NORTHWEST CAIRN TERRIERS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Please feel free to reach out to us by phone or email with any additional questions
WHAT DOES LIMITED AKC REGISTRATION MEAN?
AKC offers the option to “limit” registration to protect breeding and showing rights. This helps to keep the bloodlines in the hands of dedicated individuals who prioritize the health and longevity of the breed. This allows pet homes to still own AKC papered dogs without allowing free access to breeding rights to anyone who owns a Cairn Terrier. If you’re interested in Full AKC registration please see our Application for Full AKC Registration.
AKC Registration Applications will be mailed after proof of spay/neuter is provided to breeder.
WHAT HEALTHCARE GUARANTEES DO YOU OFFER?
We offer a 2 year congenital health guarantee, our lines are very healthy and we are confident in our health testing. Please be sure to provide an adequate exercise plan and appropriate diet for you Cairn Terrier.
HOW BIG WILL MY PUPPY GET?
The breed standard is 13lbs for females and 14lbs for males. Sizes may vary depending on which litter you are interested in. We have seen puppies grow anywhere between 9-23lbs depending on the parents. Most of our puppies will mature to 12-16lbs. More information is available about the breed on the AKC Website.
ARE MALES OR FEMALES BETTER PETS?
In our experience both males and females make great pets. Females usually have more independent personalities and males are usually more doting on their people, but we have found both to be very affectionate and wonderful additions to our own family. We recommend a phone call to discuss various bloodlines and which gender/bloodline might be the best fit for you. Our puppy contract state all puppies must be spayed and neutered prior to 1 year of age, this is an important piece of having an easily managed pet.
DO CAIRN TERRIERS SHED?
Technically Cairn Terriers do shed, however, it is so limited that it is not likely to be very noticeable. A properly groomed cairn terrier should not “shed” very much if at all. Homes with dog allergies have had great success with Cairn Terriers for this reason even though they are not a hypoallergenic breed. Cairn terriers that are regularly brushed with a metal comb maintain healthy coats. Cairn Terrier owners should be prepared to seek a groomer that will perform "Hand stripping" or to learn to do so themselves. This skill is easily learned, and hair grows back if mistakes are made!
HOW DO YOU GROOM A CAIRN TERRIER?
Grooming can differ for show or pet purposes. Cairn Terriers are traditionally “hand stripped” which preserves their naturally coarse outer coat that wicks water and debris away from their body. There are many videos available on YouTube explaining this process. Do not be discouraged it can be self taught and your terrier will only need hand stripped 2-3 times per year. Small maintenance strips could be done more regularly to maintain a show ring ready look. Bathing should also be kept to a minimum to prevent “softening” the coat. Many pet homes have found it is easier to bring their Cairns to a local groomer for a “Westie Cut” where the coat is shaved. We do not recommend clipping as most groomers do not properly exfoliate the base layer of the coat which result in long-term skin issues for the dog.
Puppies are usually ready for their first hand strip around 4 months of age. Puppy homes should acclimate their puppy to standing on a table from a young age and regular brushing with a metal comb.
CAN YOU SHIP THE PUPPY TO ME?
Yes, here is a reputable transport service (In cabin flight nannies):
Many of our "Pawrents" fly to us and we are happy to meet you at the Portland Airport (PDX) the cost of bringing your puppy as a carry on is usually around $150.
Email for complete cost breakdown. Most of our puppies fly out of state and it is a smooth and easy process. Your puppy will weigh approximately 4 lbs at 8 weeks of age.
HOW CAN I GET ON YOUR WAIT LIST?
To join our waitlist please take the first step by filling out our PUPPY APPLICATION. Puppies are chosen in the order deposits are received, and homes are matched with the next available puppy that fits their preferences rather than a specific litter.
If you're not ready to adopt yet, but want to receive info about upcoming availability of both adult dogs and puppies please join our FREE NEWSLETTER.
WHEN CAN I BRING MY PUPPY HOME?
Our puppies are socialized with people and other dogs daily. We understand that our puppy homes have busy schedules and because of this are flexible about bringing your puppy home “around” the 8 week mark. Puppies can be boarded up to 10 weeks of age, board begins after 9 weeks. This is to compensate the breeder for the extra time given in this crucial window to continue to properly socialize, crate train, and prepare your puppy for a successfull transition into your home.
DO YOU ALLOW VISITS? CAN I “MEET THE PARENTS”?
Due to the popularity of our program we no longer allow visits for families that have not already reserved a puppy. Homes that have reserved a puppy may visit between 4-6 weeks of age for their puppy. This does not include a full tour of our dogs for several reasons.
1. As a dog breeder our yard and whelping area should be treated with the same care a hospital nursery would. We have susceptible life stages in our care. Our dogs and program are not a roadside attraction. For families wishing to meet Cairn Terriers we recommend attending a dog show or expo near your or reaching out to cairnterrier.org about a local meet-up.
2. Our dogs are raised in our private homes and backyards alongside our families. We do our best to share as many pictures and videos of our dogs as possible, but wish to keep our privacy in our homes.
Feel free to follow us for daily updates in the lives of our dogs on Facebook or Instagram and see our Our Cairns page.
WHAT FOOD DO YOU FEED THE PUPPIES?
We believe in feeding a balanced commercial diet. Homemade dog foods are often lacking vitamins and minerals required for optimum health. Our preference is Taste of The Wild Bison and Venison Puppy Food. We will provide a freezer baggy with about a weeks worth of kibble for you to slowly transition your puppy to the food of your choice. For proper health and growth we strongly recommend a commercial puppy food, and we recommend consulting with your veterinarian during your well puppy exam within 72 hours of bringing your puppy home. We recommend that all adult dogs be transitioned to Taste of The Wild ANCIENT GRAINS formulas at the appropriate time.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU HAVE LITTERS AVAILABLE?
This will vary depending on how many actively breeding females we have at the time. Future litters are difficult to predict. Homes that are flexible as far as gender and color are likely to receive a puppy sooner.
Usually we have puppies spaced out throughout the year though sometimes the females cycle together.
WILL MY PUPPY COME WITH A PEDIGREE?
Full Right Registration can be applied for here. Pet puppies pedigrees and registration will be mailed after proof of spay/neuter.
WHAT HEALTH TESTING DO THE PARENTS HAVE?
We take health testing very seriously and have spent countless hours weighing our health testing decisions. Luckily, the Cairn Terrier breed as a whole is very healthy and fairly free of genetic problems in comparison to many pure breeds. Researching peer reviewed scientific articles and consultations with Theriogenologists and Geneticists in our mind should be the standard on which all health testing decisions are made. There are many opinions within the dog world as to what is and what is not warrantied as prudent health testing, and unfortunately an “opinion” not backed by science is not evidence for or against breeding a particular dog. OFA Occular examinations, Patellar Luxation, Cardiac, and GCL testing are common tests within the Cairn Terrier breed that we endorse and test for. As science advances with time we expect these standards to change and plan to stay current and informed. We are expanding our testing regime to include genetic testing with Embark. This provides us with information about ancestry, COIs, and over 170 different diseases. We plan to use this information to make even more well informed breeding decisions.
CLICK HERE TO READ A BLOG ARTICLE ABOUT HEALTH TESTING IN CAIRN TERRIERS
WHAT ABOUT BILE ACID TESTING?
All Cairn Terrier puppies should be tested for bile acid levels at 15 weeks old to serve as a baseline for future reference. There are not currently any genetic markers for MVD or PSVA and the testing and protocol for both is still being researched and developed. Bile acid testing is the only reliable PSVA screening. Any puppy presenting clinical signs of PSVA that also tests positive in the bile acid screening is eligible for a full refund. Please see our FAQ about our genetic guarantee. There is a full article explaining current information regarding PSVA and MVD available at http://cairnterrier.org
All Cairn Terriers test with slightly elevated ALT levels. This is important information to provide your veterinarian if performing ALT tests.
Do you need an NDA (Non-disclosure agreement) ?
Absolutely. We take client privacy seriously and are happy to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) upon request. Your personal information, project details, and any sensitive materials you share with us are treated with the utmost confidentiality.
WHERE'S A NICE PLACE TO STAY NEARBY WHEN I PICK UP MY PUPPY?
We highly recommend the Kalama Harbor Lodge only a 30 min drive from our home
If flying into PDX and staying in Portland OR there are many nice options in Portland. Portland is approximately a 1 hour drive from us.
DO YOU OFFER BOARDING?
We do not, we do have a connection with a guardian home in Battleground, Washington that offers private boarding for Cairn Terriers.
AT WHAT AGE ARE THE PUPPIES WEANED FROM THEIR MOTHERS?
We allow our mother dogs to choose a natural weaning time. The mother Cairn Terriers often naturally wean their puppies by 6 weeks of age and we socialize them with our other adult dogs in between this time frame and when they go home. Cairn terriers are adventurous and independent from a very young age. It is worth noting the Golden retriever puppies we raised required much more socialization and guidance from their mothers while the terriers seem to be saying "don't worry mom, I've got this!" as they bound into the distance.
Another Happy Puppy Home
"Our puppy arrived today. Beautiful puppy. I want to share that when we started this process, we were hesitate being 1800 plus miles away. Let me tell you, don't be hesitant. Leilani is a wonderful dog breeder, no puppy mill there. She was so great to work with. Another great person is Leigh from Animal Odyssey. She cared for our puppy those 1800 plus miles. She sent text, called, sent pictures/videos, caring for our dog like her own and delivered our previous cargo. Thank you both for the new addition to our family." - Gail S