Cairn Terrier: Breed History and Characteristics

Also called the “Toto dog,” the Cairn terrier has a long history and promising future.

Remember Toto from The Wizard of Oz (1939)?  The part of Toto was played by Terry, a Cairn terrier.  These terriers are large dogs in a small package.  They are full of personality and energy, which needs to be channeled in appropriate directions.  Originally bred to hunt rats, squirrels and other “vermin”, Cairn terriers do not start fights but will finish them, according to ASPCA Complete Guide to Dogs (Chronicle Books; 1999).

Today, Cairn terriers still work on farms and warehouses to kill pests.  They also make excellent watchdogs – far better than a Labrador retriever.  They also are competitive in dog sports like obedience tests, earthdog trials, tracking and agility.  They also work with government agencies to sniff out the buried nests of endangered sea turtles, as described in EcoDogs (Bearpoint Publishing: 2011.)

Brief History

A small, scruffy type of terrier terrorized small rodents in Scotland from the 1500s.  The terrier originated in the Isle of Skye and for a while was called Scotch terriers and then Skye terriers.  The name was not finalized until the early 1900s.  Cairns are large stone piles found not only in Scotland but in Ireland and England.  Sometimes cairns could have tunnels which were home to numerous wild creatures like mice, rats, foxes and badgers.

The Cairn became admired for its hunting skills and its charm.  When the UK shifted from an agrarian to industrial form of life, the compact and useful Cairn went with workers migrating from the countryside to the cities.  The Cairn was probably used in the “sport” of ratting, where rats would be released into a barrel.  The dog that killed the most rats in a set time period was declared the winner.  The Cairn was imported to America by 1907 and by 1913 became an officially recognized breed of the American Kennel Club.  An attempt to make the Cairn terrier the state dog of Kansas faltered in 2012.

General Appearance

The breed standard for the Cairn terrier was established in America in 1938.  Many dogs fall short of the breed standard but still make excellent companions and working dogs.  This is a sturdy little dog that usually is longer than it is tall.  Males are generally larger and heavier than females.  Males average 10 inches at the withers and weigh around 14 pounds while females are usually 9.5 inches and tip the scales at 13 pounds.

The Cairn terrier has naturally pointed ears and a long tail that curves slightly over the back.  The legs are straight and should not bow or be knock-kneed.  The paw pads are thicker than the average dog’s in order to climb about stone or rough terrain in all weathers.  The fur is double-coated with a harsh outer layer and a soft undercoat.  The legs should be coated with this harsh hair.  This fur needs to be trimmed or clipped at least three times a year tokeep from becoming a tangled mess.  Cairn terriers can be any color except white but white patches or pink noses are frowned upon in the show ring.  Cairn terriers are often allergic to flea saliva.

Additional Resources

• Palika, Liz. The Howell Book of Dogs.  Howell Book House; 2007.
• Dogster.com. “The Riveting Real Story of Toto.” June 26, 2011.  
• American Kennel Club. Cairn Terrier Page.  

 Drawing by Pearson Scott Foresman for Wikimedia Commons