What breed would go well with a Cairn? Fantasy dog family long-term plan

[Orlandsundry]

Hi everyone, I am doing some fantasy dog planning for a time in my life where I can have two dogs. My first love breed are Cairns, and have had two of them in my life. Ideally out of my two fantasy dogs one would be a puppy and the other would be a rescue, I don't really mind which. Is it more sensible to get a puppy first and then a rescue or vice versa. So I'm interested to know which breeds you think would work well with a cairn? I have a real hankering for a whippet, but not sure if that would work? Just to reiterate that this is pure fantasy for the time being, but I do love to get my tastes ready.

Glen of Imaal terrier would be a great match with a Cairn

My dream dog family is a wheaten cairn, westie & Scottish terrier....although that’s probably a recipe for craziness!

Well we've had a Rottweiler, westie, German shepherd and Springer spaniel with a cairn. All have got on well!

When DH isn't looking I may add a Kerry Blue terrier to our pack

I have a 9 year old carin and a 7 year old German shepherd. Believe it or not they get on like a house on fire. They hate to be separated I.e if carin goes to groomers.
Love cairns. Great independent little dog.

Me! Scottie - I’m the bestest

I've got a Rottie and a cairnish. Cairn is in charge, they get along great but my little dog is in charge, sometimes I have to chaperone him if she is guarding a bone or something. She is feisty!

The are gorgeous dogs aren't they Do you think a whippet would like life with a Cairn? Would you get a rescue dog first and then a puppy, or vice versa? I like those Glen of Imaal Terriers but they're very rare aren't they? I can't work out what size they are compared to a Cairn...
Maybe a whippet/terrier cross lurcher?
Thanks for humouring me everyone :D

Although dogs of all breeds can happily mix and live together, they tend to get on best with like minded dogs. So for example spaniels tend to be best with other spaniels whereas other dogs can find them too happy go lucky, in your face, springy balls of excitement. A collie will be better with another herding type dog as they will have the same style play herding that other dogs tend not to like much. A sighthound will generally play best with a sighthound, etc.

Obviously there are plenty of dogs in multiple dog type households that get along perfectly well (even being best buds) despite being different types but in general same types of dogs will naturally get on better.

So in your case I'd either go for another terrier or lurcher with terrier as part of its cross.

Mini Schnauzer, lovely personalities and get on with most dogs, mine loves everyone!

@justdontevenfuckingstart I heard our Rottweiler whining in the garden, because the westie and cairn were blocking his path and holding him hostage in the garden 😂

Whippet x bedlingotn terriers are popular and i can see why, they do look amazing.

Tibetan Terrier!

@SwimmingInTheBlueLagoon I thought that that would be the case. When my last Cairn was a puppy she used to spend at lot of time at the office with a Weimaraner pup of about the same age. They never really understood each other or enjoyed each other's company.

I was hoping for a second dog that might cut down on the chances of too much yapping.

Thanks everyone - loving all the pictures [soppy_grin]

I was hoping for a second dog that might cut down on the chances of too much yapping.

In my experience, it's the opposite way. Dog 1 barks lots more now there is a second dog (still not masses but 2-3x more than before). Also if one dog barks it sets the other off. Mine are both spaniels.

A whippety lurcher could be a great fit for you, and there are always lots of lurchers including puppies in rescue. EGLR is one such rescue for when you are ready

Have just spent a rather pleasant evening looking at whippet crosses on dogsblog.com.

I have an almost Cairn and a JRT! They're actually great together, the Cairn is so smart, she helped us train the Jack Russell when he was a puppy. She also stops him from doing anything too batshit. Although she also trained him to jump on the worktop and throw stuff down to her

Aww what a gorgeous pair! I love terriers