Strange story of Cairn origins

[Sam I Am]

I know one thing .(at least I have heard this). That Schnauzers are the only terriers that did not originate in the British isles and originated in Germany. What I have read is that the Scottish Terrier was the "original" breed and off shoots from that breed are many of the current terrier breeds, including Cairns. However it seems to me that each breed claims they were the first!

[josie&holly]

I have a friend who has an Irish Terrier [Holly's best friend] and apparently their DNA is similar to Norwich/Norfolks.

[hheldorfer]

Josie&Holly - Thanks for the Yorkie information and for the link. I enjoyed the old drawings/paintings/photos. What a strange, sometimes shady past these little terrier breeds had! And how can you not love a breed that descended from a dog named "Old Crab"?

[cairnrescueleague]

I LOVE the name Old Crab!

[Idaho Cairns]

I LOVE the name Old Crab!

I do too! It is appropriate for my girls sometimes, they get along pretty well almost all of the time and then, suddenly, one of them makes the wrong move at the wrong time, growls or snarls incorrectly and it is Katy Bar the Door! I have never seen dogs as mercurial--there is a line, unknown and unseen by us, that when crossed creates a reckoning moment. It is almost like it is "that time of the month" and they just get, well, crabby!