New Cairn Dad

[Bruce's Dad]

So I am anxiously waiting to pick up my puppy Bruce from the breeder. he will be 8 weeks old on the 21st but she is holding him for us till xmas eve after the kids go to bed. This will be a new experience for me as the only pet's ever in my house were outside cats growing up and a hairless cat my ex had. I have read as much info as I can find online and am really looking forward to raising a Cairn. I was wondering if anyone has setup rock piles in their back yards to give their cairns something to play on. I'm not looking to do agility or earthdog competitions but I would like to let Bruce had a fun place to play that mimics the conditions that would be instinctive. I was figuring on a rock pile with safe supported tunnels underneath and maybe a flat top for him to lay on and overlook the yard. and with places to hide treats or toys. And any tips for a new owner would be appreciated.

[bradl]

Welcome! Sounds like you're planning to build a cairn for your Cairn. A terrific idea! I know folks who buy those Fisher Price play structures (the toddler-sized ones with a slide and a "castle" or whatever) at garage sales -- puppies love to explore things. Heck, even a foot-long length of 6" PVC pipe can be hours of fun.

If you would be open to another idea - A puppy that young takes A LOT of attention. (We generally kept ours until 12 weeks; I understand that not everyone feels as strongly about that as we do.) I obviously don't know your household or even the age or number of children, but Christmas day can be such a busy and eventful day that it is easy for what amounts to an infant Cairn puppy to get a bit lost in the excitement (or overwhelmed).

A really good way to introduce a puppy into a household during the holidays is to wrap a crate filled with toys, water and food dishes, maybe a book or two as the "puppy announcement" with perhaps even a visit to the breeder to meet the puppy. Then you can spend the day or even the next couple of days having the kids learn about the breed, establish care and handling expectations, and so on. Then bringing the puppy home can be the sole focus of the day.

Just a thought! Regardless, you are in for a delight. Puppies can be challenging (there's a reason they are So Cute) but they are very much worth the effort.

[Idaho Cairns]

I'll echo Brad's suggestion about delaying the introduction of the pup for a less "excited" day--especially if your children or under say 12 or so. All that excitement -- external or internal could really spook a puppy--even a normally brave little Cairn. I understand how neat it would be to gift this little beauty on Christmas morning but make sure you have a place to let the pup retreat to that is quiet and secure once the hubbub is over.

Your other suggestion is, in my mind, fabulous. We never know if our Cairns are going to be outdoorsy types and love the rocks and holes of the great out of doors but I would think that if you have the room and the will to create a cairn for a Cairn it would really be great for the dog. Our dogs love the outside and it is only this cold winter weather that keeps them indoors right now.

Whatever you decide, please keep us informed of how "Bruce" is doing. I love Cairn and Kid stories so keep 'em coming.

[Bruce's Dad]

Thanks for the info. Our kids are 10, 7, and 10months. I had the same concern about the whole busy day thing but my wife really wants to. so i told her that i will be the one handling Bruce until he feels safe. i bought one of those 3'x3' play yards with a door for his bed and bowls and such and have every intention of letting him have what space he needs... lucky for me the they tend to just open all their gifts and then retreat to their rooms to play so as much as i know they will enjoy the new puppy i know that the other items will have their attention after they meet Bruce. and its usually quiet in our house xmas day as my wife has to go to her grandmothers and such and i informed her that i will be staying with Bruce all day. with my personality i tend to research everything to its fullest and like structure so i had the whole day planed out (with his best interests in mind) the day we put a deposit on him...

[Idaho Cairns]

Jason, sounds like you have planned well and, who knows, maybe the pup will actually enjoy and join in with the festivities--I know our last little one that came a week before Christmas sure did. You should be able to tell when and if the pup needs some away time. Lots of pictures for us so we can have the vicarious fun of seeing the kids with their surprise gift--how neat that is going to be for them!

[Bruce's Dad]

Will do with the pictures!!! and i think in my subconscious he's my gift to myself lol.. On a side note, has anyone had any experience with giving their cairns Orijen? Like i said i research like crazy and have been going over ingredients and nutrition contents of foods... i really want to keep him in optimal health and i know that proper nutrition is a first step, along with proper exercise and grooming... my ex is a vet tech and has worked at some very good clinics including the one that was on animal planet, the emergency show, anyway every vet seems to recommend something different and i was in retail and commercial sales for 9 years so i know how people will recommend stuff if they will get kick backs from the manufacturer. so i take vet recommendations with a grain of salt.

[dianer]

Sorry I don't know about Orijen. I will be looking forward to photos! We used to dig out a maze in the snow during the winter for our cairn just for fun. Now we don't have snow where we are, at least not that lasts. I don't have any tunnels here, too many black widow spiders.

[Ivy & Lucy's Mom]

I have always fed my cairns and golden retrievers Wellness Brand-it is excellent and the puppy formula is easily tolerated by young puppies. Ivy was just a puppy last Christmas. You will love your cairn-they are awesome and fit right into the family (they let you know they are just as important as the other members of the family

[Bruce's Dad]

Sorry I don't know about Orijen. I will be looking forward to photos! We used to dig out a maze in the snow during the winter for our cairn just for fun. Now we don't have snow where we are, at least not that lasts. I don't have any tunnels here, too many black widow spiders.

Yeah i live in the desert so we have them to but i was planning engineering in a way to flush out the tunnels just for that reason.

[Lynn in TN]

You are in for a real treat. What a cutie to add to the collection on this forum. Brad nailed it when he said they were cute for a reason. (to keep you from ringing there little necks)lol They get even cuter as they learn how to wrap you around their little paws.

We wanted to get a dog for our kids so my husband got her for my 40th birthday as I had always dreamed of having a Cairn.(I want another one) If you search the forum though you will find words like Jaws,vampire, little devil attached to most pups on the forum. Be prepared for this it will probably start at about week 2. You won't really see your pups personality until then, and it will come through more and more through out the next month. I would say the thing you need more than anything is a good since of humor.

I love the cairn for you Cairn idea. That is great. They love tunnels and things.

We got our little Kelly at 8 and half weeks too, in June of this year. She has been the best little dog. Just remember if you need us we are here. feel free to post more pictures and video if you can do that. we love new little puppies. I can't wait for your big day and hope for many stories about little Bruce.

side note: When I read his name was Bruce all I could think of was the shark Bruce on Finding Nemo. lol

(you might not find that funny now but you will.)

[pkcrossley]

your cairn for you cairn is a VERY sweet idea. i would just say that whatever your plans inside or out remember that cairns, especially baby cairns (and they are babies in some ways until about 3 years old) are escape artists. whatever you arrange, remember that cairns can climb, and they fly. keep trying to think ahead of bruce (good luck), and always ask yourself, now when he gets out of this, where will he be?

[Tuesday]

LOL @ PK and Lynn.

Baby Cairns do fly and I totally missed the Bruce the Shark correlation. Bruce's Dad will TOTALLY get that reference very, very soon. You'll have about a week of sleep and lethargy, then watch out!

[Hawkeye]

Sounds like you have done your homework on these rascally little ones. Bruce is a real cutie and yes, please post more pictures - we love puppy pics. The dog food is really a personal preference, I do know that Orijen is a very good brand and what works really well for one dog may not for another. My suggestion would be to find out what brand the breeder is using and then get some of that for the homecoming. After a couple of weeks you can start to transition to another brand, but do it slowly and mix the two at first. Bruce is going to be having a lot of firsts so you may not want to change his diet right away.

This is such an exciting time for you and your family, take loads of pictures and enjoy it.

[hheldorfer]

Welcome and congratulations on the new addition to your family. Cairns are amazing, frustrating, intelligent and hilarious. Keep us posted!

[sanford]

has anyone had any experience with giving their cairns Orijen?

Congratulations! Bruce has a face that will melt anyone's heart! I have no personal experience with Orijen, But I believe it is considered to be a premium dog food. If you google "premium dog foods" you'll come up with some good sites that objectively rate & grade the foods. There are a good amount to choose from.

[Dempsy's Mom]

Fun! Congrats on Bruce and Welcome.

[pindrop]

Welcome to the forum and you will find tons of related topics on pretty much everything. I can imagine your excitement as it was mid-November last year that we brought Layla home. At the time, she was our sole focus as we are both retired and it was all a bit of a blur of activity. Most of us will tell you what sweet little babies they are as their personality starts to emerge. It was a struggle at times as to who the boss would eventually be but as both hubby and I made a pact on consistency things pretty much worked out over time. I feel the most important thing to have is a crate (and a leash) - where they can have time out for everyone's sake. Because your family has such youngsters, it will require constant attention that the little nips from those needle sharp teeth are kept to a minimum and that alone will keep you on your toes. I just know that given time, patience and consistency this new member will be a sheer joy for everyone. Insofar as a cairn pile, we are very fortunate that we live in an area when old-time farmers would clear their fields and make rock walls with the stones. Every day we walk in the forest and Layla will walk atop of these to get a better view of what is over the hillside. She climbs these with such ease and grace so I'm sure your little guy will love them too. Best of luck next week and looking forward to hearing how your Christmas morning went.

[Zekey's Mom]

Man, to be a kid at Christmas and get a puppy. Could life get any better?? Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you're taking all the proper precautions to ease Bruce's foray into your family. How exciting!!

Can't wait to see the pictures, and hear the story behind the name. (Bruce Almighty perhaps?)

[tlwtheq]

Welcome to the Cairn community! I love the name Bruce; more and more people are naming

their pups human names. I think that's great.

You are in for a lot of challenges, but also for a lot of love and a lot of fun. We'll all be

here for you whenever you need us.

Will be interested to see how Bruce reacts to whatever structure you build for him.

Tara, Proud Mum of Olie, Teddy, and Sweet Pea.

[lindasue]

Welcome, and Bruce certainly is a cutie. We got Pegi 2 years ago, the night after my twin daughters had their Sweet 16th (Halloween party). There were 6 girls sleeping over when I snuck out early to pick up the little devil. My daughters knew absolutely nothing about it! It was great! There were kids here all day (boys shortly joined girls when they heard there was a new puppy in the house). She adapted beautifully, and we even made a trip to Petco (like I hadn't loaded up on puppy toys); but somehow didn't get the pink rhinestone collar....

My advise - take him out frequently, make sure he gets enough rest, get him a harnass and good leash for walking, and hide all the shoes, underwear and socks. (You will see)........

[Bruce's Dad]

Thanks for the welcomes all. As far as the name, I was looking for names of Scottish origin and Bruce just stuck out. and my wife didn't like my first choice of Hamish. Heck she didn't even let me name our son that LOL... my father's side of the family traces it origins to Scotland so i stayed with a theme LOL, (My sons name is Logan Stewart M.)

[tomatosandwich]

Another welcome! I can't wait to hear how the introduction goes and see pics! Your kids are going to have a fantastic Christmas!