Description:
Royal is a wonderful brindle Cairn Terrier. You know Cairns, don't you. Toto in the Wizard of Oz was a Cairn. Anyway, Royal is a delight. He has a happy heart and great ears ~ if the wind comes along, I do believe he will blow away!!! When Judy dropped by my house to show him to me, he just be-bopped around, checking things out, paying no mind to my cats.... He's little but rugged, a great family dog. Gotta love him!!!
According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, this dog, known since 1500, was first publicly presented in 1909 and became popular after 1930. The Cairn is one of Scotland's original Terriers, probably a contributor to today's Scottish, West Highland White and Skye Terrier breeds. Named for the piles of small stones used to mark Scottish farm borders and graves, the Cairn Terrier's job was to rout small animals from their lairs in these stone piles. Though used for such purposes for centuries, the Cairn Terrier is now primarily a companion dog. He also excels at Terrier (Go-To-Ground) trials. Everyone remembers a Cairn called "Toto" in the film "The Wizard of Oz." Some of the Cairn's talents are hunting, tracking, watchdogging, agility, competitive obedience, and performing tricks.
The Cairn Terrier is a spirited, hardy, restless little busybody - a big dog in a small dog's body. Alert, loyal, merry, lovable and mischievous. They are somewhat independent, but friendly. Females tend to be more independent than males and some breeders feel that males are more affectionate. They are very curious, fearless and bold. They are easily trained and like to do tricks. Naturally patient with children and very playful. Cairns adapt well to their new homes. They are sensitive, and need firm, but not harsh, training and discipline. Without attention and training, the Cairn can become destructive and/or bark excessively. Cairns like to dig searching for vermin, so it is not wise to leave them unsupervised in a landscaped yard! This breed can be a chaser and should not be left off its lead in an unsecured area. Never leave a Cairn tied out, as he may fight larger dogs to protect his turf, sometimes with tragic consequences.