Robert Burns, Scotland's favorite poet must have been familiar with Cairn Terriers and could have had them in mind when he penned "To a Mouse"

But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,

In proving foresight may be vain:

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men

Gang aft agley,

An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,

For promis'd joy!

My Cairns taught me a quick lesson in "Gang aft agley"--when my "best laid schemes" to entertain my two lasted all of twelve hours!

Yesterday afternoon, seeking something nice to do for the girls, I went to Walmart and bought an inflatable kid's swimming pool--brought it home and after much huffing and puffing got it filled with water. The girls stared and made no move or comment.

I threw a couple of tennis balls in that floated gaily around the pool--the dogs took stabs at them as they passed the sides, apple bobbing the balls and mostly sending them on their way skittering to the other side--they would not enter the water.

"Ok" says I, "I know what will get them in!" Two rocks and two golf balls later, they sat at the side of the pool, whining, mewling, barking, and generally being PIA's for two solid hours. Pick them up and put them in and they bail out like it is hot grease even tho they will mad dash any dirty pond or stream they come on in the wild. All was frustration and at dark I ushered them inside from their constant worrying about the unsalvaged rocks and golf balls--"Let 'em sleep on it.." says I, ...they will figure it out by morning!"

Morning breaks and the same behavior --staring at the shimmering clean water, whining about golf balls laying just beyond reach. Finally, the puppy picks up a sodden tennis ball from the previous evening and brings it to me and I toss it in the pool and she climbs over the side, dumping gallons of water and gets the ball! Success! One more toss and she is back, gets the ball brings it out and returns to mine the golf balls and rocks from the bottom for her older and larger sister--she has become the heroine to her sister. In and out she goes, having fun, getting balls, getting wet and still her sister sits and worries, whines, and barks--won't go in.

Finally the big dogs tiptoes in and my victory is complete--I leave her standing there Cairn knee deep in a baby pool looking like she has whipped a pit bull inorder to go take a shower. I leave the wet dogs on the deck because, well, because they are wet.

Twenty minutes later I return, clean and anticipating a summer of rambunctious Cairns lolling away their summer days beside a kiddie pool, always cool, always entertained. My Cairn Terrier summer recreational dreams were deflated quickly although not as quickly, it seems, as the inflatable pool I had purchased twelve hours earlier.

In my absence, one or both of the girls had wreaked havoc on the pool--great gaping wounds, torn in the sides of the pool had left it flat with a paw's deep bit of water in the bottom--all that was left of my wading pool experiment. Two very wet and soggy Cairns met my gaze as I came thru the slider and with their disheveled faces they stared at me with that infuriating "Ok, what's next??" look.

Today, Tuesday, is garbage day. A new but ruined kiddie pool with happy jumping fish and sea horses imprinted on the plastic soggily awaits the groaning truck to come up the hill and take it to the landfill--Cairns (1) vs Human (0).

Burns knew a thing or two about being left with nothing but grief and pain for "promised joy"---I wonder if it is a Scottish thing?

Edited June 29, 201015 yr by Idaho Cairns

What a wonderful story! I really needed a laugh today...thank you.

When you said you bought an inflatable kids pool, I started to figure out where this story was going. I've been thinking of getting a pool for Bailey as well, but figured he would do the same as yours and refuse to go in it. I have to hand it to you for your cleverness on enticing them into the pool -- that was great.

Sooo, what do you plan to do next for their amusement?

Thank you for making me laugh! :lol:

lovely story

but glad to know I haven't got the only awkward Cairn in the World!! I went to friends who had a pool out last summer for the grandchildren [who were not interested] but her mixed breed dog was jumping in and out.............Holly sat and looked horrified at such activity! I tried to coax her in but no way - but she leaned over side and started drinking the water and then licking the side of pool so had to keep I eye on her in case she bit it! Yet when we go to Clumber she loves having a paddle in lake - whatever the weather! You have to love them for their quirks!

Too funny! I guessed that Cairns would make short work of anything inflatable!

Since it's been in the 90s for what seems like weeks, I bought a little "pet pool" at petsmart -- plastic, and about 3 feet across, decorated with dog bones. I had the same idea -- cooling off my poor doggie. He would have none of it!! I put balls and toys in there, swished them to the sides - he put his head in a few times (like bobbing for apples), and tried to paw it out of the pool, but never went in. He finally sat there and just barked. I put pity on him and helped him get the ball.

But I must tell you, I'M the one getting the most enjoyement out of the little pool -- I sit there in my plastic adirondack chair, my feet soaking up to my shins, gradually cooling off. Let Zekey sit on the grass, at least I know how to cool off!

What a great storyteller you are. As soon as I saw 'inflatable' I had to wonder how long it would last. Thanks for the laugh

Every time I go to the grocery store down the street I see the $10 plastic kiddie pool out front. It's 112 in Phoenix today. I think I'm inspired enough now to buy it on my way home. No idea if it will be accepted .... but willing to give it a $10 try.

Loved the story. I guess my husband is right: Every time I mention getting an inflatable pool for Buffy he says "for a dog with THOSE teeth??"

Oh this was so funny.

All last year I looked for an old fashioned plastic kiddie pool - to no avail. I only found inflatables. Now that you've got them acclimated to the water and the idea of the pool, maybe you can find a hard plastic one in your area.

I know the fun only lasted 12 hours, but it did sound fun!

Loved this story!!! Thanks for the laugh!

But I must tell you, I'M the one getting the most enjoyement out of the little pool -- I sit there in my plastic adirondack chair, my feet soaking up to my shins, gradually cooling off. Let Zekey sit on the grass, at least I know how to cool off!

Tanner & I have a similar story...he has no desire to get into the pool I purchased for him, so just let him sit outside while I soak my feet & keep cool. I figure why let it go to waste?

Great story!!! It's funny how these little guys (and gals) work. I've noticed that with a lot of activities it's almost as if it has to soak in and then they get and are all for it, whatever the activity may be But until they wrap their little heads around it they want nothing to do with it.

They certainly are entertaining little one's!

I've always found mine to be more inclined to get in the pool if I get in first

You don't remember hearing a pop or boom? Did you see them do it? It might have been a squirrel getting revenge.

Edited June 30, 201015 yr by remltr

I'm sure the pair would love to blame the local squirrels that bedevil them constantly but I am positive it was one or both of them. Quite surprising as neither are destructive dogs--they even have toys around they have kept semi-whole for years--the exception being an old pink pig now named "Frankenpig", having been sewed and stitched to the point of looking like the monster. We don't know why this poor thing takes such a beating but now it is eyeless, earless, and is bereft of three legs. It is the only object that gets that treatment--until the pool this morning.

They do not seem to miss their pool this afternoon, they were their same joyful selves but I do detect a certain smug attitude with both of them that I suspect comes from their ridding themselves of the frustration of bobbing tennis balls and sunken rocks.

I have no idea what happened in those few minutes they were unattended on the deck but it was savage.

The incident will go down as one of those "Cairn things", another behavior mystery that all of us have become familiar with--just when you think you have them figured out......!

Got the $10 pool tonight!

I used Taz's ball to intice him in there. He was very curious but wouldn't jump in on his own, so I lent a little hand. He had trouble catching the ball, it kept popping away. When he did secure it, he jumped out. Not bad for first time. Of course he ran through the doggie door before I had a chance to dry him off first. Wet dog with wet ball all over the house.

We'll try again and I just might jump in there with him! 110 tomorrow.

Anyone try bobbing for weiner slices? Or carrot slices? Of course I have one who wants no part of water in any form except to drink, until....you drop ice cubes in it, and then he will immerse his whole head fishing those out! And he must get every one of them out. Go figure.