Cairns are smart!

[newcairn]

This is my first Cairn, my wife grew up with one and I grew up with a lab so my experience with them is limited to my new pup. I have to say that this dog is leaps and bounds smarter, and quicker to learn than any Lab I have come across, including the one I grew up with. Digby is now 16 weeks old and completely housetrained, sitting on command, coming when called (although sometimes he tests me) and I have spent little time with training since we are in the middle of a move-maybe in 5 minute spurts. I just had to share with my fellow Cairn lovers that this is the most intelligent breed I have had the pleasure to deal with.

I think the biggest thing I have noticed so far with Cairns is how well they read body language. Labs are just out to please all the time, where a Cairn seems to be more in tune with the owner.

So far my first 3 weeks with my pup has been nothing short of a pleasure, and I don't know how we lived without him. Now if I could just figure out to post pictures on this site so everyone could see him. Do I have to register or something? Is there a fee associated with registering?

Thanks!

[CallisMom]

They are smart!!! I think the difference between the Cairns and the labs - as you will probably soon find out - Cairns are extremely independent. They train quickly and easily and then suddenly toss it all out the window if it doesn't fit their will, whereas once that lab is trained, it is usually trained!! Ah - but that is what makes life with Cairns so interesting!! Calli's very best friend in the whole world is a lab!! I don't dare tell Calli that she isn't one!

[bradl]

I sure agree with your impression of Cairns. My wife grew up with a Cairn and I was introduced to them through her - oh my, has my life changed for the better.

Re pictures: there is a sub-forum dedicated to, er, forum support (Forum Support) that has a pinned topic on how to insert pictures into posts. Can't wait to see Digby.

Digby Digby. I just love that name. Perfect for a Cairn.

[Mama Kim]

I agree, Brad, about the name Digby. How appropriate for a Cairn!! And yes, they are smart. Sometimes too smart.

[Scully'sMom]

newcairn, welcome to the club! I grew up with beagles since my dad and brother hunted and when I got my first Cairn I wasn't sure what they would be like. I was more than pleasantly surprised and have been in love with the breed ever since.

I'm "digging" the name as well (boo-hiss) Great choice!

[mayos]

I've been reading your comments about cairns and agree with all of them! My wife and I have had Pekingese and Shih Tzue (I know that isn't the correct spelling) and my brothers & sisters have had Labs, etc. and our Cairns are by far the best. The are intelligent and train quickly. Although ours always seem to ask "what's in it for me?" before they obey a command. We have never had dogs we have enjoyed as much as our Rick and Elise.

We researched several breeds prior to purchasing our Cairns, so I knew they loved to dig. So I built them a sandbox in our back yard....they absolutely love it! My wife isn't so crazy about the sand that gets tracked into the house, but all in all I think it's saving our back yard. I think if I could harness all that earth-moving energy, I could open up my own trenching business, and not need any heavy equipment, only our Cairns.

[MikeC]

Do any of your Cairns dig on you? If Duffy knows I have a piece of paper, preferably kleenex in my pocket, he will lay on his side next to me and start trying to dig the paper out. He also attempts to dig up the carpet in the living room. I agree with mayos. A couple hundred of these little excavators could probably dig a hole the size of Hoover Dam!

MikeC

[toomanypaws]

Well I may be in the minority here defending Labs and will be careful w/ my words being this IS a Cairn forum. First off, let me welcome you to this great group of Cairn parents. The only little dog my heart has a place for is a Cairn. I might add that I have had 14 1/2 yrs experience owning Labs and 3 1/2 yrs owning Cairns. I really can't compare the two as I find both of them extremely smart. I do find Labs to be more trusting and while Cairns are obedient, as they get older you'll find that they'll have to think about it before obeying, as if to say, "I heard what you said and I'm thinking about it for a minute before I act." I find both Labs and Cairns love to please but a Cairn also loves to be pleased on his terms and yes, he does ask "what's in it for me?". A Lab never tests you like a Cairn, but that's part of the Cairn intelligence.

While I'll always own a Lab, I love Cairns so much that I now have 3, yes 3 of these cuties running through my house. Kiara is 3 1/2, Abbey is 9 mths and Hannah is 4 mths and each of them has such a different personality. My Lab seems to smile as he gets kisses from "the girls".

Digby is a really good name! Kiara is the real digger. For now, the 2 younger ones just enjoying digging in their beds and hiding their favorite toys from eachother.

[abe's dad]

Abe will dig on anything that will sit still...hardwood floors, us if we smell like food, the furnture ,the yard and the list goes on. We also experience the Cairn attitude of selective hearing as my wife calls it you know he hears you and still he wants to obey on his terms. But we still wouldn't trade him for anything. Abe came into our lives about 4 months after our Collie of 14 years passed away . My wife and youngest daughter took the longest for him to work his way into his own special place in their hearts but he now firmly planted there and growing.

[CarCarDawn]

Hi! I have raised labs and golden retrievers all my life - - never had a small dog before - - - I must say that Riley is unbelieveably special. Given a choice - - I would never have anything but a Cairn - - - he is affectionate, devoted, playful, energetic, somewhat well-behaved - - - - and such a personality!!! He is way too smart for a dog - - - I know he understands everything I say!!! It's like having a kid in the house around Christmas time - - you have to spell everything!!!

[osuvicki]

It is amazing sitting watching Grace hunt squirrels in the backyard. Her learning curve is facinating. Over the last month she has learned to run in a low crouch...and stop mid-run until the squirrel feels safe again...and then resume the run. She also has figured out that they always run for the tree...so instead of chasing them...she heads for the tree and then turns into their path! Thank God squirrels can turn on a dime and run fast.....she has missed a couple by inches...although she did get a chipmunk about a week ago.

[newcairn]

Thanks for the kind words everyone, I am sure Digby will appreciate it. It is funny how we picked the name, we were researching names and meanings and we came upon Digby. It means " a settlement near a ditch"-which he is working on creating many of. We just bought our new home at the same time we bought the pup so we thought this was appropriate.

Bradl-I would love to post pictures of Digby for everyone but it seems I do not have the upload feature available to me when I post on the forums. Is this because I am not registered? Unfortunately, I do not have a website I can upload to either. Can you tell me a little more about registering and what it costs to do so? Thanks again!

-Jeff, Karen, & of course Digby

[bradl]

You're already registered -- it costs nothing. The pictures you see here are not uploaded here, they are uploaded on various sites and simply referenced using IMG tags. So far the two free services that Cairn Talk folks have said work for them are these:

www.photobucket.com and www.imageshack.us

You would have to go to one of those sites -- or some other similar site -- to learn how to upload pictures using their systems. Once you have the URL (address) of the picture you want to share, you can follow the instructions in the forum support area here -- Inserting Pictures Into Posts -- to, um, insert pictures into posts.