The Cairn Terrier is one of the oldest terriers, originating in the Scottish Highlands and recognized as one of Scotland's earliest working dogs, used for hunting burrowing prey among the cairns. The Cairn Terrier has a harsh, weather-resistant outer coat that can be cream, wheaten, red, sandy, gray, or brindled in any of these colors. Cairn Terriers are intelligent, strong, and loyal. Like most terriers, they are stubborn and strong-willed, and love to dig after real or imagined prey. Cairn Terriers have a strong prey instinct and will need comprehensive training. However, they are highly intelligent and, although very willful, can be trained. They are excellent with children and make wonderful family dogs.

The first Cairns spent their days scouring the fields for the badgers, fox and rats that stole grain and livestock from the Highland farms. The Cairn was one of a number of terriers that populated the Scottish Highlands, probably from as early as the 16th century.

Much of the known early history of the Cairn Terrier centers on the Isle of Skye. It appears that certain families favored certain colors for their Cairns. All of Scotland's terriers were grouped together as Scotch Terriers until 1873, when they were separated into two classifications - Dandie Dinmont Terriers and Skye Terriers. The Skye Terrier class included the breeds now known as the Scottish Terrier, the West Highland White Terrier and the Cairn Terrier. The three were often found in the same litter and distinguised only by color.

Cairns were orininally called short-haired Sykes. To avoid confusion with Skye Terriers, the named was chaned to Cairn Terrier of Skye. Cairns were piles of stones which served as the landmarks or memorials. Common throughout much os Scotland, cairns were frequent hiding places for the small mammals hunted by terriers. The shortened name of Cairn Terrier was agreed upon in 1912.

The breed made its official debut in America in 1913. In 1917 the Cairn Terrier Club of America was granted membership in to the American Kennel Club.

Cairn Terriers are intelligent, strong and loyal. Like most erriers, they are stubborn and strong-willed, and love to dig after real or imagined prey. These are working dogs and are still used as such in parts of Scotland. Come Cairn Terriers are very independent and do not make good "lap dogs". The image of Cairn Terriers being like "Toto" from the Wizard of Oz is a prtial misconception. In reality, these dogs do not always like to snuggle and would heartily object being kept in a basket.