Finding Your Cairn Terrier
Once you have decided you want a Cairn, you will need to locate a good breeder. A properly reared and socialized puppy from a conscientious breeder will be worth the effort to find him. The Cairn Terrier Club of Northern California can provide you with a list of member breeders in your area. The breeders on the list will be concerned, caring individuals who want to know as much about you as you want to know about their puppies.
You should have the opportunity to see where your puppy was raised, and, in many cases, several generations of his ancestors. Be sure to spend time with these older dogs before you begin to look at the puppies. Their personality and appearance are good indicators of how the puppies will mature. Adult Cairns should also appear healthy, clean and reasonably well groomed.
When you choose a puppy from a responsible breeder, you will have someone to call on for advice and assistance in all aspects of puppy care and rearing. A good breeder’s commitment to his or her puppies is lifelong, and he or she will welcome your questions, now and for the life of your Cairn.
One of the questions you will be asked by a reputable breeder is whether you wish to show or breed your puppy. A young puppy can have “show potential” but cannot be guaranteed show quality. If you will be unhappy if the puppy does not turn out to be a successful show dog, you should consider an older puppy. Between the ages of 6 and 12 months, a breeder can determine if a puppy will measure up to the Standard.
Most people know they want a “pet”, but may not understand why buying from a puppy mill or pet shop is not a good idea. Many of the qualities which breeders select in their efforts to produce show dogs are essential for pets. A Cairn bred for the show ring will be healthy, friendly, stable in temperament, alert and intelligent. The “pet” puppy whose parents are show dogs has an excellent chance of having his parent’s quality. He may fall short in some small way from being competitive in the ring, but the chances are you would not even know what the fault was if you did not ask. This pet puppy has the same parents, the same prenatal care, the same environment and the same socialization as the one the breeder will later take into the ring. He will be a dog others will admire and one that you can take pride in owning.
When you find a breeder you respect, spend time discussing your family and your lifestyle, and then trust your breeder to pick a puppy for you. The breeder has spent weeks or months with the puppies and knows their personality and temperament. The reputable breeder wants you to have the puppy that best suits you. If you aren’t happy, the breeder knows the puppy won’t be happy either. Reputable breeders will require unwanted puppies be returned to them.
Most breeders do not sell puppies younger than 10 weeks of age, and many will not sell a puppy under 12 weeks, or even older, depending on the new owner’s living arrangements and lifestyle. If your breeder suggests that an older puppy or even a young adult would be better for you, keep an open mind and consider the possibility. People who are away from home for eight hours or more a day are not ideally suited to raising a very young puppy. Breeders sometimes have puppies that are older, such as six, eight, or ten months. These have often been reserved by the breeder as potential show prospects. These older puppies will be housetrained much sooner than a very young puppy. If they have been socialized, they may be the ideal choice for a working family. In some circumstances an adult dog, possibly already housetrained, may be available. Cairns are very adaptable to new circumstances and quickly make themselves part of their new family, enabling those who could not raise a puppy to have the company of a Cairn. Breeders may also have older dogs that have been shown, but will may not be kept for breeding. Selecting a “retired” Champion usually means your potential pet has been trained, socialized, has full health screening, and comes without the need for housetraining.
Hopefully, this information will help you make an informed choice as you select a dog for your family. If your choice is a Cairn Terrier, we welcome you to the wonderful world of Cairns, a fellowship that unites Cairn lovers everywhere. Chances are that this first Cairn Terrier will not be your last. Cairn owners become loyal fanciers and seldom want another breed once they’ve owned a Cairn. Many say the only thing better than owning a Cairn is owning two!
