Purchasing a Puppy

Bringing a pet into your home is a lifetime commitment to the pet. For Cairn Terriers, you should consider it a commitment of 12-15yrs but up to 18yrs in some cases. You should consider your lifestyle over the time period, and consider all characteristics of a breed. Different breeds were brought about for different reasons and therefore have vastly different characteristics, from energy level, intelligence, disposition, instincts, health, grooming needs, etc. Take all characteristics into account before choosing a breed. For example if you want a lap dog that will snuggle and sleep most of the time, a Cairn Terrier or similar breed is NOT what you are looking for! If you are looking for an energetic companion that may be independent at times, but highly intelligent, loving, and a big dog in a little body, a Cairn Terrier may fit your needs precisely.

When you think you know what breed you would like, contact reputable ethical breeders and let them know who you are, about your family, and what you are looking for in a companion. They can offer advice and expertise about the breed, and help you ensure that it is in fact, a good choice.

For more information about what an ethical reputable breeder is, refer to my web page. A reputable breeder is concerned about the placement of their puppy because they are responsible to that life for it's entirety. They want it to be a forever home and if circumstances in your life change where you can't keep it for it's lifetime, they will assist you in placing it in a new home. If you ever have questions, concerns, or difficulties with your puppy they will be available to help you manage it. Many behavior issues that may eventually cause a family to give up a dog, can be corrected if managed appropriately early.

This is why it's inappropriate for backyard breeders to breed. A backyard breeder is not an expert in the breed, they can't track health disorders beyond random occurance, and they don't have the goal of improving the breed. I've talked to numerous backyard breeders who not only didn't know the health disorders within the breed, they have an overall lack of knowledge. This lack of knowledge continues through the puppies they produce when buyers have a pet and no one to turn to for good information. The continuance of ignorance results in families having no where to turn when they need a new home for their dog and the animals end up in shelters or being abused.

Large unethical breeders and puppy mills are also a cause of pet overpopulation due to selling large numbers of puppies with no attention to appropriate homes. If a breeder pushes a sale instead of placing the puppy in a forever home, they're the wrong breeder for you. If they aren't in touch with the puppies over a period of time, they probably aren't tracking health disorders and therefore aren't improving the breed. Only through staying in touch with my buyers and having an open line of communication, am I notified if a dog develops a hereditary health disorder. By selling mass numbers of dogs and not being in touch with them, when buyers have issues with the animal, what do they do? They surrender them to shelters and rescues, furthering our issues of pet overpopulation.

Reputable ethical breeders never sell puppies at auction. They don't donate puppies to auction, they don't sell them online in auctions. They may advertise puppies that are available, but then one should expect an interview process to be able to purchase the available puppy. Expect to provide references or photos of your home if asked. Breeders want the best home for their puppies and want to know that it's a forever placement in quality care. Be forthcoming and give good communication, and expect good communication in return. If you can't talk with your breeder, they don't answer emails or phone calls, you know they aren't going to be available when you have a 1 yr old dog with health or behavior problems.

We want to ensure all dogs have forever homes. Spay and neuter at 5-6 months of age. Only purchase a puppy from a reputable ethical breeder. Stay in contact with your breeder with behavior problems, questions, concerns, and most importantly cute pictures and updates! If you need to find a new home for your dog, NEVER surrender to a shelter or rescue. Notify your breeder first and they will assist you in placing the animal, or take them for foster care if the situation is urgent. As the buyer you are just as responsible to that animal for the rest of it's life, as the breeder is.

Spoiling Your Dog and Behavioral Issues

Have you ever thought that by letting your dog sleep with you, eat with you, and sleep on the couch that you were just loving them and they appreciated it? Do you think they love you more by giving them special privileges? Spoiling your dog without rules and setting limits can be the start of behavioral problems that could lead to dangerous issues. There is a difference between loving them and spoiling them. A dog lives in a world of hierarchy and for many dogs, the goal is to raise their ranking or be the top ranking within the "pack". Particularly in the Cairn Terrier breed, they have characteristics of indpendence and dominance. This is why obedience training and maintaining your domiance is so important. Dogs rank lower than all family members, including the children. You eat before they do, you decide where they sleep (in a crate), and if you allow pets on your furniture, you decide when they can be on the furniture by inviting them there. This all establishes your dominance in the relationship. Practice obedience in your daily life. Tell them to sit before eating, going outside, before a treat, etc. Teach them to quietly stay in their bed when company comes, while you're watching TV, etc. I'm currently working with a rescue dog that thinks he ranks under me but above my kids. His ranking has created the issue of nipping children, and I'm trying to do all that I can to reduce his ranking in the family to below our kids. I have rolled him to his back and allowed my kids to hold him there in the submissive position. They show their dominance by feeding him, taking toys away from him, asking him to sit, and reward him with a treat. Here's an article that I found helpful about alpha personalities. Regardless of whether your dog has an alpha personality, all dogs should be given structure and rules. You can pamper and love your dog without spoiling it.

Socializing Your Cairn Terrier

Many realize the importance of socialization and seek a breeder that appropriately socializes their puppies. What they may not realize is that socialization only begins with the breeder, and the most important socialization period is at 8-16wks of age (after the puppy usually goes home). Puppies have a very high learning curve, just like human toddlers. The period from 8-16wks of age is when puppies learn things quickly and easily, and it's important to expose them to situations that they may encounter the rest of their lives. Introduce scary objects, clip their nails, visit the vet, blow dry them after a bath, visit other dogs (after their 3rd vaccination) and most importantly START PUPPY OBEDIENCE CLASSES. Training starts the minute you bring them home with learning their name, walking on a lead, potty training, and even 8wk old puppies can participate in short obedience excerises learning to sit, stay, drop (lay down), in their bed, in their crate, etc. Start a puppy obedience class after 11wks of age or their 3rd puppy vaccine and practice the skills in your daily life. Take them to visit other dogs, socialize them with strangers on walks, in the park, and especially when visitors come to your home. Greet them politely with a "Sit" while the visitors are welcomed in. If overly eager greeting is an issue, make them stay in their bed until the visitors have come in and sat down. No one wants to enter a home where the dog is jumping on them and being inappropriate. Set limits for your dog and enforce household rules. A disciplined but loved dog is a well behaved dog.