Cairn Terrier Breed Magazine - Showsight

CAIRN TERRIER TEMPERAMENT AND EXPRESSION IN DETERMINING BREED TYPE CAIRNS TERRIERS ARE OUTSTANDING COMPANION DOGS TO THEIR HUMANS, BUT THEY STILL MAINTAIN THE HIGH PREY DRIVE AND INDEPENDENT HUNTING STYLE OF THEIR WORKING PAST. EXPRESSION DESIRED IN A CAIRN IS CREATED PRIMARILY BY THE HEAD AND TAIL, GIVING THE IMPRESSION OF A SMALL, FRIENDLY, ALERT TERRIER WITH AN INTENSE GAZE AND AN INDEPENDENT PERSONALITY. “ ”

the withers to the length from the prosternum to the point of buttock. A proper Cairn displays a level topline, and has a tail set that is neither high nor low. The Cairn tail is carried at a 12 to 2 o’clock position, but may vary greatly according to the mood of the dog. A Cairn that is bored or in season may lower the tail despite otherwise good tail and hind- quarter conformation. When sparred or otherwise alerted, a Cairn may pull its tail well forward of the 12 o’clock posi- tion. At no time should the tail be permanently curved or bent. As a rule, Cairns carry their tails well above the hori- zontal when gaiting at a fast walk. A “flag pole” tail in the ring is not always the marker of the best Cairn tail in the opinion of this breeder-judge. During hunting or coursing, a rapidly moving Cairn will lower its tail to use it as a rud- der for balance. Cairns Terriers are outstanding companion dogs to their humans, but they still maintain the high prey drive and independent hunting style of their working past. Expression desired in a Cairn is created primarily by the head and tail, giving the impression of a small, friendly, alert Terrier with an intense gaze and an independent personality. Friendly and playful, a Cairn uses its eyes, ears, tongue, and tail to signal desire to love their human. Well, at least they do until the Cairn sees that quarry. Then the real expression begins.

THE NOSE The Cairn nose is solid black, medium in size, and bal- ances the proportions of the face. The nose is clearly vis- ible and framed by generous furnishings on the muzzle. All Cairns are born with dark muzzles. However, it is normal for muzzle color to fade with age, especially in lighter-col- ored Cairns without coat brindling. Judges should question any dramatically dark muzzles or ears not consistent with coat color. Cairn lip and eye rim color is solid black, similar to the nose. THAT TONGUE! Nothing specifically describes a Cairn tongue in breed standards. While some handlers and judges may object to a Cairn with a visible tongue or may question if the dog is overheated, every Cairn fancier values the visible tongue as a marker of expressiveness and temperament. No Cairn smile is complete without that visible tongue. The mobile Cairn tongue, combined with a piercing gaze and, perhaps, a quiz- zical head tilt, all reflect the basic happy, independent, and intelligent personality characteristic of this breed. AND WHAT ABOUT THE TAIL? A properly proportioned Cairn should have a body that is fifty percent longer than high, comparing the height at

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pat Joyce is a retired MD specialist in Infectious Disease and Public Health. She has owned and loved Cairn Terriers since 1983 when she picked the breed after reading the AKC dog breed book in her local public library. She is an AKC Breeder of Merit as well as an AKC Judge, working initially for approval of the Terrier Group. Her dog “Gordo” is a Platinum Grand Champion and won Best of Breed at Westminster Kennel Club in 2013.

220 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, APRIL 2021

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