Southern Hound vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison

Both Cairn Terrier and Southern Hound are originated from United Kingdom. Cairn Terrier may grow 38 cm / 14 inches shorter than Southern Hound. Cairn Terrier may weigh 33 kg / 72 pounds lesser than Southern Hound. Both Cairn Terrier and Southern Hound has almost same life span. Both Cairn Terrier and Southern Hound has same litter size. Both Cairn Terrier and Southern Hound requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Working dog
undefined
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Height Male:
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
58 - 71 cm
22 - 28 inches
Height Female:
23 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
58 - 71 cm
22 - 28 inches
Weight Male:
5 - 8 kg
11 - 18 pounds
25 - 41 kg
55 - 91 pounds
Weight Female:
5 - 8 kg
11 - 18 pounds
25 - 41 kg
55 - 91 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 10
4 - 10
Size:
Small
Large
Other Names:
Cairn, Toto Dog
Old English Hound
Colors Available:
Black, Brindle, Cream, Wheaten, Red, Grey
black, tan - tricolored, White
Coat:
Medium length and wiry
Short, smooth, hard
Shedding:
Minimal
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Docile, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
Yes
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

cairn terrierThe Cairn Terrier originates in the Scottish Highlands. This feisty little dog was given the name Cairn, as he used to hunt prey between the Scottish cairns. At first the dog was grouped as a ‘Skye Terrier’way back in the 1900s with the Scottish and West Highland White Terrier. Then the different breeds began to be bred separately.

The name Cairn Terrier didn’t appear in print till 1887. It was in 1912 that the Kennel Club of the United Kingdom recognized the Cairn Terrier.

The Southern Hound hails from England and is a breed of dog that existed sometime in the 19th century.

It is now extinct.

There isn’t much information available as to the time the dog became extinct. Some people believe that other breeds were bred with the dog until the true Southern Hound bloodline no longer existed. It was a breed of scent hound, and had an excellent sense of smell.

Known also as the Old English Hound, it was during the 18th century that the Southern Hound’s popularity waned and other kinds of hounds became more prominent.

While the Southern Hound has been extinct for decades, there is still some of this dog breed found in modern day breed.

It s believed that the Southern Hound has been used in the development of the Beagle and the Bloodhound as you can see the similarities.

Description

Temperament:

cairn terrier puppy - descriptionThe small sturdily built working Terrier is intelligent and courageous. Bright-eyed, he is small and active and he just loves to work- and party hard with his human family. You’ll see if you’ve got a ball you want to throw for him, his tail is quivering in anticipation and his ears are erect and alert to any noise. He is smart, independent and courageous.

Coat of Many Colors:

The Cairn Terrier has a tough, weather-resistant coat that can be any color but not white. He has a waterproof double coat – the outer one being wiry while the undercoat is soft. You’ll find the coat in man colours such as grey, black, red and brindle with dark points on the ears and muzzle.

The interesting thing with a Cairn is that when you get a puppy, you can’t be sure what color he will end up being as it changes over the years. The ears are fox-like, small and erect, and the natural medium-to-short tail is held straight out.

The Southern Hound was a large, solidly built, deep chested dog with a square head and a longish muzzle. He stood at between 58-71 cm in height and weighed 25 – 41kg.

The Southern Hound had long, wide floppy ears, much like the Basset Hound of today. The tail was fairly long and curved upright. It was known for its deep melodious voice, much like the Bloodhound we have today.

It had excellent scenting abilities and was used to follow the trail of its prey. The coat of the Southern Hound was short and smooth and it is believed that the most common colors for the coat were white with black or brown markings, making it a tricolor dog.

Temperament:

Used to being on the hunt with other dogs, there is no doubt that the Southern Hound wasn’t aggressive towards other dogs and that he knew how to get along with them. It’s a dog that was dedicated to to the hunt and was bred to work, known for its stamina and endurance.

The dog didn’t possess strong herding or protective instincts and it is thought that it wasn’t kept as a companion dog. Because of the breeds used to develop this dog, it is assumed that it was a non-aggressive, friendly dog.

Characteristics

cairn terrier dog - characteristicsThe Cairn Terrier is a fearless, jaunty little dog, known for his courageous spirit and inquisitive nature. He may be small, but he is stubborn. He will respond well to training and socialization which will turn him into the most awesome pet for families. He can make a wonderful friend and playmate for children too. Socialization and training ensures he gets on well with other pets in the household too.

He is small and energetic, and therefore not the kind of dog you can ignore in terms of exercise. He’ll need a good walk every day and he just loves to chase a ball as it takes him back to the days when he was used to chasing- and catching mice.

He isn’t your typical lap-dog at all and with the right care he becomes a devoted, loyal and loving companion.

The Southern Hound is no longer in existence, which is a pity as it seems as though he may have made an excellent pet in modern times.

They were a playful breed, loyal, gentle and affectionate and no doubt made a good watchdog too, although it is thought that his protective instincts weren’t good.

They aren’t dogs recommended for city living, but it seems according to the few records there are of this dog that he could have made a reliable, loving pet to have around.

Health Problems

cairn terrier puppies - health problemsThe Cairn Terrier is a robust little dog, and with good care can reach 14 years of age and even older. However, with every dog breed there are some health concerns particular to that breed. With your Cairn Terrier look out for a disease known as Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GCL).

Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GCL)

Known also as Krabbe Disease, Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) is a rare but fatal disease. It is caused by a mutation on the dog’s DNA. There is abnormal processing of an enzyme needed for the production of myelin, a substance that protects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The dog is weak, it has tremors and isn’t co-ordinated. The Cairn Terrier is a breed of dog more susceptible to GCL.

Bone and joint diseases

Your Cairn Terrier may well suffer with joint diseases. These diseases, such as luxating patella which is about loose knee joints, and hip dysplasia which is a degenerative hip disease, can cause plenty of pain and discomfort for your pet.

Eye Diseases

Glaucoma is an eye disease where there is pressure on the eye, causing inadequate fluid drainage. Without treatment, there can be damage to the optic nerve which can lead to blindness.

Ear Infections:

The Southern Hound had drop ears which would have made him prone to ear infections. This is because unlike dogs with erect ears, air isn’t able to circulate into the ear and the inside of the ear become a breeding place for bacteria.

Cherry Eye:

The dog may have had to deal with Cherry Eye too. This eye problem affects the tear gland in the third eyelid. It needs to be treated so as to avoid long term eye problems. This is also because exposure of the tissue can bring on swelling, inflammation and infection.

Caring The Pet

Grooming:

cairn terrier dogs - caringThe Cairn Terrier sheds very little and the coat is easy to groom. Give him a thorough brushing twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. Some trimming will be needed as the coat can become shaggy and unruly.

Brush his teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week to prevent tartar build up that can lead to bacteria, gum disease and possible tooth loss.

Diet:

The Cairn Terrier is small but he is an active dog and therefore needs to be on a high-quality dog food. If you feed him a commercially manufactured food, make sure its appropriate to his age, size and activity levels.

He is a small dog so you want to be careful about not letting him become overweight. Try and alternate his commercially manufactured food with some home-made rice, vegetables and meat and also include some raw meat in from time to time. This is of particular importance as chronic skin allergies are common in all terrier breeds. Make sure that there is always a clean bowl of fresh water available to him day and night.

Exercise:

Because this dog was once used as a hunting dog, they were accustomed to large open spaces. He would have required a fair amount of exercise. They would have needed a walk every day if he wasn't involved in a hunt that day.

Grooming:

The Southern Hound had a short coat and in those days he probably would have needed to be brushed once or twice a week.

Diet:

The Southern Hound would have required top quality food to support his energy. If in that time there has been commercially manufactured food, it would have had to be the better quality ones. Today if you were feeding the Southern Hound you would check out the ingredients on the packaging and go for the dog foods with wholesome, natural ingredients in them.

No doubt the owners of these dogs provided their dogs with raw and cooked meat. If you had a Southern Hound today you would try to include some home-made food for him which would be simply mixed into the dry kibble twice a week. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots is super nutritious.

The Southern Hound would have required a constant supply of fresh, cool water within his reach.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Cairn Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  2. Cairn Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  3. Cairn Terrier vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  4. Cairn Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  5. Cairn Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Cairn Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  7. Cairn Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  8. Cairn Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Cairn Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  10. Cairn Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  11. Cairn Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  12. Cairn Terrier vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  13. Cairn Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  14. Cairn Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  15. Cairn Terrier vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  16. Cairn Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  17. Cairn Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  18. Cairn Terrier vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  19. Cairn Terrier vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  20. Cairn Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Cairn Terrier vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  22. Cairn Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  23. Cairn Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  24. Cairn Terrier vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  25. Cairn Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Southern Hound vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Southern Hound vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Southern Hound vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Southern Hound vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Southern Hound vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Southern Hound vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Southern Hound vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Southern Hound vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Southern Hound vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Southern Hound vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Southern Hound vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Southern Hound vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Southern Hound vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Southern Hound vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Southern Hound vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Southern Hound vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Southern Hound vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Southern Hound vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Southern Hound vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Southern Hound vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Southern Hound vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Southern Hound vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Southern Hound vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Southern Hound vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Southern Hound vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison