Cairn Terrier puppies

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Cairn Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get it socialised before the vaccination course finishes. It will still need four meals a day. Expect moderate energy, in short bursts separated by long naps. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything it meets calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of its life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Globoid cell leukodystrophy, an inherited nerve disease of young dogs, detectable by DNA test
• Portosystemic vascular anomaly, a liver shunt, detected by bile acid blood tests and imaging
• Patellar luxation, a slipping kneecap, found on a patella evaluation
• Ocular melanosis, a pigment condition of the eye that can lead to glaucoma, found on an eye exam
• Cardiac disease, screened by a cardiac exam on breeding stock
• Kidney aplasia or dysplasia, detected by kidney ultrasound

From Cairn Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/cairn-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Your Cairn Terrier puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Cairn Terrier.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 5.9 to 6.4 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Other small breeds

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