the last puppy we got was a golden retriever, we got her from a pet shop. we loved her, but there were a lot of complications and she ultimately died very young, and we would like to avoid a similar situation. can anyone tell me what to look for when trying to find a cairn terrier? any health issues, or things like that before i go out and buy one?
2007-03-18 11:50:08 · 8 answers · asked by fromtheashes 1 in Pets ➔ Dogs
my advice is look for a breeder who shows thier dogs and asks alot of questions, dont buy a puppy from someone whose first response to your inquiry is the price
you want a dog whos parents are either champiions or at least one champion parent and the other parent defended by the breeder as to why they were bred
you want a cairn whose parents are stripped not just clipped, because even if you choose to have the coat clippered, you want a breeder who knows what the breed is supposed to look like and cares that thier dogs look thier best
cairn puppies are feisty, strong willed and at timed unmanagable, so they are the polar opposite of a golden in terms of personality, they also live alot longer i groom a cair who is 16, and still needs a muzzle for his nails
good luck in whatever you choose, go to AKC.ORG and there you can find a breeder refferal, dont turn yoru back on adoption either there are lots of retired cairns who have 15 good years left in them and are already housetrained and proved free of defects
2007-03-18 11:57:47 · answer #1 · answered by drezdogge 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I have had a cairn ever since I was 13 years old (a long time ago). I am now on my third little girl. The dogs are a handful -- very lively and smart (the current one less smart than the other two). If you allow them to get bored, they will find something to do to amuse themselves and I can virtually guarantee you won't like what find amusing. Additionally, they do tend to bark -- quite a bit. Don't kid yourself. They will bark at every squirrel, rabbit, passing dog and everything else that moves. They can also be really stubborn to train and can NEVER, EVER, NEVER, EVER be allowed to be off a leash unless they are in a securely enclosed area -- they will chase everything and be gone so quickly you won't have a chance to catch them.
But despite these issues, I have loved all my girls and can't imagine not having one.
Buy from a breeder -- even if it means waiting until a litter becomes available. Do not buy from a pet store. Make sure to meet at least one of the parents. The tip that the coats of the adults should be stripped is a good one.
As for health issues -- my first Cairn lived to the ripe old age of 16. The second made it to 14 1/2 before succumbing to renal failure. My current cairn is almost 3 and excessively healthy. Although all of them had various problems, there was nothing that showed up in all three. I do hear that skin allergies are a common problem -- and it was something my first suffered from.
2007-03-22 17:20:43 · answer #2 · answered by #CairnGirls 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't but a cairn terrier or any other breed of dog without researching the breed first. The American Kennel Club has an excellent website www.akc.org for help in researching breeds. After you've decided which breed is right for you try using their breeder directory to find a responsible breeder near you. Pet stores may not be the best choice fo a sound healthy puppy as they sometimes sell puppies from "puppy mill" operators.
2007-03-18 18:59:55 · answer #3 · answered by Michelle P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you see what happens with puppymill dogs - so DON'T go to a pet store of backyard breeder this time!! go to akc.org and find out about cairn breeders in your area and also find out the website for the cairn terrier club of america... you can get tons of info there tooo... good luck,,, and do your homework,,, also,, be prepared to be on a waiting list for a pup.... well worth the wait
2007-03-18 18:55:56 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your best bet to avoid a sickly dog is to get one from a good show breeder and not from a pet shop.
Cairns are VERY different from Goldens and are really a handful. I always seem to get stuck next to them at dog shows and they tend to be snappy, nasty little things. I am sure some are nicer than others, but I sure have seen alot of nasty ones. UGH, not in *my* house!
2007-03-18 22:46:10 · answer #5 · answered by whpptwmn 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
i have a cairn terrior, they are very cute and have good personalities, they can run about 1-2 thousand dollars, depending on if its pure bread
2007-03-21 18:48:34 · answer #6 · answered by Carlee 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
well with every type of dog they can always have at least 1 sickness. so all you can do is look at the ears and mouth. and if you think something is wrong than take her/him to the vet. good luck. and NEVER EVER GIVE YOUR DOG PEOPLE FOOD AND ESPECIALLY NOT CHOCALATE. unless you ask a vet.
2007-03-18 19:04:19 · answer #7 · answered by baby doll 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i cant answer ther question but those little dogs are the cutest things ever......i think they look just like todo
2007-03-18 18:59:42 · answer #8 · answered by juicyfruitishandsome 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋