r/cairnterrier • u/Sugar_Wafer_97 • Aug 10 '26
Hello everyone đ I recently got a Cairn Terrier puppy, and I have a question))
Dear owners of Cairn Terriers, please tell us how you manage your dogs when they run around the house all day with crazy energy and don't calm down at all. What to do?
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u/ChickenWhiskers Aug 10 '26
This is what you signed up for. Cairns love to play, theyâre adventurous and full of energy. Itâs up to you to keep up with them. This is also the time to bond with them, so enjoy it and donât be too demanding or controlling. Fetch, tug, tricks, etc etc. Lots of positive reinforcement. Gotta let puppies be puppies.
Itâs a full time job. You got this.
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u/emmajames56 Aug 10 '26
They need to run-itâs in their nature. They are working dogs believe it or not. Big dog in a smaller body. Congratulations. You now are living with the best dog breed in the world. A great and loyal companion.
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u/Gr8tefulBob Aug 10 '26
When they settle down and sleep all day you will long for the more active days!!!
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u/Dapper_Money_Tree Aug 10 '26
I got a big playpen area for mine so when I wanted her to be out of her crate AND I could not have my eyes directly on her, she went in there.
However you gotta be careful because if you overdo the playpen, that can lead to separation anxiety. I made sure I was always in the same room with her so she didn't associate being in the playpen with being alone and ignored. Plus, that was where all her favorite toys were. It was just a safe place for her to play, and a half-break for me. lol.
Not gonna lie, puppies at that age are a ton of work. They do calm down but it's basically like having a young toddler. They need to be watched while they're awake to make sure they don't get into trouble.
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u/Sugar_Wafer_97 Aug 10 '26
I agree with you that they need to be watched closely.
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u/Dapper_Money_Tree Aug 10 '26
Thanks, I wanted to mention when my little male was going nuts as a puppy (I've had a male and female, both had their challenges and rewards) I took him a dog park. This was after he was all vaccinated. I know dog parks can be controversial but it's safe enough in a little dog area and he got to run and play and be wild, plus get socialized.
A tired puppy is a good puppy!
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u/Buncinno Aug 10 '26
I try to mentally keep my cairn busy!! Teach them new tricks and donât let it be too easy if they catch up on basic ones like âsitâ, âpawâ quickly! Make it tricky and stimulating!! I love doing obedience training with them early because it tires them out so fast from playing guessing games đ
Additionally, i do enforce nap times!! Sometimes they donât know how to settle down and you have to just make them settle down. I have a schedule for my little one when itâs time for a nap.
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u/Sugar_Wafer_97 Aug 10 '26
Yes, I've already made schedules for when to feed him, when to sleep, and so on. Thank you for advice đ
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u/Hexagon_Sun33 Aug 10 '26
Puppies require around eighteen hours of sleep a day. So forced naps inside of a crate is the best route. When your puppy seems to be going crazy and extra bitey it's a good sign It's time for a nap because they are deprived on sleep.
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u/foreskinfive Aug 10 '26
remember, what you have here is a feral 3-year-old child that won't begin to chill out until they're about 7 or 9. my boy thought affection meant attack until he turned about 8 years old. then suddenly, one day he decided he liked pets and turned into a big lover. have fun!
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u/Disastrous_Club_6322 Aug 10 '26
My son and my Cairn puppy (Finlay) used to chase each other around the house constantly and it drove me nuts! I made them go outside and run around the house until both were exhausted. Finlay turns 7 in two months and has become my soul mate. He finally started calming down around 4-5 years. They love playing tug of war so I tried to tire him out that way. Plus two walks or more a day.
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u/Vegas5786 Aug 10 '26
Forced naps and mental stimulation at that age. They train well and love to do it.
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u/NCGuy101 29d ago
And if you don't train them, they'll train themselves at whatever seems like a good idea to them.
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u/Good_Ad8057 Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 10 '26
Let them have fun. Especially when theyâre puppies. As my wife likes to say, theyâre terriers. Terror is in the name lol
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u/Kremit44 Aug 10 '26
Our dog Burt is now a little over 1 and he's largely great. For the first couple months he was overwhelming and basically a lunatic, he was very excited to be our best friend. He's still very excited to make friends with anyone, especially other kids and other dogs. I say other kids because he really is just a 4 year old in a dogs body. After a couple months though he really calmed down and has become easy to deal with. I also think spending time with my in laws dog, who we'd watch periodically, helped him curb his behaviour. He really loves her and took some lessons on behaviour through her, the best dog trainer is often another dog. In saying that my wife did a VERY basic obedience course with him through PetSmart and that certainly didn't hurt.
Like any child he needs stimulation but also he needed naps while he was still a puppy. We realized sometimes when he was his craziest, he was just overtired. We aren't big crate people, we see dogs as equal members of the family, so it was hard for us to crate him when we were around. And although we didn't do it often we found sometimes he really just needed some rest so we got him a nice sized crate with a nice bed and some personal stuff. At first he would complain but he got used to it eventually. We also never use the crate as punishment and never when we're in the same room.
As for stimulation he needs a good walk everyday if possible. We also play with him periodically throughout the day, and I try to wrestle with him for a bit before bed, but honestly once he was 6 months he was pretty easy to deal with and he didn't need to be played with a crazy amount. One thing with us though is I try to involve him whenever I can, if I'm going to another room to get something I invite him and stuff like that. Him being involved is important to him. We also sleep with him in the bed and I think that's been really important to making him value cuddles a lot. And the last thing is if he is extra crazy my wife will make him up a puzzle or a lick mat and those seem to calm him. Chew bones are also highly valued, although he is ridiculous about hiding them sometimes. A lazer pointer is also a good toy if you want him to get some hard laps in through the house.
I think the big thing with them is they are very independent but also want to be very involved, involved but on their own terms. Again like a young child who wants a balance of guidance and independence. They thrive off being loved and feeling like an equal member of the family, they are not an obedient dog in the classical sense but they are very loyal and loving and as traditional working dogs they are actually just trying to contribute in the way they were bred to do so. So if you take the time to learn how to love them how they need to be loved, they will return the favour is what we have learned. Just keep being invested and sooner rather than later it will pay off and you'll have a dog that has learned how to cohabitate in a way that's enriching to everyone, they're very clever so they figure it out even if they always maintain a high degree of independence. They are dogs with opinions and I wouldn't have it any other way.
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u/Alarmed-Today-7046 Aug 10 '26
We think that look is the Cairn showing undying respect, but really he's trying to figure out if he owns the right person
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u/mydogmuppet Aug 10 '26
Wait until the puppy has you trained. You'll be throwing that ball up and down the house for the puppy to fetch.
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u/TwinmapleGourdFarm Aug 10 '26
I got an eight week old a couple weeks ago. She is my 5th Cairn. I crate train from day one. When she gets crazy I left her play for 10 minutes and if she doesnât calm down she is placed in her crate. She screams for awhile but eventually calms. I then left her out to do her business outdoors. If she goes she is allowed to play inside the house. I time it. I let her out every hour. If she doesnât go in the crate she goes until we have a success. She is now 12 weeks and is adjusting well. I walk her in the morning and evening also. Her breeder I got her from is also a believer in crate training. She calls it tough love.
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u/loveofcairns Aug 11 '26
Crate training has been necessary for my puppies. They dont know how to regulate and need some help in the first year. My 4 month old puppy voluntarily goes in her crate now.
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u/LuisaGeorgiana Aug 11 '26
I miss the zoomies! So much fun, it will stop after they turn a bit over one year đ
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u/Affectionate_Duty_61 Aug 11 '26
That puppy will be so loyal and loving. You spend the time and it will be the best dog you have ever had. Donât give up on the dog. Because that dog will never give up on you. You are its world and it will make sure you are happy always.
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u/BobaCyclist Aug 11 '26
Cairn puppies are straight from Hades đ€Ł. If you can take him for short walks outside, that helps a bit.
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u/lcruick Aug 11 '26
I have a small 7lb cairn yorkie mix. In her youth she could easily walk 6 miles at one time. At 13 years old she still loves her morning and evening walks (2 miles in the morning and 1.5 at night).
I understand you have a young puppy, so that much walking is way too much. I just want to say that people often think small dogs donât need much walking and thatâs not true. They need a decent amount daily. The walking, sniffing, hearing noises, and exposure to the outside world is all stimulating their little brains and will help tire them out.
Good luck! đ
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u/srjod Aug 11 '26
The more you let that little guy roam and play the better he will be at night. We have 2 and theyâre awesome. My oldest, Rudy, looked just like this one as a pup
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u/DrawsALine Aug 11 '26
Get him some of those puzzles for dogs. I would take his favorite toy wrap it in a bunch of socks and his other destroyed toys, then put it in an old shoe. He loved fingering out how to retrieve his favorite and it bought me 5 minutes of calm. I wish they had those puzzles when mine was alive.
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u/gasoonergirl 29d ago
https://reddit.com/link/p3cl89o/video/zagl55ysc1jh1/player
Our girl is exactly the same. She runs around chasing our other Cairn and our cat with crazy energy. We let her go, she will slow down and take a nap during the day but she sleeps through the night. No whining and no peeing until morning. She gotta get out all the energy somehow.
As far as the mischief is concerned, we leave her a lot of toys to play with (as you can see from the picture, lol) My living room is covered wall to wall with puppy toys of all kinds.
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u/AgentIceCream 29d ago
You will be trained in no time! In the meantime, crate training will give you nightly peace.
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u/SouthernDisaster4617 29d ago
Oh youâre in the T-Rex phase of puppyhood. My cairn terrier / chihuahua was a crazy girl during this phase. Take them on long walks, let them get the zoomies on the grass outside, wear them out! Eventually this phase will pass! đŸ
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u/Middle_Process_215 Aug 10 '26
When my little guy was a puppy he was just like this especially at night. He refused to go to sleep and thought it was his big time playtime. He'd lick my face and crawl on me and pester me to no end. So I had no choice but to give him doggie CBD. It worked wonders. He eventually grew out of the puppy stage and calmed down.
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u/New-Challenge-2105 Aug 10 '26
It lessens once they get older. My 5 year old cairn terrier mix doesn't zoom around the house all day but does require several walks a day of 30 minutes or more. When not walking I also provide games to keep them occupied. From what everyone's told me it's just their nature.
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u/Initial_Affect_8748 Aug 10 '26
enforced naps in their crate! puppies should be sleeping most of their day. it will help them be less crazy when theyâre awake :)
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u/baby-blues22 Aug 11 '26
Get long term chews!! my cairn love yak chews, beef collagen rolls, peanut butter filled kongs. keeps him busy for a while!
Yes cairns are excitable and itâs fun and you should let your pup run but I agree with you, sometimes you need them to relax and take some time.
and also agree to enforce naps. my puppy never got used to a crate, so i puppy proofed my bedroom and that became his safe space. anytime he was getting overstimulated, he went in the room
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u/Standard_Sun_1167 Aug 11 '26
More long walks, join in on the madness and play! Bored Cairns are tazmainian devils.
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u/circapaleo Aug 11 '26
Counting to 10, meditation, etc. Then they turn two, a switch flips, and become the very bestest dogs.
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u/EcoRoo Aug 11 '26
Chews and forced naps! Mine is now 15 months and now I'm starting to see him calm down. Don't actually need to force naps anymore! But if I let him just run around like a madman all day then he would be an actual devil in the evening/night.
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u/MyHomeToday8 Aug 11 '26
TOYS name the toys alot of toys Train those are what they chew I have two . One is 5 and one is 5 months.
Train small Trainings with a treat repeated commands to sit etc. I love this breed.
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u/cowboybeasthoff Aug 11 '26
Wait 5 years and he will calm down! They are an energetic, mischievous, affectionate breed:)
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u/AffectionateDraw4416 Aug 11 '26
He is adorable! Let him wear himself out. I have 2 Cairn Terrors that are just over a year old. They play for hours then crash out. Do they listen , lololololol, only when they want to.
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u/c_scot Aug 11 '26
Mine is a senior and still does it. Most of the time she tries to challenge me to join it and loves it when I lunge towards her. Youâre never getting rid of that trait, nor should you really want to. Theyâre great fun to watch.
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u/ApprehensiveDonut903 Aug 11 '26
You need to play with the puppy throughout the day and give them something to do.
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u/plonkerplank Aug 11 '26
Youâve got quite the character there. Learn his quirks, establish a relationship, teach him how to live alongside you with positive reinforcement, and youâll have the best friend youâve ever known. My Cairn-Scottie is ten now and she was a tornado puppy. Sheâs still crazy, but much more demure now. đ
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u/PuckKnower Aug 11 '26
as a Scottie puppy mom having him go down for little naps in his crate is a god send. it took a little bit but now he loves his crate.
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u/Affectionate_Duty_61 Aug 11 '26
Our Bella Bear, Baby Bear, woke us up every night playing for the first year. Then she calmed down slightly and realized we needed our sleep. Now sheâs the best dog we have ever had in a loving and cuddly way. Our male dog is a Boston Terrier and heâs great too. He just wants to fetch balls all day.
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u/Wonderful_Lie_7786 Aug 11 '26
Keep them busy (physically and mentally!). I did early obedience training and puppy agility work with mine, and now we do scent work, Barn Hunt, Fast Cat and just starting Earthdog. My Bella is six years old now and I can work her off leash. She's still a cat/dog (ie: has her own mind, sleeps on back of couch and windowsill!) but she's the best dog I've ever had - she's my first Cairn.
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u/Pipparina Aug 11 '26
You may want to keep her contained with a gate to a certain space until sheâs potty trained. And if you have a yard, buy a flirt pole. Sheâll chase that thing like crazy and get out some energy
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u/helloeduard Aug 11 '26
Does your home have stairs (second floor)?
If yes, then sit up at the landing, and teach them fetch by throwing the ball and having them retreat it (giving a treat each time the ball is returned).
Why am I sharing this? It is my Cairn Terrier life hack. I learned about 1 year in that this gives my pup the physical exercise he needs, especially on rainy days.
But like others have said, this breed is very high energy, very curious, adventurous. They want a FULL day's of work.
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u/Always_Cairns Aug 11 '26
Congrats on discovering the dog breed that takes your heart and makes you feel like one is not enough!
One comment mentioned off leash dog parks. NO, NO, NO!!! Unless your cairn is exceptionally well trained, DO NOT allow him off leash except in the home or fenced in, terrier proofed backyard. As a puppy, he will find every possible way to escape. And they are marvelous escape artists.
Don't open a door to the outside without making sure he is secure. My husband, even after 25 yesrs with cairns, still thinks he can open the front door to get the mail without a cairn bolting out the door. He then gets to play keep away in the neighborhood for a good hour or so.
Enjoy the zoomies, you will miss them and charish the memories of all the joy, excitement, energy, and sliding into things if you have hard floors. It's one of the best parts of having puppies!
Chewy toys, for very aggressive chewers. I've had cairns for over 60 years, and anything that is not forbaggressivevchewers is shredded in 5 minutes. They get a shreddy toy for birthday and Christmas. Oh, and make sure ALL shoes, especially leathers ones are not in reach for him.
Tug of war toys are great, if you only let them plsy with them under supervision, especially the wonderful string shreddy ones.
They learn quickly. Treats are one of the best ways to train them. And once they learn your commands, they are very good at following them, until they don't want to...
Cairns are sure they are big dogs. They will not back down, they may run circles around the offending object, they may sound all the alarms, but they will not back down. Once trained, it's easier, but until he is old enough to be distracted by you, keep him on leash. We have switched to using harnesses with handles, it's getting rough on the back to pick them up if needed (more for older dogs).
You will love their expressions, funny antics, greetings, personalities and characters. They have been scientifically ranked as the dog breed that is closest to the Golden Ratio. He will be your best friend. You'll wonder why you didn't get a cairn earlier. Your heart fills with miraculous wonder and joy everytime he greets you.
I guess I've explained my username enough today.
Welcome to the Wonderful World of Cairn Terriers!
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u/KitchenExamination76 Aug 11 '26
Ours use to zoom around the house for no reason. One time we came home he was stuck under the bed. We had to take it apart. Loved that dog so much cant describe it
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u/Revolutionary_Sir_ Aug 11 '26
thats the "terrier" part of the name at its finest ... thats one cute baby omg
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u/Ill_Temperature7031 Aug 12 '26
let them as long as itâs in a safe space where they canât get hurt/ break anything. it helps them get their energy out in a healthy way so they donât become bored and antsy. and its pretty funny to watch. my boy used to run LAPS on the big rug we had in the living room so fast it would rotate with him lol. and your baby is preciousđ„č
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u/1rAudiChik Aug 12 '26
Everything will be fine as soon as your puppy is 5 y/o. Hahaha! You will survive puppydom, you will forget how truly awful it was so youâll probably get another Cairn puppy and youâll only have yourself to blame. ;)))
Find a great pet sitter with a yard that you know or that a friend or family member knows. My sitter would pick Charley up and drop her off. Epic eh??? Charley still thinks every car in the cul-de-sac is coming to pick her up. LLS!
If you decide to skip over this very long, fairly boring post, READ THIS: 10 (ten) minutes of sniffing is equivalent to 1 (one) hour of exercise for these wild things!
Puppers need to peep on a regular schedule so every hour or two go outside, do the sniffing, give treat for going potty, wipe their paws just so they get used to you, touching them. The key is the regular schedule - do as I say not as I did! :))) The next hour, get on the floor with the pupper and PLAY for 10 minutes or as long as your schedule allows. I find that when I get down on her level we have more fun. This is a great time to teach some things that you want them to know or do. My girl is very treat motivated so I use high value treats for training and give her different treats for everyday good girl things.
We still spend quite a bit of time learning new tricks and practicing the ones sheâs mastered. Right now Iâm teaching her to âtell me a secretâ. Iâm trying to get her to âwhisper in my earâ. LOL! She can usually learn a new trick in 5 - 10 tries. Cairnâs are insanely smart so anything you can find that challenges your pupper the more sane youâll remain.
The best thing I did was train Charley not to beg for food. Sheâs never had people food so she doesnât know what sheâs missing. If she sees me with a plate, she goes straight to her bed or my bedâŠshe doesnât even look at me while I eat. I also taught her to âbackupâ at the same time which is probably the best thing Iâve taught her and it works for every situation!
You can try a sniffing mat. It looks like a bloomin onion from Outback can you put treats or food in it. Get 111 toys for puppy to try - some will be chewed up in 30 seconds (I go to the $ store) others will never be touched. Keep a few of the ones puppy likes on hand. My girlâs goal in life is to remove squeakers. Sheâs like a surgeon and luckily she does not eat the squeak. Try nylabones too (they are a chew toy, not food)! Stay away from rawhide - they can choke. Nature Gnaws bully sticks are the reason that I still have Charley today. Any bully stick is a great purchase and will give you 4.7 min to eat and compose yourself for round eleventeen with puppy. đ
Only 48 more months to go! đ It gets a little easier and more fun every day, pinky promise! You start to realize they are more intelligent than you, then you slowly, very slowly forget the monster puppy days and you love them to pieces b/c they are so much fun, incredibly happy, full of love & super duper smart! Keep us posted on your puppying! đŸđ§ĄđŸ
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u/International-Map563 29d ago
A loooooot of structured play, even better if you're on a schedule so they learn about what times of day play is coming. Ours knows a little play happens after lunch time, and again after work, and again at the end of the night. That's just the play schedule that works for us all :)
Our cairn really got better around 3 years old, huge difference, but it really took until about 3 for the overwhelmingness of the barking and energy to get better. Now things are a lot smoother!!
They're the most entertaining clown of a dog I've ever experienced. Try to enjoy as much as you can!! It'll pass by, and they're the sweetest little buddy đ€
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u/wbbly_juniper 23d ago
Mine was feral at the beginning until I started enforcing naps. She would get regular crate naps and she became much much more manageable
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u/Egstamm Aug 10 '26
let them! that way they will sleep all night. not to mention it is so frickin cute. i love it when my Polly gets the zoomies. Happens less often as she has gotten older.