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.
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. If you'd like to learn more about the specific health testing we do you can go to a parent dogs individual profile, or read our blog article about health testing recommendations in cairn terriers.
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. We provide our puppy homes with a detailed email of recommended timing of spay/neuter.
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 for a pet coat or more frequently to maintain a show ready coat.
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 are not familiar with the breed and do not properly exfoliate the base layer of the coat which result in long-term skin issues for the dog. We recommend bathing as needed and using Cindra texturizing shampoo to maintain a natural feeling coat.
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.
We strongly encourage homes to use enzymatic dog toothpaste and a childrens soft electric toothbrush to brush their dogs teeth 2-3 times per week. Dental health has been shown to have a profound impact on the general well being and long term health of dogs.
CAN YOU SHIP THE PUPPY TO ME?
Yes, here is a reputable transport service (In cabin flight nannies):
Pet Commute
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 unless we have agreed with the buyer that they are waiting for a specific pairing.
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 placed a deposit. 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. Our puppies health and well being is prioritized above all else and we do not allow families to visit puppies that are not choosing or reserving from that litter.
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.
3. Our dogs are not at one location since our breeding program consists of several families working together and our dogs are our pets. Our lead breeder occasionally accommodates "tours" of her home and dog keeping set up for homes that are already on the waitlist if she is between litters or will send invites to families to observe her with her dogs at a public event.
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 in DHA or necessary vitamins and minerals. If you choose to supplement with homemade dog food or to feed homemade dog food we recommend you thoroughly research the nutritional value of your food and consult with your veterinarian.
Our preference is Taste of The Wild Bison and Venison Puppy Food and transitioning to Taste of The Wild Ancient Grains formula as adults. Our head breeder makes homemade puppy food to mix with the commercial food to build a diverse microbiome for her puppies. We will expand to doing this for all of our puppies after the benefits of this practice have been observed.
We will provide a small amount of kibble for you to transition your puppy to the food of your choice. For proper health and growth we strongly recommend a commercial puppy food. We send all of our puppies a detailed email with foods pre-approved for our health guarantee.
High quality training treats of dehydrated organ meat and natural chews such as duck or chicken feet can enrich your dogs life, contribute to their diet in a positive way, and help maintain healthy dentition.
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. Since litter timing is so variable we recommend filling out a puppy application to start a conversation about what litters we may be expecting in the coming year.
Usually we have puppies spaced out throughout the year though sometimes the females cycle together.
WILL MY PUPPY COME WITH A PEDIGREE?
Full Rights AKC Registration can be applied for here. Many of our show dogs are dual registered AKC/UKC. Show homes will have first preference to choose from litters and we will work with you through the selection process including stacked conformation photos of the puppies and or additional DNA or health testing of the individual puppy/dog to ensure they are a good candidate for breeding and a match for your existing dog(s).
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 low normal 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