How to Trim a Cairn Terrier

Cairn Terriers are shaggy little dogs that are friendly to anyone they meet. They were initially bred in Scotland as work dogs, according to the Cairn Terrier Club of America. Cairn Terriers hunted small vermin from rocks piles, called cairns. The dogs have a shaggy coat that needs to be maintained with weekly grooming sessions. Brush and trim your Cairn Terrier to prevent mats from forming in its fur. Also use a stripping comb to remove loose hairs.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog Shampoo
  • Towel
  • Blow dryer
  • Comb
  • Small scissors
  • Stripping comb
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wash your Cairn Terrier with dog shampoo and rinse. Towel off and dry with a blow dryer on a cool setting. Do not over wash your dog. An indoor Cairn Terrier needs only about three washes a year.

    • 2

      Comb your Cairn Terrier's hair starting at the top of the head. Use care around its eyes. Comb gently so you do not pull on any mats. Lift any mats found with your comb.

    • 3

      Slide your small scissors between the mat and its skin. Cut away from your Cairn Terrier and towards the matted fur. Use two or three snips to remove each mat. Pull the mat gently away from the dog.

    • 4

      Comb through the terrier's fur around the top of the shoulders next. Comb its back, tail and then the legs. Cut out any mats if found. Comb the underneath area also.

    • 5

      Strip your Cairn Terrier starting from her head using the stripping comb. This type of comb pulls off loose and dead hairs and it also trims the live hairs too. Pull the comb towards you. After the fur builds up on the comb, remove completely and throw away. Strip around the muzzle until you can almost see skin.

    • 6

      Strip your Cairn Terrier's shoulders and back. Strip the legs and the tail. Use caution when stripping the underneath sections, especially around the genitals.

    • 7

      Trim hair around the eyes with scissors to prevent hairs from scratching its eyes. Trim around the ears to give your dog an even shape over his head. Cairns should be trimmed so their head fur has a round-shape.

    • 8

      Trim the hair between the toes. Give each foot an even look with the trimming. Trim the end of the tail into a conical shape.

    • 9

      Examine the Cairn Terrier's fur. Trim around any areas where the fur looks shorter from the stripping. Trim the longer fur so it looks even with the shorter fur.