No Cairn Products!

[janis]

We were on a little vacation this past week. We went to the Great Smokey Mountains with friends. The girls of course spent several of the days shopping. I was so excited to find three shops dedicated to dogs and pets in general! At last, I thought, I'll get a Cairn sticker, cup or calender! Not to be found! Dogs of all kinds, but NO CAIRNS! HAAAAAA! The ONLY Cairn I saw was in a, you guessed it, "Wizard of Oz" display! How disappointing! When you ask people say "What's a Cairn?" When you say like Toto, they understand but they act like he must have been the only Cairn ever! Cairn Awareness shop people!

[sanford]

Be careful what you wish for! It may be a good thing that cairn terriers are low on the public's radar. If breed recognition is low, cairns will be less attractive to indiscriminate backyard breeders & inhumane puppy mills. You can find lots of cairn terrier items, memorabilia, collectibles online .

[janis]

True Sanford, I hadn't thought about it that way.

[Lynn in TN]

Janis, I have the same which is nothing. I got a pet holiday wish book in the mail. It has all kinds of stuff for dogs, toys,beds and stuff for humans that have pictures of different breeds on them and you guessed it not one CAIRN! Not even Toto.

[bradl]

If you can make it to any BIG dog shows in your area, you may find some vendors who specialize in collectibles. They often have cool stuff (prints, ceramic pieces, etc.). Many dog show vendors also create a lot of modern stuff in all the breeds - wind chimes, weather vanes, leash hangers, tapestries, wall plates, handbags, garden art, rings, pins, brooches, etc. Often there will be an artist who will paint a picture of your dog (using a photo you provide) onto a jacket or other clothing. Also custom embroidery, greeting cards, posters, prints, etc.

Admin note: dear vendors who find this post by search engine, etc. Registering and posting to promote your products is not permitted and will actually get you insta-banned. Sorry! Let us find you organically.

[Lynn in TN]

Thanks Brad!

[janis]

Oh Brad! That would have been shopping heaven!

[Meggie]

Is anyone here familiar with Etsy.com (Don't ban me Brad! ) It's a handmade online market (although some people sneak in and resell common items)

If you search "cairn terrier" some cute, unique stuff shows up!

Also if you search "custom pet portrait" there's a lot of great artists in all sorts of styles where all you have to do is email them a pic and they'll mail you the work! It's a great way to get something no one else will have and support some starving artists.

I got Hubble's tag on there and artists sell EVERYTHING your dog could need (leashes, custom bowls, coats, treats etc) or doesn't need but you think it does 99% of the items are going from someone's home to yours!

Uhoh...I just found a woman who makes embroidered Cairn Christmas ornaments in wheaten and black/brindle!

[utgaard]

Many dog show vendors also create a lot of modern stuff in all the breeds - wind chimes, weather vanes, leash hangers, tapestries, wall plates, handbags, garden art, rings, pins, brooches, etc.

Cairn weather vane! Cairn leash hanger! The things I never knew I needed until I found this group.

[jimnconnie]

Janis-

We have ordered several items from http://www.cafepress.com/ Type cairn terrier in the search box and you'll find lots of good stuff!

Jim

[bradl]

Ha! I actually have a cafepress cairn terrier page open in another tab at this very moment (I was looking for a particular image I was sure must have been turned into something).

[Idaho Cairns]

I've always had good luck on line finding Cairn "stuff"--as of right now, Ebay is showing some 5700 items under a general search for "Cairn Terrier" and Amazon 4111 items. I have found some neat old prints, signs, knick knacks, books, etc. with these kind of searches.

I find it interesting to just browse these sites because there are several older images of Cairn Terriers to look at and it is really interesting to see how much the breed has changed, appearance and grooming wise over the last century. I see pictures of Cairns that really show a lineage from the Scottish Terrier in terms of the heads and length of body. It's fun, give it a try.

On the other point, I kinda like the "exclusiveness" of having a Cairn--don't run into many around here but there are a few and I find a surprising number of people recognize ours when we are out for walks although the phrase "They are Cairn Terriers, you know, 'Toto Dogs'" is still the most common response we give.

[Lynn in TN]

Thank you all. I am really enjoying these sites and now i am finding great Cairn stuff. I don't know what I would do with out you all. Thanks again.

I also like the exclusiveness of having a Cairn. Except when I go someplace and pass a lot of people. I usually come home hoarse from saying "She is a Cairn Terrier, Like Toto from The Wizard Of Ozz" Then I get so many other questions. I went to a local Park recently and a walk that normally takes me 20 minutes took me 1 hour and 20 minutes to complete because everyone that I passed had to love on her and ask a lot of questions.Which really doesn't bother me but after repeating it 30 times or more which I did that day I was so hoarse from talking so much. If I ever saw someone that had trouble talking and making friends with people I would advise them to get a Cairn. I don't believe they would have that problem ever again. lol

[Meggie]

Isn't it funny how much attention these guys get?

Being in the city we encounter so many people on a walk. People come up to us to ask about him or we overhear comments "Look! Like Toto!" or what's oddly common is someone will mention what they would name Hubble "That's a Fido." "He looks like a Rover!" Always vintage, nostalgic doggie names

I think part of it is they look like such child story book characters My bf's boss said upon meeting Hub "He looks like some magical woodland creature" as she swooned (my favorite remark ever).

They ring some whimsical, pleasant memories in people, I suspect. Maybe a book they were read or a movie where a scruffy dog saved the day.

Lynn, I'm sure you don't remember but I said once as much attention as Hubble got as a puppy, it has only increased the older he gets. SO enjoy your 2 hour walks in the park soon

[finncaraid]

Try looking for vintage Scottie stuff. Lots of it from the 30's & 40's looks more like a Cairn than a Scottie. It's, of course, done in profile & you can see it's not a Scottie. Found 1/2 of a wonderful chalk bookend set at a flea market recently & the vendor was selling it as a Scottie. If you don't know your terriers, it could almost be a Scottie. But it looks just like Finn except it's an ivory shade. As for newer stuff, lots of Westie stuff done in wood or metal looks more like a Cairn. Bought a sterling charm for my bracelet that was supposed to be a Westie but, again, it looks just like Finn. I'm in the antiques business so I'm constantly on the lookout for old stuff. And, of course, I gotta look for Cairn stuff while hunting. I've started quite a cool accumulation since Finn happened upon the scene. Since the Wizard of Oz was such a big hit back in '39, there's a lot of stuff that was made around then to resemble Toto. Of course, not everybody knows that now.

[sanford]

Found 1/2 of a wonderful chalk bookend set at a flea market recently & the vendor was selling it as a Scottie. If you don't know your terriers, it could almost be a Scottie. But it looks just like Finn

Coincidence!... I just ordered the attached chalk bookends I found on ebay yesterday. They were described as "Scottie", but I think they can pass for cairn. I liked the detail in the carving and the stylized scottie/cairnish appearance.

I wonder if we both got the same thing.

[finncaraid]

Those are great!! They do have a Cairn look to them, don't they? The one I got is a full body profile: it's very cute but not as detailed as yours. Love 'em!!

[JohnS33]

etsy web site has some cute things-

[finncaraid]

I think part of it is they look like such child story book characters

They ring some whimsical, pleasant memories in people, I suspect. Maybe a book they were read or a movie where a scruffy dog saved the day.

Think they must appeal to the "inner child" in all of us. I've met adults who've told me that they had a Cairn as a child & it was the best dog they ever knew. I've also met these same adults parents who've told me it was the most impossible dog they ever knew. After living with a Cairn now for almost 15 months, these opinions make sense. They may have their moments but, overall, they are the best dogs on the planet. When I meet people now who tell me they'd love to live w/a Cairn, I keep both perspectives in mind when explaining how life is with one. I feel like if they obviously have a sense of humor they'd appreciate the personality of these "magical" creatures. And how else could you describe them? Even on a really bad day, they make you smile & laugh out loud. That's pretty magical to me.

[janis]

Hi Guys,

I've been working some crazy hours and have only been on on off the site briefly! When I opened it up tonight I found all your wonderful suggestions for finding carinish things! What fun. I believe I will copy these sites to my family for Christmas gift suggestions!

[bradl]

Admin note: oops, had to disappear a post, per forum guidelines on fundraising. Sorry!

[josie&holly]

Sorry Bradl - did realise after posting................

[lindasue]

I get the same comments all the time - "what kind of dog is she?". I say cairn terrier; they look at me like I have 3 heads; I say a Toto dog, and the light bulb goes off. Women, however, always wistfully say "I wish I could have my hair highlighted like hers".....

[_whits_]

This is not Cairn specific, but I found the cutest ornament at Hallmark the other day. It's a frame ornament in the shape of a bone with 2011 engraved in it. A nice little way to have your Cairn in your tree.