GRAFFITI-CAIRN-ALL ABOUT

ALL ABOUT CAIRN

The trouble does not exist with a Cairn Terrier. Cairns lovers say that when a Cairn enters a house, life is no longer boring. As Britaniques says "the best little pal in the world ". The Cairn Terrier is, by definition, an "active, game, and hardy" small terrier. Cairn likes to learn and likes to handle. Weariness does not exist with a Cairn. Effectively it has a charming nature, a great spirit and a large capacity for affection. Few people having owned a Cairn cant make a change of breed thereafter because this dog is endowed to conquer our hearts.

To avoid the unpleasant behaviors it is necessary to treat its Cairn like a dog. Not all the owners of dogs can be owner of a CAIRN. The CAIRN needs an energetic Master who is firm and authoritative and which gives him attention and affection. Cairn badly educated in low age will be able to develop undesirable behaviors. The first year is crucial in its education. If you do not correct its bad habits as of its youth it all its life will keep them. Your Cairn will be undoubtedly the first to be profited from a good raising.

Cairn without fear but not without reproach. Its courage and its audacity make it a good hunter without mercy for its prey. However, we must not confuse combativeness with a bad temper. Your Cairn around the house will defend its territory. The squirrels attract Cairns which will use all the tactics known to reach them. It will pursue small animals that dare to trespass on its territory. Birds, squirrels and cats are its major burden of the day. The neighbour's cat that violates or infringes on the Cairn's territorial boundaries will never be pardoned for doing so. For the cat of the house it will be its idol as soon as the cat decides to descend from its roost.

Fugueur? Not easy to answer. Cairn Terrier is a rustic dog which, even through the years, kept its taste of hunter of vermins. It does not seek to ravel your court for gambader in the vicinity but it will seek to reach its preys. It is crutial to educate it well for the recall as soon as it enters your life. It is necessary to adopt Cairn to have a fence yard. To prevent this situation, your dog and you will benefit from good obedience training. The dog will fit in better with your family life and will become a true Cairn Terrier and a true companion.

You ask yourself if your Cairn Terrier will make a good companion for your children. While a good relationship can develop, certain rules have to be followed. I recommend having a family conference and drafting a set of rules that all members of the family will respect. We like to sign a contract with the children. Here are a few guidelines to help you start the discussion:

- Do not disturb the dog when it is eating.

- Do not disturb the dog when it is sleeping.

- Do not give candies or table leftovers.

- Do not let the dog sleep on the sofa and beds.

- Pick up the excrement of the dog every day.

- Have a daily exercise of games with your Cairn.

Your child will learn to love his Cairn but first he or she needs to respect it. Each child of the family should have to perform a task to help take care of the family dog. This will teach the child to be responsible with the dog under the parents' supervision.

ILLNESS

Due to advances in canine medicine, health problems are being treated, prevented, and/or avoided by careful breeding. The following problems do occur occasionally in the Cairn Terrier.

Allergies	Allergies can be broken down into inhalant, contact, or food allergy origins. Allergies can be chronic or seasonal. They can be minor or severe in occurrence. They tend to become worse with age. Treatment is much better than in bygone days.
Cataracts	Cataracts are generally considered a common old age change, but a juvenile form also occurs. Juvenile cataracts are inherited and are not usually present at birth, although this condition can present itself at any age- months to years. Yearly CERF examinations are an important tool in diagnosing this condition.
Craniomandibular Osteopathy	Also known as lion jaw, it is a non-cancerous bone proliferation occurring mainly on the lower jaw, maxilla and, on occasion, the long bones of the legs. It is generally a self-resolving problem that corrects as the bone remodels during the growth stage. Onset of symptoms generally occurs at about 4 months and resolves at about 1 year of age. This disease is inherited by a single autosomal recessively passed gene.
Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy	Also known as Krabbe's disease. It is a degenerative disease of the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. There is now a test available DNA that can identify carriers of this disease.
Hypothyroidism	It is characterized as an underproduction of hormone by the thyroid gland. It occurs in many breeds, including Cairns. Diagnosis is done by a blood test for complete thyroid activity. Treatment with synthetic hormones is very successful in controlling this condition.
Luxated Patellae	This is a problem in many small breeds of dogs, including Cairns. In this disorder, the knee cap slips out of the trochlear groove. Testing, funded by the CTCA Foundation, has proven it to be an inherited disorder in Cairns. Diagnosis is by X-ray and palpation exam with a certification OFA.
Ocular melanosis	Awareness of this condition is a fairly recent thing, with the first cases diagnosed in 1984. It occurs only in Cairns. Onset averages 8 to12 years of age. It is important that older Cairns be checked yearly for the early signs (heavily pigmented sclera and loss of pupil constrictability).
Progressive Retinal Atrophy	Also known as PRA. Sometimes referred to as "night blindness", which is a misnomer because the blindness caused by this disease is eventually total. Diagnosis of PRA can be detected by a CERF exam.
von Willebrand's	This is a bleeding disease characterized by excessive bleeding time due to delayed clotting. There is a rather low occurrence of this disorder in Cairns. There is a blood test available. Research is underway to develop a DNA test.
SOURCE: THE CAIRN TERRIER CLUB OF AMERICA

HOUSEBREAKING

When a puppy Cairn arrives in its new family, I encourage a good relationship between the owners and the puppy. I underline the importance of playing with the puppy and the necessity of removing objects in the home and yard that can be dangerous to the puppy.

The main problem is cleanliness. In order to overcome this question when the owners are not around I advise them to buy a crate. The crate should be large enough to allow the dog when it becomes an adult to sleep easily in it and to stand up and be able to turn around whenever he feels like it. Also, I recommend, that a radio be left on, in order that the dog will not be disturbed by outside noises.

Before knowing you, your puppy was living with its brothers and sisters in familiar surroundings. Upon leaving its littermates, your puppy may be quite insecure. It is recommended that you acquire your puppy during a weekend or while you are on holidays. When you get home take the puppy to where you want it to make its toilet. Encourage it to hurry up and then praise it when it has finished. Then take it into the house, show him his dishes, his cage and his playthings. You must establish areas where the puppy will not be allowed to go. When your puppy arrives at your home you must be well equiped. You should have a water bowl, food bowl, a comb, a brush, a claw-cutter, kwik stop (coagulator), shampoo, scissors, strippers, a dog collar and leash for the size of the puppy, a cage and plenty of dog playthings. You must also get through the first night at home. In order to prevent nocturnal damages ( bed-wetting etc.), remove the water bowl two hours before bedtime and take your puppy out before going to bed. Your puppy will sleep in its cage during the four coming months and it must always have free or easy access. If your puppy has to sleep in an isolated room, it is recommended to leave your radio on for the first few nights. If your puppy cries at bedtime, during the night, console or comfort him with your voice but never have him taken out of his cage. Time will pass by and your puppy will accept bedtime easily. Here's a little advice:

	- Keep all objects that can be destroyed out of reach of your puppy.
	- Never leave your puppy an old shoe as a plaything, it will never know the difference between an old shoe and a new one that costs $200. Your odor is the same in all shoes.
	- Never let your dog climb up on your lap pretending it is small. If it tries to bite your hands, tell it not to do so and give him a toy.
	- Never leave your puppy with its collar or a choke collar on during your absence, even if it's in his or her cage.

All these measures are necessary in order for your puppy to become a splendid Cairn and above all an important and appreciated member of your family. For the cleanliness in the house it is not difficult to teach the dog to go to the door and ask to go out. I suggest a system that I have been using for the last 20 years. I hang two bells to a string near the door. Each time that I take the puppy out I have him ring the bells with its paw and I congradulate him. After two weeks of training, the puppy will ring the bell alone, when it wants to go out. It is an easy and practical method for those who have a large house and want to avoid disasters on the door-sill. The puppy rapidly acquires the notion, "bell = going outside". Then the dog will make use of the bells whenever in need of doing so in order to play and/or simply to attract your attention when you are looking at the best TV series of the year. You have to keep calm and make sure that the dog has done all its needs, then you put the bells away for a few minutes. Sorry I have to part on these words. The bells are tingling.

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Allergies

Ocular melanosis

Progressive Retinal Atrophy