Hunting Terriers

Ch. Gesto 1913

Ch. Firring Frolic

Ch. Oudenarde Midnight

Yes, Toto was a Cairn!

Did you know?  Toto, depicted in the Wizard of Oz as a male, was actually a female named "Terry".

The Cairn Terrier is an ancient breed which many dog historians believe to be the first true terrier.  They come from the highlands and isles of west Scotland where they spent their first days scouring the fields and cairns (rock piles and rock fences) for badgers, fox and rats that stole the grain and livestock off the Scots' hardscrabble farms and estates.  

Much of the known early history of the cairn terrier, like that of the Skye terrier, centers on the island of Skye. In fact, the roots of both breeds center on the same families and estates: Drynock, Mogstads, Waternish Camusennary and Roseneath are all strains to which both breeds can be traced. The Roseneath name is also prominent in early West Highland white terriers.

It appears that certain families favored certain colors for their cairns. The Macdonalds of Waternish preferred dark grays and brindles, but the Macleods of Drynock favored silver grays. All of Scotland's terriers were grouped together as Scotch terriers until 1873, when they were separated into two classifications -Dandie Dinmont terriers and Skye terriers. The Skye terrier class included the breeds now known as the Scottish terrier, the West Highland terriers and the cairn terrier. eveloped from the same basic stock, the three were often found in the same litter and distinguished only by color.

Cairns were initially called short-haired Skyes, but Skye terrier fanciers protested the use of the name. To avoid future confusion, it was suggested that the name of the shorthaired Skyes be changed to the cairn terrier of Skye. Cairns were piles of stones which served as the landmarks or memorials. Common throughout much of Scotland, cairns were frequent hiding places for the small mammals hunted by terriers. The shortened name cairn terrier was agreed upon in 1912.

The breed made its official debut in America in 1913, when Mrs. Henry Price of Connecticut imported Sandy Peter Out of the West from Scotland. Sandy Peter became the first cairn registered by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in that same year. In 1917 the Cairn Terrier Club of America was granted membership in the American Kennel Club.

The cairn terrier has courage to spare, thanks to its heritage as an earth dog. Preserving this lionhearted courage has long been a goal of fanciers and is reflected in the breed standard, which describes the cairn's general appearance as "that of an active, game, hardy, small working terrier of the short-legged class; very free in its movements, strongly but heavily built.

"This description reflects the fact the Cairn should have the hardiness to meet the performance of his ancestors," continues the AKC in The Complete Dog Book. "Utility should be the aim of the fancier, since the express aim of the Cairn Terrier clubs is to preserve the breed in its best old-working type."

Cairn owners are on intimate terms with the dog's ingrained, aggressive characteristics. Cairns will vigorously and vocally guard home and yard from all intruders, both friend and foe. They like to bark and can sound quite ferocious, even when playing. They will enjoy the company of other dogs, children and cats if socialized early, but the cairn's assertiveness can backfire on the owner if the dog is not trained and managed properly.

The reward for teaching a cairn the proper dignity and respect for other creatures is a dog that is almost eerily in tune with their owner's moods. Remember the devotion of Toto, who never left Dorothy's side except to chase something or save her life? That kind of steadfast loyalty is a hallmark of the breed.

Ch Redletter Mcjoe        Ch. Caithness Rufus

Some quick Cairn Terrier Facts:

Ch. Caithness Rufus sired 32 champions and won Best of Breed at Westminster twice.

His Grandson, Cairnwood Quince sired 51 champions and is the all-time leader in champions sired by a cairn terrier.  He also was the CTCA National Specialty winner 4 times.  The best for any cairn terrier.