The Cairn Terrier is usually hand or knife stripped. Pet dogs are occasionally clipped in an effort to give them a neater, more professional appearance, but this damages their coat because the undercoat and topcoat become the same length, and the coat becomes very soft. The Cairn Terrier has a weather resistant double coat. The undercoat is brief, soft, and close, while the outer coat is thick and harsh but not coarse. The color is cream, wheaten, red, gray or nearly black. Brindling in all these colors is acceptable.
The cairn terrier breed’s tough coat and rough-and-tumble temperament make grooming them difficult. Cairns require proper grooming to maintain their optimal health and a clean, lustrous coat because they remain active and playful well into their senior years. Because of the cairn terrier’s independence and curiosity, you might frequently find him covered in dirt, debris, and grime. You can strengthen your relationship with your cairn by regularly grooming him so that he’s clean and prepared for his next adventure.
Your cairn’s paw pads and the fur between his legs should be trimmed. Cut a little fur with a pair of scissors. This will prevent snow, ice, and dirt from building up between the paw pads, which can be uncomfortable.
Bathe your cairn only when necessary; frequent bathing can damage the dog’s coat and make it more prone to dirt and debris attraction. Use a shampoo made for dogs with “hard” coats to lather your cairn, being careful not to get shampoo in the dog’s eyes, ears, or mouth. He should be thoroughly rinsed in warm or tepid water to remove any shampoo residue from his thick undercoat. Dry the dog with a clean towel.
Kimberly DeCosta is an accomplished equestrian and entrepreneur. She has written for a variety of equestrian publications and created marketing materials for significant businesses and sports organizations.
Spraying your cairn with diluted rubbing alcohol or an astringent in a spray bottle between baths will refresh the dog’s coat and keep excess oil at bay. After spraying, dry him with a clean towel.
A novice can develop their handstripping abilities by practicing on a Cairn Terrier breed. The Cairn is one of the simpler breeds to learn on out of all the different breeds that are handstripped. The coat easily comes out when it is time to pull it. The pattern on a Cairn is simple: scruffy. There isn’t much of a pattern line to follow. You can choose the approach and/or technique that will be most effective for particular pets, though.
When caring for a Cairn Terrier, you want to give him a scruffy appearance. ‘Handstripping is the best way to get the right look. When a Cairn Terrier is clipper cut, the coat texture is typically destroyed and the dog ends up looking “too groomed.” Handstripping is the correct grooming method for this breed. It maintains the color and texture of the coat. Long before electric clippers were used, it was practiced.
The Cairn was first classified as a “Skye Terrier” breed along with the Scottish and West Highland White Terriers in the Highlands of Scotland and the Isle of Skye. The three breeds started being crossed separately in the early 1900s. Foxes and badgers used to live in rock dens all over the countryside, hence the name “Cairn.” To hold the predator until the farmer killed it, the dog would squirm into these “cairns” and bark.
The Cairn Terrier has a double coat that is made up of a soft, short undercoat and a hard, straight outer coat. Similar to the majority of terriers, the coat is typically hand stripped or plucked to ensure that it keeps its harsh appearance, color, and texture and does not soften. While many dog owners do have their dogs clipped into a skirted pattern, all show dogs are kept hand stripped.
The Cairn Terrier, also known as “Toto” from The Wizard of Oz, is a small, tenacious working terrier. Cairns were originally bred to help Scottish farmers get rid of pests from their properties, but they now use their tenacity to win obedience, agility, terrier, and tracking competitions. This breed is energetic and alert, with a tough, weatherproof outer coat that can be any color but white. He has a generally foxy expression because of his head of hair.
Although Cairns adore their families, they occasionally try to push their owners’ boundaries, so obedience training is required. Even though they are quick learners, new owners should be aware that the Cairn may always have the instinct to dig and chase small animals. Exercise and regular brushing are also required to maintain the breed’s health and happiness.
Your choice of grooming will determine how frequently you should bathe your Cairn based on your lifestyle and financial constraints. Cairns enjoy being outside and getting dirty, so if you keep one indoors, you’ll want to give it more frequent baths. The first bath should be a general bath to remove the dirt and grime from a cairn. The second bath is intended to address your dog’s need to maintain the proper texture of his Cairn’s coat. We advise using a Hypo-Allergenic Shampoo on your Cairn if they have allergies or sensitive skin, and then following it with an Oatmeal Baking Soda Shampoo to control odor. To maintain the coat’s natural hard texture, avoid using heavy conditioners; instead, use light conditioners like Plum Perfect Cream Rinse or Rainforest Conditioner, which are both light and leave behind a clean, fresh scent.
FAQ
Are cairn Terriers hard to groom?
The cairn terrier breed’s tough coat and rough-and-tumble temperament make grooming a challenge. Cairns require proper grooming to maintain their optimal health and a clean, lustrous coat because they remain active and playful well into their senior years.
Do cairn Terriers need to be professionally groomed?
Hand stripping is the traditional and most well-liked method of trimming your terrier. If you’re not a confident groomer yourself, leave this to the pros because if it’s done incorrectly, your dog may become uncomfortable.
Do you have to hand strip a Cairn Terrier?
‘Handstripping is the best way to get the right look. When a Cairn Terrier is clipper cut, the coat texture is typically destroyed and the dog ends up looking “too groomed.” Handstripping is the correct grooming method for this breed.
How often should a Cairn Terrier be bathed?
Dogs should generally be bathed every three months, but wire-coated dogs can be bathed more frequently, frequently every four to six weeks. The coat should emerge with a pleasant scent, be shiny, and have no loose or shedding hair. First, thoroughly brush the dog to get rid of mats and dead hair.