Читать книгу Cairn Terrier - Robert Jamieson - Страница 6

The Cairn Terrier is a wonderful little dog! He’s cute, is compact in size, has personality-plus and is an active dog. Some terriers, like the Cairn, are “below the knee” in height, but in spite of their size, all terriers are masculine dogs and do not show any sign of timidity or shyness. These are busy dogs, on their toes and ready for action! If you are looking for a sedentary lap dog, this will not be the breed for you.

Have you investigated the responsibilities of owning a Cairn? Or any dog for that matter? The long-haired Dachshund is smaller and usually less active than a Cairn Terrier. Cairns are energetic and always busy.

The Cairn has a very steady disposition and fits in well with family life, whether it be in a large country house or a studio apartment in the city. He gets along well with children and will accept strangers once he has had a chance to look them over. He’s a cocky dog who may not go out and start a fight, but he will surely stand his ground when pushed. This is not a dog who will lie about the house trying to keep his master or mistress happy. He has been bred as a hunter, a dog to go after vermin, and he can be ready to work at the drop of a “rat.”

Common characteristics of all terriers are their desire to work with great enthusiasm and courage. They all have large and powerful teeth for the size of their bodies; they have keen hearing and excellent eyesight. No matter for how many generations they have been bred, the purpose for which the breed was intended will remain with the dog.

The Cairn Terrier is a versatile dog and a great house dog and companion. If you like to work with your dog, you will find the Cairn to be a happy and willing participant in whatever area you choose, be it obedience work, agility, therapy, flyball or, of course, best of all, going-to-ground activities. This is a smart little dog that likes to please, to keep busy and to be challenged. Give him any job that requires a bit of brain activity on his part and he will be a happy camper. Of course, because of his intelligence, it is best to establish very early on who is the head of the household and the very basic obedience lessons are always a good idea. If you are a first-time dog owner, you must be aware of your responsibility toward your new friend. Either keep your dog on a leash or in your fenced yard. Your Cairn, if loose and trotting along your side, will spot a squirrel across a busy street and his instincts will react quickly. Be mindful, for he will dart across the street, never minding the traffic. Therefore, some rudimentary obedience training should be in line so your friend will sit when asked to, come when called and, in general, act like a little gentleman.

You should never buy a dog for his color alone. If all other desirable characteristics about the puppy are the same (size, temperament, breeding, etc.) , then your choice of color is valid.

The Cairn is a smart little dog that likes to please. Because of his intelligence, it is best to establish early on who is the head of the household.

OH, 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.