Cairn Australian Shepterrier -- Cairn Terrier X Australian Shepherd

		Cairn Australian Shepterrier
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			Great Britain <> U.S.A. -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Cairn Australian Shepterrier

The Cairn Australian Shepterrier is a hybrid mix of the small-sized Cairn Terrier and the medium-sized Australian Shepherd. The specific Cairn Australian Shepterrier cross is bred for the companionship of the working-class Cairn Terrier and the high-energy Australian Shepherd to produce an excellent companion that looks like a mini Australian Shepherd and is affectionate, alert and cheerful. Both parent breeds are working-class dogs. The Cairn Terrier is a land dog, a vermin hunter, and the Australian Shepherd is a breeding dog.

History of the Cairn Australian Shepterrier

The Cairn Australian Shepterrier is a hybrid of the Cairn Terrier and the Australian Shepherd. The hybrid is a modern breed with no history outside its parent breeds. The aim of crossing the two parents is to produce a miniature dog resembling an Australian Shepherd. Currently, there is little information on the mix and owners should review the history and traits of the parent breeds to better understand the possible dispositions and traits of the Cairn Australian Shepterrier.

	A little of the Cairn Terrier
	The Cairn is an ancient breed of Scotch Terrier that was only developed as a separate breed in the 19th century, and is distinguished from its Scotch Terrier brethren by its coat color. The Cairn Terrier's ancestor, the Scotch Terrier, was first described in 55 BC by the Romans, who identified the small dogs as agile hunters who went to ground after their quarry. The Romans called these dogs Terrarii, which is Latin for earth workers. For several centuries, the Terrier group lived and thrived as land dogs in Scotland and England, also making their way to France and parts of Germany. By the 1900s, the Cairn Terrier was firmly established as the small wire-haired Terrier of the Skye group in various colors, accepting white, which was designated for its cousin breed, the West Highland Terrier. The Cairn is often confused with the Scottish Terrier, but the Scottie has a more diverse genetic make-up, having a large gene pool history while the Cairn Terrier was restricted to the Isle of Skye. The Cairn takes its name from the stone monuments of the same name that the little Terrier was known to hunt.

	Standard of the Cairn Terrier
	A little of the Australian Shepherd
	The Australian Shepherd, despite its name, was not developed in Australia but in California in the 1900s for cattle breeding in the American West. Australian Shepherd records were not well kept, and many assume that the dogs were developed from Collies and other sheepdogs that arrived with sheep from Australia in the 1840s, hence the name, Australian Shepherd. However, the Australian Shepherd was developed in the 1900s and recognized in the USA by the American Kennel Club in 1991, making it an American breed.

	Standard of the Australian Shepherd

Appearance of the Cairn Australian Shepterrier

The Cairn Australian Shepterrier is a medium-sized hybrid between the Cairn Terrier and the Australian Shepherd Dog. Your Cairn Australian Shepterrier will mainly resemble the Australian Shepherd, appearing as a miniature version of the larger dog in a medium-sized body. The Cairn Australian Shepterrier will also retain the same yellow to dark amber or blue eyes of the Australian Shepherd and will be small and very distant. The ears are semi-erect and triangular in shape. The size and weight of the Cairn Australian Shepterrier will vary from litter to litter and even from dog to dog, but most mixes are medium-sized.

Temperament of the Cairn Australian Shepterrier

Despite two breeds with working-class parents, the Cairn Australian Shepterrier is a high-energy companion dog. The Cairn Terrier personality helps balance some of the Australian Shepherd's independence with a greater need for family time. The Cairn Australian Shepterrier is affectionate towards its family, including children, and is more sensitive than its Australian Shepherd parent. When it comes to strangers, the Cairn Australian Shepterrier is a little wary, but will warm up quickly once it knows all is well. The Australian Shepherd is an independent dog, while the Cairn Terrier is a small animal hunter. As such, the hybrid can range from averse and indifferent to other pets to moderately tolerant of large animals. However, with appropriate early socialization, the Cairn Australian Shepterrier can learn to live in harmony with other pets. The Australian Shepherd parent's energy levels are high, with high-intensity exercise required daily, while the Cairn Terrier's daily requirements are also high, but not of the same intensity or length. Mixing the two breeds aims to create a smaller version of the Australian Shepherd with less intense exercise needs, but this medium-sized dog still requires a lot of daily running.

Needs and activities of the Cairn Australian Shepterrier

The Cairn Australian Shepterrier has a lot of energy and needs daily exercise. The parent breed of Australian Shepherd loves to play Frisbee and other coordinated activities, so your Cairn Australian Shepterrier can also benefit from agility and work. However, these dogs are smaller than the parent breed and may also like to stay close to the ground, like their earth dog parent, the Cairn Terrier. The Cairn Australian Shepterrier is not well suited to apartment living due to its need for exercise. This hybrid needs space to run around, and a large yard or dog park is ideal for burning off extra energy. The Cairn Terrier is known for digging and rooting, so proper exercise and mental stimulation are essential to avoid destructive behavior in your Cairn Australian Shepterrier. Daily play and exercise also strengthen your bond and keep the Cairn Australian Shepterrier's mind properly stimulated. Although this hybrid is not well suited to living in small spaces, it can live quite well in all climates, making it much easier to go outside and play.

Maintenance of the Cairn Australian Shepterrier

The Cairn Australian Shepterrier is not a hypoallergenic dog and throws moderately, considering its parent breeds. Medium coats require weekly brushing to avoid tangles and mats, and to remove dirt and debris adhering to the coat. Regular ear cleaning with a vet-approved solution will help prevent ear infections in your Cairn Australian Shepterrier, and brushing your dog's teeth at least twice a week to prevent dental disease and keep his mouth clean. The Cairn Australian Shepterrier doesn't drool much or at all and keeps its coat and teeth clean with the help of any "doggy" odors that may arise, although this mix is not known to have an odor. The Cairn Australian Shepterrier generally resembles the Australian Shepherd, but in a smaller package and will have medium to high energy. This mix requires daily exercise of moderate intensity. They are intelligent dogs but can be independent and stubborn, which makes them a little more difficult to train, and novice dog owners or those with little time to devote to training should take this into account.

Details: Written by: Francis Vandersteen; Also available:; Last Updated: 20 March 2024; Hits: 679

Cairn Australian Shepterrier -- Cairn Terrier X Australian Shepherd