Questions to Ask a Breeder of Cairn Terriers

The First Question

• The first question to ask the breeder is why they breed their dogs. Responsible cairn terrier breeders raise the puppies to improve the health, temperament and physical standards of the breed. Any other reply to this question and the prospective puppy buyer should consider looking else where as the puppies could be bred purely for profit.

Meeting the Parents

• Ask to see the puppy's mother. The health and temperament of the mother indicates the care and attention given to the puppies. If she is a happy, well fed, friendly dog then it is likely that her puppies are good potential pets. Cairn terriers are naturally confident dogs and the mother should show no signs of fear; she should approach you in a friendly manner.

  Ask about the father's temperament and health too, though don't expect to see him as the breeder may have used a stud dog. If you cannot see the mother, try to find out exactly why as the puppies may have come from a puppy farm.

Health Tests

• Cairn terriers are susceptible the some hereditary diseases, such as luxating patellae, progressive retinal atrophy and craniomandibular osteopathy. Puppies inherit these health issues from one or both of their parents. Ask the breeder about tests performed on the parents, what the outcome was and how likely it is that the pups will develop any health issues in the future. Ask if they have a refund policy if one of their puppies develops a severe problem due to an inherited issue.

References

• Good breeders with a reputation to uphold will only sell healthy puppies and will be happy for you to contact their previous buyers. Ask for contact details of the breeder's veterinarian, and where the breeders bought their own dogs from, so that you can check on the results of any medical tests performed on earlier generations. Be sure to contact the previous buyers and listen carefully to any contradictions they may give to what the breeder has told you about the pups.

Puppy Socializing

• Ask about the environment the cairn terrier puppies are currently living in. Puppies raised indoors are better acclimatized to normal everyday sounds such as vacuums, door bells and televisions. Puppies that have spent the first weeks of their life in kennels will need careful introductions and plenty of time to get used home life.

  Be wary of breeders who keep their dogs outside as cairn terriers should not be tied outside for long periods. Their bold nature and tendency to bark can get them into trouble with much larger dogs. Good breeders will keep all their dogs indoors where they are safe.

  Ask about when the puppies can go to their new homes. The good breeder should have a clear idea about the developing stages of cairn terrier puppies and won't mind keeping a puppy longer until they feel it's ready to go to a new home. Breeders looking for a quick profit will want to get rid of the dogs as soon as possible.

A Final Tip

• Be prepared for the breeder to ask you lots of questions as well as they will want to know the puppy is going to the ideal home. Cairn terriers are not for everyone; they have large teeth and strong claws for digging, which they have a great affinity for, especially in flower beds. As the cairn terrier is a breed used for hunting they have a very strong prey drive; because of this they must always be walked on a leash to prevent them from chasing smaller animals.