“Cairn Terrier Poodle Mix”
Cairnoodle is a hybrid dog designed from the breeds of Cairn Terrier and Poodle. It also goes by names like Poocan, Cairn Doodle, and Cairn poo. The International Designer Canine Registry recognized its breed by the name Cairnoodle.
The designers intentionally mixed the two pure breeds because of their common traits for hunting, non-shedding coats, temperament, and wit. The designers did not fail as it turned out to be a perfect match.
Its furry face looks more like its parent, Cairn Terrier. The Cairnoodle dog has a perfect combination of the built and endurance from both its parents to make it a healthy dog. It has fur with both the low shedding qualities from its parents. The coats can change its colors as it grows that would only add up to its charm.
Owners may not be familiar with this breed. It could be the breed you’d want for a companion. Ideal for seniors, it also works well with the kids. You might find yourself pretty restless at times because this dog wants to play more aside from its daily walks.
This loyal, friendly, and agile dog socializes like a star. With many tricks this breed enjoys, it would do anything for attention. However, it can be sensitive when ignored.
Although the American Kennel Club hasn’t recognized Cairnoodle, other dog designer registries recognize this breed. These organizations include the International Designer Canine Registry®, Dog Registry of America, Inc., Designer Dogs Kennel Club, and American Canine Hybrid Club.
Cairnoodle barks like any watchdog or guard dog do. Ideal for outdoors, it’s also great for apartment living. Set up a play fence at the backyard. Give enough room for indoor tricks. You’ll get a loyal companion with a Cairnoodle.
Parents
The Cairn Terrier originated from Scotland as one of the oldest terriers. Being one of the earliest working dogs, they are bred as hunting companions in the Scottish Highlands. It’s initially grouped with Skye Terriers. A separate registry for Cairns began in 1912. The Kennel Club of the United Kingdom recognized the breed with Championship Status.
One notable appearance from Cairns is that its coat changes its colors as it grows. Know where it came from when you find your Cairnoodle changing its fur colors. Their furs go around the shades of cream, sand, tan, black, or grey. Their coat is water-resistant. A harsh outer coat covers its soft and dense inner coat. It keeps their coat dry even on rainy and damp weather.
Here are some traits to watch for your Cairnoodle that may come from its parent, Cairn Terrier.
An intelligent dog breed, Cairns can act as a family watchdog but can be easily tempered to kids. It barks at suspicious strangers. It pays to socialize them early with other dogs because it can get a bit stubborn.
Meanwhile, the Poodle is one of the oldest and intelligent dog breeds. It is second to the most intelligent breed, the Border Collie. Traced from old Egyptian and Roman artifacts are the images of early Poodles. The origins are often confused with either France or Germany. The AKC and Canadian Kennel Club, along with the Oxford English Dictionary, agreed that this breed originated from Germany.
The sizes recognized for Poodles are Standard, Miniature, and Toy.
Poodles are known for many distinct characteristics such as intelligence, eager to please, hunters, easy to train, performers, and athletes. Unlike Cairns, Poodles are shy. You’ll be surprised to know that this breed can be humorous and playful.
The Standard Poodle served hunters long ago. It used to hunt ducks and birds. Its intelligence makes it trainable, its webbed feet make it great for sports, and the coats serves as water repellents to rainy weather.
However, some owners turned it into circus performers or status symbols in the 19th Century. In the 2000s, owners tried to revive their hunting and sporting skills through a series of tests. The results have successfully revived its trainable sporting skills as well as its hunting ability. This breed is eager to please its masters. Now, you understand why your Cairnoodle likes to show-off.
Appearance
The Cairnoodle breed stands about 9 to 15 inches and weighs around 13 to 20 pounds. With its sporting agility, it would have strong legs and compact muscles ready to run around and play. It has hairy floppy ears with cheek furs that could be longer than its pointed muzzle. It has a wide head with large dark eyes.
Its water-repellent furs can be wavy, curly, and dense with colors that can change during its lifetime. Its colors can be shades or combinations of black, cream, gold, grey, white, or brown.
Life Expectancy
With an active lifestyle and a healthy diet, Cairnoodle can live healthily from 12 to 16 years.
Behavior
What can you expect from a combination of a hunter, circus performer, and playful parents? You’ll get an energetic dog that loves to be the center of attraction. This dog loves the attention that it will do anything to please you. This loyal, thoughtful, and sociable dog would be fine around a bunch of busy people. This dog will play well with the kids and dogs in the family. Your senior wouldn’t feel old with this breed.
However, sometimes it gets annoyed with unwanted presence. It barks at strangers and won’t sit well with stubborn kids. It’s a perfect watchdog to alert you of …..well just about anything lol.
Don’t leave this dog for a long time as it needs to be busy. Its loneliness can lead to destructive behaviors. It can start digging or barking because of frustration. It has the stubborn personality of Cairns with the aloofness of Poodles.
Ideal Environment
This dog can be restless and loves to be around a busy environment. It’s perfect for outdoor and backyard games. Its legs are meant to keep running, jumping, and playing. Apart from those exercises, you’ll have to take this dog for daily walks as it doesn’t want to stay in one place.
Also, this breed is ideal for indoors with plenty of space to play around. House training and simple tricks can be done indoors.
Diet
Split the maximum amount of ¾ to ½ cups of high quality dry canine food into two daily. Canned or packed dog foods are good substitutes. Reduce these portions from the required daily amount of dry canine food he eats. Be careful. Never overfeed your dog to avoid obesity.
Exercise
Suited for home and city living, buy your Cairnoodle safe toys for indoor activities. It needs physical and mental stimulation. Short daily walks are enough to keep them moving. Let it play with the kids or other dogs because it needs social interaction.
If you have a backyard, you can do some fetching. Bring it to dog parks because it loves to be around other dogs. Hiking is a good outdoor exercise too. Its legs are strong for running and swimming. Like its parent Poodle, Cairnoodles are good swimmers.
Training
What makes Cairn Terriers and Poodle a perfect mixed breed is both of them are trainable. It is independent in its ways. It can be sensitive to harsh-heavy methods. Train them with a promise of reward and with firmness of a pack leader. Show your Cairnoodle that you’re the boss.
Train it early as you may find it difficult to house train later on. Crate training may do the trick. You can also bring it to puppy training classes.
Tricks will be its favorite time of the day. Teach your Cairnoodle how to sit, lie down, walk on two legs, shake hands, play dead, or blow kisses.
This dog never gets tired. Bring him at the backyard. Rewards are great at fetching. You can even train him to do complicated tricks because this dog is born smart. Ball and ring tricks can be good exercises. Make sure you don’t take its efforts for granted.
Grooming
Cairnoodle are light shedders. It needs frequent brushing to avoid tangling. Use mild dog shampoo for bathing. Bathe him only as necessary. You don’t want to have a stinky hairy dog but you don’t want it losing its natural oils either.
It needs consistent dental hygiene because is prone to early tooth loss. Trim its nails regularly. It’s painful to cut it too short so it’s advisable to let a professional groomer do it.
Clean his ears once a week but check them regularly.
Health Concerns
Physical activities and maintaining the right diet would keep your Cairnoodle healthy. It wouldn’t excuse him from hereditary health problems and aging complications. This goes along just like other hybrid dogs.
The list is long, but it doesn’t mean that your Cairnoodle will acquire those ailments either. Give your Cairnoodle a healthy and active lifestyle and watch out for certain conditions.
- Epilepsy
- Skin problems
- Bloating
- Hypothyroidism
- Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
- Hip dysplasia
- Cryptorchidism
- Krabbe’s disease
- Patellar luxation
- Liver ailments
- Eye ailments
- Cushing’s disease
- Von Willebrand’s disease
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Craniomandibular osteopathy
- Addison’s disease
Where to find a Cairnoodle?
Find a Cairnoodle from a dog breeder with an established reputation. This way you can easily contact him with proper care and training for your beloved Cairnoodle.
Find ones from places that you can visit. See adorable Cairnoodles for yourself. You can drop by at your local pet shop although a reputable breeder is your safest option.
Referrals from friends, family, and dog owner’s online community are reliable sources of a reputable dog breeder. Get sources from online communities of dog breeders. Verify these breeders online from owner reviews and feedbacks.
Conclusion
Getting a Cairnoodle is a rewarding choice you can make. It makes a good companion. You don’t want to miss out on a Cairnoodle’s friendly gestures. Make your home lively with its humorous and cuddly tactics. It may throw tantrums at times. You’ll love its obedience and energy anyway.
It pays to have a lively cuddle buddy waiting for you after a long stressful day. Don’t freak out with the noises it makes. You’ll surely miss it when the house gets quiet.
Give the space it deserves in the house. Your new Cairnoodle will watch over your home. Teach your kids to handle your Cairnoodle properly. Trust this watchdog to look over your kids and even your seniors. It helps your kids to become responsible future dog owners.