Would you want a Mini Cairn?

[toomanypaws]

I know cairns normal height is 10 - 12 inches and weight is 13 - 16 lbs. I have a friend who has a pet boutique and only sells a few select toy breeds. She has Yorkies that will only be 2 lbs full grown and they sell for $2500 She was telling me that in time there will be mini cairns. While I think there's nothing cuter than a cairn puppy when it's only 2 or 3 lbs, I'm not sure if I'd want one to stay that small or not. My youngest Hannah is on the small side at 8 mths. I can't let her run w/ my larger dogs for fear of getting hurt. When she sleeps w/ us and curls up into a little ball, I'm afraid I'm going to squish her.

Has anyone else heard of breeders who are trying to breed the cairn size down to 4 or 5 lbs full grown and would you spend more for a mini cairn?

[bradl]

I would be horrified. That is not responsible dog breeding. That is merchandising, and a perversion of our breed. They might be 'cairnish pet products' but don't call them Cairns, for they are not.

[kayharley]

I agree....Cairns were bred to do a job...hunt vermin, clear out rodents from houses, stables and fields. Just how could a miniature Cairn do their job if they're smaller than the vermin they're supposed to eradicate.

Enough with the new breeds! Although I would love my dogs to stay little, if I want a teeny tiny dog, I'll get a Yorkie.

[Eliz222]

I think a mini Cairn would be cute...for a minute....but I would miss the normal sized Cairn too much.....I like the size they are now and can't imagine having a tiny Cairn! I don't like that people are messing with different breeds...it's just not natural. Aren't they trying to mix a Poodle with a Lab?? I can't remember the name...but I don't like it.

[bubba]

That would be a Labradoodle, or mutt, since that is what it really is. I myself do have Cooper, the cairn, and Yoda, the schnoodle, which is a schnauzer/poodle mix (I think it was an oops, not supposed to happen!). While Cooper is the typical cairn, Yoda is the exact opposite. Both are quite sweet and more than happy to please, Yoda all the time, and Cooper when the spirit moves him! I would never want to be without either and they make the perfect pair.

pat.

[wheezie23]

Every time I see someone with a "toy" or "teacup" dog, I can't help but think of all the health issues they have inheirited. I agree that it is irresponsible breeding at it's worst. They're not trying to improve the breed, they're diminishing it. And it is for money, plain and simple, which makes it even more reprehensible.

As far as the "blended" breeds, I crack up everytime I see an ad for a "Labradoodle, Schnoodle, Peekapoo", etc. and they want up to $400 and more for these dogs. They're MUTTS! They're cute, without a doubt, and make great pets. But they are still a mixed breed. If you want a mixed breed, go to the animal shelters and save a life of one of those poor creatures. Ok, off my again. I find myself there quite a bit lately!

Thela

[GIDGETSMOM]

I say leave well enough alone. There's way too much mixing and changes being made in breeding now. Cairn's aren't supposed to be 2-3 lbs. My Gidget right now would probably go after a rat (problem is) right now the rate would be bigger than her.

Lab's weren't meant to have poodle in them etc...

I have 3 purebreds now and can't imagine them any other way than the way they are now.

My Greta is a Mini Schnauzer

Gidget is a 9 wk old Cairn and weighs in at 3lbs 5 1/2 oz.

and the newest addition is Buddy a 73 lb German Shepherd Dog.

I love each one of them and wouldn't want either of them to change.

[bubba]

As long as you are able to give a dog a good home and safe, loving enviornment, it really doesn't matter whether he/she is purebred or not. We have gotten several dogs from the humane society, and when we thought it was time for Cooper to have a companion, we found him another. At the time I did not want a second cairn, and although I applaud those of you that have multiple cairns, I really don't think I would be able to do it. For me, one cairn is enough, and I am more than happy w/the mixed dog who is the cairns best friend. I don't condone mixing the breeds, but it does happen, and when it does, those animals are just as entitled to a home of their own, whether someone chooses to pay $$$ for it or to rescue it, as we have done.

As far as breeders trying to create this super mini dogs, that is just wrong, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. They are in it for the money and that's it.

My turn now to step down.....

pat.

[GIDGETSMOM]

As long as you are able to give a dog a good home and safe, loving enviornment, it really doesn't matter whether he/she is purebred or not. 

My German Shepherd is a rescue. He's between 8 & 9 yrs old. Not many people would even take the time to look at adopting a dog that old.

My opinion was for breeders to stop mixing the breeds. If people want a mix breed then they should go to a shelter and save the life of one of those animals instead of finding a breeder that mixes purebreds on purpose.

[bubba]

With that I agree.

pat.

[MikeC]

I strongly agree with the consensus here. No mini-Cairns for me......they are perfect now the way they are. It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature!

MikeC

[toomanypaws]

I too agree about not changing our cairns into mini cairns. I actually was asked about breeding my little Hannah w/ a yorkie before we had her spayed. Hannah is small but I'm hoping she'll get bigger being she's only 8 mths but I don't remember Abbey growing much after this age. I love our cairns and was just curious when I heard that there are breeders out there trying to make "toys" out of our perfect sized cairns.

This is enough to make anyone get nauseated:

(make sure to scroll down to see the pictures)

mixingupbreeds

[bradl]

If only that site were a joke.

[Scully'sMom]

PLEASE count me in with the group. There is no sane reason for doing something like this to these animals. I'd like to choke some people!

[MikeC]

I was amazed by that website and I am appalled by the fact that people would go to such lengths just to make money. While these puppies are cute to look at, I can only help but wonder what they will be like as they grow. The temperments of the breeds being mixed are so different. What are these people thinking?!

MikeC

[wheezie23]

What are these people thinking?!

They're thinking of the allmighty dollar, Mike, plain and simple.

Thela

[wags]

A minicairn would have ADD ADHD. You know how they are as puppies under normal conditions.

[Guest Bekah]

Looking through the pictures of people's Cairns on this site I see happy, frisky dogs with personality to spare. On the other hand, the dogs on the "mixed breed" site look cranky, sad and sickly. I am definitely anti-mini Cairn.

[CallisMom]

A mini-cairn? Could you imagine a Cairn personality in a smaller package? They are perfect just the way they are! There are plenty of "teacup" dogs for those out there wanting a tiny dog. And most people who want a tiny dog don't want the personality of a Cairn they want a very obedient, cuddly lap dog that they can cart around with them. My sister has two yorkies. They are adorable and very spunky and VERY fragile. Visiting with the children is always a nightmare.

I won't put down all mixed breeds because my parents have had a maltese/poodle (an accident that happened next door in the 70's), a maltese/lahsa apso (an accident from a friend), and they currently have a maltese/shitzu (from her dog groomer). They were all great dogs and were NOT purchased for the kind of money or from people like this website. We also had a pure bred maltese with outstanding papers. And she was a precious. (And their first dog was a stry puppy - breed unkown- that they found starving near their apartment complex when they were first married). Accidents happen - it is amazing how many people don't spay or neuter their dogs! But I think it is insane that all of these mixes even have unofficial names. Unfortunately there is a huge market . . . my sister-in-law will ONLY take one of these dogs . . . she hasn't found her perfect dog yet but she was actually going to fly a maltypoo from Canada out. She is adamantly against a pure bred. ?? Don't ask me! I can do nothing about it!!!! She was actually told about Calli (our rescue Cairn) before we were. Her loss - that is all I can say!!!

Could you imagine all of the rescue mini-Cairns there would be? The breeder who rescued Calli has rescued 3 other PUPPIES since OCTOBER!!! (Calli was a puppy rescued in May)

[wheezie23]

A minicairn would have ADD ADHD. You know how they are as puppies under normal conditions.

Sally, we like to joke that Tucker is our ADD dog!

thela

[Brigette]

One of the many reasons I like the Cairn Terrier breed is because although they are small dogs, they are still not "teacup" and are sturdy enough to rough house with my Lab. I had a friend with a teacup yorkie who broke her neck jumping from the couch because her bones were so little. That said, I do see where cross-breeding could be good in some cases. For example, some breeds have very common genetic defects that could be eliminated by crossing with another breed. I also think the Labradoodle or other such types are a wonderful alternative to those with allergies who want a Lab but need the type of coat found in a Standard Poodle. Our only purebred dog is our Cairn Terrier, we also have a Lab/i think German Shepherd cross that we adopted from our local Humane Society and he is just a big sweetie. I also have a Yorkie-poo mix because I wanted a Yorkie, but was leary of their small size because of my friend's experience, so I liked that he was cross bred with another larger breed to make him a little sturdier. I would never want to show or breed him, just have him as a wonderful compliment to our family.

[bubba]

Brigette,

That was well said. That is exactly why I have my Yoda, the schnoodle. I don't know how much it is to rescue dogs from the Humane Society elsewhere, but here it is over $100 now. I can remember the first cairn we had, a cutie we named Pluto. We go him at the Humane Society and he only cost us $10! Of course, that was back in 1982!!!

pat.