Do cairns hate being picked up

[DogsSmarterThanMe]

Read that somewhere and just curious 

[Kathryn]

Cairns generally are busy little dogs, and my experience is that if you interrupt that busy-ness, they will grumble if you pick them up.  That said, both of mine willingly jump into my lap and will stay there for long periods happily, so I think they like being held when it is their idea...

[bradl]

What Kathryn said  Some more than others. Also they will let you know when they're done being held. 

[Hillscreek]

Agree with both above. Cairns love to snuggle - when they want it. No need to hold me sir/madam. I can jump or climb to pretty much anywhere I want to go. 

[Sam I Am]

Ditto here also with the above comments. 

[rubysmom]

Our trainer said that often little dogs are ‘head shy’ because they do get picked up and mauled by people all of the time. They do require some help to trust that people don’t always want to pick them up and just want to pet them.  They are just so irresistible, it’s hard!

[Pepper Bug's Mom]

Mine will let me pick them up and cuddle for about 1 minute...then can't wait to get down!!! They do love to kiss and lick when approached on the couch or chair and will lay next to me or on my lap on their terms only!

 

[pkcrossley]

I think they feel very helpless and insecure when picked up. it takes the a while to trust. 

[sanford]

On 11/4/2020 at 3:24 PM, Pepper Bug's Mom said:

Mine will let me pick them up and cuddle for about 1 minute...then can't wait to get down!!! 

Ditto!

[Sam I Am]

Ditto hear also often accompanied with a low growl (harmless but voicing his opinion).

[Islander]

Ditto the low growl which seems reflexive to me. Same when I accidentally touch him with my leg when sleeping beside me. 

[Pepper Bug's Mom]

They tolerate being picked up but not for long....when Brodie is out cold on the couch be careful if you disturb him! Wow does he make a lot of noise but no biting!  All bark and no bite!

 

[DogsSmarterThanMe]

Ok so Dixie is pure normal cairn. I find low growl amusing...wish I could do that lol!  It would be so useful in so many situations 

[CloverDragons]

The dog I just lost was blind from birth, and he DESPISED being picked up.  I think it made him feel "out of control" because he couldn't see how far up he was going.  I wonder if small dogs tend towards this in general because they are SO FAR UP /might bring on the "out of control" feeling.

[DogsSmarterThanMe]

I’m so sorry for your loss!  I take your point. I’m learning that Cairns always have to feel like they’re the boss. Alpha me? Lol!

 

[pkcrossley]

on low growling --remember Idaho's crazy hilarious video of Bonnie 

 

 

[rubysmom]

Ruby has a low growl for happy, excited, and mad.... it’s hard to tell sometimes what is happening. But people and other dogs don’t know what to think. She acts like she’s a 90lb Rottweiler sometimes. 

[DogsSmarterThanMe]

15 hours ago, pkcrossley said:

on low growling --remember Idaho's crazy hilarious video of Bonnie 

 

 

 

[DogsSmarterThanMe]

Wow. Have never heard that from Dixie lol!

[Otis’s Mom]

Otis will jump up on my chair when he feels like it! He really doesn’t like being held, sometimes I’ll just grab him and kiss him and he’ll do that low growl thing LOL! But that’s too bad! They come to you for affection when they want to. He sleeps with me and he’s fine with that although he does hog the bed 99% of the time..They really are not a cuddly affectionate dog I always tell people he’s just like a cat; affection on their termsThe picture on this it is mad, sulking faceDo not like to hear the word no or when you scold them.

Edited March 12, 2021 by Otis’s Mom
spelling

[bradl]

That pose is oh-so-familiar. I love that he's flopped and pouting right next to a cool wagon FULL of toys. 

[sanford]

Very true, Brad. It reminds me of a remark I overheard, (at Westminster, of all places)...”That’s SO like a cairn!”

[Sam I Am]

Otis’s mum...what is Sam doing in your house?

[DogsSmarterThanMe]

No one sulks like a Cairn!  And their feelings are easily bruised but the wagging tail when you forgive them!

[Otis’s Mom]

Please forgive me , I didn’t get any of these notifications I have to check my settings! It seems so funny because after I posted shortly after Odie aka Otis went for his physical and he did really well, and it’s now the middle of May and I just brought him back from the vets last Thursday and he has yeast infections in both ears and they are caused by allergies which I should’ve picked up on earlier because he gets these infections in the spring and sneezesso now he is on allergy medication once a month, and did have the allergy shot while he was at the vets. I just don’t want to bring him back every month to get a shot and he’s easy to give pills to. No reaction to anything he’s doing really well now. I don’t know about anybody else but the medication is very expensive per month but thus saying that we love our pups I just wanted to pass this information or just in case anyone else is having an issue with their ears in the spring/summer/fall months.

 

Edited May 18, 2021 by Otis’s Mom