Cairn Terriers

Might be too late to answer your post but I haven't been on in a while.  I have a 9&1/2 year old female cairn.  What a dog.  She is now beginning to have a lot a allergy problems she did not have in the past.  AND she definitely is spoiled and I am paying the price for that.  My fault.  But I would not take anything for her.  She has been the best little companion.  She LOVES cats and lives in a house of 5 of them.  She treats them just like a little mother would.  Always has. 
 
What is your baby cairn like?

I have a 4 year old neutered male Cairn Terrier.  He is just adorable!  He is obedient but he can not be off-leash as he will run away and is very difficult to get back.  I recieved him from my aunt when he was two years old, because she was having a hard time caring for him.  My grandma owns his brother, Willie.  I think it's great that he gets to see his brother, because most dogs don't get to.  Riley has many other dog friends in the neighborhood.  We used to own two rats, and he would try to kill them.

Oh yeah, his birthday is on St. Patrick's day.

Sounds like quite a guy.  Cairns can NEVER be off leash.  Mine is horrible about running off.  And these guys were developed and bred to kill any type of vermin (rats, chipmunks, squirrels, etc) and mine would do it in a heartbeat.  She used to chase squirrels all the time when I lived in New Hampshire.  She doesn't live in a place where we have many now. 
 
The fact that he was born on St. Patrick's Day is really cool though.  I celebrate my girl's birthday every year, February 17.  Can't believe she will be 10 this year.  Boy time flies. 
 
Mine was almost impossible to house train.  She finally got it at about 2 and since I have moved has regressed.  Have you had much trouble with your guy?
 
Also, mine is such an Alpha.  I only think I am pack leader.  She really rules the roast. 
 
I would love to hear more about your fellow.  and pics if you have that ability.  I will put a couple of mine up soon too.
 

I have a one year old cairn mix. She has a lot of cairn characteristics...feisty, playful, intelligent, inquisitive, loves to dig and chew, would chase the squirrels if given the opportunity, and adores people...children in particular. She can also be a very calm little thing...and absolutely loves cuddling up on a warm lap. I've been told she has some poodle in her...but I don't see it. I'm not very good at the technology stuff, but if I do figure it out, I'll post a picture.  

My dog sometimes marks if another male dog has come in the house or he might have an accident if I don't let him out on time.  But he is really good.  We moved this past summer (just down the street, hehe) and the field behind my house has many rabbits and dogs running in it.  My new neighbors also have a Cairn (9 years old) named Lucky.  I like to put my dog out on a chain when he goes to the bathroom.  Last weekend, my friends came over.  One has a Cockapoo and the other has a Miniature Poodle.  They both brought their dogs.  Then without thinking, we kind of let them off-leash, and my Cairn Terrier and my friend's Miniature Poodle ran off towards the busy street!  We caught the poodle, but Riley kept going.  I found him rolling in the grass right next the the busy road.  It was kind of embarrassing because I could only imagine what all the cars driving by thought of him.  He looked like such an idiot rolling in the grass like that.

Cairns do have a mind of their own for sure!!!  My little girl has ALWAYS loved children.  I think it is in their nature.  She used to get really aggressive toward other larger dog (not so much with the dogs her size).  But as she has gotten older she is much better.  And she truly does love to roll on her back in the grass too, and on the carpet.  Plus she has always rubbed her snout on the carpet and the grass like she is wiping her whiskers.  It is too funny.

Yeah!  Riley wipes his nose, face, and back on the carpet all the time.  It's wierd...  When he's done, he'll look at me with his head cocked to the side, and the hair on his head is completely messed up!

It must be a Cairn thing.  My sister's dogs (who were also Cairns) did it some also but not as much as my girl.  It is just to funny isn't it?  Gotta love those cairns.

Cairns are the best.  I don't know if I mentioned this before, but Riley barks and growls in his sleep!  His feet twitch, too.  I guess he's dreaming of killing a rabbit.

I can just visualize what Riley must look like.  My girl "talks" a lot.  Not really an outright bark (although she does plenty of that too) but vocalizations ALOT when something is going on with the people in her life or the other animals in her life and she wants to be a part.  She also "herds" the cats in the house, especially when they are playing with each other and get too rough.  She absolutely REFUSES to allow anyone to get hurt. She also has a FIT when anyone gives me a hug.  She insist on being a part of it all.  Is Riley possessive like that with you?  With others?

My girl has severe allergy problems and food was one of the things that I had to play with in order to get them under control.  Then I came across something on another dog site that mentioned dogs rubbing their snouts on the carpet along with rolling on their backs.  The problem was caused by food allergy to grains (which most dog food is full of).  I switched to Nature's Variety Beef and Barley which has much less grain in it.  And sure enough she is tons better.  Still scratches from time to time but not nearly like she was.  Has Riley ever had problems with allergies or his food? 

ORIGINAL: callismom

My girl has severe allergy problems and food was one of the things that I had to play with in order to get them under control.  Then I came across something on another dog site that mentioned dogs rubbing their snouts on the carpet along with rolling on their backs.  The problem was caused by food allergy to grains (which most dog food is full of).  I switched to Nature's Variety Beef and Barley which has much less grain in it.  And sure enough she is tons better.  Still scratches from time to time but not nearly like she was.  Has Riley ever had problems with allergies or his food? 

 
Not that I know of.

He's not really POSSESIVE of me, but he yelps and stuff when I leave him, even if I leave him with my mom or someone.