16 replies to this topic

[aaartnaz]

i have a 2 year old male cairn mix and for a year or so i've been wanting to get another dog. i'd like to get a bigger dog. the reasons are that my cairn mix liked playing with big dogs (and they're so cute when they play!), i'd like a big dog because i've liked how lovable big dogs are, and also to be a guard dog. it doesn't matter what breed really as long as she's a larger dog, doesn't need a huge huge yard (i live in a average size house), can be happy with moderate 30 to 40 min daily walks (i'd probably do 20 morning and 20 evening), and of course the most important, get along with small dogs like a cairn. does anybody who already has this combination have any advice? like how to socialize a new puppy with your cairn? can they get along great? i've already determined it'd be best to get a female when i already have a male. if anybody has these breeds, i was interested in these but like i said before, i'd be open to any bigger breed: mastiff, gsd, golden retriever, labrador retriever. my cairn mix is pretty well socialized. any helpful answers would be appreciated.

[Holly&me]

We have a member on UK Forum who has Great Danes and three Cairn pups [varying ages] and they seem to get on fine [the Cairn pups walk over them or use them as beds!]. My friend has an Irish Terrier which I know is not a large dog but is certainly bigger than Holly and I have cared for her at my house on the odd occasion and Holly does not seem to worry about been walked over or her toys been played with.

[Islander]

Gus & Sasha don't live together, but they have been walking & hiking buddies since Gus was 4 months old. We go out together about 5 days a week. Sasha is a very dominant dog, but lets Gus jump all over her, eat out of her dish, etc. When he was a puppy she would sometimes intervene if his play with another dog was getting too rambunctious. Their relationship is wonderful to observe.

I don't think size is an issue with these guys!

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[Lynn in TN]

Out of all the big dogs Kelly (my Cairn) and I have been around it seems mine and her favorites are the same Labs and Golden Retriever. Both are extremely lovable and seem to get along with every dog they are around. Kelly so far has got along with every dog I have had her around, I don't know if it would be different if I brought one home though.

[Ivysmom]

Besides my cairn, Ivy, we also have a golden retriever. They get along fabulously. My last cairn got along just as well my golden. They are the best of friends and they play great together. Actually, Ivy, my cairn, plays much rougher than the golden. Sometimes, I have to get after her to calm down. You should have no worries with a big dog around your cairn. They truly are big dogs in a little dogs body...

[bradl]

Not ours, but "Munch" lives with a Leonberger.

[Idaho Cairns]

My daughter has always had a large dog/Cairn combination. Here are Pixie, a Pyrenees/Golden Retriever mix and Zoey. They get along famously as do my Cairns with the larger dog. Always remember that Cairns NEVER consider themselves to be small dogs and rarely exhibit small dog defensive behaviors with larger dogs.

Edited by Idaho Cairns, 15 January 2012 - 02:55 PM.

[Dempsy's Mom]

Love you guys pics. Posting the old video of Demps and Dig.

[Meggie]

Hub is actually afraid of Goldens because one attacked him out of nowhere! Odd for a Golden, huh?

His best dog friend is a pit bull and he loves my niece and nephew's big goofy black lab...but generally he seems to prefer mutts over purebreds at the dog park (huskies, boxers, dobermans...he is not a fan). I think some of the various purebred traits are too intense for him and his, too intense for them

I think it's more a temperament compatibility than a breed compatibility. Take your cairn with you and see what he likes!

[Ivysmom]

That is odd for a golden. Mason, my golden, is so gentle. When Ivy is in her attack mode chasing the squirrels, Mason heads for the door. He wants nothing to do with her then. Last summer, Ivy caught a bird. As I was trying to get Ivy to put it down before she hurt or killed it, Mason took off. I found him around the side of the house in the car (the door was left open) and he was very upset. They really are quite a pair.

[lindasue]

We also only have Pegi (plus 2 cats) but her best buddies are a 60 point blue pointer mix that we walk with daily, and an 80 lb. golden. Pegi LOVES big dogs, but is always the alfa dog with them. The golden is about a year younger than she is, and when they met they were about the same size. Pegi constantly knocks her down so she can jump all over her. And if the pointer ignors her she will give her a nip on the leg to get her attention.

I think our cairns think they are big dogs anyway.

[tlwtheq]

I can tell you that the Akita we pet sit on a regular basis loves my three pups
and vice versa. And guess what...the Akita's not the boss!

[SARpartner]

I have a 120lb mix that the Cairns wrestle with. Everyone lives inside and the biggest problem I've had is reminding them not to knock over furniture.

[Holly&me]

Cairns and Great Dane
http://s1.directuplo...13/6z67v9zz.jpg

http://s1.directuplo...13/ih3vekq5.jpg

Edited by Holly&me, 17 January 2012 - 07:04 AM.

[LARHAGE]

I have German Shepherds and Cairns and they do great, my young male Shepherd prefers the Cairn to the other Shepherds because the two of them are nuts!! They chase each other and wrestle and play tug, it's hilarious when the Shepherd picks up the tug and carries the Cairn away, those two are hilarious together.