Warning: Graphic pictures (Puppies)

[DemiSheep]

Ok, so my wife emailed a breeder and said we were interested in cream colored cairn terrier puppies (female), and the breeder said that yes she has cream colored ones. The breeder then emailed these pictures:

and

Well, these puppies look exactly like Attila did when he was a puppy and Attila is wheaten! In fact the mom here looks just like Attila (color)!

Can these puppies turn out to be cream colored?

[DemiSheep]

Going ahead and putting these in a separate post. Here are Attila's litter pictures from when he was born almost a year ago.

Second picture looks a little dark...

[Idaho Cairns]

I have always believed that Wheaten was "Cream colored"! If you asked me what I meant by "Wheaten", I would start by saying "It is a sort of a creamy blond color."

[TazTalk]

Well, our Taz is definitely a wheaton (Straw) colored.

Gypsy is "off-white" which may be cream also? She's so light that some people mistake her for a Westie (with dark ears). As a pup, her outer puppy fuzz was very dark, but the inner fur was light.

This pic is Gypsy at age 13 with Taz at about 9 weeks.

I think it's very hard to predict. We thought Taz was going to be much darker than he ended up.

It's a grab bag

[Lynn in TN]

There is Never a guarantee on a Cairns color. They do look like they will be wheaten to me and the Mother looks wheaten. Good luck on finding a certain color and actually getting that color cause even later they can surprise you and change. Kelly's Father looked wheaten until he was nine months old and started changing to black with a hint of gray. The breeder told me it was the first time it had ever happened to her in her years of breeding and she wanted me to know in case Kelly changed and didn't want me to take her if I would be disappointed if she turned black.

[hheldorfer]

It's common to see a big change between puppy color and adult color, not only in Cairns but in many breeds of dogs. Bedlington Terriers, for example, are born very dark - almost black - and then become light silver-gray as adults. As Taz said, it's a grab bag with Cairns. Even as adults their color may change.

Personally, I would grab any one of these adorable pups in an instant, whatever their color.

[Hawkeye]

I have learned that you can never be sure what color they will end up when getting a cairn pup. Bailey (avatar left) was a red/Wheaton when we picked him at (8 months) and has been turning darker ever since. He is now black/gray. Radar is getting dark too as he is fast approaching 2 yrs.

I agree with hhelderfor, grab one of those puppies and don't worry about the color.

[DemiSheep]

We'd prefer a lighter colored cairn, but the biggest thing we just didn't want two dogs the exact same color because then no one would be able to tell them apart except us.

The breeder told my wife: "Cream & wheaton are pretty close in color they are blondes, just lighter and darker other wise there are brindles which turn darker with age. If you clip Cairns they turn lighter."

We're thinking about sticking with the Westie idea. My wife really wants a light colored dog. We also want to stay with the cairn breed, which Westies basically are.

We want to get Attila's little sister sometime late March or a little later.

Newer picture of Attila (He's turning into a lap dog hehehehehe):

[Tuesday]

Very cute puppies. No two Cairns are going to be alike, and as everyone is saying, they will change with time.

If you wife wants a white dog, then get her the Westie. Not really a Cairn, but a sweet dog. My Mom has one, and she's very sweet and very white (and pink). The one thing though is that she doesn't have that special something that makes Cairns Cairns, but then again, she's not a Cairn, she's a Westie.

[Dempsy's Mom]

Attila's as cute as a bugs ear. (funny little saying isn't it) Attila will be overwhelmed when baby sister arrives - make sure to take pics. The puppies are adorable - I hope they all find wonderful homes - I think I like the idea of "grab puppies" - whatever will be will be. Good luck on your selection - Westie or Cairn.

[Zekey's Mom]

So, so cute! Love their pudgy little bellies.

Well, there IS one way to be certain that the color of the dog won't change... adopt an older brother or sister for Atilla. Not as cute as a puppy, I know, but there are many fine, light-colored Cairns out there, waiting for homes. And, many of them are already house trained and past the chewing stage. Just sayin'.

[josie&holly]

Or if you want a different coloured dog go for a dark Cairn - Holly is red brindle and when stripped looks wheaton/red but then gets darker which I think makes it so interesting working out what colours are in her coat - why restrict yourself to light coloured or a white Westie [most of those I see are mucky white anyway - especially round feet and mouth!]

[bradl]

Westies may indeed be a better choice for you, if color is important.

[Lynn in TN]

I could never have a white dog. We are way to messy and we like to let our dogs be dogs digging rolling in the mud all the things most dogs like to do. A white dog is a lot of work to keep clean. My sisters dog was half terrier half poodle and was white. To keep the tear stains away she had to clean her eyes constantly by that I mean more than 3 times a day. Mud and dry dirt stained her fur. Food would stain her fur. We loved her just the same so don't get me wrong. I still miss her greatly and she has been gone 2 years but I am not sure I would ever get a white dog on purpose, especial having 2 sons that are very messy. Just something to think about.

[remltr]

Demi these images are so graphic they verge on puppie porn, I had to avert my eyes.

[Rohnda]

Atilla looks like she's turning into a possible "lap top," as opposed to lap dog! The puppy pictures are wonderful!

[DemiSheep]

Atilla looks like she's turning into a possible "lap top," as opposed to lap dog! The puppy pictures are wonderful!

hahaha that's great - "lap top"

The secret to turning him into a "lap top" is the treats sitting on the end tables. . .

[KShep]

Those puppies are TOO PRECIOUS!

I think Ripley has that cream color you are thinking of. Cairn color confuses me (I know that sounds ridiculous!). I normally think wheaten-light, brindle-dark but I know it's more complicated than that.

Check out this website- I wouldn't think to call that light color "light brindle". I would simple say "wheaten".

http://www.lachleen.dk/uk/Farver.htm

Also, here are the color changes a cream-colored Cairn (aka Ripley) experiences in the first year of her life.

8 weeks

Approx 6 months (maybe younger, I don't remember when this picture was taken)

1 year

[DemiSheep]

Thanks KShep for the pictures and everyone for their input. My wife and I are aiming for sticking with the Cairn breed at this point. My wife is going to look into what our options are this weekend. The color should be different from Attila and she will be smaller since the males are larger than the females and she is sure to have a pink collar.

Attila will be 1 year old in just over a month from now.

[Zekey's Mom]

...she is sure to have a pink collar.

That's too funny!!! Shame they don't make grey Cairns. I have a grey cat who looks great in a pink collar. Can't wait to see the eventual pictures of this little girl wearing all the frou-frou outfits!!

[tlwtheq]

Aw, you had to go and post adorable pics..all of you. For shame.

Ahhh, good thing I have my three sitting next to me here on the couch.

(I'm about to get up, so Olie is going to swipe my seat in less than ten seconds. )