advice?

[Guest slvrlngs]

I posted before regarding puppy or rescue and got some great advice so here I go again!

We are a blended family of 6, my 9 year old (the youngest) and I are the animal people and we brought into the mix a lab, small mixed breed, 2 cats, and a lizard several years ago. 2 of the other 4 like animals but would not choose to live with one left to their own devices, the remaining 2 like having them around but are not as crazy as my son and I are. Well,now we are without any dogs and it is going to drive me nuts. The lab was my son's best friend and he was hit almost 2 years ago when the electricity was out and he got though the invisible fence, he was too smart for his own good . He still cries for him at night and I'm looking for a new little buddy for him. We live in town now and I want a smaller dog and the cairn seems just perfect for us. I know terriers are special and a little headstrong. Everyone loved the lab and I want to make sure I'm making a choice that everyone will enjoy living with, crazy non-animal people and normal animal people! I don't want to sound like the others don't like animals, they just aren't as tolerant for the hair, accidents, etc. that come with it.

I've been checking out this forum for weeks, learning from and laughing with you all. I would really appreciate any insight or experiences you could share!

Thanks! Robin

[MikeC]

Hi Robin,

Duffy is my first Cairn after years of having Springer Spaniels. As you mentioned, Cairns are headstrong, definitely with minds of their own, but they are also intelligent, loving and loyal! They are also very sturdy little dogs and they don't shed. You may want to do some reading up on the breed as a whole as I'm sure I did not cover everything in this post. I am very happy with my decision to have a Cairn as my canine companion. They are wonderful little dogs.

MikeC

[CarCarDawn]

Hi! I am positive that even your non-animal family would grow to love a Cairn - - - they are special lil guys!!

[toomanypaws]

Hi Robin,

I know exactly what you mean about some people not being "dog" people. From my own experience, my sister and family really don't care for our cairns. I know, this may shock some, but my sister married a man who thought a dog's place was in the yard Before my cairns, I had a lab that everyone loved. Even my sister let me bring him for a visit (she lives 7 hrs away). After my first lab died, I got a 2nd one which was once again welcomed by my sister and family, especially the kids. My BIL (brother-in-law) tolerated his visits but expected him to stay put on this beach towel. When I got my first cairn, my sister and BIL came for a visit. They both talked to the lab but totally ignored little Kiara. I couldn't believe someone couldn't like a cairn! Kiara was (and still is) always well behaved inside. I couldn't believe anyone could resist her cute face!

I now have 3 cairns and the only one my sister made a fuss about on her last visit was the youngest one, who was only a few months old at that time. My sister actually had the nerve to say that the lab can visit anytime, like I'm suppose to dump the cairns on the road. Sometimes I can't believe we're from the same mother! My mom and dad LOVE our cairns, they LOVE dogs and have 2 themselves.

I personally think a cairn is the perfect pet. I'm only telling you about my sister and family because not everyone likes little dogs. The funny thing was when my BIL was last here, it was him who the cairns demanded attention from. I once even said to him to please just say hello to them. A cairn demands attention and may or may not work in your situation.

Please keep us updated.

[Guest slvrlngs]

You all love your cairns so much, I can't imagine anyone not loving these cuties. We are going to keep checking out breeders and dog shows and I'm going to try to make a decision that is best for all of us and not let my heart rule

...yeah right, my heart always rules and my husband says "whatever makes me happy makes him happy! He's a smart man...

Thanks a bunch for all your help, I'll be back with more questions.

Robin

[Guest T.C.]

I'm not a cairn owner yet, but hope to be soon When selecting a family pet, my feeling is that it is best to have everyone involved in the decision that way everyone is on the same page and excited about the new addition to the family.

My hubby and I were familiar with a lot of breeds from showing and various k9 training classes. Our kids were not so familiar with all the breeds of dogs. Of course the best thing is to go to an all-breed show and talk to exhibitors whose dogs you each like. However, shows can be seasonal and unless you like to travel you may have to wait. In the meantime, if there is no show coming soon, get an all breed book from the library (the AKC Dog Breeds book with the standards in it is an excellent source) or go online. You can also take those online "select the best breed for you" quizzes, but I haven't really found them too helpful as the results vary widely from site to site. When your family has narrowed the list down to a few breeds everyone likes or even one or two of you REALLY like, then do more detailed research in breed specific books, go to shows as they come up, ask your vet about the breed - he or she will know how many and what type of health problems crop up and may even be able to recommend a breeder who is a "patient," any people you know who have that type of dog can be helpful. Eventually you will narrow the choice down to one or two and that's when you start contacting individual breeders or check out breed specific websites like this one At this point you will want to meet individual dogs/breeders to see what they are producing - everyone has a slightly different mental image of the standard's ideal specimen and personality/temperament they are aiming for in their breeding program, along with very personal beliefs about raising/training dogs - ideally you want to find someone who matches yours.

Good luck in your search!

[kayharley]

My mom was never much of an animal lover until we got Winnie 11 years ago. My mom adores her! Asks to "talk" to her when we're on the phone....and no, my mom is not senile!

When we got Madison last year I expected her to complain about the barking and the jumping when she comes over to visit but she loves Madison too. Laughs because Madison likes to lick her legs and she constantly feeds them treats from the table which we don't allow.

My sisters and neices came for a visit last month from out west and everyone just loved the girls. I honestly have not had anyone in my home say anything negative about them and they can be quite vocal and energetic with company.

Now next month I'm getting a third Cairn...a little boy. I figured that would put her over the edge (sounds like I'm trying to drive my mother crazy but I'm not, really I'm not!! )

First thing she says is "well, what are you naming him?" Go figure

[Scully'sMom]

Kayharley, I swear Madison and Scully were separated at birth - and I'm beginning to think your mother and mine were too! Scully lovesto catch someone getting out of the shower because she will lick every drop of water off your legs. She seems particularly fond of my next door neighbors toes

Their little idiosyncracies crack me up. Hard to believe so many pups here and they are so alike in so many ways.

[Eliz222]

My two love to lick my legs when I get out of the shower too! You would think I'm dripping with meat juices, the way they go at it! LOL!