Cairnwich Terrier -- Cairn Terrier X Norwich Terrier

		Cairnwich Terrier
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


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

A brief presentation of the Cairnwich Terrier

The Cairnwich Terrier is a hybrid developed from the breeding of a Cairn Terrier and a Norwich Terrier. Both breeds were originally used for hunting and play in the UK. Both parent breeds originated in the UK for similar purposes and have similar energetic, loyal, loving and intelligent temperaments, with the Cairn parent contributing aggression and courage to the biological gene pool. The parent breeds are of similar size and weight and both have low shedding coats that may require stripping and brushing as their grooming needs to keep their coats beautiful and clean. Both parent breeds are minimal shedders, so brushing once a week to remove dirt and debris should be sufficient.

History of the Cairnwich Terrier

Your Cairnwich Terrier hybrid was created by crossing the Cairn Terrier with the Norwich Terrier. The two parent breeds share similar Terrier temperament qualities and are of similar size and weight. The Cairnwich Terrier is recognized by the American Canine Hybrid Club, the Dog Registry of America, Inc. and the International Designer Canine Registry.

	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 Norwich Terrier
	The Norwich Terrier was also named for its place of origin, after the eastern English town of Norwich in Norfolk. Indeed, the Norfolk Terrier is quite similar to the Norwich Terrier, but is distinguished by its pendulous ears. As with the Yorkie, this working dog was used to keep vermin levels down. Slightly larger Terriers have been used in its breeding, including the Border Terrier and the Cairn Terrier. Interestingly, students at Cambridge University really caught on to the Norwich Terrier as a lovable dog who would happily protect their dwelling from unwanted, squealing intruders. So they made him a student mascot, cementing his status in history forever.

	Standard of the Norwich Terrier

Appearance of the Cairnwich Terrier

Being a fairly recent hybrid, the Cairnwich Terrier doesn't have much information available on the hybrid itself. However, being a cross between the Cairn Terrier and the Norwich Terrier, it's possible that your pet could take on the physical characteristics of one or both of the parent breeds. For this particular hybrid, the physical characteristics of both breed parents are quite similar, as are their temperaments. The body appearance will be robust, short-legged, strong and well-muscled. The ears will be medium-sized, erect with pointed tips. The nose and lips will be pigmented black, and the canine hybrid will have a scissor bite. The eyes will be dark or hazel-shaded and may have black, round or almond-shaped rims. The overall configuration of the face will give a foxy, lively Terrier expression. Depending on which parent breed dominates the gene pool, the muzzle may be strong and possibly wedge-shaped, with large teeth in a jaw that is neither inferior nor protruding. Your pet's legs will probably be round with thick pads, the front legs may be larger than the hind legs and have black nails. The tail will probably be placed evenly over the back and carried gaily, but not curled over the back. The coats of the two parent breeds are similar in that they are hard and weather-resistant, double-coated with harder, stiffer outer coats and softer, shorter, tighter undercoats. Possible colors are really not limited as the Cairn AKC breed standard lists all colors except white as acceptable with dark muzzle, ears and tail tip and the Norwich AKC breed standard lists all shades of red, wheaten, black and tan and grizzle with any color marking except white as desirable.

Temperament of the Cairnwich Terrier

The Cairnwich Terrier can inherit temperament traits from one or both of its parent breeds. That said, it's important to note that, since both parent breeds are Terriers, temperaments are likely to be fairly similar with only minor differences. The main differences in the temperaments of the parent breeds are roughly related to the aggression and perhaps courage that are brought by the Cairn parent. Both breeds will be loyal and bond closely with their owner and human family members, and will do much better if not left alone for long periods, as they need this human contact to be happy and content. Your hybrid pet will probably be good with children and other animals, although special care may be needed when young children are in his presence, as sometimes the playing and teasing that small children are prone to do is not so well tolerated with all dogs. It will probably do well with the family cat, but care is recommended if you have a gerbil or hamster in your household, as its pedigree parents have both been bred to hunt rodents and vermin. It's a highly intelligent animal, but its independence could make training a challenge. It's important to determine who's in charge as early as possible in your relationship with your Cairnwich, as he can quite easily assume the role of responsible person in all aspects of his living situation. He may be wary of strangers and will alert you to the presence of someone not normally known to him. Early socialization will help develop this trait into one of vigilance instead of shyness and avoidance.

Needs and activities of the Cairnwich Terrier

Your Cairnwich Terrier will need around 1 hour of daily physical activity to expend the energy it naturally possesses. This can be achieved through several daily walks and plenty of playtime in the yard, playing fetch, Frisbee or agility games. The Cairnwich Terrier is a hybrid that can live successfully and happily in an apartment, family home with or without a fenced yard, provided you're prepared to exercise it appropriately. He can live in an urban or rural domestic environment in any climate. He has a strong desire to roam, wander and hunt, so it's highly recommended to keep him on a leash at all times when he's outside your home. A backyard fence won't necessarily keep him confined, as he's also a digger and will easily burrow under the fence. Placing wire under the underground fence will help prevent him from tunneling out.

Maintenance of the Cairnwich Terrier

Your Cairnwich Terrier is a minimal excretor and will only require weekly brushing to maintain its coat. Stripping the hair will keep his coat stiffer, but many breeders and owners prefer brushing to save time and keep him clean. His coat will probably need clipping every few months, and bathing or shampooing should only be done when necessary. Because the Cairnwich Terrier is a minimal excretor, it is considered hypoallergenic. This is particularly important if you have a family member with asthma or other respiratory problems. As with many canine and hybrid breeds, regular teeth cleaning and dental examinations are important to prevent periodontal disease and tooth loss. Periodic eye examinations and ear examinations and cleaning are also considered part of this hybrid's moderate routine maintenance.

Details: Written by: Francis Vandersteen; Also available:; Last Updated: 21 March 2024; Hits: 585

Cairnwich Terrier -- Cairn Terrier X Norwich Terrier