, the condition has been reported in Cairn Terriers.
OTHER CONCERNS
Additionally, hip dysplasia, the most common of orthopedic problems in dogs, as well as myasthenia gravis, a muscle disorder, inguinal hernias, hemophilia and inhalant allergies have been documented in the breed.
Although these health problems may look daunting, Cairns are considered to be a healthy breed. The problems mentioned are in the breed and a buyer should be aware of them. These diseases are rare and only turn up on the rare occasion. Do not be turned away from the breed but do be aware that if the breeder of your puppy is reputable and aware of these problems, he will be doing his utmost to keep them out of his line.
Williams Haynes wrote in 1925, “The terrier owner is a ‘lucky devil’ for his dogs do not, as a rule, spend a great deal of time in the hospital. All members of the terrier family, from the giant of the race, the Airedale, way down to little Scottie, owe a big debt to Nature for having blessed them with remarkably robust constitutions. Even when really sick, they make wonderfully rapid recoveries.”
While not all Cairns are obedience and agility performers, all Cairns welcome a game of fetch with their favorite chew device. Do not use a small ball that can be accidentally swallowed.
Each breed approved by the American Kennel Club has a standard that provides a mental picture of what the specific breed should look like. All reputable breeders strive to produce animals that will meet the requirements of the standard. Many breeds were developed for a specific purpose, e.g., hunting, retrieving, going to ground, coursing, guarding and herding. The terriers were all bred to go to ground and to pursue vermin. In addition to having dogs that look like proper Cairn Terriers, the standard assures that the Cairn will have the personality, disposition and intelligence that are sought after in the breed.
SCOTCH TERRIERS
The dogs originally known as Scotch terriers include the Cairn, Scottish and Westie. The Scottish Terrier is a heavy-boned, muscular dog whose colors are black, brindle and wheaten. He has a long muzzle and a longer ear compared to the West Highland White or the Cairn Terrier. The Westie is much lighter in weight and bone than the Scottie, he has a shorter, broad muzzle and his ears are smaller than a Scottie’s. His color is white. The Westie is some sturdier than the Cairn, broader in skull and wider in ear carriage. The Cairn has a profuse harsh outer coat with a soft, close undercoat. His coat is shown in a neatened condition rather than in a tailored jacket as are the Scottie and Westie coats.
Standards were originally written by experts who had a love and a concern for the