Just introducing ourselves

[2crazycairns]

Hello Everyone!

I just wanted to take a moment and introduce ourselves to the group. We discovered this forum shortly after bringing home our new "baby". What a wealth of information its been and we all feel very lucky to have found it!

Fergus (we've taken to calling him simply Gus) is now three months old and thoroughly loved by his three humans. We've not had a Cairn before but we researched exhaustively before we decided on which breed to purchase for our newest addition. We were blessed to find a wonderful breeder who cares deeply about every puppy she brings into this world. Our vet was shocked at the book she sent home with us. He said in his decades of work he's never seen a breeder give so much information to a new dog owner. He asked for her name and contact info so that he could use it for future reference.

Gus is coming along quite nicely in his training. Though he has an 'accident' perhaps once in every five days or so, he's been wonderful about doing his business outside. He goes to the door and cries when it's time. The only time he seems to miss doing this is when he's overtired or when it's rainy and cold outside and he doesn't want to be out in it. He has the greatest personality and is a favorite at the park near our home. Since we have very few smaller dogs in the neighborhood, he's been adopted by many of the large dogs including the mastiff and the great dane/mastiff mix. Yesterday he and a six month old goldendoodle played for an hour romping and tumbling, biting and just being puppies. It was a gas to watch!

We are definitely being challenged by his biting. We are trying every trick in the book with some success but he still needs work. We all understand that this is a 'puppy thing' and it will get better but it's still a challenge. We're learning along the way just as he is. We're hoping to find other cairn owners in the Portland area so that perhaps we can arrange some play dates. Gus has turned into a VERY social young man and has already figured out that crying gets him outside no matter if its to go potty or because he simply wants to be outside sniffing the air, the flowers, chasing bees, etc. Annoying, but SO funny!

We're looking forward to many years with this adorable guy and we are grateful for finding this wonderful resource. He's to being an over-the-top cairn lover!

Rita and Gus

[Malcolm's Dad]

Hi. You are in for some fun with a Cairn. I adopted Malcolm from a shelter. He is about 1 year old and I have had him for almost 2 months now. He has some behavior issues we are working on (biting, totally ignoring me), but we are working on that.

Does your Cairn talk? Malcolm makes some incredible verbalizations. It will sound like he is saying WOW, or sometimes WA, or AHH-OOH. He makes some cute little growls too, not warning growls, but soft growls like "you are not paying attention to me".

Good luck with your puppy, and don't worry about training, he will have you trained in no time.

[Idaho Cairns]

Welcome! Sounds like you have a good handle on your Cairn pup. Yes, puppy biting is pretty common and is discussed here quite a bit. I find that once the dog understands the command "NO!" it is easy to stop the defensive or play biting thing--they learn pretty quickly that using their teeth on humans is not allowed. Stay with the discipline with him and the biting will stop.

[Judly]

hi rita and gus!

you sound like you are having a ball already!

good on ya for picking a naughty cairn - they're the best!!!!

i'm jude and i have three dogs - two cairns and a bichon. i love them all dearly.

i'm looking forward to hearing more about gus' antics!

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[little feet zip]

Welcome Rita & Fergus. You picked a great breed get ready for lots of fun. You may hear a lot of "well he is a terrier" and after a few years [thats what it took me] you'll know what they mean and what great dogs they are. Many happy years to you and Fergus. When is the second one comming? LOL

Rich

[bradl]

Greetings. You'll find Portland and the Northwest generally is thick with Cairns. There are two clubs in the region so there are several opportunities to get together with the Cairn community. Columbia River Cairn Terrier Club is centered in PDX, sharing considerable overlap in membership, interests, and activities with the Cascade Cairn Terrier Club. Check the google calendar on the Columbia site for various activities in the local area that may be of interest.

As Greg pointed out in the Sporting Cairn forum, there will be a large number of Cairns down on Belden Farm in Turner Oregon on Mother's Day weekend at the Oregon Trail's End Earthdog Club's 10-year anniversary test. Should be a good time. Recommend Saturday as the more relaxed day to visit and socialize - Sunday afternoon is often a rush to tear down and clean up after the weekend's tests.

In June, Columbia will have a booth at the AKC Canine Experience, and will also be offering CGC (Canine Good Citizen) testing/certification the morning of June 13- this will be at the Washington County Fairgrounds. We're usually doing a grooming demo, running a "flealess market" and just generally having a nice day out.

[2crazycairns]

Thanks to you all for the very warm welcome and the loads of information, especially you, Brad. The Columbia River Cairn Club I had heard of but not so the other. We'll look into both!

Yes, Gus does "talk" as I understand is fairly common to this breed. He used to do it more when we first got him than he does now, but I do hope he continues to do it. It's simply too cute! The puppy biting has gotten better since we've instituted a couple of things between the three of us; no more playing with our hands anywhere near his mouth, not letting him get really worked up when playing, and just flat out saying 'no!'. He's improved just over the last couple of days so more time should just make it that much better (we hope )

Rich, I hope it's not a given that everyone automatically get two or more of these guys. I can see how much they'd love having a brother or sister, but I've got my hands full with just the one! OMG... I knew it would be like having an infant again, but I swear he is worse than my now-18yr old ever was! Gus really is great about being in his "crib" but I feel guilty for leaving him in there all the time. I'm gone every day for school (usually 3-4 hrs) and it just doesn't seem fair to him to keep him caged up all the time. That being said, there are times when I simply have to put him down so *I* can have a break! Whew!

All I can say is thank goodness the weather is getting a little better and we can take him across the street to the park to burn of some of his steam with all of his buddies there. I was SO glad when he finally got the last of his puppy shots!

[little feet zip]

No. But they are infecious.

Rich

[shl3608]

Hi, there

I'm so glad to know that there are other Cairn Parents in the Portland Area also.

I also discovered this forum, not too long ago and have found usual information in raising my Cairn terrier.

My Lucy was rescued from a shelter when she was 8 weeks old and now she is 10 months old now.

I would love to know if you are close to the Downtown area. I live right by the waterfront and would love to have Lucy meet Gus and have playdates!

Lucy is very shy around dogs who will not give her enough space & time to get to know them herself first and I feel that meeting another Cairn will do her much good in practicing socialization skills. She didn't enjoy having 8 dogs approach her at the same time at a recent playgroup. Poor girl....

She has also gone through the biting-play period and I have trained/encouraged her not to do so and she knows that she can't "bite" hard. She'll just apply light pressure when my fingers are in her mouth or when she plays with her friends.

Welcome to the Forum.

[shellj2323]

You'll find Portland and the Northwest generally is thick with Cairns.

I can confirm that! We see other Cairns all over. Never saw a one when we lived in Texas!

Congratulations and welcome!

[Idaho Cairns]

I would think the Northwest is a good match for Cairns. If your dogs enjoy wet weather as much as mine do, I would suspect they would thrive over there! My puppy loves the water and the rain so much that I think she more comfortable in miserable conditions than any of the Labs I used to own.

Rain, snow, sleet just lights her fire.

[dinib]

No. But they are infecious.

I barely made it a year before I decided to add another one.

[sheila and Misty]

we just want to say hello too and its just amaizing to know everyone in soo many places that have cairns. I personally have never see one untill I found my first one-.and still dont know 1 other person except this forum and my breeder that has a cairn.