Page 324 - ShowSight - January 2020

THE
CAIRN TERRIER
1. Where do you live?
2. What do you do “outside” of dogs?
3. One movie catapulted this wonderful breed into the record books; he’s recognized worldwide (although he might just be called “Toto” by passersby). In popularity, Cairns are currently ranked #69 out of 192 AKC-recognized breeds. Do you hope this will change or are you comfortable with his placement?
4. Few of these dogs really “work” anymore. Although he’s a tre- mendously hard-working dog with great power and stamina, he’s highly valued as a companion. What qualities in the field also come in handy around the house?
5. Any Terrier requires a special household to be a perfect fit. What about the breed makes him an ideal
companion? Drawbacks?
6. Are there any misconceptions about the breed you’d like to dispel?
7. What special challenges do Cairn Terrier breeders face in our current economic and social climate?
8. At what age do you start to see definite signs of show-worthi- ness (or lack thereof)?
9. What is the most important thing about the breed for a new judge to keep in mind?
10. What’s the best way to attract newcomers to your breed and to the sport?
11. What is your ultimate goal for the breed?
12. What is your favorite dog show memory?
13. Is there anything else you’ d like to share about the breed? Please elaborate.
CATHY BURLESON
I was born in Memphis, Ten- nessee in February, 1959. I have a BS in Nutrition/Dietetics from Abilene Christian University, Abilene, Texas. I’ve been married for 38 years to David Burleson, M.D. Urologist
I have three children: Catie Newell, New York City; Jeni Pre- sley, Arlington, Texas; and Will Burleson, Phoenix, Arizona and three Grandchildren: Liam Presley, Francis and Esther Newell.
I got my first Cairn in 1965 from the Melita Kennel. I hold
Memberships with: 1) Cairn Terrier Club of America: served as Corresponding Secretary for four years; Co-Chaired the 100-Year Celebration of the Cairn Terrier in America, 2017. 2) Foundation of the CTCA: served as Trustee for two years;
3) Jackson Tennessee Dog Fanciers Association: served as Presi- dent and Vice President (currently).
My husband and I live in Jackson, Tennessee, as our primary residence, and we have a home in Nashville, Tennessee where we spend a fair amount of time. Dogs included.
Outside of dogs, my husband, David, and I enjoy traveling to see our grandchildren in New York and Texas. I also stay busy assisting my aging parents here at home in Jackson, volunteering in church activities particularly working with a non-profit, Scarlet Rope
Project, that helps women escape the sex-trade. And we have gone on medical mission trips once a year to Haiti for the past eight years until this past year when the political chaos there prevented us from going. But, we have a new activity: we’ve taken up ballroom danc- ing. Something to keep us moving.
Do I hope the breed’s popularity will change or am I comfort- able with the placement? Toto is the most recognized Cairn Terrier in the United States, but not so much worldwide. We do refer to “Toto” when describing our breed to those who ask about our dogs. However, when I’ve traveled to parts of Europe where the Cairn is very popular (Scandinavian countries in particular), they usually do not recognize the name “Toto”. Because of the love so many in the United States have for Toto and what great things her fame in movies has done for this breed, many expect to have a Toto-in- appearance kind-of Cairn.
Many forget that the Cairn is a breed that originated in Scotland as a working terrier to scurry out the vermin from manmade piles of rocks or “cairns”. It is a working breed that works well in packs. What’s worth noting is that Cairns in the Scandinavian countries live this way. They run in packs, many times off-lead (which we do not recommend doing here). They often times run in packs of four or more, multiple males and multiple bitches, all working together because of their exceptional temperaments.
These Scandinavian Cairns are known for having profuse coats due to their colder climates. The breeders in these countries gen- erally outcross more. Their coefficient of inbreeding percentages are fairly low in comparison. Their Cairns are generally thought to be larger than the USA Cairn as they follow the country of origin standard/ UK standard. (The USA is the only country in the world that doesn’t follow the country of origin standard for the Cairn). Because they are larger Cairns, they generally have beautiful larger teeth which is important to the function of the Cairn.
Regarding Cairn popularity in this country—my focus is on quality and not quantity, so I would have to say—let’s keep the demand at a comfortable level and within a controlled environ- ment. I strongly feel that the public and the breed is best served when a Cairn comes from a breeder who is most obligated/required to breed with concern for the highest quality, temperament and health; e.g. a breeder who is a member of the Cairn Terrier Club of America. It seems that when a breed receives too much attention, they become bred for the money by hobby breeders and “designer dog” breeders. Those of us who devote ourselves to preserving the highest quality Cairns are adamant about who should be breeding and who should not be breeding.
As I mentioned earlier, the Cairn is a very popular breed in the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and in the Netherlands, at least this is where I have visited or from where I have imported Cairns. In my estimation the breeders there have done an excellent job on the whole of producing highly consistent, high-quality Cairns. This is certainly in terms of conformation and coat quality, but more than that, for me, I’ve seen it in temperament and overall athleticism.
We have seen, over the past 20 years or so, an improvement in the quality of Cairns in the United States partly because of the influence of these exceptional, imported Cairns. Not only is the temperament exceptional, but their overall athleticism, or as we refer to in our standard: “moves freely and easily,” is so notable that one can get chill-bumps watching them move. Even on the CTCA
316 • ShowSight Magazine, January 2020