Last Updated: Nov 22, 2022
Quick Links: Table of Contents
- Are Cairn Terriers Aggressive Towards Strangers?
- Are Cairn Terriers Aggressive Towards their Owners?
- Are Cairn Terriers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
- Are Cairn Terriers Afraid of Strangers?
- Are Cairn Terriers Afraid of Other Dogs?
- Do Cairn Terriers Have Non-Social Fears?
- Do Cairn Terriers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
- Are Cairn Terriers Easy to Train?
- Do Cairn Terriers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
- Do Cairn Terriers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
- Do Cairn Terriers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
- Are Cairn Terriers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
- Are Cairn Terriers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
- Are Cairn Terriers Playful? What is the Energy Level of Cairn Terriers
- Conclusion on Cairn Terrier Temperament
Introduction to the Temperament of the Cairn Terrier
The are many descriptions of the temperament of the Cairn Terrier out there. However, most of these descriptions are difficult to verify or prove. They are based on mere speculations.
In this article, we will provide a factual description of the temperament of the Cairn Terrier based on solid scientific research. This will give you a better understanding of what you can expect from the Cairn Terrier breed.
We obtained our description of the temperament of Cairn Terrier by analyzing raw scientific data from The Canine Behavioral Assessment & Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) database.
The C-BARQ dog temperament standard was developed by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania. It is considered the gold standard for measuring the behavior of dogs.
Over the years, the C-BARQ study has collected data on the temperament of thousands of dogs of different breeds including the Cairn Terrier.
The C-BARQ study obtains its data by asking dog owners to score the behavior of their dogs on different behavior patterns.
The idea behind the C-BARQ study is that if it collects thousands of scores from thousands of dog owners on different aspects of dog behavior, a clear pattern will emerge on the temperament of different dog breeds.
The C-BARQ questionnaire measures 14 behavior aspects of dogs:
- Aggression towards stranger
- Aggression towards its owner
- Aggression towards other dogs
- How well they get along with other dogs
- Fear of strangers
- Fear of new things (new objects, unfamiliar loud sounds, etc)
- Fear of other dogs
- Separation anxiety
- Clinginess
- Trainability/ Stubbornness
- Prey drive
- Excitability
- Touch sensitivity
- Energy level
In this article, we will discuss the score of the Cairn Terrier for each of these 14 characteristics. This will let you know the real temperament of the Cairn Terrier.
The summary table below shows the score of the Cairn Terrier for the different behavioral characteristics.
High percentage scores close to 100 are bad. Low percentage scores close to 0 are good.
| Behavior | Score |
|---|---|
| Prey Drive | 76.2 percent |
| Dog Rivalry | 58.4 percent |
| Energy Level | 54.1 percent |
| Nonsocial Fear | 53.5 percent |
| Dog Directed Aggression | 52.8 percent |
| Touch Sensitivity | 49.3 percent |
| Stubbornness | 45.9 percent |
| Excitability | 45.7 percent |
| Dog Directed Fear | 39.8 percent |
| Stranger Directed Aggression | 39.6 percent |
| Owner Directed Aggression | 38.2 percent |
| Stranger Directed Fear | 32.2 percent |
| Attachment Attention Seeking | 21.0 percent |
| Separation Related Behavior | 17.9 percent |
Note that with proper training, you can better your Cairn Terrier`s temperament. To learn how to properly train your Cairn Terrier, I highly recommend that you go through Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things that I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Cairn Terrier.
See also our complete ranking of dog breeds from the `best` to the `worst` based on temperament.
Are Cairn Terriers Aggressive Towards Strangers?
Dog breeds that are aggressive to strangers show hostile responses to strangers approaching or invading the dog`s or the dog owner`s personal space, territory, or home range.
Stranger-aggressive dog breeds are quick to show aggression to unfamiliar people.
Typical signs of moderate aggression in dogs include barking, growling, and baring of teeth. More serious display of aggression generally includes snapping, lunging, biting, or attempting to bite.
Cairn Terriers are quite a bit aggressive towards strangers.
This is because the Cairn Terrier ranks high for aggression towards strangers.
The Cairn Terrier ranks number 46 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards strangers.
This information is based on what 32 Cairn Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Cairn Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cairn Terrier has a stranger-directed-aggression score of 39.6 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit aggressive towards strangers just like the Cairn Terrier are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 43 | Old English Sheepdog | 40.5 % |
| 44 | Cocker Spaniel (American) | 40.4 % |
| 45 | Saint Bernard | 39.9 % |
| 46 | Cairn Terrier | 39.6 % |
| 47 | Redbone Coonhound | 38.8 % |
| 48 | Rottweiler | 36.8 % |
| 49 | Afghan Hound | 36.5 % |
The dog breeds that are most aggressive towards strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards strangers are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Cairn Terriers Aggressive Towards their Owners?
Due to human effort over the course of many centuries, the dog has become a very domestic animal. Dogs have learned to live well with humans. As a result, dogs respect and love their owners. Nevertheless, some dog breeds are less respectful to their owners than some other dog breeds.
Owner-aggressive dog breeds show threatening or hostile responses to their owner or other members of the household when challenged, manhandled, stared at, stepped over, or when approached while in possession of food, objects, or toys.
A dog that is owner-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite their owners.
Cairn Terriers are very much aggressive towards their owners.
This is because the Cairn Terrier ranks very high for aggression towards its owner.
The Cairn Terrier ranks number 17 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards their owners.
This information is based on what 32 Cairn Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Cairn Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cairn Terrier has an owner-directed-aggression score of 38.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much owner-aggressive just like the Cairn Terrier are listed in the table below
| Owner-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Owner-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | Beagle | 41.6 % |
| 15 | Bull Terrier | 41.0 % |
| 16 | Dachshund | 40.0 % |
| 17 | Cairn Terrier | 38.2 % |
| 18 | Chihuahua | 36.7 % |
| 19 | Tibetan Terrier | 36.5 % |
| 20 | Dalmatian | 36.1 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards their owners are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Cairn Terriers Aggressive Towards other Dogs?
Dogs that are aggressive towards other dogs will direct aggressive threats or actions toward unknown or unfamiliar dogs.
A dog-aggressive dog will threaten or show hostile responses when approached by unfamiliar dogs
A dog that is dog-aggressive shows its aggression by barking, growling, and baring of teeth. In extreme cases, these dogs can snap, lunge, bite, or attempt to bite other dogs.
Cairn Terriers are quite a bit aggressive towards other dogs.
This is because the Cairn Terrier ranks high for aggression towards other dogs.
The Cairn Terrier ranks number 48 out of 124 dog breeds for aggression towards other dogs.
This information is based on what 32 Cairn Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Cairn Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cairn Terrier has a dog-directed aggression score of 52.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are quite a bit dog-aggressive just like the Cairn Terrier are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Aggression Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Aggression Score |
|---|---|---|
| 45 | Anatolian Shepherd | 54.3 % |
| 46 | Boston Terrier | 53.5 % |
| 47 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 53.2 % |
| 48 | Cairn Terrier | 52.8 % |
| 49 | Alaskan Husky | 51.7 % |
| 50 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 50.9 % |
| 51 | Australian Shepherd | 50.9 % |
The dog breeds that show the most aggression towards other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least aggressive towards other dogs are the:
Usually, small dog breeds display aggression not because they are mean but because they are afraid and feel insecure due to their small size.
Are Cairn Terriers Afraid of Strangers?
Some dogs breeds tend to be fearful of strangers.
Dogs that are fearful of strangers will avoid strangers. These dogs will crouch, cringe, or tremble when approached by strangers.
Extreme fear in dogs is characterized by serious attempts to escape or hide from the feared stranger.
Cairn Terriers are somewhat fearful of strangers.
This is because the Cairn Terrier ranks average for fear of strangers.
The Cairn Terrier ranks number 53 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of strangers.
This information is based on what 32 Cairn Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Cairn Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cairn Terrier has a stranger-directed-fear score of 32.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat stranger-fearful just like the Cairn Terrier are listed in the table below
| Stranger-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Stranger-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | Poodle (Miniature) | 33.4 % |
| 51 | Tibetan Terrier | 32.6 % |
| 52 | Great Pyrenees | 32.5 % |
| 53 | Cairn Terrier | 32.2 % |
| 54 | Pit Bull mix | 31.5 % |
| 55 | Belgian Malinois | 31.0 % |
| 56 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 30.6 % |
The dog breeds that show the most fear of strangers are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of strangers are the:
Are Cairn Terriers Afraid of Other Dogs?
Some dogs breeds tend to show fear when an unfamiliar dog approaches them.
A dog that is fearful of other dogs will try to avoid meeting other dogs.
Cairn Terriers are somewhat fearful of other dogs.
This is because the Cairn Terrier ranks average for fear of other dogs.
The Cairn Terrier ranks number 57 out of 124 dog breeds for fear of other dogs.
This information is based on what 32 Cairn Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Cairn Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cairn Terrier has a dog-directed-fear score of 39.8 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat other-dog-fearful just like the Cairn Terrier are listed in the table below
| Dog-Directed-Fear Rank | Breed | Dog-Directed-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 54 | Belgian Tervuren | 40.1 % |
| 55 | Papillon | 40.0 % |
| 56 | Jack Russell Terrier | 39.9 % |
| 57 | Cairn Terrier | 39.8 % |
| 58 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 39.1 % |
| 59 | Australian Shepherd | 39.1 % |
| 60 | Pug | 38.7 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of other dogs are the:
Do Cairn Terriers Have Non-Social Fears?
Dogs that are fearful of sudden or loud noises, traffic, and unfamiliar objects and situations are said to exhibit nonsocial fear.
Cairn Terriers are very much fearful of unfamiliar sounds, situations, and objects.
This is because the Cairn Terrier ranks very high for non-social fear.
The Cairn Terrier ranks number 15 out of 124 dog breeds for being fearful of unfamiliar things and situations.
This information is based on what 32 Cairn Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Cairn Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cairn Terrier has a nonsocial-fear score of 53.5 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much nonsocial-fearful just like the Cairn Terrier are listed in the table below
| Nonsocial-Fear Rank | Breed | Nonsocial-Fear Score |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | Chinese Crested | 57.4 % |
| 13 | Greyhound | 56.1 % |
| 14 | Saint Bernard | 54.0 % |
| 15 | Cairn Terrier | 53.5 % |
| 16 | Lhasa Apso | 53.5 % |
| 17 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 53.3 % |
| 18 | Maltese | 52.0 % |
The dog breeds that are most fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
The dog breeds that are least fearful of unfamiliar situations and objects are the:
Do Cairn Terriers Get Along Well With Other Dogs?
Some dog breeds display high dog rivalry. These dog breeds will threaten or act hostile to other familiar dogs in the same household.
These dog breeds will compete with other dogs. Also, these dog breeds do not get along well with other dogs.
Cairn Terriers are very much competitive when dealing with other dogs.
This is because the Cairn Terrier ranks very high on dog rivalry.
The Cairn Terrier ranks number 24 out of 124 dog breeds for displaying dog rivalry when dealing with familiar dogs.
This information is based on what 32 Cairn Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Cairn Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cairn Terrier has a dog-rivalry score of 58.4 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much competition-driven just like the Cairn Terrier are listed in the table below
| Dog-Rivalry Rank | Breed | Dog-Rivalry Score |
|---|---|---|
| 21 | Chinese Shar-Pei | 59.9 % |
| 22 | Pit Bull mix | 59.7 % |
| 23 | Alaskan Husky | 58.6 % |
| 24 | Cairn Terrier | 58.4 % |
| 25 | Beagle | 56.7 % |
| 26 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 56.3 % |
| 27 | Schipperke | 55.7 % |
The dog breeds that do not get along well with other dogs are the:
The dog breeds that get along well with other dogs are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how well they get along with other dog breeds.
Are Cairn Terriers Easy to Train?
Dogs have high trainability have the willingness to listen to their owner. These dogs are not stubborn. These dogs obey simple commands, and they learn very quickly.
Highly trainable dogs excel at fetching objects. They also respond positively to correction and ignore distraction.
Cairn Terriers are a little bit easy to train.
This is because the Cairn Terrier ranks low for trainability.
The Cairn Terrier ranks number 95 out of 124 dog breeds for easiness to train.
This information is based on what 32 Cairn Terrier owners reported on the trainability of their Cairn Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cairn Terrier has a trainability score of 54.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are a little bit easy to train just like the Cairn Terrier are listed in the table below
| Trainability Rank | Breed | Trainability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 92 | Tibetan Terrier | 55.2 % |
| 93 | Shih Tzu | 54.6 % |
| 94 | Siberian Husky | 54.3 % |
| 95 | Cairn Terrier | 54.1 % |
| 96 | Bichon Frise | 54.0 % |
| 97 | Old English Sheepdog | 52.5 % |
| 98 | American Eskimo Dog | 52.3 % |
The dog breeds that are most easy to train are the:
The dog breeds that are difficult to train are the:
Learn more about how intelligent the Cairn Terrier is and how the intelligence of the Cairn Terrier affects its trainability in this article on how smart the Cairn Terrier is.
Do Cairn Terriers Get Along Well with Cats? Do They Get Along Well with Other Pets?
Dog breeds that have high chase-drive will run after (chase) cats, birds, and/or other small animals, given the opportunity.
Cairn Terriers are very much into chasing after other smaller pets like cats, squirrels, chickens, and birds.
This is because the Cairn Terrier ranks very high for small-pet-chasing.
The Cairn Terrier ranks number 11 out of 124 dog breeds for chasing after smaller pets.
This information is based on what 32 Cairn Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Cairn Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cairn Terrier has a chasing score of 76.2 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much into chasing after smaller pets just like the Cairn Terrier are listed in the table below
| Chasing Rank | Breed | Chasing Score |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | West Highland White Terrier | 82.0 % |
| 9 | Border Terrier | 81.3 % |
| 10 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 76.3 % |
| 11 | Cairn Terrier | 76.2 % |
| 12 | Pit Bull mix | 75.8 % |
| 13 | Afghan Hound | 75.1 % |
| 14 | Shiba Inu | 75.0 % |
The dog breeds that like chasing after cats and other smaller pets are the:
The dog breeds that will not chase after cats and other smaller pets are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their prey drive.
Do Cairn Terriers Like Attention? Are they Clingy or Aloof?
Some dog breeds like to stay close to their owners all the time. These dogs like attention, and they like to receive the affection of their owners.
These dogs get jealous when their owners give attention to other dogs or other people instead of them.
Dogs with these traits are described as attachment/attention-seeking.
Cairn Terriers are not attachment/attention-seeking.
This is because the Cairn Terrier ranks very low for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
The Cairn Terrier ranks number 114 out of 124 dog breeds for attachment/attention-seeking behavior.
This information is based on what 32 Cairn Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Cairn Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cairn Terrier has an attachment/attention-seeking score of 21.0 %.
Other dog breeds that are not attachment/attention-seeking just like the Cairn Terrier are listed in the table below
| Attachment-Attention-Seeking Rank | Breed | Attachment-Attention-Seeking Score |
|---|---|---|
| 111 | Bull Terrier | 23.3 % |
| 112 | Great Pyrenees | 21.6 % |
| 113 | Irish Wolfhound | 21.1 % |
| 114 | Cairn Terrier | 21.0 % |
| 115 | Greyhound | 19.8 % |
| 116 | Afghan Hound | 18.4 % |
| 117 | Siberian Husky | 17.9 % |
The dog breeds that are always seeking the attention of their owners are the:
The dog breeds that are aloof are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their clinginess.
Do Cairn Terriers have Separation Anxiety? Do They Like to be Left Alone?
Dog breeds that have separation anxiety do not like to be left alone.
These dog breeds tend to bark and destroy things when separated from their owners.
They become restless or lose their appetite when left alone.
Cairn Terriers are not prone to developing separation anxiety.
This is because the Cairn Terrier ranks very low for separation anxiety relative to other dog breeds.
The Cairn Terrier ranks number 107 out of 124 dog breeds for separation anxiety.
This information is based on what 32 Cairn Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Cairn Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cairn Terrier has a separation anxiety score of 17.9 %.
Other dog breeds that are not prone to develop separation anxiety just like the Cairn Terrier are listed in the table below
| Separation-Related-Behavior Rank | Breed | Separation-Related-Behavior Score |
|---|---|---|
| 104 | Airedale Terrier | 23.0 % |
| 105 | Irish Water Spaniel | 21.8 % |
| 106 | Irish Setter | 20.7 % |
| 107 | Cairn Terrier | 17.9 % |
| 108 | Rottweiler | 17.3 % |
| 109 | English Setter | 16.6 % |
| 110 | Irish Wolfhound | 16.6 % |
The dog breeds that are most prone to develop separation anxiety are listed below. These dog breeds do not like to be left alone. These dog breeds are the:
- Treeing Walker Coonhound
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- Chinese Crested
- Miniature Pinscher
- Australian Silky Terrier
The dog breeds that are least prone to develop separation anxiety are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their tendency to develop separation anxiety.
Are Cairn Terriers Touch Sensitive? Do They Like to be Groomed?
Dogs that are touch-sensitive are fearful of `painful` procedures such as bathing, grooming, nail clipping, and veterinary examinations.
These dogs do not like going through these `painful` procedures, and they will react to show they do not like the procedure.
Cairn Terriers are very much touch-sensitive.
This is because the Cairn Terrier ranks very high for touch sensitivity.
The Cairn Terrier ranks number 12 out of 124 dog breeds for touch sensitivity.
This information is based on what 32 Cairn Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Cairn Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cairn Terrier has a touch-sensitivity score of 49.3 %.
Other dog breeds that are very much touch-sensitive just like the Cairn Terrier are listed in the table below
| Touch-Sensitivity Rank | Breed | Touch-Sensitivity Score |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Pit Bull mix | 53.3 % |
| 10 | Maltese | 50.2 % |
| 11 | Afghan Hound | 50.2 % |
| 12 | Cairn Terrier | 49.3 % |
| 13 | Pug | 48.7 % |
| 14 | Schipperke | 48.6 % |
| 15 | Rat Terrier | 48.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most touch-sensitive are the:
The dog breeds that are least touch-sensitive are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on their sensitivity to touch.
Are Cairn Terriers Hyper? Are they Highly Excitable?
Excitable dog or hyper dog breeds display strong reactions to potentially exciting or arousing events, such as:
- going for walks
- car trips
- sound of the doorbell
- arrival of visitors, and
- the owner arriving home
Highly excitable dog breeds have difficulty settling down after arousal.
Cairn Terriers are somewhat hyper (excitable).
This is because the Cairn Terrier ranks average for excitability.
The Cairn Terrier ranks number 58 out of 124 dog breeds for excitability.
This information is based on what 32 Cairn Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Cairn Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cairn Terrier has an excitability score of 45.7 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat excitable just like the Cairn Terrier are listed in the table below
| Excitability Rank | Breed | Excitability Score |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | Dachshund (Miniature) | 47.1 % |
| 56 | Flat-Coated Retriever | 46.7 % |
| 57 | Poodle (Standard) | 46.1 % |
| 58 | Cairn Terrier | 45.7 % |
| 59 | Chinese Crested | 45.6 % |
| 60 | Havanese | 45.2 % |
| 61 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 45.2 % |
The dog breeds that are most hyper (excitable) are the:
- Australian Silky Terrier
- Fox Terrier (Smooth)
- American Eskimo Dog
- Parson Russell Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
The dog breeds that are least hyper (excitable) are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds based on how hyper they are.
Are Cairn Terriers Playful? What is the Energy Level of Cairn Terriers
Energetic dog breeds are very playful dog breeds. These are the dog breeds that do not get tired easily.
Cairn Terriers are somewhat energetic.
This is because the Cairn Terrier ranks average for energy level.
The Cairn Terrier ranks number 70 out of 124 dog breeds for energy level.
This information is based on what 32 Cairn Terrier owners reported on the temperament of their Cairn Terrier in a research survey.
Based on our further analysis of the survey, we found that the Cairn Terrier has an energy-level score of 54.1 %.
Other dog breeds that are somewhat energetic just like the Cairn Terrier are listed in the table below
| Energy-Level Rank | Breed | Energy-Level Score |
|---|---|---|
| 67 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 55.1 % |
| 68 | Rottweiler | 55.0 % |
| 69 | Afghan Hound | 54.4 % |
| 70 | Cairn Terrier | 54.1 % |
| 71 | Pointer | 54.0 % |
| 72 | Cocker Spaniel (English) | 53.6 % |
| 73 | American Staffordshire Terrier | 53.4 % |
The dog breeds that are most playful and most energetic are the:
The dog breeds that are laziest are the:
See our complete ranking of dog breeds from the most energetic to the least energetic.
Conclusion on Cairn Terrier Temperament
The temperament of your Cairn Terrier comes from a combination of its genetics and what environment your Cairn Terrier is exposed to.
You cannot change your Cairn Terrier`s gene but you can change the things you expose your Cairn Terrier to.
Exposing your Cairn Terrier to dog training sessions early in its life can help you mold the temperament of your Cairn Terrier to what you desire.
Again, with proper training, you can better your Cairn Terrier`s temperament. To learn how to properly train a dog, I highly recommend Dr. Ian Dunbar`s online dog training classes, which you can find here.
I learned most of the things I know about training dogs by reading Dr. Dunbar`s books and watching his training videos. Dr. Dunbar`s dog training methods are for people expecting to own a puppy soon, new dog owners, and experienced dog owners.
Another helpful online dog training class that I recommend is this one. The class will teach you how to properly train your Cairn Terrier.
If you think the Cairn Terrier is the right dog breed for you, see our article on how much Cairn Terriers cost and Cairn Terrier puppy buying guide.
Also, see our list of reputable Cairn Terrier breeders in the United States and the prices of their Cairn Terrier puppies.