The Cairn is a British terrier and originated in the Scottish Highlands and the Isle of Skye well over two centuries ago. In fact the Cairn is just about the oldest pure bred British terrier. A Highland home was not complete without a Cairn, which was used to hunt foxes, badgers, otters, weasels and other vermin. Rocks and cairns were the natural habitat of vermin and; therefore, a small dog capable of burrowing underground was needed to keep them under control - hence the Cairn Terrier, a courageous and intelligent dog, full of tenacity. Able to work all day, but still have plenty of love and loyalty left over for his or her master. The name Cairn Terrier, is a combination of "cairn", the rocky outcrops which abound in the Scottish Highlands, and "terrier" from the Latin "terra" meaning earth. At the turn of the century, the Cairn was known as the "Short-haired Skye Terrier". Evidence suggests that one of the oldest strains of pure breed Cairns Terrier was founded by Captain Martin MacLeod of Drynoch on the Isle of Skye, who kept a pack of short haired terriers for forty years before he emigrated to Canada in 1854. The strain continued under the guidance of Mr John MacDonald, who was a gamekeeper to the Clan Chief MacLeod of MacLeod. Another strain of short haired Skye Terriers were from the kennels of MacKinnos of Kilbride. These terriers were descendents of a breed owned by Farquhar Kelly of Drumfearn on the Isle of Skye in the seventeenth century. Collectively, these strains played an important role in the early lines of the breeds pioneers. The Cairn Terrier as we know it today, was pioneered by Mrs Alastair Campbell and Mary Hawke. The persistence shown by them, led to the Cairn being recognized by the U.K. Kennel Club in 1910. On 29 May 1912, The Kennel Club committee gave the Cairn Terrier a separate register, which meant that the Cairn could compete at designated championship shows. In 1933 one of the most influential and important Cairns of all time was whelped. English Champion Splinters of Twobees would go on to indelibly mark the breed. The winner of eight CCs and his prowess as a stud dog made Splinters an important contributor to setting the type we know today. Splinters can be found in the pedigrees of many of the today's top winning and producing dogs. Mrs Henry F. Price and Mrs. Byron Rodgers are credited with gaining approval of the Cairn Terrier in the United States. Mrs Price imported the first Cairn Terriers to the United States in 1913 and owned the first Cairn registered by the American Kennel Club, Sandy Peter out of the West. In 1917 the Cairn Terrier Club of America was granted membership in the American Kennel Club. The genesis of the American Cairn lay with the importation of English Champion Redletter McRuffie by Mrs Betty Hyslop of Canada. McRuffie a great grandson of Ch. Splinters of Twobees, was bred by Walter Bradshaw of Redletter fame. McRuffie and his descendents Ch. Cairnswood Quince and Ch. Cairmar Fancy Dresser would forever stamp their names in the history of the Cairn in the United States. One is hard pressed today to find a Cairn without one of the above dogs in the pedigree. Today the Cairn Terrier is a sensible, confident little dog - independent but friendly with everyone he or she meets. They may be found in an apartment, suburban home, or on a farm. Alert, intelligent, and long lived, the Cairn tends to remain active and playful well into their teen years, endearing themselves to children and adults alike. True to their heritage, the breed still has very large teeth, large feet with thick pads and strong nails (the better to dig with!), strong, muscular shoulders and rears, and a fearless tenacity that will lead them into trouble if their owners are irresponsible. It has been said that if you own a Cairn Terrier for a year, you will own a Cairn Terrier for life.