Q: I already have a grown Cairn and would like a playmate for her. Which is best to get as playmate for her, male or female?
A: In our experience its best to get the opposite sex, they seem to be less territorial with the opposite sex. However, if you get two at the same time that are litter mates, they usually have bonded since birth and either sex seems to get along. We always recommend in either case to spay or neuter.

Q: I just lost my Cairn, who was in our family for 14 years. I want another. Should I get a different color than mine was so that it won’t remind me of the one I lost?
A: If you have recently lost a dog that was a part of your family, you really need to go through and complete the grieving process and deal with the loss before you introduce a new puppy to your family. Give it a little time; it’s not fair to you or the new pup. In most cases due to your loss, the new pup will just seem to do nothing right in your mind and will not measure up to the one you lost. Once you have dealt with your loss, we feel that you will be more accepting of a new puppy.

Q: Should I leave my new puppy in his crate during the day while I am at work?
A: Absolutely NOT. Puppies, or even grown dogs, should not be left alone in their crate for more than two or three hours at a time. We suggest a playpen covered with paper, with the crate inside. This way the pup can come out and play and use his crate for his security den. The crate should always be a safe haven, and never be seen by the puppy or adult dog in a negative way.

Q: Are Cairns real active? And do they get along well with children?
A: Cairns are usually active as pups as most pups are. They usually settle down with age, and they make one of the best pets for children that we know of. Typically Cairns are drawn to and love children. They are a tough little dog and are more accepting of mistakes that children make than many other breeds. However, you should never leave a young child alone with a Cairn, or any other puppy. Children should always be supervised around puppies, and should be taught how to care for and be aware of a puppie's needs.

Q: I hear that Cairns are stubborn, are they hard to train?

A: Yes, Cairns, as is the case for most Terriers, can appear to be stubborn. They are also very intelligent dogs and respond extremely well to positive reinforcement. Cairns, as with most terriers, do not respond well at all to negative reinforcement such as hitting or spanking. Because of their intelligence, Cairns can and do assess the severity of the mistake they have made, and the treatment they receive, and react accordingly. If you use the right training techiniques, they are actually quite easy to train as they have a desire to please and be recognized. They need to have stimulation, and positive reinforcement, be it food, or praise. They need be to mentally challenged and stimulated. So with the right approach, you can teach them to do pretty much anything you want them to do, within reason of course.

Q: Should I get male or female?

It depends on your lifestyle and what you are looking for. If you have a less active lifestyle, I would suggest female. the female seems to be a bit more laid back, independent, easier to train, but not as needy as the male for affection.

If you have an active lifestyle and want to play play play, want lots of kisses and one that seems to be demanding of your attentions then a male would do you well. Though they are a bit harder to train sometimes, because they are a bit more stubborn, they make up for it with the love and devotion they will give.