Terrier puppies tend to be high energy, fun, frisky, and down right adorable. All that being said however, knowing one or two things about any specific breed is not enough to move forward in purchasing a dog. Knowing everything you can about a breed prior to purchase is the best way to insure that you are prepared for what is to come. Looking now at Cairn Terriers, here are a few basics that any perspective owner should know.

Appearance and Grooming:

Cairn Terriers do not have the traditional human hair coat that something like a Yorkshire Terrier may have. Though they do have a human hair coat, the hair tends to grow out from the body instead of down into silky locks. The Cairn Terrier also has hair that is far more coarse than a traditional terrier meaning that they will need to be groomed often to insure that their hair remains soft and tangle free. These dogs do need to be bathed at least once a week as their nature tends to make it impossible to keep them out of the dirt and grime. Terriers love to hunt and dig so bathing may become a daily ritual. These terriers do need their hair trimmed and shaped up from time to time but they may not need the full grooming of a long haired dog.

Behavior and Personality:

The Cairn Terrier is incredibly high energy. This breed hardly ever sits down and rests and is almost always into something or other. They love to dig, ferret out rodents, and may be a danger to small animals like kittens, gerbils, and other small animals that cannot defend themselves. These dogs are best for owners that have plenty of time to devote to training, discipline, and play as they will tend to tear things up if they get bored or are left alone for long periods of time. These dogs also have loads of personality. They enjoy being near humans and interacting with their owners. Also, this breed will not allow you to ignore them. If they feel as if they are being ignored, they will bark, preen, crow, and jump for attention until they get the fair attention they believe they deserve. This high energy dog is suited only for people who are willing to devote hours a day to taking care of them.