Cairn Terrier Q & A
Cathy Burleson continued
What qualities in the field also come in handy around the house? If the occasional field mouse gets into our house, the dogs are good at letting us know! Unfortunately for the dogs, the mouse usually goes into our pantry behind a closed door so the dogs don’t get a chance to “dispatch” it. What about the breed makes them an ideal companion? Most Cairns are very smart so they keep you on your toes. It is important that the owner be the dominant one in the relationship; otherwise the dog will take great advantage of its owner. In general they are energetic and playful without being “hyper” but are not the best breed for someone who wants a “couch potato”. Are there any misconceptions about the breed I’d like to dis- pel? Some people assume that because they are terriers that means they bark a lot. Actually, Cairns in general are not noisy dogs. They bark when they see squirrels in the trees, etc., but they usually settle down quickly. What special challenges do Cairn Terrier breeders face in our current economic and social climate? There always seems to be a strong market for carefully bred Cairn puppies which is a blessing. We have any number of folks who got their first dog from us return to get another one. Economically, rising veterinary costs are a challenge, especially with the expense of health testing for genetic diseases. At what age do I start to see definite signs of show-worthiness? Unlike breeders who think they can tell show potential from the beginning of a puppy’s life, I prefer to wait until roughly ten to twelve weeks of age to do my evaluations. Movement is key and that is difficult to determine before ten weeks or so. The most important thing about the breed for a new judge to keep in mind? Cairns should be moderate in a rectangular package. They should not be stylized like many of the terrier breeds are and should have a somewhat “scruffy” appearance. The best way to attract newcomers to my breed and to the sport? Invite prospective buyers to attend dog shows with you and let them see how much fun it can be for them and their dog. My ultimate goal for the breed? I hope the efforts of The Foun- dation of the CTCA to fund research into several of the hereditary diseases that affect our breed will give us the DNA markers needed to help eradicate the diseases. In general Cairns are a healthy breed, and we want them to stay that way. My favorite dog show memory? Over the 70 years I have been involved in dog shows I have dozens and dozens of positive memo- ries. That makes it very difficult to choose only one. As an exhibitor, two that stand out are winning the national specialty with my par- ents’ great dog Ch Cairnwoods Quince when he was nearly 13 years old, the oldest dog of any breed at that time to do so. The other was winning my first Best in Show after 43 years as an exhibitor with a descendant of Quince, Ch. Caledonian Berry of Wolfpit, another great dog that also won BIS the next day. It was special that my husband and our daughter were there to see the wins! As a judge of Cairns, having the honor of doing our national specialty four times is unforgettable. In addition, judging the 100th anniversary show of The Cairn Terrier Club (the original club) in Scotland—the only American to do so—is forever lodged in my memory. I’d also like to share: Cairns are happy, outgoing dogs that are relatively low-maintanence. Keeping them properly groomed can be accomplished by regular brushing and combing; if this is done at last once a week, their shedding is minimal. Show grooming of course requires a bit more work, but to get what I describe as “achieved naturalness” for the show ring it is far less time-consum- ing than that of many other terriers.
My ultimate goal for the breed? Simple: To improve the Cairn in consistency of conformation so that he/she can compete in any show ring any where in the world, and to give the pet owner such a wonderful experience with their Cairn that they become the better ambassador of the breed than I could ever be. My favorite dog show memory? First was winning an Award of Merit at the CTCA Nationals at Montgomery County in 2005 with my very first home-bred Cairn, Stonehaven’s Iron Will, under breeder-judge Mildred Bryant. It set me on a trajectory of breeding quality that I have tried to uphold since that time. This past fall at the CTCA’s 2019 Nationals at Montgom- ery County my home-bred Cairn, Stonehavens Ashton Martin of Bodock won Best Opposite Sex to Best of Breed under famed breeder-judge, Elisabeth Theodorsson. I feel I have remained faithful to the breed during these years, striving for excellence in what I am doing as evidenced by these two significant wins. Something I’d also like to share about the breed? Then there’s the discussion on style of Cairn. As with humans Cairns have dif- ferent body types or what we call styles. Some can be lean and agile while others can be stocky or “typey”. Both styles can fall within the standard for the Cairn as long as there is balance. You just don’t want to have a Cairn that is too leggy (the former style) or a Cairn that is too short of leg (the later style). I’ve been taught that the length of the front leg should equal the length of the chest (from the side view). Balance and proportion are so important. LYDIA COLEMAN HUTCHINSON Lydia Coleman Hutchinson
went to her first dog show with her parents when she was nine and has never looked back! From the start she was an integral partner with her parents, and they established WOLFPIT CAIRN TERRIERS in 1949. After the death of her par- ents, Lydia has “stayed the course”, finishing thus far 284 Champions. More importantly, Wolfpit blood- lines have positively affected the breed in our country, as well as sev-
eral other countries. Education is very important to Lydia and she has given dozens of presentations in at least ten countries, not to mention the many current breeders who have turned to her for guidance and advice. She has been an AKC judge since 1964. We live on 13 acres in a 200-year-old German federal style brick farm house in Middletown, Maryland. Our home is located in the countryside one hour north of Washington, DC. I am active in our church and sing in the choir. I also like to garden and swim in our pool and the ocean, when possible. In years past we did a lot of “antiquing”, but we don’t have room for any more antique furniture in our house! My husband and I love to travel to interesting places. Do I hope the breed’s popularity will change or am I comfort- able with the placement? When I first became involved as a child, Cairns ranked in the 40s according to AKC, so the breed’s ranking has dropped. The current placement is all right but I hope it doesn’t go much lower as Cairns are such a wonderful breed. At this time it seems to be quite difficult for people to find enough well-bred Cairns available for purchase.
318 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , J ANUARY 2020
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