Born and bred in the Scottish Highlands, the Cairn Terrier is a small, sturdy, and ruggedly handsome breed. Originally used to exterminate rats on farms, Cairns are clever, tenacious, and brave working dogs.
Besides being excellent ratters Cairn Terriers are also wonderful family companions. Due to their amazing traits, Cairns are often crossed with other purebred dogs, and Cairn Terrier mixes are in high demand.
In this article, we’ll list the most popular Cairn Terrier mix breeds and help you decide which one is the best for you. Keep on reading to find out more!
10 Popular Cairn Terrier Mix Breeds – Complete List
Originally used as a working dog breed, Cairn Terriers are smart and friendly dogs who make great family companions. Highly popular and loved, Cairn Terriers are often mixed with other purebred dogs creating many cute designer hybrids.
Take a look at the most popular Cairn Terrier mix breeds:
1. Cairnoodle – Cairn Terrier X Poodle
Created by crossing a Cairn Terrier with a miniature or toy Poodle, Cairnoodles are highly intelligent and athletic mix-breed dogs. Friendly and devoted, a Cairnoodle won’t shed a lot and will be an amazing family companion.
2. Carkie – Cairn Terrier X Yorkie
A cross between a Cairn Terrier and Yorkshire Terrier, the Carkie has a high prey drive and will love to hunt and chase rodents. Friendly, funny, and playful, Carkies are small dogs that love to be included in family activities and thrive living indoors.
3. Cairanian – Cairn Terrier X Pomeranian
The Cairanian is a mix between a fluffy Pomeranian and a ruggedly handsome Cairn Terrier. Cute-looking and energetic, Cairanians are amicable and playful dogs who love to spend time with their people and demand attention.
4. Jacairn – Jack Russell Terrier X Cairn Terrier
Developed by crossing a Jack Russell Terrier with a Cairn Terrier the Jacairn is a small, feisty, and fearless pooch. As all other Terriers, Jacairns have high prey drives and will chase and hunt rodents, squirrels, or anything else that moves (source).
True to its parent breeds, the Jacairn has a stubborn and independent nature that might be too much for novice owners. But, enrolling your mix into training classes from a young age can help him to grow into a well-behaved and obedient dog.
5. Care-Tzu – Cairn Terrier X Shih Tzu
The Care-Tzu is a small sized breed developed by crossing a Shih Tzu with a Cairn Terrier. This friendly, playful, energetic, and affectionate mix is ideal for first-time owners and families with children.
Keep in mind, being a Terrier mix your Care-Tzu can be headstrong at times and inherit a strong prey drive.
6. Cairn Corgi – Cairn Terrier X Welsh Corgi
The Cairn Corgi is a mix of two small working dog breeds – Cairn Terrier and Welsh Corgi. Highly intelligent, affectionate, and funny, the Cairn Corgi is an athletic and energetic dog that needs regular exercise and daily mental stimulation.
A daily walk and lots of interactive play is a must if you want to welcome this mix into your home. However, when properly exercised Cairn Corgis are amazing family pets and affectionate companions.
7. Doxie Cairn – Dachshund X Cairn Terrier
The Doxie Cairn is a new designer dog developed by crossing a short-legged Dachshund with a Cairn Terrier. Fun-loving, brave, loyal, and friendly the Doxie Cairn is a great apartment dweller and suited for people of all ages including families with children.
While energetic, this mix only needs moderate exercise and will tire quickly after a game of fetch or tug-of-war. This is a highly intelligent and clever mix, but due to their Terrier genes, they can be stubborn and difficult to train (source).
8. Toxirn – Cairn Terrier X Chihuahua
The Toxirn was created by crossing a tiny Chihuahua with a Cairn Terrier. Although small in size, this mix can be an amazing watchdog and a skillful hunter.
Affectionate, loyal, and friendly, this mix forms strong bonds with its owners and will become a true member of your family.
9. Cairmal – Cairn Terrier X Maltese
Developed by crossing a Cairn Terrier with a Maltese, the Cairmal is a lively, clever, and affectionate dog with a stubborn streak. Despite being headstrong, this mix is fairly easy to train and will learn commands quickly.
While they have thick double coats, Cairmals don’t shed much and are considered to be a hypoallergenic breed.
10. Carnauzer – Cairn Terrier X Miniature Schnauzer
The Carnauzer is a small to medium-sized mixed-breed developed by crossing a Cairn Terrier with a Miniature Schnauzer. Highly-energetic and spunky, this mix likes to have company at all times and might even demand attention.
Highly intelligent, but strong-willed, the Carnauzer can be difficult to train and needs an experienced owner who will be in charge all the time.
Brief History of Cairn Terrier
The Cairn Terrier originated in the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye and is one of the oldest Terrier breeds. Originally used to hunt and chase prey, Cairn Terriers are working dogs and supreme ratters.
Initially, the Cairn Terrier, Scotch Terriers, and West Highland White Terrier were all included in the Skye Terrier group. However, in the early 1900s, the breeders started to breed and register the three breeds separately.
The Cairn Terrier Club of America has an open registry for Cairns and encourages breeders to report health issues in hopes of minimizing hereditary diseases within the breed. Small but sturdy, Cairns are generally healthy dogs with an average lifespan of 12 to 17 years.
Why You Should Consider a Cairn Terrier Mix
If you are a fan of Cairn Terrier’s robust health and friendly nature but can’t handle his high prey drive, you should consider a Cairn Terrier mix. Luckily, there are many amazing Cairn Terrier mixes you can choose from and some don’t have a strong prey drive.
Researching different Cairn Terrier mixes can help you decide which one will be best suited for your family and lifestyle.
Where to Get a Cairn Terrier Mix?
When it comes to welcoming a new dog into your home, there are only two things you can do – adopt or shop.
Cairn Terrier Mix Breeders
Cairn Terrier mixes are becoming increasingly popular, but you’ll have to spend some time researching different breeders. Keep in mind that some Cairn Terrier mixes might be a bit harder to find, so widen your search and be prepared to travel to buy a healthy puppy from a trustworthy breeder.
Cairn Terrier Mix Price
The exact price of Cairn Terrier mix puppies varies a lot and will depend on the cost of both parent breeds. On average, you can expect to pay from $400 to $2000 for a Cairn Terrier mix puppy if you are buying from a reputable breeder.
Adoption
Adoption is an amazing way to save a dog in need and give him a forever home. Remember, many Cairn Terrier mixes end up in shelters and rescue organizations waiting for someone to give them the life they deserve.
There are no breed-specific rescue organizations that deal with Cairn Terrier mixes, but you should check rescue groups that deal with Cairn Terriers specifically since they often take care of their mixes too.
Conclusion
The increasingly popular Cairn Terrier mixes are easily recognizable for their shaggy appearance and amazing personalities. Energetic, smart, affectionate, and playful, a Cairn Terrier mix will be a devoted family companion to people of all ages.
Keep in mind, all Cairn mixes are Terriers at heart, and there is a big chance that your mix will love to dig and chase small prey. But, if you don’t mind finding an occasional hole in your backyard, consider getting any one of the many Cairn Terrier mix breeds.
0 Comments