Field working Cairns

[k9karma]

Hi, I am the proud owner of my first Cairn, a sweet little girl named Sophie. I have owned and worked Jack Russells for the last 15 years and I was wondering if anyone has ever worked their Cairn in the field? I don't have any plans for anything too hard core for her, but she does love to follow her Jack Russell friends and she is showing some really good promise as a rat dog. She took to go to ground like she had done it 100 times. Would love to hear any feedback. Take Care

Ron

[bradl]

Congrats on your girl Sophie!

I don't personally know many who are genuinely hunted. I know of at least one Cairn who was worked to groundhog in New Jersey and my old male (in his younger days) pulled a possum out from under barn wreckage. Not hardly working by any stretch, but still a moment of excitement for the dog.

There are a couple Search and Rescue Cairns on the forum - one fully operational and one in training last we heard

The average Cairn is probably getting too large to do much genuine earthwork, although as you say, there is plenty of instinct left in many lines to allow them plenty of fun with go-to-ground. We have three Master Earthdog Cairns, and our fourth went to earth for the last time this summer .

[cairnsby3]

I really admire the Jack folks who hunt with their dogs, but I just don't have the nerve! The master walk up is as close as mine are going to get!

[Greg P]

From what I can find, most live hunting happens in the Eastern US. Other than nutria, not too much happening in the west. Check out AKC earthdog. It's a good time for dog and handler.