Please note that our answers are based solely on our experiences with the Cairn.
Q: Are Cairns real active? And do they get along well with children?
A: Cairns are usually active as pups as most pups are, they usually settle down with age, and they make one of the best pets for children that we know of. Typically Cairns are drawn to and love children. They are a tough little dog and are more accepting of mistakes that children make than many other breeds. However, you should never leave a young child alone with a Cairn, or any other puppy. Children should always be supervised around puppies, and should be taught how to care for and be aware of a puppies needs.
Q: I hear that Cairns are stubborn, are they hard to train?
A: Yes, Cairns as is the case for most Terriers can appear to be stubborn, they are also very intelligent dogs and respond extremely well to positive reinforcement. Cairns as with most terriers do not respond well at all to negative reinforcement such as hitting or spanking. Because of their intelligence, Cairns can and do assess the severity of the mistake they have made, and the treatment they receive and react accordingly. If you use the right training techiniques, they are actually quite easy to train as they have a desire to please and be recognized. They need to have stimulation, and positive reinforcement, be it food, or praise. They need be to mentally challenged and stimulated. So with the right approach, you can teach them to do pretty much anything you want them to do.
