Hello again, and some Q's about a 2nd Cairn.

[steveb]

Hello!

First up, can't believe it's 2.5 yrs since I was last here. I wouldn't suspect anyone to remember but I was here when we first bought Jack home, a Cairn/border cross (there was some debate about what he was crossed with!). He's nearly three now and thriving. Calmed down a lot but still a classic mischievous Cairn!

Anyway, he adores the company of other dogs and we've been thinking for sometime to get him a friend. Yesterday we started tentatively looking around, mainly rescue homes for an older dog, but happened to put a call into the breeder we got him from, and fate took over: His mother is two weeks from birthing, so we have put our names down for one of the pups. We will bring one of them home in about 3 months or so.

Now, Jack is happy with other dogs in the house, about six months ago we had a stray stay with us for two days and she even slept in Jacks bed, Jack was completely happy with this and slept next to her! We're obviously going to introduce the new pup carefully into the house, but figure there will be some rules and guide lines for bring a pup, not a grown dog, in to the house. We're going to adopt the same technique as with Jack: Crate in utility room over night, let out to wee twice over night (extreme I know, but worked with jack, house trained in 10 days! Actually think it it was some on here suggested doing it), only allowing into the rest of the house as trained and as Jack feels comfortable, and so on.

What I'm a bit more concerned about is playtime. I remember Jack as a pup had teeth like razors, and loved to nip. Obviously the new pup will be the same, but whilst we know it's normal Jack won't, and I'm worried about his reaction the first time it happens. What are the guidelines for mixing a pup with a grown dog?

The advice I got here when we bought Jack home was invaluable, so I'm all ears for more help as we introduce the new pup.

Oh ya, sex, which mix better: Boy/girl or two boys? Jack mixes with both, but seems more at ease with boys, which might already answer that Q!

And finally, not forgetting, the obligatory picture of Jack:

[kjwarnold]

How exciting for you! We introduced Kirby to our home when Packy was 4 years old, so it would be a similar situation. Packy met Kirby a few weeks before we took him home. We went to the breeders house and Packy ran around the fenced yard with Kirby and the other dogs and puppies. We particularly had him interact with Kirby. No problems at all.

When we went to pick up Kirby, Packy went along. We had two crates with us and each dog rode home in a crate. Unfortunately, Kirby got car sick. After two stops, I finally just held him on my lap in the front seat. He was fine there and Packy didn't really mind.

Once home, things went just fine. I think at first Packy thought Kirby was just visiting, since we often have people come stay for the weekend and bring their dogs. We did have a crate for Kirby and an ex-pen, which was great help. Kirby was very submissive to Packy in the first day or two, then he livened up and became a typical Cairn puppy. Packy was good with him and when Kirb got too rough, Packy let him know with a growl or even knocking him down. Always gentle though. It was so much easier raising a puppy with an adult dog around to help out!

Over the years, they've played and fought just like brothers. At 7 yrs. and 3 yrs. now, they each have a role. Kirby still has a lot of puppy in him, while Packy is pretty much a couch potato, unless he's fishing. Kirby is becoming the dominant dog except in certain areas where Packy really made an impression on him early on. Our bed is a good example. Kirby will not come up toward the head of the bed, but stays down at the foot for the most part. Everywhere else on that bed belongs to Packy!

It's been great fun having two Cairns. I love to watch them interact and play! DH wasn't too thrilled getting a second, but he loves Kirby to death now and really enjoys having them both. Good luck and have fun with that new member of your family!

[Newman]

WOW That definitaly looks like a CAIRN MIX!! got any papers?

This dog looks pimping!

[Lynn in TN]

Jack will know the puppy is being normal and he will probably nip it in the bud for you and unless he is going for the throat I would let him even though it is very hard. When we brought Kelly home a couple of months ago the best thing we did was take her to my Mothers/Sisters often. They have a Boston Terrier/ Chihuahua mix he was a stray they took off the street . We really didn't know how he would respond to her because they had only had him six months and never been around other dogs since they brought him home with them. At first he let her draw blood on him she was awful but then he started taking care of her when she would get to rough. It would sound awful and would scare me a little but at the same time I knew how he felt, so as long as he wasn't drawing blood I let him. It has been 2 and1/2 months and he hasn't hurt her and her bites are not as hard as they were. He was teaching her and it worked like a charm. They play together great now but he still has to correct her from time to time. LOL

I can't really say which sex mixes better I believe it has to do with the way dogs are raised from the time they are born.

[Jeff N Oscar]

Thanks for the picture....Jack is beautiful!!! Since he's a mix does he still require the normal gooming around his ears? They look flawless without a pinch of extra hairs!!

[Newman]

Jack looks like fonzy (my dogs) Dad.. lol Awesome!!!

[steveb]

Thanks for the comments.

Jacks coat is, to be blunt, a bit of a disaster. He's got the hind quarters of a cairn, the body of a border and main and head of a cairn. He has no soft outer fur, only the coarse stuff, and it grows so fast. For a year or so we tried to "manage" it with grooming and styling, now he gets a good 'ol clip 2-3 times a year. I swear he prefers it: Just after a clip he runs around for days preening, then as the coat gets longer he slows down. Heat perhaps?

When you say papers, what do you mean?

That floppy ear is always down. He slid at some speed into a wall at around 1yr, near knocked himself out, has concussion and everything. Made a full recovery but since then the ear has been floppy! Looks cute though. Around the same time he also nearly lost an eye when a dog attacked him. Vet says he's lucky to have kept it let alone it still work. We've been warned he'll most likely have issues with it as he gets older, but it doesn't seem to bother him at all.

This is Jack just after he's been clipped. Yes, he comes to work with me most days and likes to be in the thick of it.

[josie&holly]

I cannot answer the questions about adding another Cairn but I think Jack is a very handsome looking dog! His colouring is lovely.

He is obviously happy to be at work with you and make sure the computer behaves itself!

[KShep]

Jack will know the puppy is being normal and he will probably nip it in the bud for you and unless he is going for the throat I would let him even though it is very hard. When we brought Kelly home a couple of months ago the best thing we did was take her to my Mothers/Sisters often. They have a Boston Terrier/ Chihuahua mix he was a stray they took off the street . We really didn't know how he would respond to her because they had only had him six months and never been around other dogs since they brought him home with them. At first he let her draw blood on him she was awful but then he started taking care of her when she would get to rough. It would sound awful and would scare me a little but at the same time I knew how he felt, so as long as he wasn't drawing blood I let him. It has been 2 and1/2 months and he hasn't hurt her and her bites are not as hard as they were. He was teaching her and it worked like a charm. They play together great now but he still has to correct her from time to time. LOL

I can't really say which sex mixes better I believe it has to do with the way dogs are raised from the time they are born.

Sometimes you have to let them sort these things out for themselves. You can interfere too much. They will most likely figure it out. My mother's dog is 13 and isn't interested in "playing" when Ripley comes over. I let him tell her off! He's never put his teeth on her, but he will "scream bark" and snap when he's had enough! Ripley will immediately roll over.

[Farcus]

I'm a big believer two dogs are easier than one. They are a pack animal so being in the pack comes natural to them along with hierarchy issues. I always had one dog and had friends tell me two were easier than one. I didn't believe them until I got a second dog, now I will always have two. I got my cairn as a companion for my Chesapeake Bay retriever, my first small dog. CBR's are notoriously thick headed and that is part of the reason I looked for a cairn. (I always wanted a Toto is the other reason.) Also cairns are an adventurous, hard working breed that I thought could keep up with my CBR. Maybe I got lucky but they are great together. My $.02 is go with two dogs they'll be happier and it's easier on you. You know what they say about opinions and A holes.....? everyone has one. Hope that can help though. I did go with a female cairn however I have a male chessie and they are known to have "dominance issues".

[darkpantherbabe]

i too am looking into getting another doggie... i was told to get a male since sadie is a girl so that there is no alpha fighting. they each are alpha's. I hope this helps for it helped me... Now to decide if i want to rescue older or younger or just go all-out and buy a puppy from a breeder... I believe in adopting or going online to find a doggy in need of rescueing over buying from a breeder, but with that comes the risks of not knowing genetical history and medical history of said doggy. Which i got lucky with our sadie cause the ppl gave me their prior vet's information and i had her records transferred to our vet. I wish you all the luck in the world and i imagine she/he will be just beautiful!

And of course... Jack is a handesome boy... border terrier 'n cairn? or Brussels griffon 'n cairn mix? that floppy ear 'n pert ear are just tooo cute!! reminds me of lady 'n the tramp "tramp" and of course "scamp" from the sequel of lady 'n the tramp "scamps adventure".... Tramp 'n son Scamp both have that 1 floppy 'n 1 pert ears.

[Idaho Cairns]

It is not rocket science. Bring the puppy home and let the two interact, dogs are social animals and they will work out their relationship with each other as time goes by. Depending on the dog, the status can work out immediately for the entire time they are together or there will be a lengthy period of adjustment where they test each other. Hopefully it all transpire thru play but there can be some occasional conflict but you will see that and since you are the Alpha dog in the house, prevent it. If you have good control of your Jake, then it will be easy, he will follow your lead and your wishes. Enforce mellow.

[pkcrossley]

oh my gosh jack has grown up to be so handsome. i don't think the border terrier parent has had much influence, though it sounds like jack is a bit gentle and mellow compared to cairns (lucky you).

i agree with so many others, there will be much about the new situation that you won't be able to control. jack may stick up for himself and the puppy may learn something about being the younger dog in the house.

you say the new puppy will be jack's half-sibling --does that mean it will be all cairn, or all border, or half and half like jack?

i would guess --any cairn in the new puppy will bring out the cairn in jack. you can get yourself one of those umpire uniforms and a whistle.

[steveb]

Not rocket science? Phew, good job I asked the questions here not www.rocketscientistslife.com ;-)

Jack gets his mix from his mum, not father. His father was a pedigree cairn.

Thanks for the advice all.