It's a banana!

[Hillscreek]

Angus (seven months) shows off his banana tail so disliked by purists. Luckily few round here know what a Cairn Terrier is let alone that he has this despised tail............!

He was out hunting chipmunks in a friend's horse riding arena earlier today and very excited. Normally he holds his tail out straight or somewhat up behind him when he walks. He lets it fall when standing still.

And pretty tail or not he was serious about getting a chipmunk if only he could get down the narrow pipe they escaped in to. Such a lot of scratching and barking and threatening. Guess maybe I should go get him a rat.

He's getting his new coat coming back along the spine.

http://i1242.photobu...nthearena-1.jpg

[Idaho Cairns]

Angus looks like my beloved Sammi--banana tail and all! That's ok, they are both Cairns with Cairn personalities and attitudes and that is what counts here in the real world of Cairn appreciation.

[Newman]

Haha nice tail, fonzy has a huge banana tail also (it's really fluffy), ahah fonzy doesn't hunt chipmunks though, so you got yourself a special cairn

[Ron E]

Scruffy has the same tail, and it's always up and moving... she's one happy dog. She also loves hunting anything, on our walks we have to stop and look in every drain tube or hole, once in a while we get a lil critter and oh she's so proud.

Angus looks happy as can be, very cool Cairn.

[sanford]

Angus (seven months) shows off his banana tail so disliked by purists. Luckily few round here know what a Cairn Terrier is let alone that he has this despised tail............!

I never "despised" the banana tail. To me, it's an acceptable variation from the standard, much like a soft or wavy coat, or ears that might be a tad too long. These in no way detract from the intrinsic appeal of the cairn.

Of course, I may be biased because Ruffy also has a banana tail. Before I adopted Ruffy, the SPCA shelter sent me a photo of him. It was taken head-on from the front and his tail appeared straight in that view. In every way, the photo was adorable and I was sold on him before we even met! After a 5+ hour drive, when I finally got to meet Ruffy in person, the first thing I noticed was that his tail was actually banana-shaped when seen in profile, from the side. However, I was already smitten with his looks, animation & personality so I wasn't going to let an insignificant detail, (pardon the pun!) like the shape of his tail have any bearing on my decision to adopt.

Ever since that day, I've thanked my lucky stars that fate brought us together... banana tail and all!

[hheldorfer]

Count Buffy as one of the banana tail crowd. She holds it high - curly and proud - and I wouldn't trade her for anything in the world.

[Hillscreek]

Great to hear from other 'bananas'.

Long ago this tail was actually preferred. Vero Shaw describes a 'Hard-haired Scotch Terrier' in his 1879-1881 book entitled 'The classic encyclopedia of the dog' . This short haired terrier seems to have been very like our Cairns. Read it if you can get hold of it.

At the end of the chapter the points of a good Scotch Terrier describe a dog much like our present day Cairn (that name not given till much later of course).

Of the tail he says 'should not exceed 7 or 8 inches; it is covered with the same quality and length of hair as the body, is carried with a slight bend, and should not be docked'

I believe this tail is hard to breed out of a line. No doubt it has been carried down through the ages.

[kieiras mom]

Another beloved banana tail here.

[Dempsy's Mom]

Demps has a banana.

[sanford]

Long ago this tail was actually preferred... carried with a slight bend, and should not be docked'

I believe this tail is hard to breed out of a line. No doubt it has been carried down through the ages.

This is great news! Thanks for the info!

... Hey Bradl, If this keeps up, we may need to form our own sub-group of Proud Cairns with Banana-Shaped Tails!

[Hillscreek]

Here's a note for you special people with banana tail Cairns. Others might be interested also.

I just posted the rest of the description I quoted from above, in the forum on Best of Breed.

You'll see that if you have a red brindle you are doubly blessed

[Jack]

Banana Tail? Look at Jack in the avatar...I think it is endearing.

[Hillscreek]

Hey banana tail people. Look at these pictures of the old working Hard-haired Scotch terrier, later called the Cairn.

See the long body and curved tail. From a book by JWH Beynon and Alex Fisher called The Popular Cairn Terrier.

I got these from Maggie on the UK site. www.cairnterriertalk.co.uk. She has quotes from the Beynon/Fisher book which she is going to be listing on ebay - I guess the British ebay - soon.

[Newman]

Hey banana tail people. Look at these pictures of the old working Hard-haired Scotch terrier, later called the Cairn.

See the long body and curved tail. From a book by JWH Beynon and Alex Fisher called The Popular Cairn Terrier.

I got these from Maggie on the UK site. www.cairnterriertalk.co.uk. She has quotes from the Beynon/Fisher book which she is going to be listing on ebay - I guess the British ebay - soon.

that body is not very long though? the long body is at the bottom? the shortest body is the one you're talking about! :\

fonzy is a cairn but he is not that short of a body, long and a fluffy tail! I think he is special or something

wait arn't all of our dog's special? lol

[Tessie's Mom]

I read the thread and now Tessie and I will join the Proud Cairns with Banana-Shaped Tails

[sanford]

Welcome Tessie! You are lovely — tail and all!

[Idaho Cairns]

Aw, who cares--I have one of each--a carrot tail and a banana tail and darned if I know which is the most Cairnish of my two "sunshine girls"! I wouldn't change anything about either one of these great dogs!

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[Lynn in TN]

I agree Idaho! Kelly has the carrot tail and I love her dearly, if it was a banana I'ld still love her just as much.

[Tuesday]

Banana!!!!

[Hillscreek]

Great pics Idaho Cairns!

[Ivy & Lucy's Mom]

Idaho, your pictures are gorgeous!!!!!!

[Idaho Cairns]

Thanks! Being extremely prejudiced, I believe that the Cairn Terrier is the most photogenic of all dog breeds and am determined to prove it!

[Dempsy's Mom]

You are having fun with that camera. Beautiful pics.