Grooming
Cairn Terriers are hypoallergenic and shed very little but should always be hand stripped. Using scissors or shears can ruin the dog's rugged outer coat after one grooming. Hand stripping involves pulling the old dead hair out by the roots. If done incorrectly this can cause discomfort to the dog, causing it to shy away from future hand stripping. Removing the dead hair in this manner allows new growth to come in. This new growth helps protect the dog from water and dirt.
Cairn Terrier ancestors are from Scotland, where the wire coat repels water and keeps the dog dry even in rainy or damp climates. Keeping the Cairn Terrier coat in its original state will prevent possible skin irritations. As dead hair is removed by stripping the coat, new growth comes in and the skin and coat will remain healthy.
See the Cairn Terrier Club of America for tips on hand stripping a Cairn. There are two DVD's available for purchase through the CTCA, with funds used towards not for profit organizations such as the Canine Health Foundation. Most breeders are happy to demonstrate and coach you on proper grooming.
If the Cairn is clipper-cut, you destroy the protective wire coat unique to this breed. Be sure to have a pet examined to rule out heritable skin diseases if your Cairn is obtained from unknown sources (i.e. pet stores, rescues, or puppy mills).
Maintaining a Cairn's coat is easy if done routinely. Keeping any dog routinely groomed leads to better health.
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Famous quotes containing the word grooming:
“Cats are the ultimate narcissists. You can tell this because of all the time they spend on personal grooming. Dogs aren’t like this. A dog’s idea of personal grooming is to roll in a dead fish. Dogs spend their time thinking about doing good deeds for their masters, or sleeping.”
—James Gorman (b. 1949)