Cairn Terriers - Personality / IQ - Updated 2011

IQ

Below is a list of search terms and questions  - some answered, some not.


 
Comments?  ~ New Email address - less spam.                                      Email
Personality /  Intelligence

Are Cairn Terriers Devious?
Bad Cairn terrier
Ball obsessed
Cairn dog breaking
Behavior issues Cairn terriers
Are Cairn terriers good house dogs
Are Cairns good lap dogs?  (6)
Cairn IQ Advantage and Smart Dog?
Cairn terriers and balls  (11)
Cairn terriers and over excitement
Cairn terriers are terrors
Cairn terrier brain (6)
Cairn Terrier cranial dimensions
Cairn stubborn best
Cairn terrier clinginess (8)
Cairn terrier disposition (9)
Cairn terrier dogs stare at you like there is no tomorrow
Cairn terrier got out of fence and won't come back (2)
Cairn terrier hyperactive and barks incessantly
Cairn terrier intelligence or lack thereof
Cairn terrier IQ  (11)
Cairn terrier and obsessive behavior (8)
Cairn terrier personality growl
Cairn terrier problems shared (7)
Cairn Terrier relative intelligence of various dog breeds
Cairn terrier runs away
Cairn terrier settle down  (7)
Cairn terrier strange behavior
Cairn terriers evil
Cairn terrier warnings (10)
Cairn terriers good and bad
Cairn terriers like to climb
Cairn terriers
yappy, never shut up  (6)
Cairn terriers urinate on every tree
Difficulties in owning Cairn terriers (12)
Question: Do Cairn Terriers Possess Much Common Sense?

Do Cairn terriers settle down after the first year?
Evil Cairn terrier (8)
Hold down Cairn terrier to calm him (4)
How can I tell if my Cairn terrier is Stressed?
How to calm a Cairn terrier
How to stop a Cairn terrier from barking (9)
How to stop my Cairn terrier to stay in my yard
How to use ball obsession to training advantage (2)
How to walk Cairn terrier on leash  (8)
I can't control my Cairn terrier (7)
I have serious issues with my Cairn terrier (8)
Is owning a Cairn terrier right for me? (7)
My Cairn Chose the Wrong Alpha - How do I fix it?
My Cairn is not very smart (8)
My Cairn only peace when taken for a walk
My Cairn terrier barks at everyone (6)

My Cairn terrier grunts
My Cairn terrier is afraid of balls
My Cairn Terrier is the smartest dog I have ever owned.
My Cairn terrier is threatening over my female in season
My Cairn Terrier pays no attention to me. (9)
My Cairn terrier steals things and hides them under the bed
Pound Bound Cairn Terrier
Taking Cairn terrier to pound. I have had it.
Warnings about Cairn terriers (14)
What should I do if my Cairn terrier growls at me  (6)
Why does my Cairn terrier always have to have a toy in her mouth while playing?  (8)
Where are Cairn terriers on the dog intelligence scale? (4)




Question: Are Cairn Terriers Devious?

Devious

First, let's examine the word devious:

de·vi·ous  (dv-s)
adj.

1. Not straightforward; shifty: a devious character.
2. Departing from the correct or accepted way; erring: achieved success by devious means.
3. Deviating from the straight or direct course; roundabout: a devious route.

- Devious Character,  I like that.

'Devious' would also imply a certain amount of intelligence in that a Cairn Terrier would have to realize there is more than one path to a goal.

So are Cairns Devious?

Story Time

Totally Obnoxious

Rufus loves to go over to the fence, sit and growl until Vincent, a Rhodesian Ridgeback-Hines 57 mix (and also one of the most worthless sacks of skin to inhabit dogdom), comes charging the fence barking his fool head off.

Innocence

For Rufus, the point of the exercise is to get Vincent to do just that because after a few minutes Vincent's owner comes out and chews out Vincent while Rufus sits a couple feet away, the very  picture of innocence.  

I would say this could be an example of devious character.

Speed

Enter the new addition to the household, a Standard Poodle pup by the name of Max.

Max while looking like a big black and white creme puff, is most demonstrably not a creme puff and soon discovers that when Rufus  barks at the fence, odds are the most obnoxious dog on earth is soon going to show.

The first time Vincent sees the large, black and white puffball charging the fence at full tilt and barking his fool head off, he becomes an incredible shrinking violet, cowers and slinks off into the sunset.

Conehead

A week or two later the poodle sustains a major injury and has to spend almost six weeks wearing a cone.  
This unfortunately does not do much to slow him down outside.

The next time Rufus successfully jacked up Vincent at the fence,  I think Vincent was genuinely horrified when he saw the large, black and white puffball with humongous cone attached to its head charging directly at him.  Vincent took one look at that and fled.  For the first time in years, my heart warmed as all those thoughts of 'Get Even Time' appeared to be coming to fruition.  And who would have thunk a black and white puffball would be the bearer of such joyful tidings...

So what does this have to do with the question about Devious Cairns?

Ball

Well, I am taking a Deviant Course in getting there.

The Balls

Fast forward a month or so.  My wife goes to the pet store and buys two identical balls, a large one for the poodle and a small one for the cairn. We're talking soccer ball and soft ball.

She tosses the balls out on the grass and the poodle immediately corrals both of them, or let's say they are soon within his immediate Sphere of Influence.

The Ball

Rufus is not happy.  He stands a foot or so outside the 
Sphere of Influence and tries growling.

That doesn't work.

Rufus then tries growling and barking.

That doesn't work. The poodle is happily chewing on both balls.

Pathetic

Rufus turns to us with the most wretched of looks on his face, that look only a Cairn Terrier is capable of.

That doesn't work either.

Rufus continues standing for several minutes and then starts sniffing around the yard, which catches the poodle's attention.

Rufus then trots off the grass and over to the fence, sits down and begins growling, which really catches the poodle's attention.

Vincent, the dog from hell soon arrives and starts barking his fool head off.  The poodle jerks up, turns around and charges the fence barking his fool head off.

The Ball

While the poodle is distracted, Rufus runs back to the yard, grabs the smallest ball, jumps up on the deck and deposits it under the deck chair.  He then grabs the largest ball and muscles it up the steps and onto the deck, lays down and chews happily.

Meanwhile, Vincent's owner finally comes out and yells, sending him scurrying like the over sized rat bag that he is, back to their porch.

The poodle trots to the yard, feeling quite manly and is a bit confused when he discovers no balls at all. Looks all over the place and can't find them.  He finally gives up, settles down and decides to take a nooner under a rose bush. 

If he would have looked up, he would have seen a Cairn Terrier happily munching on one ball, the other parked well within his 
Sphere of Influence.

So to Answer the Question:  Are Cairns Devious (or Capable of Deviant Behavior)?

Answer:  Yes



Question: Are Cairns good lap dogs?  

Answer:  No



Question: Cairn IQ Advantage and Smart Dog?

This question lacks clarity so I will change the question to one better defined so I can wax eloquently:

1. What are the advantages / disadvantages of owning smart vs not-so-smart dogs?

2. Where does the Cairn Terrier fit in?

Prospective dog owners may spend considerable time choosing breed aggressiveness, size, energy level and utility......but not so many think about the raw intelligence of the animal and this can be one of the most important factors if one wishes a harmonious household.

The Smart Breeds

The Herding, Working and Sporting groups, as well as some Non-Sporting breeds rank the highest overall in canine intelligence.

Highly intelligent breeds need to be worked. 'Worked' in the broad sense means  training, exercise, playing, time and personal attention to the animal.

Failure to invest time and attention results in a bored dog and that boredom frequently manifests itself in destructive activity. 

Destructive Activity =  Upset Owner

Upset Owner = Attention to Dog, but maybe not quite the type the dog expected.

...and on goes the vicious circle until the dog:

1. Becomes unmanageable and ends up pound-bound.
2. Is put up for sale or free to a 'loving' home.
3. Is trained well after the fact, which may or may not work at all.  Prepare to shell out $$ for this option.

If you are willing to invest the time and effort in an intelligent breed, the end product can be very rewarding. 

If not, consider breeds a few cans short of a six-pack.

The Not So Smart Breeds.

Hounds and Terriers comprise the bulk of the less intelligent canines; hounds among the dumbest and terriers fitting squarely in the middle of the pack.

Once you have decided on the group, consider the breed energy level. 

Is your lifestyle adaptive to the needs of a high energy dog? ...or do you prefer a dog who enjoys laying at your feet.
 
Consider also the amount of personal attention the dog is likely to require.

Does a dog whose idea of personal attention mean food in his bowl and an occasional pat on the head?.....or is the dog one who is likely to need considerable owner participation.

I'd use that as a starting point and there is a wide range of intelligence within these two groups. There are dogs who after two or three years of intense training still have issues with house breaking, and then there are dogs who are stars of the show in obedience training.

Where does the Cairn Terrier fit in the world of Canine IQ?

Despite my frequent commentary to the contrary, out of the 141 breeds in my database the Cairn Terrier ranks as Number 35 and he shares that honor with the American Eskimo dog, Irish Setter (for the life of me, I don't know how the Irish Setter ranks 35 - I think the number 112 would be far more reasonable) and the Kerry Blue Terrier.
 
This puts the Cairn in the top 33% of all canines when ranking for intelligence and he lands pretty much squarely in the middle of the terrier group for same.   


Believe it or not.


In summary,  I will leave you with one basic question which you can use as a starting point in your search for just the right amount of intelligence or lack thereof in your future canine companion:

It's Monday - back to the daily grind.

Do you want a dog that......

A. Knows you just went to work and knows for about how long he can he can have his fun.

 or

B. Eight hours later, still doesn't realize you left.


A = Herding, Working, Sporting, some Terriers, a few Non-Sporting and a few Toys

B = Hounds, some Terriers, most Non-Sporting and most Toys.


For more detail, you can always download a copy of my free Canine IQ Guide.



Cairn Terrier Brain

Cairn Brain

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and in terms of discussing the Cairn Terrier's cranial capacity, that ability to make astounding leaps of logic into realms few of us mere mortals dare tread.......... a picture is indeed worth a thousand words.




Clinginess?

If you have a clingy Cairn and you are normal, your family is normal and your living environment is normal,  then I would say you have a defective Cairn Terrier.  Clinginess is not a Cairn trait under normal circumstances.  However, there are some abnormal ones that I will mention:

The Dog is in Pain

If a dog is hurting, he will stay close to you.  The hurt may not be obvious.  If you live in an area where Foxtails are prolific, get a couple of them in between the toes and other soft areas and the dog will cling - something is hurting and it is a good idea to take him to the vet.

Something Changed

Something in the dog's environment has changed and it is something he doesn't know how to deal with.  An obvious example would be having the home invaded with several more adults and their progeny over a holiday season.  For a canine, this can be a major disruption and he flees to something he knows, and that would be you.

Less obvious might be something going on in the household like some slowly escalating marital tension, a problem teenager, something or someone inducing stress that previously was not there.

Dogs have acute radar when it comes to anything that is out of the norm.  They are creatures of habit.  They expect you to be the same day after day.  They expect their environment to be the same day after day.  



How to stop a Cairn terrier from Barking

So you want to stop your Cairn from barking.....

If surgery is not an option, get ready to enter the world of high tech.  

I have used most of the barker breaker technologies over the years and would have to say the most fun is the shock collar. 
Instant gratification at the flip of a switch. 

However with Cairn Terriers, this is not a very good idea because it is far too easy to confuse corrective action with revenge:

"Take that, you bloody hairball!"

Oh yeah.........I Mentioned High Tech.........I was getting a little excited there.....

Dogs in general are known for what?  Their sense of smell.  

What if instead of zapping your Cairn with an electric charge, you spray him with what a dog would consider a foul odor when he begins exhibiting obnoxious behavior.  How well do you think that would work?  

Surprisingly well.

Petsafe

Let me introduce you to the Remote Spray Trainer by PetSafe.  

Lemon Scent

Charge the collar with foul smelling liquid.

Mug Shot

Place collar with spray hole pointed up, right underneath his chin.

Ready for action

Take it for a test drive.  When your Cairn starts yapping, hit him with a blast of odorizer.  

Repeat as often as necessary...in other words buy several extra cans of odorizer.

The noxious odor in this particular cannister is Lemon Scent,  something dogs don't very much care for.  
Some people have reported that a simple blast of air is enough to shut their dogs up.

Me,  I prefer the odorant because it serves a dual purpose.

Number 1:  It does a fine job shutting down nuisance barking.

Number 2: You have a Lemon Scented Cairn!

Two thumbs up for PetSafe.



Comment on  Intelligence

For this I refer to prior commentary:

Simple IQ Test:

Take dog's favorite ball and bounce back an forth in your hands, getting the dog's attention.  Use slight of hand, hide the ball behind your back and show the dog empty hands.

What does the dog do?

Jack Russells and Poodles  - you can't fool them for very long.  A minute, maybe.

Catahoulas stare for a short time and then you can see their brains thinking, "Now wait a minute, something is not right here..... got to be here somewhere...." and they find the ball.

Cairns  look puzzled for a bit and then come to the conclusion that they must have imagined the whole thing and the ball was never
there in the first place.

New Commentary:

Cairn Intelligence vs Standard Poodle Intelligence - A Comparative Study
 
We have a six month old standard poodle pup.

The other day my wife was out vacuuming off the mat on the deck under the watchful eye of the poodle with one of those cannister cleaners that has foot switches for turning on and off the vacuum and retracting the cord.

When she got done she retracted the cord and set the vacuum off to the side, putting everything else out of reach of the poodle and  went inside.

Several minutes later there was a tremendous thump outside and my wife rushed out to see what happened.  What happened was the poodle managed to grab hold of the retracted power cord, pulled it out and around a couple flower pots on stands, bringing a bunch of them crashing to the deck.

She chewed out the dog, righted the flower pots and hooked up the vacuum again to clean up the mess.

A minute or two later in the middle of vacuuming, the vacuum stopped. My wife started to look around and then the vacuum started again.  And then it stopped. And then it started again.  She figured the poodle must have chewed into the cord, shorting out the power supply. The vacuum stopped again.

She turned around to ensure the vacuum was in fact turned off only to see the poodle pressing down with his paw on the power switch and turning the vacuum on.  The poodle's head popped slightly back, looking around like he was kind of proud of himself and then he proceeded to press down on the power switch several times until the vacuum turned off.

That kind of intelligence and power of observation in a poodle pup only 6 months old  is almost scary.

What was the Cairn doing while all this was going on?

Chasing lizards.



Question: Do Cairn Terriers Possess much in the way of Common Sense?

Common Sense

Ruf

Common Sense

Answer: No



Question: Do Cairn terriers settle down after the first year?

Answer:  No



Question - How can I tell if my Cairn terrier is Stressed?

Answer: 
If you have a Cairn terrier that you think is stressed then there are major problems in your household, either with people in it or with other animals he is interacting with.

Seriously, there is a major problem with your environment. 

If a Cairn is exhibiting stress then there has to be something or someone obviously causing it. 
Take a step back, look around and see what you can see.

If you can't see anything, get a second opinion.

One way to determine whether or not a dog is stressed (and I have never seen this in a Cairn Terrier) is to observe the dog being corrected in a semi-formal environment.

Example:

Say for example you have a dog that kind of knows what 'Kennel', 'Move It' or some other command means -  the dog is supposed to stay in one area or place..........like staying out of the kitchen while you are cooking......and the dog is off lead.

The dog is relatively new to this concept -  he is supposed to be doing something, but he is unsure what you want.

The dog will start whining, making noise and frequently 'yawning', with emphasis on the yawning

This is an example of stress. When a dog whines and 'yawns',  he doesn't know what is expected of him and that is the point in which you stop and think about what you are doing, and use a slightly differently approach in accomplishing what you what you want the dog to do.

Following up on the 'staying out of the kitchen' example,  walk towards the dog using the 'Move it', 'Kennel' or other words and get the dog moving backwards.

Then, grab the dog, put him on a short lead which happens to just outside of the kitchen and praise the hell out of him.

Depending on the IQ of the dog,  the dog will rapidly associate the word 'Kennel' or pick your choice of words, with staying out of the kitchen or wherever you don't want the dog to be.

Of course, if this is a Cairn Terrier we are talking about, it may take a while.  What works for me is the 'Move It!' command. 
Our Cairn after about four years knows that 'Move It!' means 'Stay Out!' and it works rather well.  

Took a while, though.

If you have what you think is a stressed Cairn terrier,  do something about it.  This is not normal.



Question: My Cairn Chose the Wrong Alpha - How do I fix it?

Answer: (Yawn)  I wouldn't bother.

The Cairn ultimately determines who is Alpha and as long as it's not the Cairn himself, it's a minor issue.

In our household, one would assume either I or my wife is the Alpha.

That would be an incorrect assumption. 

The true Alpha does not even live in the same house. 

The true Alpha  would be son Jeff and it gets truly nauseating come visiting time.

Rufus knows the sound of Jeff's truck and when it arrives in the driveway, Rufus sits up straight, ears cocked towards the door and he starts a low, whining moan.

When Jeff enters the door, Rufus begins a halting, tentative walk towards him with his head lowered, ears partly down. The tail also lowered with just a bit of a wag to it.

The rotten dog stays that way until Jeff gives him the all-clear signal by saying 'Hi, Rufus!', at which point there is joy in the household.

The rotten dog has never behaved that way with me or my wife, even though we feed, bath and provide shelter for him.

So if you're not the Alpha, oh well.

I'd be more concerned with other issues like dog training (marginal,of course), crate training, socialization and house breaking.  If you are successful in those areas, you should do fine and you don't have to be the Alpha to make that happen.




Comment: My Cairn terrier is afraid of balls

Comment:  
I wonder if this is a recessive gene .  Maybe we can do something with it!



Statement:  My Cairn Terrier is the smartest dog I have ever owned.

Comment: It is probably also the only dog you have ever owned.



Statement: My Cairn Terrier pays no attention to me.

Comment: Congratulations!  You are the proud owner of a typical Cairn Terrier!

If you want something that pays attention to you, try a standard poodle. 

Having one of those critters around the house is like having a second skin.