Are Cairn Terriers Good Family Dogs? 9 Pros and Cons

You might recognize Cairn Terriers from The Wizard of Oz. Toto was a Cairn Terrier! These dogs are bred to be just like Toto was – dependable and spirited.

Whether you’re interested in them out of nostalgia or simply due to their adorableness, it’s important to see all sides of a dog breed before deciding to adopt one. Cairn Terriers are known for their adaptability and playfulness, but they can also be a bit much for some owners.

Here are some pros and cons you should keep in mind with these terriers:

1. Sturdy Yet Small

Cairn Terriers are pretty small. They weigh around 13 to 14 pounds, according to the AKC. Therefore, they’re adaptable to apartment living (if their exercise need is met) and are easy to handle physically. You don’t need to worry about one of these dogs pulling you around on a leash.

Despite this, they are also pretty sturdy. They aren’t the delicate toy dogs that most smaller breeds are. You can trust them to hold their own in most circumstances.

2. Rugged, Natural Appearance

These canines don’t look dainty or superfluous like many other smaller breeds. They require minimum grooming and don’t need professional haircuts. They look like a rugged, well-weathered canine.

Many people like this more natural look. It’s a rarer find these days, with many of the fancier breeds becoming more popular.

3. Moderate Exercise Needs

Cairn terriers are not going to lay around all day. They aren’t lapdogs. However, they don’t need nearly as much exercise as some more hyperactive dogs. About 15 to 20 minutes of brisk walking twice a day is plenty to keep them happy, especially if you interspace their walks with playtime!

These canines do benefit from a fenced-in yard. However, they don’t absolutely have to have it. If you exercise them enough (which isn’t hard for an active individual), then they can adapt to apartment living.

4. Great Watchdogs

These terriers are very alert – just like other terriers. While they aren’t big enough to guard anything, they will alert you to any strangers outside of your home. You won’t have to worry about anyone sneaking up on you with a Cairn Terrier in the house.

Of course, these dogs benefit from socialization and training to help them only alert when necessary. Otherwise, they may bark a bit too much, which wouldn’t be particularly helpful.

A dog that alerts to everything isn’t a very good watchdog.

5. Fiesty Temperament

These dogs are often described as enjoyable to own, and they often are for the right individual. However, they are a bit much. They can be very feisty, lively, and persistent. Terriers are prone to chasing almost everything and tend to bark a lot. They’re a lot of dog shoved into a small body. It’s important to know what you’re getting into before you adopt one of these dogs.

Luckily, Cairn terriers are not as high-strung as others. Overall, this breed tends to fall somewhere in the middle. However, individual temperaments can vary widely, so be prepared for a very “much” dog.

6. Potential Hyperactivity

Yes, these dogs only need moderate exercise, but they still need exercise. Cairn terriers may be small, but they aren’t suitable for families that are more laidback. If you don’t want to spend around an hour exercising with your dog each day, you shouldn’t get a Cairn terrier.

These dogs also need plenty of mental exercise. Without it, they can become bored and destructive. (If you leave these dogs alone for 30 minutes without anything to do, they will find something to do.)

7. Dog-on-Dog Aggression

Many Cairn terriers get along just fine with dogs when properly socialized. However, these dogs are very feisty and won’t back down from a challenge. If another dog gets in their space, they will let them know, and this behavior can inevitably lead to fights. They tend to be rather scrappy.

Socialization can help with this, but it’s still important to understand your dog’s innate temperament. Due to their smaller size, leaving them alone with a larger dog is often not recommended.

8. Running and Running Some More

Cairn terriers have an innate instinct to chase. If they see something running, they will chase after it – and keep going. For this reason, they must be kept in an enclosed space or on a leash. You simply cannot trust them to come when called if their eyes are already on something else.

They can be pretty distractible dogs for this reason, as well. Even if they see something running outside the fence, they’re prone to leaving a training session to “chase” it. Don’t expect them to listen to your commands when there is something fast moving around.

9. Independent

Like most terriers, Cairn terriers are very independent, which makes them challenging to train. You must start obedience training at an early age and stick to it. Otherwise, they can quickly become unruly and self-important. Cairn terriers often think they’re the center of the world, and training is necessary to prevent bossiness.

Of course, even with proper training, these dogs will never be as obedient as a Labrador Retriever or a similar breed. It just isn’t possible.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © studio-laska/iStock via Getty Images