Cairn Sizes

[Skylar]

When we got our little cairn she was really sick. After over a month of treatment she was finally able to do all the normal puppy things. A year later and she's doing well. The vet said her condition was rare and after treatment she would be like any other puppy. Unfortunately she did not grow as much. Im wondering if it was related to her being sick at a young age and being treated with prednisone. She's at 9.8lbs and according to her vet, healthy. I still worry though. When I see other cairn terriers they are just so much bigger and bulkier. Someone almost convinced me she wasn't a cairn. She is the love of my life and is super active. I just wanted to know if its normal to have cairns in the ten pound range, when the breed average is about 13lbs (female)

Edited March 6, 2015 by Skylar

[Hillscreek]

Many cairns seem to be bigger than the breed standard. My Angus is 16lbs.

But unless you plan to show him then bigger or smaller I don't think matters as long as he is healthy.

There's a little cairn not too far from here whose owners bought her from a pet shop to save her. They had owned a cairn in the past and couldn't bear to see her there each time they went to the store. She is only ten pounds full grown but is a cairn through and through. A healthy feisty lively little girl.

So I wouldn't worry. Love your little boy as he is. Wonderful that you were able to cure him and make him well. 

[Dayvo]

My Robby was about 10 lbs at a year old but he filled out some more over the next year or so to about 13 lbs .He has stayed there, give and take a little over the years. 

[pkcrossley]

i think that for a femaie with a history of puppy illness she is probably within the range of cairn size. she is absolutely adorable! 

[kieiras mom]

She is so cute,.   If your vet says she is healthy, I would not worry about her weight,, just enjoy the wonderful girl she is                                                                     

[Sam I Am]

If she is healthy who cares...she is lovely. Jock was 20 pounds, while our Scottie girl Rosie is only around 18.5 pounds (small for a Scottie). As long as any other health concerns have been ruled out , like a shunt (which would show up in blood work) don't worry. size doesn't matter

[bradl]

The weights in the AKC standard are intended for a dog at aged two. If Skylar is only around a year old she may yet "heavy up" a bit over the coming years as she matures. If Skylar's enjoying good health these days I would celebrate that and love her up for the foreseeable future. Cairn spirit comes in one size — immense.

 

Our Stella runs in the 10-12 pound range most of the time and she'll be 11 years old next month. She's always been undersized (and has an incorrect soft coat) but I *love* my tiny terror. A small terrier has a lot of advantages. Our Haggis was a big Cairn yet I could not have loved him any more deeply either, so I feel there's room for big ones and little ones in our hearts. 

[sanford]

Based on what I've read here and elsewhere re the size/weight of cairns, It seems that in Europe, weights tend to run from 10 - 15 lbs., but much larger in America... 15 - 20 lbs.

It's also true that folks with cairns in the 25 - 30 lb range often worry that their cairns are too large... So there you have it... From one extreme to the other!

As Gone to the dogs says, it's those big warm brown cairn eyes that get me (regardless of the size of the cairn)!

Your pup is adorable... What's her name?

[hheldorfer]

Your little girl is beautiful and remember:  Size doesn't matter. 

[Skylar]

Thank you all for the feedback and lovely comments! Skylar definitely fits the personality of a cairn, regardless of her size!