Retiring Adults

I'm sorry for the lack of posts lately. It's been so busy here! We let Miyah and Daisie go to pet homes and they are doing just great so far. Miyah is still in IL, Daisie in PA, and Bridget retired to her forever home in MA. We thank these families for offering forever homes to our "furr kids". We realize the dedication it takes to adopt an adult into a new environment and I am thankful that they will be loved as their new family member. I often feel guilty that I can't provide as much 1 on 1 attention as I would like. But I know that they'll be pampered and get all the 1 on 1 that they desire now. It makes it easier to let them go, but I'll still miss them. It's easier to let puppies go because they are never "owned" by me....it's a head game I have to play with myself. But when I've already bonded, named, and spent so much time with the adults, it's really hard to say good-bye. I get updates, but it's still hard.

Maggie and Chloe both have healthy litters of 3. They're growing and doing really well. We still have puppies available. With the economy we're seeing a slowing of inquiries but are thankful that our puppies have still found wonderful forever homes. We still have other families waiting for a specific color or sex for future litters so we're breeding 2 more litters by Hailie & Bailie. I'm excited to see what they have in store for us. They're both adorable Cairns!

Our Doggie outfit came out in Movie

When I had my boutique open http://www.designerdogavenue.com/, I sold several doggie outfits to Walt Disney productions for a movie they were shooting in Mexico. It came out recently, "Beverly Hills Chihuahua" and the pink & green striped outfit seen in the previews is one that I sold them! Is that exciting or what!? I want to go see the movie but have had minor surgery, recovered, and now have been sick and haven't made it yet. I know the designer is out of many sizes but if anyone is interested I still have a few size mediums which fits the Cairn. I also have several outfits, designer dog carriers, dog beds, dog jackets and clothes, etc that I would like to get sold. I've offered special pricing to any customers, if you're interested please email me and you can shop behind the scenes in my remaining inventory. dow99@verizon.net

Amazing Cairn found swimming 1 mile off shore

Check out this article! A 14yr old Cairn got lost at sea and they found him swimming 1 mile out! Rescued and happy ending!! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1080220/Fishermen-catch-DOG-mile-North-Sea.html#

Libby Update

I received this testimonial about Libby. This is what makes me feel so good about being a breeder, making people happy. :)

"I cannot thank you enough for our wonderful girl “Libby”. As a client who has recently adopted one of your retiring dogs, I cannot thank you enough, nor can I praise you enough. Having an 8 month old Cairn terrier, we felt, that finding the right brother or sister was going to be tricky. Your guidance when we asked about an older dog helped us find our perfect little girl and our family has been completed by her. This was the perfect match. We love her just as much as if we had raised her from a puppy and cannot imagine life without her now. She and Chewie love each other too and it has been a really wonderful thing for our lives.

I want to commend you for doing such an amazing job raising her these past three years. Your care for your dogs shows and it has helped her transition into our household easily. She’s been a dream for potty-training and her socialization has been great. She’s friendly with our neighbors and their dogs and has adjusted to life in the house very easily.

I wish you continued success as a breeder – you are outstanding and your love and knowledge of this breed is unsurpassed. It means a great deal to me that you care so much about these dogs, their health, their socialization, and are interested in finding the right homes for them.

Thank you.
Mia Stark
Grayslake, IL"

Bentley and Color Genetics

Color genetics have always intrigued me in horses. I owned a grullo gelding with the brindle gene. In horses, the brindle gene is so rare, there aren't enough horses in existence to trace the genetic marker. My favorite color is the grullo, a mousy color that is genetically a black horse with dun factor (dorsal stripe, leg barring, wither bar, tipped ears). They are of course the rarest color and very difficult to find. This intrigue about color genetics carries over to the Cairn, since color is the biggest unknown factor in the breed. From my own experience, I understand the brindle gene in the breed and they either have it or they don't. The brindle can vary from a very light color with only a few stripes in the undercoat, to a very dark color with lots of stripes and a very dark top coat. Bentley however, is a mystery. He is the only Cairn known to be his color of mahogany red with black points. He has not changed in color other than he's getting a few gray hairs with age. He produces about 97% brindle puppies, so he must have the brindle gene even though he does not have apparent striping in the undercoat. This is probably because his undercoat is too dark to see the striping. Canine color genetics is not yet fully developed, but they are working on the fawn & brindle genes as seen in the boxer breed. They can currently test for the black mask and I believe they can test for the brindle gene in the Cairn Terrier. Bentley is going to participate as a research dog and they will evaluate his color genetics. They may not have testing currently available to assess what he truly is genetically, but I hope he can be of value to their research. Isn't that just the coolest thing!!!?? :)

Spaying or Neutering

Spaying is the sterilization by removing the ovaries & uterus of females, while neutering is the removal of the testicles of males. The advantages of spaying & neutering are numerous. With the epidemic of unwanted pets in our nation, spaying & neutering is necessary to reduce the occurance of unwanted pregnancy. Responsible pet owners take a proactive approach in ensuring that their dog is healthy and are not part of the problem of pet overpopulation. Females who are spayed before their 1st heat cycle, have a 99.9% reduced risk of mammary cancer. Neutering males prevents testicular cancer and prostate disease. Both males and females will not develop the negative behaviors associated with being intact if spayed/neutered before maturity or by 6 months of age. Females will not blow their coats with hormonal changes, males will not mark their territory by hiking their leg on everything in sight. Intact females also mark their territory and I even have females who lift their leg on things just like males!

At Crooked Creek Terriers, families who adopt a puppy agree to spay/neuter by 6 months of age. They place a deposit that is refunded upon proof of alteration by 6 months of age. I generally recommend neutering at 3-5 months of age, and spaying at 5-6 months of age. Some vets recommend early spaying/neutering as early as 8-16 weeks. This website gives a great over view of spaying & neutering. http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_SpayDay.php "Pets can become capable of reproduction as early as 6 months of age, so it is important to spay and neuter pets by that age. Early spay/neuter starting at 8 weeks of is endorsed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), Humane Society of the United States, the American Kennel Club, the Cat Fanciers Association, the American Humane Association and many other organizations. As long as a pup weighs more than two pounds and is 8 weeks old, he or she can be neutered or spayed."

Libby Retired & Current Happenings

The puppies are all home and all is quiet again. They all had happy homecomings and are keeping their families busy with puppyhood! Libby retired to her forever home last week and she's doing wonderfully! She's a resident of Chicago now, and has a 6mo old Cairn brother. They sound like they're having a great time and it's been the perfect forever home for her. It's amazing how those homes come along that are just the "right" home for a particular dog or puppy. Chloe is recooperating from her last litter and will be available for adoption in the next couple months.

We're watching for the next breedings to take place in the next month or so. The young girls are maturing very nicely and they'll be ready to have their first litter this winter. We've been so busy, I haven't gotten the new photos like I've been planning. But now that puppies are home, maybe I can find time to play photographer. It's certainly a job I enjoy!

Remodel Complete

The puppy house remodel is finally complete. It's made a difference in the ability to air condition and maintain a stable temperature. It also looks nicer! :) I like things all decorated, clean, and crisp! I still want to restain the exterior, but we've done some more landscaping to the exterior as well. Here's some photos of the interior. I bought a toolbox for medical and grooming supplies and love it! It's so much easier to find supplies than searching through tubs stowed away in the cabinet. I have more than ample storage now, with the tool box unit and a shelf above the whelping boxes. I'm enjoying it! For more photos, visit the facility page of my website! New exterior photos coming soon.

Puppy update

We've got our hands full of wiggly, licky, tail wagging puppies! They're very playful and attack your lap when given the chance. They like to nibble on my flip flops, or lick my toes when I'm trying to step around them. Here's a picture of one trying to play with my foot! LOL They like toys and carry around anything they can get their mouths on. They are Oh So Cute!! It's hard to believe they'll start to go home in just a couple weeks. Time flies when you're having fun!

Prices

I understand the issue of gas prices raising the pricing of everything, but this is getting rediculous. Airline shipping has increased $50, as well as the cost of my 2hr commute to the airport. So now I'm having to charge $300 just to cover my costs when I ship a puppy. I received an update from Canidae and they've made all these wonderful "improvements to the formula".....mmmm hmmm.......so they can raise prices. In the last 3 months, the price has increased twice and is now costing me an extra $30 per month or $360 per year just in dog food. I know there are a lot of families finding it incredibly difficult to absorb the price increases and make ends meet. So I'm not going to complain. I just find it sad that everything and everyone is effected so greatly.

Puppy House Rennovations

I've been busy insulating and redoing the puppy house this week. Turning the building into a puppy house was an afterthought, then we realized it wasn't built to insulate. Keeping the temps stable without insulation was more than a challenge. We went through alot of propane in the winter, and it was impossible to keep cool in the summer. I want to rebuild a new facility, but until we decide how, where, and HOW, I'm going to insulate it and try to make it work a while longer. I want to ensure that the next time around, it's truly in the best of design and convenience. Here's a preview, I have about 1/2 of it done! Slowly but surely!

The Happenings at Crooked Creek Terriers

As you've seen, we have Cairn Terrier puppies by Maggie, Chloe, and Rainey. They are 2wks, 2wks, and 5 days respectively, and all are gaining and doing well. Chloe's puppies got their eyes open yesterday. A few of Maggie's have their eyes open, but the others are still closed. We took new photos of Chloe's, Rainey's, and will get new photos of Maggie's when they all have their eyes open.

Maggie scratched her eye, so I've been busy medicating and treating her. It's improving and I expect her to make a full recovery. It's hard to know how she did it, but it was a generalized ulcer rather than a visible scratch. I feel bad for her, it looks painful!

We still have 2 brindle males available for Maggie. The rest of the puppies are sold and their families are anxiously waiting!

It's been hot but we're keeping cool with plenty of water and fans. I'm hoping to get some insulation put into the roof of the puppy house to keep it from heating up, until we can get the new facility built. The air conditioner is a waste of time. It just won't keep up any better than fans. By the time the summer heat comes, the puppies will be old enough to play in the shade during the heat of the day. So we'll make it through ok. We had tornado watches/warnings yesterday but thankfully they went to the north and south of us, so we just got some rain last night.

We're busy with summer fun, birthdays, and some mini vacations planned. I just love this time of year!

Puppy update & photos

Puppy photos are posted. They're all filling out and doing well. Mama's seem to be resting well. Each time I check, they've either gotten their pups to sleep and are resting by them, or they're nursing them. Chloe & Maggie are both excellent mothers. My only job is to sit back and monitor their feedings and growth, clean, and monitor the temp in the puppy house to make sure it remains a constant temperature for them. It takes a bit of work this time of year with the cool nights and warm afternoons. I can hardly wait for Rainey's litter to arrive now. The anticipation of how many and what sex is always like Christmas. You never know what you're going to get!

Chloe delivered!

Finally....Chloe delivered 3 puppies tonight. She has 2 males, 1 female, and they are very large puppies. I helped her deliver the first one breech and I thought I'd never get him out. It stressed me out! It took several minutes of her pushing and me pulling to get him out. The second boy was nearly as difficult, but she delivered the girl on her own. They are all a light wheaten or cream with black points and are very big healthy puppies. I think she should have delivered them last week and they would have been 'normal' sized. LOL They're nursing and Chloe is pretty sore and growly, but she'll feel better tomorrow.

Maggie

Maggie delivered 6 healthy puppies this morning. She has 3 girls, 3 boys, perfect little brindles! We did an U/S this afternoon just to ensure all was well and there were no more puppies in there. We almost lost her last litter when things seemed normal and 2 days later, we discovered a dead puppy in the birth canal. She was septic and it took several days of IV antibiotics and intensive care to save her. So no chances taken this time! :) The puppies are nursing and strong. It's exciting to have babies again!

No Puppy Update

We're still watching and waiting but no puppies yet. Chloe is overdue and this is not uncommon, particularly for her. She is bagged up and appears ready. Maggie & Rainey are big bellied and wadling. I'll post news when we get some!

Beat the Summer Heat- But Clip?

Some dog owners believe that clipping a dog's coat will make them cooler. They get their dog a summer cut to help them beat the summer heat. What they don't realize is that a dog's coat is insulating not only during the winter, but it's insulating against the heat in the summer. A dog doesn't sweat, but dissipates their body heat through panting. The undercoat helps to not only keep out the summer heat, but it prevents sunburn and skin irritations such as misquito bites. We know that Cairn Terriers should be stripped, not clipped. The primary reason is that dead hair left in the follicle and not stripped out, damages the base of the hair and makes it soft. The dead soft hair matts and is more odorous and difficult to manage. When stripping, the dead hair is removed by plucking it when it's ready, and a new hair grows in that remains course and the coat stays cleaner, less smelly, and does not matt as easily. It's important in the summer to brush regularly, remove any matts that may actually cause excess heat, and strip to maintain coat health. Bathe once a month to minimize drying out the skin. When spending a lot of time in the summer sun, use a dog sunscreen & insect repellent such as Flea the Scene by Happytails Spa product line. Ensure your dog has plenty of clean cool water to drink. There are various products available, such as cooling beds and cooling bandanas to help cool your dog when spending a lot of time outside. Some owners like to provide a baby wading pool in the yard for the Cairn to play in. They enjoy playing in the water and it helps keep them cool. Remember to use caution around large pools and use safety gates & fencing to dog proof your pool. Dogs can easily drown if they fall into a pool and can't get back out.

Puppies Puppies Puppies!

We got a surprise when Chloe turned out to be pregnant after all. She is due on Wed and can go any day now. We had expected for Maggie to breed at some time, but she snuck up on us and is already pregnant and due very soon. I would expect her to whelp in the next week or 2. Rainey is very pregnant and due June 2nd. All mamas are happy go lucky and are sporting big bellies! We're going to be very busy but are excited to welcome puppies into the world. We'll post our news soon!

Forever in Our Hearts

March 7, 1999-May 1, 2008

Earthquake in IL!?

I was awakened at 430ish this morning from a dead sleep when I realized my bed shaking was not in my dream. I jumped from bed not able to comprehend what woke me up "What the heck is that!" I said, and my husband said "It's an earthquake." Having never experienced one in my life, I was quite scared as the house shook, rattled, and a weird hum roared through the house for several seconds. We're all ok and no damange noted yet this morning. We discovered this morning that it was a 5.4 originating south of us about an hour.

Human Allergies

We know that some breeds are considered hypoallergenic but I didn't understand fully what the terminology meant. I ran across this description with a list of breeds and I was amazed. There is quite a list of breeds! The Cairn Terrier is listed, however I didn't see the Norwich Terrier listed. They have the same type of hard coat, so I was surprised. I have severe environmental allergies and react with hives on my arms from our Doberman. But I do not react to the Cairn or Norwich. As this website states, no breed is 100% hypoallergenic. I also found it interesting that poodle crosses are not necessary hypoallergenic. So just crossing a poodle with a random breed does not mean the offspring are going to have the hypoallergenic characteristic, which is a reason some breeders may do these crosses. I always recommend to families that if you have allergies in the family, visit a breed in person before purchasing. There is nothing worse than having to give up a family pet after you've become attached when a member of the family can't tolerate them due to allergies.

Health benefits of owning pets

Pet owners experience a reduction in psychological and physiolgical ailments compared to non-pet owners. I knew pets could lower blood pressure, combat depression, stress, and loneliness. Pet therapy programs are successful in treating patients for various disorders. I found this list of specific data about the health benefits owning pets. Check it out! http://www.deltasociety.org/AnimalsHealthGeneralReasons.htm

Oprah's segment on puppy mills

I was pleasantly surprised to find today's Oprah show a fair, balanced and objective report. They brought light to the issue of puppy mills which supply pet stores and urged families not to purchase puppies from pet stores. They stated to adopt from rescue, which I strongly agree with. I'm an affiliate of Col Potter Cairn rescue and recommend adopting if your family is able http://www.cairnrescue.com/. It is a loving organization rescuing and rehoming thousand's of Cairn Terriers from poor home environments, puppy mills, and abuse. I waited for the hate against all breeders message, but they didn't say that at all. In fact, they said they aren't worried about ethical breeders, because they don't hear from ethical breeders. Ethical breeders take their own puppies back and are not part of the pet overpopulation issue. They educated about spay/neuter and urged owners to be responsible pet owners by spaying & neutering their pets. They showed how simple a neuter surgery is and gave facts about the 99-100% reduction of mammary and testicular cancers in spayed/neutered pets. I thought it was well done, heart tugging but not pure propoganda, very objective and realistic reporting. The part that brought tears to my eyes, were the shelter dogs who were being euthanized only because of the lack of space. It is a serious problem, and the reason that mass production of puppies and sales of puppies through stores is unethical. Families purchase them on impulse or with inaccurate information, have no where to turn for assistance when their cute puppy develops behavior problems, and they are dumped in shelters. Pet stores don't take adults back and we know breeding farms or puppy mills certainly don't. It breaks my heart to see so many otherwise healthy animals, who just happened to wind up in the wrong home, euthanized because they have no where to go. This is not propoganda or sensationalizing, it's a real problem in our nation. I'm continually amazed at how many people do not know what a puppy mill is (and I've seen far worse than shown on the show today). I'm amazed that some show breeders label ethical breeders who don't happen to play the game of showing, puppy mills. Since we know what a true "puppy mill" is, this is an abusive phrase inappropriate applied to those who ethically and passionately breed for the love of the breed and their dogs. I'm amazed at how many pet stores "claim" to purchase from breeders when in fact, no ethical breeder will sell to a pet store. I'm amazed at how much of the public doesn't understand what ethical breeding is and that we should never purchase from pet stores. I'm delighted that the public was shown this message by Oprah and support the message in today's show. I hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did. For more information, go to http://www2.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200804/tows_past_20080404.jhtml?promocode=HP21

Our Facilities & Breeding Program

There is a negative connotation to the word "kennel", and I wanted to explain my perspective and about our facilities as well as my approach to a quality breeding program. I have received a couple of offensive statements over the years from those breeders who only want their dogs to live in the home. One breeder stated something to the effect of "to be isolated in the back yard, what a horrible life." I promptly sent a photo of Bentley being "isolated in the back yard" and said "Poor Bentley...what a life." LOL

Adult males mark their territory and their urine has a strong odor. I have had 1 male that I could keep from marking inside most of the time, but the other boys are hopeless. But they are breeding males, that's part of their job. As a mother and person that values a clean household, I simply can not have males in the house marking my furniture. I even have females who mark their territory and some even lift their leg just like a male! This is unfortunately part of intact dogs that I tell people, spay or neuter and you won't have to deal with this negative behavior.

A breeder has to decide their approach to breeding. If it is to have 1 male, 1 female, obtain championship titles and have 1 litter of puppies per year that are placed in forever homes, that is their right. I am not going to disrespect someone who breeds ethically, if that is the approach they want to take. However, I have a different approach and I would like my perspective respected too. I believe that for the health of the lines, a breeder needs to have multiple females and preferably more than 1 male in order to have enough production to track the health of the lines. If I have a health disorder show up, I can compare lines in my kennel as well as that line in the kennels of my friends, to see if it may be carried by a particular dog. We can track it to obtain valuable information and decide if it was a random occurance or if a particular dog is carrying a defect and they or the line should be discontinued. This is why an open communication line with the families of the puppies I produce, is so important. I need to stay in contact and know if I have produced a puppy with a defect. This is why it is unethical to sell through brokers or puppy stores where you will never hear from that puppy again. You receive no feedback on the success of your breeding program. (not to mention that those puppies may end up in poor homes or shelters because the market is about selling puppies, not placing in forever homes or adopting them back)

I believe multiple females/males are necessary and there is no set number of dogs that are too many except that when you get too many in number, that is less time to devote to each dog. I not only want to have a strong breeding program, but I want my dogs to have a quality family life. I breed because I love my dogs, and I'm not going to throw them in a kennel and never have time to spend with them. For my young busy family, more than 15 dogs is a handful. This includes our breeding females, males, and the puppies that we are raising at any given time, to replace the retiring breeding females. I know a breeder who has about 20-25 dogs at a given time, with 3 related breeds, and I know she does a wonderful job with them. I've also seen breeders with that many that don't do so great. So it depends on the individual breeder, their commitment and energy level, and their facilities. I consider 50-100's of dogs always too many for ethical breeding. More than 3 breeds, particularly when they are different types of breeds is hard to maintain expertise and a strong breeding program.

This brings us to our facilities. I bring 1-2 dogs into the house on a given day, to play with, bathe, or care for them. But for someone to expect me to have 15 dogs in the house full time is just not sanitary or realistic. Even for those that stay inside for a longer period, they want to go back to the kennel to visit their buddies. I usually keep Maisie inside full time because she is very emotionally attached to me. Even SHE escapes from the back yard and goes out to the kennel. I've been cleaning and opened the kennel door and she runs in to say hi and doesn't want to come out! In my experience my dogs are not longing to stay in the house and be a person. They are dogs and they love the outdoors, the squirrels, birds, and the other dogs. They want to come out of the kennel and run in the back yard and after an hour or 2, they're ready to go back. A kennel is not a "cage", it's a safe and secure facility. They can't dig out or hurt themselves, and I don't worry about other animals getting in with them. Except for the poor squirrel that fell into the run with them! poor thing.....

A "kennel" usually refers to a professional breeder selling puppies to make money. This is where people get the negative connotation, because it is no longer an acceptable practice to breed only to make money. This does not mean that a small ethical breeder who happens to have appropriate, quality, and clean kennel facilities is not a good ethical breeder.

We need to stop making generalizations in an Us VS Them attitude. There are lots of show breeders that hate any breeder that doesn't show and calls anyone that doesn't show a puppy mill. I've been called a puppy mill recently as well as some of my friends who happen to be excellent breeders. It angers me that someone can be so hateful and offensive just because someone doesn't do things the way they do. The mere fact that other show breeders have taken the world of showing and turned it into such a hateful discipline is the exact REASON that I don't show! I will not lower my standards or integrity to hateful political attitudes. There is never an excuse to treat others badly and they are only giving themselves and the world of showing a bad name by treating others that way. I have literally wanted to show and every time I step foot into the realm I am reminded why I can not function in that environment. No one wants to participate with people talking about them, and hating them if they're not in the clique, or hating them if they're beating them, or don't have the right line, or don't do things in the same way. I don't believe in living my life that way and I don't believe in being that kind of breeder. So if I am outcast because I don't win titles, so be it. But to put me down because I have a certain kind of facility, or I breed to little, too much, or my name doesn't start with the right letter, they can have their titles and their dogs.

I am proud as can be of our new Norwich who is an AKC champion. What an accomplishment! She's a beautiful example of the breed. But I also believe that there are many breeders who are just like me. They want to breed to the breed standard and produce healthy loving puppies that are placed in loving forever homes. They just happen to refuse to "play the game" of showing! There are too many PUPPY MILLS, ie 100's of dogs housed in unacceptable conditions and health, producing puppies ONLY to make money. There are too many unethical breeders who breed dogs regardless of quality, are only interested in making a sale and do not care who buys them. When there are so many issues of pet overpopulation and dogs in need of homes, why are we waisting time talking about the ethical breeders who are trying to do things right? In my mind, those breeders are just as unethical when they are treating others badly only to make their own selfish gains.

There is never an excuse to treat others badly. I live it, I teach it, I stand by it. Threats and verbal abuse will not change who I am. If you agree with me, stand by me. If you don't, and you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Our Cooper

Thank you for the concern to those who noticed our Cooper was not listed as a breeding sire. He is fine, and will stay with us another month or so. We decided to sell him to our friend Tami, and he will become her main sire in her breeding program. It was a really difficult decision on my part. But I want to maintain a smaller number of total dogs, and will need a Norwich male. Since Cooper was closely related to most of my next generation I had to make the logical decision to let him go, setting aside my emotions. I had kept him to show, but decided not to go that route right now. I was then so attached, I didn't want to give him up. His personality is adorable, he's show quality and is a gorgeous Cairn! He will make a great contribution to the genetics of Tami's breeding program.

Wanted Ad

Wanted: Cairn or Norwich Breeders who: follows the breeder's code of ethics, places their puppies in forever homes, are available to those puppies for their lifetime, are respectful of nature and each other, follows the golden rule, educates the public about responsible pet ownership, affiliates with other ethical breeders and shares knowledge to improve, breeds the best quality they can, being mindful of health, disposition, and confirmation according to breed standard.

Breeders need not inquire who are hateful, back stabbing, rude to others, dishonest, or believe in winning titles above all else regardless of whether they compromise the integrity of breeding, showing, and the dogs.

Cairn Terrier Litters for Spring

We expected a litter by Thea at the end of the month. Unfortunately she doesn't appear to be pregnant. Chloe is tentatively due in May. This will be her last litter and she will be ready to retire to her forever home. We're watching for other females to come into heat and start breeding for summer litters. Congratulations to Camille for finding her forever home! She will be joining her new Mom and Cairn brother at the end of the month. We are anxiously awaiting Spring, sunshine and some dry weather!

The Puppy Chewing/ Nipping Stage

The developmental stage of chewing and nipping in puppies can be challenging to deal with. They may chew up items around the house, like your favorite pair of shoes. Their manner of play is with their mouth, so they are constantly going at you with an open mouth. Cairn Terriers have needle sharp teeth and it's painful to get nipped or scratched. Understanding how to respond will help you get through this stage.

First of all, use puppy gates and close doors, to give your puppy a safe play space. (also protect carpet areas from potty accidents) Ensure you have puppy proofed your home by removing dangerous items that a puppy could get into, just like you would for a child. Electrical cords should be put up, small items they could choke on, etc. By removing items they have access to, you can prevent inappropriate chewing. Offer lots of toys appropriate for their size to play with and chew, and keep them busy. Use the crate as a way to safely contain them when you can't actively watch them. But ensure that you're using it appropriately for crate training. (crating 24-7 is not appropriate crate use) The best times to crate are after a good hard play session when puppy needs to nap.

Having chew toys available is also the key to redirect mouthing and nipping. Never use your hands as toys, by allowing the puppy to chase and attack your hands or feet. When puppy mouths at you during petting, redirect them to an appropriate toy. Praise them for chewing on the toy. This article gives some good advice: http://ddfl.org/behavior/pup-nip.pdf

My only thought after reading about yelping and ignoring them to reduce nipping behavior, is that in essence the puppy is learning a way to dominate you by controling your behavior. Dominant dogs in a pack nip or growl to show their dominance, and submissive members retreat or roll to their backs to show submission. Although you aren't "rolling on your back" you are retreating. For Cairn Terrier puppies that have an alpha type disposition, I wonder if this could create problems over time? Chances are, the puppy is going to outgrow the nipping stage before problems could be created, but it's something to think about if you experience this behavior beyond the puppy stage. (if a Cairn growls or snaps when you're doing something they don't like, don't retreat! Take assertive control.) The dominant one in the pack would not retreat, but would respond with assertive control. Since dominance is more of an issue in the Cairn Terrier than shyness, I would just be aware of it. I personally have not been against flipping a puppy in the nose when they come at your hand, as an immediate response. I only use it when all other attempts have been exhausted and with the right timing, puppy thinks it "ran into your finger". The same strategy is used for horses. The quote of horse trainer Clinton Anderson is "Be as light as possible, but as firm as necessary" (in speaking about horses which I apply to all areas of life). If I were another puppy, I would bite back. Same for horses, if I were another horse I'd kick, and a kick hurts a heck of a lot worse than a whack with a handy stick (tool used in training horses). Some people are mortified that you would ever "hit" a horse. But you know..... horses who are owned by people like that are dangerous when they dominate their handler! I've seen a horse that flat ran over their owner and she couldn't control him at all. Then I heard her speaking in the restroom about how another trainer had "hit" her horse and how awful it was. I wanted to say "Maam, maybe if you'd 'hit' your horse once in a while, he wouldn't run over and try to kill you!" By the way, the hitting I'm referring to is with a handy stick, a light weight long stick that is used to control space around a horse. Horses that invade your space get a quick wack which couldn't hurt them if you tried. It's just a wake up call that they must obey your personal space. So with that, I guess you can understand my matter of fact view, that if a puppy repeatedly bloodies your hand and won't be redirected, it's time to take an appropriate firmer approach. Be as light as possible, but as firm as necessary. And by firm, it is never hitting for aggression or to hurt an animal, but is taking action to control behavior as strongly as necessary.

Cooper II Available for Adoption

We have Cooper II (not our Cooper breeding sire) available for adoption. He is 8mo old, the son of Rainey and Keagan. He was given back when his owner was not prepared for a dominate Cairn personality and wasn't willing to work through it. (she stated she wished I would have told her Cairns were so different than labs- so we understand her expectations were not accurate) I have assessed his personality and behavior. He has an alpha personality and is very outgoing, playful, happy go lucky, energetic, loving, and independent. He's delightful with strangers and although he gets along with other dogs, I would not place him in a home with another dominant personality dog. He is neutered and up to date on healthcare. He had a loving home, but I believe she didn't maintain a dominant role and he may be the type to challenge ranking with his owner. We're looking for a home with someone who is looking for this type of personality, who is experienced with dogs and dog behavior, and is able to maintain dominance. I have had no issues with Cooper and have redirected him easily. But I'm an assertive dog person. For more information please visit Cooper's page on my website http://crookedcreekcairnterriers.com/cooper-2-info.html

Jamaican Vacation

I thought I would share a little Jamaica on these cold dreary days! It was beautiful! We only wished vacation lasted longer. Especially in February when we came back to snow/ice.

The Good and the Bad of the Cairn Terrier

I found this article online and found it helpful information. "Cairn Terriers What's Good About 'Em, What's Bad About 'Em" Not all Cairns fit the quick-to-bark, scrappy, and difficult personality description. However, as this article states, when you purchase a puppy it is not known what their personality may become. We can not see true personality at 8-9 weeks of age. So when shopping for a new addition, a family needs to take these characteristics into account when deciding on the Cairn Terrier. In general, my Cairns have been great with my young children, less barky, loving, and rarely scrappy. But some puppies we've produced have been that personality. The advantage of adopting an adult, is you that you already know their personality. So if you want to be more sure of the personality you will get, consider adopting an older puppy or adult.

Unavailable Feb 13-19

I will be unavailable February 13-19. If you are interested in upcoming litters or have questions about the Cairn, feel free to email me. crookedcreekcairns@verizon.net. I will reply upon my return. We're headed to the beautiful Jamaican Island for some sun and relaxation!

Invisible Fencing

I posted a blog back in August about the dangers of invisible fencing. I collect information from credible rescources such as rescue organizations and experienced Cairn breeders. I have read time and again, that Cairns should not be contained by invisible fencing. They are so driven to chase squirrels that they will accept the shock to chase a squirrel but will not accept it to come back into the yard. I stated in my blog that "you will read...." I didn't have a strong opinion about the invisible fence until our own Cairn family in St Lois let their Chloe out to potty at dusk. When she didn't return they went out to find her dead, attacked by a coyote in her own yard. Invisible fencing, even if successful at keeping your Cairn in your yard, does not keep predators or aggressive dogs from entering your yard. I therefore said that I do not recommend invisible fences for dogs left unattended. IN OTHER WORDS if you don't have the option of any other fencing, and you would like to excercise your dog off lead while you are watching them, then it may be a viable alternative. I simply have presented the facts. I got several emails from a man who owns a company that sells invisible fencing who was upset that I presented negative information about invisible fencing. Although he agreed that coyotes could come into your yard and kill your Cairn, he knew of coyotes getting into physical fencing as well, so he didn't think that was a good argument. I personally have never had or heard of predators or dogs getting into a fenced yard that the Cairn can not get out of. He stated that it is only ignorance that invisible fencing doesn't work. I don't agree with his arguments because I don't care if the fencing keeps your dog in your yard, it doesn't keep predators out. Here is where I obtained some of my information and I'm certainly going to find these sources more credible than someone selling the invisible fencing systems. I only want what is best for our Cairn Terriers.
http://www.cairnrescue.com/adoption/faqs.htm#13
“Cairns are NOT suited for invisible fencing because they will most likely take a "hit" in order to chase something through the fence. However, they won't take the hit to get back home. In addition, invisible fencing does not prevent attacks from larger dogs. Likewise, a Cairn should not be left tied out in a yard for the same reason.”
http://www.ctcdenver.com/health.html#What%20kind%20of%20fencing%20will%20I%20need?
"No surprise then, that the Cairn, and other terriers, have a very high pain threshold… Therefore, the popular “invisible fences” should never be used to confine a Cairn. All the dog needs is to see a squirrel or rabbit beyond the fence boundary, and it is off on the chase. … In addition, any loose, aggressive dog can enter your yard with invisible fencing to attack, perhaps, kill your Cairn."
http://ctcnc.net/rescue.htm
Rescue will ask if there is a fenced yard because these guys are so independent, and prey driven. If there is no fenced yard, Cairns must be exercised on a leash. Cairns are bred to hunt vermin and will take any opportunity to protect you from them, real or imagined. An invisible fence will not work on these guys. They will run through the "pain" to get what they want but they won't run through the "pain" to come back home.

I still stand by my recommendation that the best alternative for fencing is solid fence panels set at ground level. Cairns should never be left unattended for long periods because they will dig. But the solid panels would be the safest to keep out other dogs, predators, and give your dog a safe environment to exercise and do their business. If you do not have a fenced yard, keep your Cairn on a lead. Dogs tied out are also subject to being attacked by strange dogs or predators. Picket fencing should be set very close together, as our 4" space is wide enough for our 9-10lb Cairns to squeeze under/through.

AKC Inspection

AKC (The American Kennel Club) inspects all breeders who breed more than 7 litters a year. They review documentation to ensure accurate record keeping, facilities to ensure they are appropriate, how many dogs are present, how they are identified, and the dog's physical conditions. I experienced my first inspection at Crooked Creek Cairn Terriers about 1 1/2yrs ago. I was so nervous but I got compliments from the inspector and that felt really good. It took a couple hours and I was amazed at how in depth it was. He even checked my breeding dates with whelping dates to ensure they were accurate. Thankfully I passed with ease.

I had my next inpsection on Tuesday. I knew what to expect, but it still makes me so nervous. It's like the "doggie police" coming to "inspect". That word just sounds scary! Thankfully we had some warm weather and I was able to bathe and groom everyone without chilling them. I scrubbed dog boxes, the kennel, and the puppy house to ensure everything was clean and smelled good. My documentation was already organized, but I double checked everything just to be sure. I was surprised that this inspection was pretty quick and easy.

As a breeder, I whole heartedly support inspection of breeders. AKC holds the highest standards and it's through these standards and inspections that breeders are held accountable. Mistakes happen to some breeders and I understand that. But I like knowing that if there are breeders with dogs that aren't in good physical condition, facilities aren't appropriate, and documentation isn't accurate, that someone will know about it and ensure it's corrected. AKC isn't perfect and I've had my records mixed up, received documentation for dogs and breeds I don't own, and I wonder how they keep anything straight. Some of the rules aren't as strict as I think they should be when it comes to DNA requirements. It leaves a lot of room for error or dishonesty. But in general, AKC stands for quality and I'm glad to be a member. The inspections weren't really anything to worry about for someone that follows the rules (and they aren't hard to follow). Sure they make you nervous, but when the inspector leaves I wonder why I was nervous. That was easy! :)

Male or Female?

Male or Female Cairn Terrier? What sex should we get? The negatives associated with males vs females are usually associated with intact animals. Intact females bleed with cycles, they mark their territory (some even hike their leg on things), and they can have 'attitudes' (they are called a bitch for a reason! LOL). With hormonal changes, they will blow their coat which is like shedding, and sometimes is so severe they will have balding. Intact males mark their territory by hiking their leg on anything and everything. Although they can be housetrained, if a bitch is in season they will mark in the house. I can't bring my males in the house without my cabinets being marked. Their urine smell is pungent and they just don't make good house pets.

So we will spay/neuter to avoid all the negatives associated with intact Cairn Terriers. But is there a difference in altered males & females? You will read that spayed females are more independent and neutered males are more loving. I have both males and females with independent natures and loving natures. I attribute this to personality and not the sex. Altered males and females can make equally good pets. Their tendency towards being more calm and loving, or more energetic and independent will depend on their personality.

We have a Terrier in our home. Should we get the same sex or opposite sex? In general, it is recommended that you get the opposite sex for the best compatability. But it depends on the personality of the Terrier that you already have. Since we can't always see true personality in a puppy at 6-9 weeks of age, consider the personality of your adult Terrier. Are they dominating or alpha personality? Are they grouchy with other dogs? For dogs with this dominating type personality, it would be best to adopt a puppy of the opposite sex for the best compatability. If your Terrier easily accepts other dogs, shows submission, and is loving and really good natured, you will probably be ok with another dog of the same sex as long as they are altered before maturity.

Testimonial Email

I wanted to share an email I received from a sweet customer that waited for a litter from Crooked Creek Cairn Terriers. When a puppy didn't come available, I recommended my friend Tami at Breezyhollow Farm and she was able to get a male Cairn from her. Most of Tami's lines are either similar or came from Crooked Creek Cairn Terriers.

"Good morning ladies...I have a story that I wanted to share with you. The other night I was in a little local pet store near my home. As always I was drawn toward the puppies just to see what they had. They were all so cute and I notice this one little guy and only when I looked at the tag on the cage did I realize he was a Cairn! I was very surprised for 2 reasons, first I NEVER see Cairns in pet stores around here and secondly and more disturbing he really didn't look like a cairn. Now I am in no way any kind of expert but at 17 weeks old this puppy was almost twice the size of my Reilly at 4 1/2 months, his snout was much longer and both of his ears were totally flopped and showed no signs that they were going to stand up any time soon. His coloring was Cairn-like but if I had to guess I would say he had Schnauzer in him; at least that's what his face looked like to me. It made me very sad to think that this little guy could have very likely started out as a puppy mill puppy.Well the reason I am telling you this is because seeing him (priced at$1200) makes me really appreciate you guys and how much care you take as breeders. Thank you! My Reilly is perfect, stubborn but perfect (at least to me he is)
Micky"

The sad thing is, that this puppy either came from a bad breeder or puppy mill because it ended up in a pet store. The quality is evident and apparently you don't always get what you pay for. It's probably the quality of a $400 puppy but they are asking $1200. Our lines at Crooked Creek Cairn Terriers have some of the top show names in the pedigrees and several were $1200-1500 puppies. We maintain a price range that we attempt to cover costs with, but make it affordable to families. Our current pricing is $800-850 for pet puppies.

Breeder Check List

Here is a checklist to keep in mind when shopping for a good breeder.

• Puppies are born on premises
• Breeder does not sell to brokers or retail shops
• Facilities are clean and well kept
• Puppies have been handled, and introduced to children and other dogs
• Breeder interviews you and offers information on the breed to ensure a good match
• Puppy comes with limited registration as a pet, and is to be spayed/neutered
• Breeder promises to take the dog back (not return your money) if you can't keep it
• Breeder provides a 3 day money back guarantee, and a 1-2yr health guarantee by contract
• Breeder raises no more than 2-3 breeds, it's difficult to be competent in more breeds
• Breeder's primary concern is finding a good home for the puppy or dog rather than making a sale
• Breeder was happy to answer questions and makes you feel comfortable asking for advice
• Breeder is familiar with and abides by breeder's Code of Ethics

Feedback Wanted

I get a lot of feedback from the public that my website is a wealth of information. For others, I have to refer them back to the site for information they missed or they didn't read. I purchased educational folders from AKC, for puppy owner's. Some of the information is great, and other information that I feel is important is either vague or missing. I'm trying to decide, if I load up a folder with great puppy information, breed specific information, and training, would families really read it? Or is it something that people take home and never refer to again? Because this is an added cost to me, I would like to get some feedback. Here is a list of items included:

• Why Register with AKC
• Canine Good Citizen Program
• Should I breed my dog? - explains the difference between "pure-bred" and "Well-bred" is the product of responsible breeders
• Keeping Your Dog Fit & Trim
• Canine Travel Tips
• List of Dangerous Food/products
• Tips on basic care for your dog
• In case of emergency
• AKC Events in a brief packet
• Puppy Owner Checklist

I also found a DVD with initial training information produced by Midwest, that shows initial crate training and obedience training with your puppy. I found this helpful since owners have a few weeks with their puppy before starting obedience classes.

The feedback that I want to hear: Although I review much of the information verbally upon a puppy going home, would informational packets be helpful? If you've already bought a puppy from us at Crooked Creek Cairn Terriers, is there anything that you wish you had upon taking your puppy home? What can I do to improve or assist in a smooth transition of bringing a puppy into your home? Email me at crookedcreekcairns@verizon.net THANKS!!!

Holidays and Crooked Creek Cairn update

I hope everyone enjoyed the holiday. We enjoyed our family and although we enjoyed the holidays themselves, we did encounter the flu all week! It sounds as if a lot of people have been sick with various illness.

Bridget's puppies are doing well. The male is very large for his age, and the female very small for her age. Since all other aspects of their development have been normal, we're just monitoring their intake and health. Cairn Terrier puppies do vary quite a bit in size and bone structure. For some reason this litter has the extremes in the same litter. But they are both happy go lucky adorable puppies who wag their tails and are just adorable.

We haven't had any breedings so we're now waiting for Spring litters for puppy availability. I apologize to those waiting, but this is part of the unpredictability of nature. I'm going to enjoy a little break in the meantime. It'll give us some time for maintenance projects and it'll be nice just to spend time with my Cairns.