One famous cairn terrier was Toto from The Wizard of Oz. In that classic movie, it seemed like Toto was being chased more than he chased. In reality, cairn terriers are infamous for going after cars, bikes and anything else that catches the dog’s eyes.
If you do a Google search for “cairn terrier” and “rescue,” you’ll find quite a few hits. That’s because a lot of people want this attractive dog, but adopt one knowing very little about its needs and temperament.
This type of dog was originally bred to hunt small game, according to the Cairn Terrier Rescue League. According to the league, even the most highly trained cairn terrier will take off after small animals, like squirrels, “with no regard for danger.”
To protect your dog, you should have a fenced yard. The league does not require this, but mentions that the dogs should never be left off-leash unless they’re in a securely fenced yard. That is for the benefit of your pet as well as for potential chase victims.
Cairn terriers are extremely intelligent, therefore they learn relatively quickly. But since they do have such a strong instinct to chase, consider seeking professional help with training. As previously mentioned, training likely won’t prevent your dog from dashing off, so you have to be proactive by keeping your dog on a leash when on walks and praising your dog’s good behavior.
