Article Written By: CamilleGoldin
For owners, it is quite a big challenge for taking care of Cairn Terriers and suppressing the natural instinct of chasing anything that crosses their paths. Well, not literally anything, but you get the point. Dogs like these could be troublesome around and outside the house as they can be prone to more mishaps and accidents. As the owner, it is vital to know this information, as it could shape the whole relationship you will have with the dog. To fully address the chasing problem, it is imperative that we know the origin of the dog.Cairn Terriers were originally conceived in the 1500s. They mostly came from the Scotland Highlands and Isle of Skye. Before, these were considered to be the same with the Scottish Terrier and the West Highland White Terrier breed of dogs. The similarity lasted until the 1900s when they started breeding separately. Cairn Terriers were also related to the Skye Terriers. The word "cairn" was from their use - where it could fit itself down into cairns, which are rock dens, and warn the farmers about any foxes or badgers so that they could be killed. That is why it is known for chasing and hunting down small animals. Its talents are tracking, hunting, go-to-ground trials, being a watchdog and performing tricks with agility.As the owner of Cairn Terriers or such dogs with a penchant for chasing, you have to know how to appease their appetites, if not fully, partially. Since this is their true nature, they won't deviate from chasing and you will probably have to deal with it. One solution for this is to train them and train them well. Try conditioning the dog that you will get mad or dissapointed whenever you find him chasing something. A simple pat on the paw will do. Do not be overly strict as this will trigger the dog's unruly behavior.Next, make it take a daily walk. Exercise is one of the main weapons in your arsenal to combat the Cairn Terrier's tendency to chase. If you give it enough exercise and play time (which is a form of exercise as well), you will feed its hunger to run around chasing things. Also try making it do tricks. While you're at it, praise it by giving it treats, which will make the dog feel closer to you. Your consistent leadership will soon mold it into a calm and pleasant little lap dog. Still however, because of its origins, you might not be able to fully eliminate its chasing behavior. These little dogs also like to dig around for holes where vermins may be. While it could be helpful at first, imagine seeing holes in your garden. Not just one hole, but an array of various holes that come in different shapes and sizes. We warned you. This is why training and exercise is very, very important.Also, remember that these dogs feel that they are big dogs, stuck inside a small dog's body. This makes them very energetic, so you should appease this with exercise and playtime. Do not leave cairn terriers all by themselves in the kennel or backyard as this will trigger their "separation anxiety" behavior.
This Article Has Been Published on Tue, 16 Aug 2011 and Read 217 Times