Breed Standard and Type

The Cairn Terrier breed standard is a guide for breeders and judges. It is an agreed upon description of what the breed is supposed to look like. It has changed over time to fit the direction the breed has gone. It is a description, but is also open to interpretation. Different breeders and judges may like a slight variance within the breed, but should still fit within the published guildelines set forth in the standard. Also within the breed are Types, describing the overall look of the dog, not just a different shape of head or size of ears. The breed was originally bred for it's hunting instinct and not the physical characteristics. As a result, breeders developed Types that they preferred. You will hear of the European type which is a longer bodied, shorter legged, heavier boned dog. The American type is a smaller, shorter backed, smaller ear set, and generally shorter muzzle. One type is not right or wrong, but different breeders have a preference for one type or another. Therefore it's important when shopping for a breeder, to find one that breeds for the type that you like. Read more about breed standard on the official AKC website. The conclusion is that regardless of Type, a Cairn Terrier should still look like a Cairn Terrier and not a Jack Russell or a Collie.