Cairn Terrier

The Cairn Terrier is a compact, wire-haired earthdog that one British breed club described as the “best little pal in the world”. With stubby little legs and a muscular body, Cairns are alert dogs that are always ready to go. Their gameness is a result of centuries of patrolling the game preserves, graveyards and farms of Scotland. Happiest when fully immersed with their humans, these shaggy dogs are independent-thinkers who are prized for their loyalty. With perky ears, soulful eyes, and a scruffy face, Cairns are quite the little showmen. That’s why they’ve stolen the spotlight in several Hollywood films. The most notable Cairn would have to be Toto, Dorothy’s trusty sidekick in the Wizard of Oz. A Cairn also famously took the top prize in the dog show parody Best in Show. 

The Cairns breed can be traced back to the 1600s, when they were originally used to exterminate vermin. Their name refers to the stones used to mark a grave, as the determined dogs were used to root around these sites in the rocky Scottish countryside, in order to trace down any unwanted critters. Their courage and resilience made them a good match for predators like foxes and otters. 

Did you know?

The Cairn Terrier used to be known as the “Short-Haired Skye Terrier”