Cairn terriers can come in a variety of different colors. In fact, according to the official breed standard, cairn terriers can come in any color but white! However, some cairn terrier colors are far more common than others.
Below, we’ll go over the colors cairn terriers commonly come in, from the rarest to the most common. After this article, you should have a pretty good idea of the colors you can expect from this dog.
1. Cream Brindle
Cream brindle is a completely “normal” coloration. However, it is a bit rarer than other colors out there. Dogs with this coloration will have distinctive stripes or streaks with a soft cream-colored base coat. The stripes are typically of a darker color. However, they don’t necessarily have to be.
While this color is one of the rarer options, you can still find puppies in this color.
2. Gray Brindle
Because of their brindle pattern, these dogs are gray, but they have different shades all mixed in together.
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Similarly to the cream brindle, these dogs have brindle stripes or streaks (usually in black). Their base color is gray. This combination of colors gives them a unique appearance, making them one of the more sought-after colors.
However, they are rarer, so you may have a harder time finding them. The solid colors are far more common.
3. Red Brindle
These dogs range from very brown to very vibrantly orange. As you can see, this puppy has a more subdued coloration.
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As you might expect, these dogs have a red base coat (which is really more like brown) and some sort of darker red stripes. Their double-colored coat is sometimes very subtle, making them appear one color. However, you’ll notice the two different tones once you give them a good look over.
You can find these dogs relatively easily if you’re willing to wait for a puppy. However, they are one of the rarer coat colors available.
4. Black Brindle
Sometimes, the difference between gray and black can be difficult to determine when you throw the brindle pattern in.
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The black brindle terrier has a very dark base coat with slightly darker stripes. Often, the added depth is hard to notice, and this coloration appears to be very subtle. However, these dogs do tend to be a bit more common than other brindle patterns, as black overall is exceptionally common within this breed.
If you like the typical black coat and want something a bit different, this is a solid option.
5. Silver
As the name suggests, silver cairn terriers have a very soft gray coat. These can range from light silver to a deeper, saturated gray. Some dogs are almost black, while others may be very light. The silvery hues are highly sought after, but it is the rarest solid color around.
Therefore, you’re less likely to see canines of this color compared to cream or black.
6. Wheaten
This golden coloration looks similar to wheat, hence the name “wheaten.”
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Wheaten terriers look the color of wheat, which is how they got their name. They range from pale golden to a darker, brownish color. Sometimes, this color can run into cream or brown pretty easily. It may take a trained individual to see exactly what color your canine is.
Many prospective dog owners choose this color if they want a lighter-colored dog.
7. Cream
Cream cairn dogs are exceptionally light. They are the lightest color, as these dogs do not come in white.
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These dogs are lighter than wheaten and don’t have the same golden hue. Instead, they have a soft, cream coloration, making them one of the lighter cairn terriers available (since white isn’t a standard color).
This coloration is pretty common, so you’ll probably see a cairn terrier with this coat when shopping for a puppy.
8. Gray
These canines have a uniform coat that is slightly lighter than the typically black, putting them more in the gray spectrum.
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Gray cairn terriers have a uniform gray coat. They shouldn’t have different colors of grey throughout their coat, as this would make them brindle. This is a solid coat color, so it should be pretty uniform.
The shade of gray can vary a lot, though. Some dogs are lighter, while others may be almost black.
9. Red
Often, red dogs have a very vibrant golden hue to them, which can make it easy to confuse them with wheaten. However, they tend to be darker.
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Red cairn terriers range from light to vibrant red. Usually, these dogs have a brown color with a rich, vibrant hue. Therefore, they are described as “red,” even if they aren’t truly red.
You’ll find these puppies in plenty. They’re exceptionally common, which is why they are near the bottom of our list.
10. Black
The black coat color is the most common one, and the one you’re likely to see if you decide to adopt one of these dogs.
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Black cairn terriers are very common. These dogs are pure black without any patterns or stripes. This depth of color gives them a classical and sleek appearance. Despite being very common, these dogs are still sought after. Most people who want a cairn terrier want a black one, as this is the color you usually see in the show ring.
Summary of Cairn Terrier Colors
| Number | Color |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cream Brindle |
| 2 | Gray Brindle |
| 3 | Red Brindle |
| 4 | Black Brindle |
| 5 | Silver |
| 6 | Wheaten |
| 7 | Cream |
| 8 | Gray |
| 9 | Red |
| 10 | Black |
The photo featured at the top of this post is © Kazantseva Olga/Shutterstock.com
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