| From: |
Message: |
Lois Grigsby
 
March 30 at 00:41
|
Westie & Cairn Together?
I adopted a Westie 2 and 1/2 years ago and he is named Max. We just love him! I want to adopt a Cairn Terrier that I fell in love with on Petfinders.com Does anyone have any experience with the two kinds living together and whether they would be friendly playmates? Max gets along with all dogs including my daughters 2 dogs that visit occasionally for a few hours. He has stayed with them once when I had to go out of town overnite and did fine. They are family! Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks, Lois
|
 |
Diana
 
March 30 at 02:07
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
My parents have a Westie boy, a female Border Collie and a female GSH Pointer X and they all get on fine. Good luck.
|
|
Corinne
March 30 at 08:09
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
I have had cairns for 30 yrs.. and last year when Westie Rescue called for a forever home for a 13 yr old dog that bit a baby.. I answered... and brought Frankie the Westie into the mix with a Male and Female cairn (Duncan and Edy). Duncan (my 8 yr old cairn) is a strong alpha, but Frankie is not. They get along famously. Edy is 3 now (and Frankie 14) and he still sucks his tummy in to flirt with her.. It is so cute.
I also foster cairns, and have had 3 different ones (Jeannie, Willie and Sedona) go thru here (ok, Sedona is still here) and Frankie has gotten on well with all of them.
He has found his niche.. it is telling mama what to do.. He announces its time to go out, be fed, get cuddles.. We love him as much as if he'd been a puppy here.
My personal belief is that it is up to YOU to make sure they get along.. yes you will have tifs.. but you need to keep a firm hand on them all when they first come in.. the one who starts the fight, gets crated and told how bad he is (who do you think you are.. this is MY home and I dont ABIDE FIGHTING... you get the pic) You also need to know the alpha tendencies of your dogs so you pick one who WILL fit in.
The only other advice would be GET A GIRL... mixed sexes generally dont fight.
have fun - oh, and consider rescue! (this is a pic of my Duncan in his Coins for Cairns pic)
corinne
Col Potter Cairn Rescue Network
|
|
Lois
March 30 at 21:11
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
Thanks for your reply. My Max is a neutered Male in Florida and the Cairn is in Kansas and is an almost all black female. It sounds like I should ask if she is an alpha female. Max still has a problem with going pee when he greets me or if I catch him off guard. I wouldn't want him to be submissive all of the time to another dog causing him to urinate all the time.
|
|
Lynda and the Minkies
 
March 31 at 08:36
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
Sparky's my first dog and yet Rio turned out to be the boss but Sparky's always been quite happy to let her. They're both females.
XXX.
|
|
Lynda and the Minkies
March 30 at 09:51
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
Sounds like they should be fine. Are they both neutered ?
XXX.
|
|
Denise
March 30 at 12:53
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
I have a 11 month Westie and a 8 month Cairn.. I asked the same question before I got the Cairn.. They have been great together.. The wrestle around alot but they do love each other now... The westie was not happy at first because she was the boss of the house and she can still get alittle possessive but all in all they get along great. we have had them together 1 month
|
|
Kayla and Annie's Mom
March 30 at 15:48
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
I have Kayla, a 4 year old Cairn and Annie, a 4 1/2 old Westie. Kayla was here as a puppy and I adopted Annie last year. I was her foster Mom and just fell in love with her. Most of the time they get along with each other, but each has a "possessive" button. With Kayla it's food and the neighbors cat. With Annie, it's my attention. So if either tries to intrude in those "territories" it can be a growl, snap fest. But, the rest of the time they get along well. And, they are both good when I have another foster in the house as long as she/he learns their rank in the pecking order. It's funny, but each one has an "alpha" area that is different.
So it really depends on the dog and on how you handle the situations as they come up or it they come up. Since you have a male, I'd try a female as two males may fight for dominance. Not always, but sometimes an Cairns are mostly alpha personalities. Of course, the female will rule the house in no time.
Keep us posted. And, go adoption!!!
Mary Ann
|
|
Gail
March 31 at 00:37
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
I've had Cairns and Westies for over 30 years. We had two males, a Cairn and a Westie, that were together for 17 years.
They got along so good and never had any problems.
|
|
Diana
March 31 at 03:54
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
I tend to agree with the idea of a male/female scenario. We've always done this and had no problems, I went against this and have 2 female Westies and while they don't bite one another they sure are snappy. My Vet strongly believes in the male/female idea too.
|
|
Debi
March 31 at 03:57
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
I have a westie and foster for Col Potter and Buddy loves it when the new ones come here. Can you take Max with you to meet the new dog before you adopt it?
|
|
Lois
March 31 at 11:35
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
Although that is a great idea. I don't see how that can happen because this dog is in Kansas and we are in Central Florida. I wish we could do that though.
|
|
Mac'N'Me
 
March 31 at 18:33
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
Well, I have a Westie (the first dog), 2 cairns, a fox terrier, a mini schnauzer, and an Irish Wolfhound mix. THey all get along, but in some cases, because I insist. THe littles would like to attack the poor big dog. The schnauzer used to think he should be boss. The cairns will NOT share food. Etc, etc, etc.
Ann and the CA 6-pack
|
|
Debi
April 01 at 02:19
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
What are you talking about Ann? They were all perfect angels when you were here.
|
|
Lynda and the Minkies
April 01 at 07:08
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
Wow, did they all visit ? Ann must have some vehicle !!!
XXX.
|
|
Lois
April 02 at 03:36
|
Re: Westie & Cairn Together?
Thanks so much for your expert advice. I have decided after much thought that I should seek a more local adoption so that my Westie Max can first meet our next adoptive pet.
|
|
Terrier Club Rescue Forum
