Editing Cairn Terrier

{{Short description|Scottish dog breed}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox dog breed
| name           = Cairn Terrier
| image          = Cairn-Terrier-Garten1.jpg
| image_alt      = 
| image_caption  = 
| image2         = 
| image_alt2     = 
| image_caption2 = 
| altname        = 
| stock          = 
| country        = Scotland
| distribution   = 
| height         = {{right|{{convert|28|-|31|cm|0|abbr=on}}{{r|fci2|kc}}}}
| maleheight     = 
| femaleheight   = 
| weight         = {{right|{{convert|6|-|7.5|kg|0|abbr=on}}{{r|fci2|kc}}}}
| maleweight     = 
| femaleweight   = 
| coat           = abundant shaggy outer coat, soft downy undercoat 
| colour         = cream, deep red, brindle, light grey, apricot or black
| litter_size    = 
| kc_name        = [[The Kennel Club]]
| kc_std         = https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breed-standards/terrier/cairn-terrier/
| fcistd         = http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/004g03-en.pdf
| notrecognised  = 
| extinct        = 
| note           = 
}}

The '''Cairn Terrier''' is a [[terrier]] breed originating in the [[Scottish Highlands]] and recognised as one of Scotland's earliest [[working dog]]s.

The name "Cairn Terrier" was a compromise suggestion when the breed was brought to official shows in the United Kingdom in 1909, initially under the name "Short-haired Skye terrier". This name was not accepted by the Kennel Club when faced with opposition from breeders of the [[Skye Terrier]]. The alternative name Cairn Terrier was adopted.

== History ==
Cairn terriers originated in the Scottish Highlands and the [[Isle of Skye]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Cairn Terrier History|url=https://www.akc.org/breeds/cairn_terrier/history.cfm|publisher=American Kennel Club|access-date = 26 October 2014 }}</ref> Prior to 1873, terriers in Scotland were collectively referred to as 'Scottish Terriers'.<ref name="History of the Cairn Terrier">{{cite web|title=History of the Cairn Terrier|url=https://www.cairnterrierclub.ca/cairn-terriers/cairn-terrier-history/|publisher=Kennel Club of Canada|access-date = 30 August 2024 }}</ref> In the early days of the breed's establishment, the name  'short haired Skye Terrier' was used.<ref>{{cite web|title=Cairn Terrier| url=https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/search/breeds-a-to-z/breeds/terrier/cairn-terrier/|publisher=The Kennel Club|access-date = 30 August 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About the Cairn Terrier|url=https://www.cairnterrier.org/about-the-cairn-terrier/cairn-history|publisher=Cairn Terrier Club of America|access-date = 30 August 2024 }}</ref> After concerns raised by the Skye Terrier Club, the name 'Cairn Terrier' was given to the breed instead.<ref name="History of the Cairn Terrier"/> The name 'Cairn Terrier' comes from [[cairn]]s, where the terriers often flushed out vermin.<ref>{{cite web|title=7 Facts about the Cairn Terrier|url=https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/7-facts-cairn-terrier/|publisher=7 Facts about the Cairn Terrier|access-date = 30 August 2024 }}</ref>

The Cairn Terrier was registered into the American Kennel Club in 1903.{{cn|date=February 2025}} The Kennel Club of the United Kingdom gave the Cairn Terrier a separate register in 1912; the first year of recognition, 134 were registered, and the breed was given Championship status.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.swwectc.freeuk.com/cairnhis.html|title=swwectc- cairn history|website=www.swwectc.freeuk.com|access-date=2016-11-26|archive-date=2018-10-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181018051447/http://www.swwectc.freeuk.com/cairnhis.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> While registration of white Cairns was once permitted, after 1917, the [[American Kennel Club]] required them to be registered as [[West Highland White Terrier]]s. The dog was definitively accepted by the [[Fédération Cynologique Internationale]]in 1963.{{r|fci}}

== Description ==
The Cairn Terrier has a harsh, weather-resistant outer coat that can be black, cream, wheaten, red, sandy, gray, or [[brindle]]d. Pure black, black and tan, and white are not permitted by many [[kennel club]]s. A notable characteristic of Cairns is that brindled Cairns frequently change colour throughout their lifetimes. It is not uncommon for a brindled Cairn to become progressively more black or silver as it ages. The Cairn is [[double-coated]], with a soft, dense [[Down hair|undercoat]] and a harsh [[guard hair|outer coat]]. A well-groomed Cairn has a rough-and-ready appearance.

Cairn Terriers tend to look similar to [[Norwich Terrier]]s, but with some differences (for example the shaggy fur). The outer layer of fur is shaggy, but they have a soft, downy undercoat. The ideal height is roughly {{val|28|–|31|u=cm}}, with weight in proportion, usually some {{val|6|–|7.5|u=kg}}.{{r|fci2|kc}}
<gallery mode=packed heights=160px style="text-align:left; font-size: 93%">
File:Cairn Terrier - 002.jpg|Brindle
File:Керн терьер (cairn terrier).jpg|Red/wheaten
File:Cairn Terrier - 001.jpg|
File:9 week old cairn puppy.jpg|A nine-week-old puppy
</gallery>

== Health ==
A 2015 French study found a life expectancy of 13.42 years.<ref>{{Cite journal | doi = 10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.11.008| title = Inbreeding impact on litter size and survival in selected canine breeds| journal = The Veterinary Journal| volume = 203| issue = 1| pages = 74–8| year = 2015| last1 = Leroy | first1 = G. G. | last2 = Phocas | first2 = F. | last3 = Hedan | first3 = B. | last4 = Verrier | first4 = E. | last5 = Rognon | first5 = X. | pmid=25475165| s2cid = 27631883| url = https://hal-univ-rennes1.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01122782/file/Inbreeding%20impact%20on%20litter%20size_accepted.pdf }} mean=12.23 ± 4.18 median=13.42</ref> A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 14 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for [[Mongrel|crossbreeds]].<ref>{{cite journal | last=McMillan | first=Kirsten M. | last2=Bielby | first2=Jon | last3=Williams | first3=Carys L. | last4=Upjohn | first4=Melissa M. | last5=Casey | first5=Rachel A. | last6=Christley | first6=Robert M. | title=Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death | journal=Scientific Reports | publisher=Springer Science and Business Media LLC | volume=14 | issue=1 | date=2024-02-01 | issn=2045-2322 | doi=10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w | page=| pmc=10834484 }}</ref>

Some of the more common hereditary health problems found in the Cairn are:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cairnterrier.org/health/|title=Health Related Concerns|publisher=Cairn Terrier Club of America Inc.|access-date=12 May 2010|archive-date=7 May 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507211604/http://www.cairnterrier.org/health/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Breed predispositions to disease in dogs and cats|last=Alex.|first=Gough|date=2004|publisher=Blackwell Pub|others=Thomas, Alison, 1964–|isbn=978-1405107488|location=Oxford, UK|oclc=53231203}}</ref>
* Bronchoesophageal [[fistula]]
* [[Cataracts]]
* [[Corneal dystrophies in dogs|Corneal dystrophy]]
* [[Craniomandibular osteopathy]] (lion jaw)
* [[Diabetes mellitus]]
* [[Entropion]]
* [[Hip dysplasia (canine)|Hip dysplasia]]
* [[Hypothyroidism in dogs|Hypothyroidism]]
* [[Krabbe disease]] (globoid cell leukodystrophy)
* [[Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease]]
* [[Lens luxation]]
* [[Luxating patella]]
* [[Ocular melanosis]]
* [[Portosystemic shunt]]
* [[Progressive retinal atrophy]]
* [[Soft-tissue sarcoma]]
* [[Von Willebrand disease]]

The breed is predisposed to atopic dermatitis.<ref>{{cite book | last=Rhodes | first=Karen Helton | last2=Werner | first2=Alexander H. | title=Blackwell's Five-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion | publisher=Wiley-Blackwell | publication-place=Ames, Iowa | date=2011-01-25 | isbn=978-0-8138-1596-1 | page=94}}</ref>

== References ==
{{commonscat}}
{{reflist|45em|refs=

<ref name=fci>[https://www.fci.be/en/nomenclature/CAIRN-TERRIER-4.html FCI breeds nomenclature: Cairn Terrier (4)]. Thuin, Belgium: Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Accessed December 2024.</ref>

<ref name=fci2>[http://www.fci.be/Nomenclature/Standards/004g03-en.pdf FCI-Standard N° 4: Cairn Terrier]. Thuin, Belgium: Fédération Cynologique Internationale. Accessed December 2024.</ref>

<ref name=kc>[https://web.archive.org/web/20240518072712/https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/breed-standards/terrier/cairn-terrier/ Breed standards: Cairn Terrier]. London: The Kennel Club Limited. Archived 18 May 2024.</ref>


}}

{{Terriers}}
{{Scottish dogs}}
{{Scottish animal breeds}}

[[Category:FCI breeds]]
[[Category:Dog breeds originating in Scotland]]
[[Category:Terriers]]