Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison

Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed ComparisonBoth Cairn Terrier and Wire Haired Fox Terrier are originated from United Kingdom. Both Cairn Terrier and Wire Haired Fox Terrier are having almost same height. Both Cairn Terrier and Wire Haired Fox Terrier are having almost same weight. Both Cairn Terrier and Wire Haired Fox Terrier has almost same life span. Cairn Terrier may have more litter size than Wire Haired Fox Terrier. Cairn Terrier requires Low Maintenance. But Wire Haired Fox Terrier requires Moderate Maintenance

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Terrier dog
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United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Height Male:
25 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
Height Female:
23 - 33 cm
9 - 13 inches
33 - 38 cm
12 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
5 - 8 kg
11 - 18 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Weight Female:
5 - 8 kg
11 - 18 pounds
6 - 9 kg
13 - 20 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
12 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
2 - 10
4 - 6
Size:
Small
Medium
Other Names:
Cairn, Toto Dog
Wire Fox Terrier
Colors Available:
Black, Brindle, Cream, Wheaten, Red, Grey
White, tan and black
Coat:
Medium length and wiry
Medium length, wiry
Shedding:
Minimal
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Gentle, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Quiet, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Sweet, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Moderate 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.

wire haired fox terrierThe Wire Haired Fox Terrier originates in England, and it is thought that the dog developed from the white English Terrier being crossed with the Bull Terrier and maybe even the Beagle.

The hunting crowd wanted a dog that was small enough to disappear down a hole to flush out a fox.

Even though the Wire Haired Fox Terrier used to be a pet of Queen Victoria as well as King Edward VII, it only became popular as a family pet in the 1930s.

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.

wire haired fox terrier puppy - descriptionThe Wirehaired Fox Terrier is a medium-sized dog, standing at between 33 and 38cm in height and weighing between 6 and 9 kg.

The face is fairly long and he has semi-erect, semi-floppy ears and the high set tail is usually docked. The double coat is wiry, curly and coarse and is essentially white with tan or black markings. White is always the predominant color of the Wire Haired Fox Terrier.

Temperament:

This little dog is cheerful, cheeky, playful, feisty, lovable and full of the joys of life. He is also strong-willed and independent.

He makes a great playmate for kids and loves being in the company of his human family. He will get on well with other pets in the family too.

He is intelligent which means you can have him easily trained and socialized and the kids will love to teach him some tricks too. He is a high energy dog and will require a good dose of exercise.

He’ll become stressed and frustrated if he doesn't get the exercise he needs.

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.

wire haired fox terrier dog - characteristicsOne thing is for sure – when you bring a Wire Haired Fox Terrier into your home, you’re going to have a dog with endless energy. It is why they make such good pets when you’ve got kids in the house.

They like to please their owners and they respond well to training and socialization. They’re also brave and protective, making good watchdogs.

They’re loving, loyal and companionable, and there are plenty of stories about the loyalty of these dogs. Anyone who has had one of them as a pet will tell you what splendid dogs they are.

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.

wire haired fox terrier puppies - health problemsThese robust little dogs can succumb to any one of the many common dog illnesses there are -

Epilepsy:

The Wirehaired Foxy is a healthy dog, but it is thought that Epilepsy could be a problem with this breed. Your spunky dog may seem a little bit confused before he falls to the floor lying on his side and twitching like he’s having a bad dream.

This is brought on by uncontrolled bursts of electrical activity in the dog’s brain. The seizure can last for a minute or so but even so, whether it is a twitch or violent shuddering, it can leave you shocked and disturbed.

He can sometimes even urinate during the seizure. It is imperative to get your pet to the vet who will know precisely how it can be controlled.

Dental Problems:

Dental disease is also a common problem with dogs and unfortunately, your Wire Haired Fox Terrier also battles with this. The problem starts with tartar build-up on the teeth and then it can cause infection of the gums and roots of the teeth.

Left unattended to, your pet could lose his teeth, and it jeopardizes your pet’s health as well.

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.

wire haired fox terrier dogs - caringGroom your pet. Brush twice weekly. Wire Haired Fox Terrier owners like to hand their pets in at professional groomers to have their hair cut short and made more manageable. The hair is kept quite long around the muzzle.

Check inside the ears that there are no signs of infection.

Trim the nails.

Exercise your pet every day.

Provide your pet with the best food there is. Always buy high quality food that can contribute to your pet’s health and which is suitable for his size, age and activity levels. The Wire Haired Fox Terrier is inclined to be a greedy dog and with a dog like this weight gain can slowly increase and can become a health problem.

Spay or Neuter. This is an excellent idea for your pet if you don’t want puppies. Not only that, spaying or neutering actually decreases the likelihood of your pet getting some types of cancer.

Provide your pet with his own dry, warm, quiet sleep area.

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Cairn Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
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  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
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  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. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs English Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  27. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs German Shepherd - Breed Comparison
  28. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Golden Retriever - Breed Comparison
  29. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Labrador Retriever - Breed Comparison
  30. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Wire Haired Fox Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison