Ten Best Dogs For Families

From The Reader's Digest Illustrated Book of Dogs

This mischievous little companion dog with its shaggy, weather-resistant coat is one of the most popular of a group of terriers that originated in Scotland around five centuries ago. The Highlands are dotted with piles of stones known as cairns, which mark the graves of ancient Romans. As these burial grounds fell into disrepair, they became overgrown with brambles and overrun with small, destructive animals. The Scottish chieftains set their terriers to control the vermin, and it was here, amid the crumbling cairns, that the Cairn Terrier earned its keep and, ultimately, its name. These doughty little dogs went after rodents, otters, weasels, foxes, and even wildcats with a fierce determination.

Precious little is known about the Cairn's background beyond the fact that Martin's History of the Dog described the breed accurately some 70 years before it was first shown, in 1909. A fifteenth-century writer, John Leslie, alluded to a small breed of terriers -- probably the ancestors of the Cairn and the Scottish Terrier -- used in hunting fox and badger. A portrait painted by Jan van Eyck in 1434 included a small, dark dog bearing a distinctive resemblance to the Cairn Terrier found today.

These hunting terriers were highly valued in Scotland. James VI, son of Mary Queen of Scots, sent six Cairn-like terriers to the King of France as a gift, around 1600. So concerned was he about the risks of the ocean voyage that the dogs were divided into two groups of three and sent on separate ships.

Though the Cairn Terrier wasn't granted official recognition by the British Kennel Club until 1912, it is widely believed to be one of the oldest terriers of pure British stock. Centuries after its ancestors were hunting amidst the cairns, this dog continues to enjoy burrowing in the earth in search of vermin, much to the annoyance and dismay of gardeners.

Equally adaptable to city and country living, the Cairn has a cheeky, sometimes exasperating, character. It is a restless dog, curious about the slightest disturbance. Unlike most terriers, it will not start a fight, but if it is attacked it will respond pluckily. Affectionate, its devotion to its owner sometimes borders on jealousy, especially if a baby comes into the house. Yet its fox-like expression can be a source of constant amusement.

Practical information: While the Cairn adapts well to life in cramped quarters, its nails must be clipped regularly to prevent them from becoming ingrown.

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