The following is the opinion of the writer only. Different breeders may have different views as to what they feel is the difference between a show dog and a pet.

One of the most often asked questions to breeders is "What is the difference between a Show Cairn and a Pet Cairn. We will try and answer that question here and hopefully dispel some myths and misconceptions as we go.

When we first got started breeding Cairns a well known Cairn Breeder for over 40 years told us that for every 100 puppies produced 10 will be show worthy 2 will be exceptional and 1 will be a BEST IN SHOW WINNER. Exceptional pet homes still have to be found for the 90 puppies that are not show worthy. This is how we tell the difference.

A show Cairn and a Pet Cairn are different only in the eyes of the breeder very early (first few weeks) in the puppies life. The breeder may feel that the puppy has a tail that is a little to long, too short, not placed high enough on the pups back. This is a value judgment and a guess that the puppy will continue to develop in the same manner. The tail is too long or too short compared to the Breed Standard.

A breeder with a good eye can pick out the show pups VERY early in their development. Others cannot and must wait until the puppies get older where physical signs are easier to pick out.

If we look at the standard concerning the Cairns Head possible faults that would exclude the puppy from the show ring would be a skull that was too narrow, or missing a definite stop (the little bump at the top of the skull). The Muzzle being too long or narrow would be a less than desirable trait for the show puppy. Teeth that are overshot or undershot are definite faults that would exclude the puppy from being shown. Eyes that are too narrow or too light in color are also faults as are Ears that are not set far enough on the head.

The Tail must be in proportion to the head and must be carried gaily but must not curl over the back. This is a difficult trait to judge at an early age because of the fact that some dogs when they get excited tend to curl their tail over their back. There are different schools of thought as to whether this is a gay tail or not. In the ring we have seen judges award and penalize both types.

The Body must be well muscled and strong with a medium length level back. Most times a dog is not shown because it has a back or top line that is not level. This is a major problem for a lot of breeders. Shoulders, Legs and Feet and one of the most difficult areas to predict on a young dog. The legs should be of medium length but not too heavy boned. The front legs should be perfectly straight but can slightly turn out at the elbows and feet. The front feet should be larger than the hind feet and the pads must be thick with the dog standing well up on it's pads. As most puppies do not grow at an even rate this again can pose a problem for the breeder in their assessment of the pup. Coat must be hard and weather-resistant. Most breeders can judge coat early in a puppies life

If you notice health has not been mentioned. That is because a show dog and a pet coming from the same litter should show no differences in health. They will carry the same genetics whether they are shown or just pets. All our puppies are guaranteed healthy whether they are sold as pets or show dogs.

There is a difference in the selling price of show puppies only due to the fact that most breeders keep a show puppy until it is 6 months of age. This insures the second set of teeth come in straight. Keeping the show puppy until 6 months involves extra upkeep and also extra training so when the puppy leaves the breeder it should be ready for the ring.