We decided to do an article in February on why we love our cairns. We know there are more reasons than there are cairns.. and that it's so much fun to share these reasons.

If you want to participate, please send in 3 or 4 reasons WHY YOU LOVE CAIRNS or WHAT MAKES YOU LOVE YOUR CAIRN or WHY YOU LOVE YOUR FOSTERS. We will compile them, (and may edit for size, spelling etc as well) into one big fun story. Please understand that sending us a note on this, is giving us permission to use your statements both on a Celebration Web Page, and on other media used for fundraising.

Click here for an E-Mail Link to submit your reasons! Please add your name to the subject line so we can recognize new entries. We will accept new entries all of February. Thanks!

Pictures on this page are of Heart Blocks created by CPCRN Quilters or Hand Crafted Cards by CPCRN Crafters - you can find who made them by hovering your mouse over each heart. You can see all our Healing Heart and Treasured Hearts quilts by clicking here.

• I love the way Cassie dances when you ask her if she wants to go outside.
• I love the way she cuddles up to my husband and turns him into mush.
• I love watching her explore and become the big game hunter while on her walks.
• I love the way she tosses her toys in the air and pounces on them when they hit the floor.

I love my Cairns because they make my life complete. They cheer me up when I'm down, and make me laugh all the time. Beamer is the alpha with the velvet glove, and Toddy and Charlie know what's good for them, unless they tow the line. I wake up with Charlie next to me under the covers, on my pillow, and when I open my eyes, he puts his paws on my shoulder and presses his head against my cheek. Toddy saved Beamer's life when her buddy, Weaver, died, and now that Charlie's here, Toddy's become "alpha junior", and loves nothing more than rolling Charlie on his back, straddling him, and chewing on his neck---and he wags his tail. Beamer snuggles in, and rolls on her back for a skritchie. They all get along so well, and people tell me how lucky I am for them to have no problems with each other. I'm so lucky to have my furry babies.

• I love that Bowie has 2 speeds - full steam ahead & OFF
• I love that he will keep an eye on the squirrels in the yard for hours, until he takes a nap from sheer exhaustion
• I love that he treats Miss Aislinn our 14 yr old Westie with respect, and allows her to step on him to get to her special pillow
• I love that he likes to climb back into bed after morning potties for a little more shut eye - don't we all wish we could do that?
• I love how he leans his head all the way back to howl when I get home from work

• I love the fact that you can see their heart and soul through their eyes.
• I love the way THEY love . . . often on their own terms at the moment.
• I love the fact that they keep us on our toes . . . VERY INTELLIGENT KIDS!
• I love their great personalities . . . they make you laugh every day.
• I love the fact that they are SO predictably UNPREDICTABLE!
• I love their big dog tuff persona . . . we know differently.
• I love that George and I BOTH had Cairns prior to meeting, we were destined.
• I love ALL of our rescue Cairns as an extended family loved by others as well.

I love their courage and loyality, and I love their "not give up and give in attitude." When we go the nursing home and there are other dogs there, I love how they walk in with the air that "OK, we're here...everyone else may leave now."

• I love the way she snorts when she's ticked about something.
• I love the way she has to be in the same room I'm in, all the while acting like it's no big deal.
• I love the way she stretches - her lips open a little and she has this cute little "chipmunk" smile.
• I love the way she sometimes runs in the yard - tail up and unafraid.
• I love the way she pretends to be so tough.

• I love the way he sits on my lap with his head under my chin.
• I love the way he prances when he walks.
• I love the way he sneaks up on the bed.
• I love the way he hides his food bowl when he's done eating.
• I love the way he loves me.

Midori is a very special little puppymill girl rescued by Colonel Potter, who graced me with her presence in the fall of 2004. Every day I have with her is a joy, and I am so glad her picture jumped off the page at me from the Faces Of Rescue section of the website. Although she is still very skittish, and frightened of things she isn't familiar with, she has come such a long way.

She is my best friend - every morning, as soon as Midori realizes it is time to wake up, she makes sure she covers my face with kisses, and then flops over on her back for belly scritches, tail wagging furiously. She loves for me to talk to her, and will call to me from her crate when I come home from work each day. She will moan and groan, and grumble, telling me how hard her day was while I was away.....

She is my companion - she loves to go shopping with me, and turns heads everywhere we go when people realize that the big bag I am carrying isn't my purse, it's my dog! She has become quite the seasoned traveler, going hiking, boating, and on road trips. She gamely goes along with every adventure....

She is my teacher - she has taught me about the horrors of puppymills, about bravery, about forgiveness, but most of all, about the ability to trust. If only I could be more like her.....

She is my protector - whenever there is a thunderstorm at night, she pulls the blankets over my head, and "buries" me with her nose, thinking she needs to keep me warm and dry. She must have been a wonderful mother to her babies in the mill.....

She is my comfort - After a long day at work, feeling like I've taken care of everyone except myself, it's not too long after I crawl into bed that I feel the weight of a sweet little cairn head draped over my shoulder, with her body snuggled into me - just waiting for the next day to start so she can wake me up by covering my face with kisses, her tail wagging furiously........

Sonnet came to us in May of 2005. She was a very shy and skittish little girl who needed much encouragement, love and support. She had been in an excellent foster home near us and she was off to a good start. However, that look of bewilderment on her face those first few days was so heartbreaking and even the most innocent sounds, such as the clink of a spoon in a coffee mug, sent her skittering for cover under the computer desk. Things were starting to improve until that horrible day I dropped her lead and she took off into the woods behind our home for 44 terrible hours. But we learned she loved car rides, gentle brushing and lots of scritches. She started coming on her own into an area to see what might be going on, but she still kept a cautionary distance. Then in October we adopted a brother for her. His outgoing and confident personality began to draw her out. She treasures her toys, likes treats more and more, and shows us she can bark and wag her tail!

Every morning Sonnet gets her breakfast and then wants to go immediately back to the bedroom because it is "time to make the bed!" Up she goes, spinning around on the blankets, grabbing her favorite squeaky toys and making playful growls with her butt up and her paws dancing. Back and forth she goes until everything is pulled up, smoothed over and the pillows are put in place. Only then does she leave, but not to hide. She wants to know where Shammy is and then they have a companionable time in the same room with their persons.

Sonnet is our little princess. She has a gentle quiet demeanor that is very endearing. Her soft brown eyes are showing more love and trust than fear and puzzlement. She is confident she is at last in her forever home and I feel so blessed to have her.

What is cute as a button,
Smart as a whip,
Has snaggly teeth, droopy ears,
Can be used as a secret weapon in gas warfare,
And is absolutely perfect anyway?

Well, you can guess but we get to keep the prize! It is Maisie A fka: Pinata

1. He doesn't know he's small(er) than some dogs.
2. He doesn't know he's supposed to be handicapped. Foot what foot is missing?
3. He has a zest for life - shoots out the door to the back yard like a bullet, barking all the way!
4. I love the talking he does while rolling around on his back. People on the phone ask me who is making that noise!
5. He is dyslexic, always aiming away from the chosen "target"!!!!

First came Ginger, she was my first and it took so very long for her to get past the abuse of the past. She is my golden girl now.

Lord Stanley, my little boy with a coat of many colors, he is a momma’s boy through and through, he is never far from my side.

Ollie is my teddy bear, he is a mill dog and still has some issues but none that we cannot get past (with the help of a stylish wardrobe of belly bands). He is quick with a kiss and his favorite spot is either under my desk or playing on the bed with me.

Lady Byng is new to the herd but is such a little gray ball of fire. She has learned her place in the pack and constantly looks for reassurance that she is being a good girl.

And then we come to Annie, she is technically my mothers little girl but she is mine too. She is our senior citizen at 14 and is given much respect by the other four. Her dark eyes dance with life and she has a whole vocabulary of sounds to let you know exactly what she wants.

Yes, there are five but each one is so different from the other, but they all have one thing in common, they are loved so very much and I know they love me back.

I love my cairns for Joy In The Morning. Yes, that's right. I've always been one to take my problems to bed with me. Often before my feet hit the floor in the morning I was already depressed. I haven't felt that way in a very long time. Not since Skeeter came into my life. He has so positively charged each morning with joy, that it has washed over my whole being. He is so thrilled when I start to stir in the morning. He virtually dances in front of me. He can hardly wait to start our morning routine. I rub both of his sides briskly, while saying in the happiest, silly voice I can muster "Good morning! Good morning! Good Morning! It's such a good morning since Sketer came to lib with Mudder!" Then he falls over for that all important belly rub. By then Cindy has jumped in for her turn. She passes up the brisk side rubs and immediately falls on her side waiting for her belly rub. I once again go through the same "Good morning! Good morning! Good morning! It's such a good morning since Cinny came to lib with Mudder!" Then they both jump up and burst into a happy run around my feet. That kind of joy is contagious. Heck, even my coffee tastes better.

I fostered, then adopted Carrington almost a year ago. Every day we share is a gift.

One thing I love is the way this 11 year-old, 15 pound ball of fire even relaxes with energy! When he chills out, he doesn't merely lie down. I don't know how he does it, but he seems to shoot his legs straight out & plops to the floor with a loud, startling, thud! It's hilarious when unsuspecting visitors are present: conversation comes to a halt, heads spin around, then comes the inevitable... "What the H___ was that!

I love his emotional & spiritual power. With his unshakeable perseverance, I believe Carrington could turn the sky around, if he wanted to.

There is a sticker that says "Cairns are like potato chips, you can't have just one". Well this must be true because over the last 3 years, I have gone from one to four!

Each one brings something special to the mix and adds their own touch of love. As a breed, I love their spunkiness, their tenacity and their ability to be such a clown and make me laugh every day, at least once and many times more.

Lucy was first, is the only female and rules these boys with just a look. I love her loving ways, her energy and her curiosity.

Rocky was number 3 and is my Velcro dog. If I sit down anywhere (and I mean anywhere), he is in my lap giving me loves. He is truly a lover, not a fighter and has been a great mentor to all my fosters. He gets introduced first to them as he just loves them all and makes them feel right at home. He will draw out the shy ones and play with the playful ones.

Salty, who was almost 12 when I adopted him from a shelter. He had many issues and I have loved watching him recover and be the Cairn that he was always meant to be. He wanders around much of the day with a toy in his mouth, which always brings a smile to my face.

My house is never quiet, never without toys all over the floor, decorated with dog beds and crates and I would not have it any other way.

We love them because they are so like us.

On the outside they appear tough and stoic yet on the inside they are soft and vulnerable. They give you everything. They are wise beyond their realm and accepting to a fault. When a non-Cairn comes into the “pack”, they train them and help them along their road to forever. They are the best little pal in the whole wide world. We will NEVER EVER be without Cairns. They are ever-giving and ever-loving, our Cairns. But mostly we love them because they put back everything that was ever taken out of us. One nuzzle, one lick, one paw on your arm…it’s all “put back”…your heart and soul are full again.

We’ve NEVER met a Cairn we didn’t like.

Cairns are gifted smile makers. A smile comes to the face of everyone who looks at my cairns. It does not matter if the person is well away in distance such as walking across a parking lot or passing us in a car; we can be in the park, strolling down the street, or standing right next to them in line at the pet store, Cairns make people smile. Oddly enough even people who are not dog fans will smile for Cairns.But what is most interesting is that even if the Cairn is not there, once people know what you are talking about they smile.

"What kind of dog do you have?"
me-"A Cairn Terrier."
*confused look*
me- "You know, like Toto on the Wizard of Oz..."
*Big smile* "OH!"

Now I have owned many dogs, but have never gotten a smile as a consistent response to my other dogs. It is not just recognizing the breed and knowing what you are referring to, for even English Bulldogs did not bring a smile to faces like that, ("You know, the Marine Corps mascot...") and bulldogs are funny! That is because I am convinced Cairns have a special gift of making people smile. I know my Cairns make me smile each and every day. How can you not love a smile maker?

Another reason I love Cairns. Can't you just envision them trailing around behind a burly Scotsman as he goes about his work, tackling vermin when needed and heading to the pub with his master at the end of the day? Those bright, intelligent eyes keeping an eye out for mischief or work and that head cocked as (s)he's talked to, always there, always ready. Not a fancy dog, just a good sensible dog, like a good sensible Scot would appreciate. Don't you just know that's why they are "the best little buddy in the world."?

Why do I love my Cairns? Hmmmmmmmmmm-maybe because they love me, and they love each other. They don't seem to mind if I look like the Wreck of the Hesperus, or like I'm going to a nice event. They let me sleep, after first waking me up to open the dog door, and when I wake for good, and open my eyes, there's Charlie's head on my pillow, looking at me. Then, he puts his paws on my shoulder, and presses his head against my cheek and makes little noises. Toddy runs across the bed, throws herself alongside me, and rolls over for a bellyrub. Beamer comes up quick, and proceeds to kiss my face all over, and then rolls for a rub, too.

When I go out, it doesn't matter if I've just put something in the garbage, or are gone for weeks-I get the same welcome back! If we're going somewhere in the van, whether it's to the vet, or to Auntie Pat's for grooming, or to a parade or Cairn club event, they can hardly control themselves!

If I don't feel good, they let me stay in bed as long as I want, and don't fuss for breakfast, but when I get up, such a cacophony I hear-"Food! Food! Quick! I'm STARVING!" They seem to know when I'm down, and come to hug me, and look at me with such sad eyes, that I know they know.

My Weaver, who crossed the Bridge 2 years ago, was one of those dogs that friends each said "He likes me best. I'm his best friend." And, that was true-whoever he was sitting next to WAS his best friend! And, he loved Beamer best, and she him, and when he died suddenly, she was lost (as I was), and she stopped eating and playing, and just mourned him, until I brought Toddy in the house. I took off her leash, and put her on the floor, and she went right to Beamer, and they ran out the door together. When Ouija died, Toddy, who was a buddy, and got him to play, for the first time since he was a puppy, because philosophical, and mourned him quietly.

When Charlie joined the family, Toddy became "Alpha 2," and a new persona started showing-she'd roll him, straddle him, and chew on his head, and he'd wag his tail. I could almost hear him giggle:-)

Who do I love my Cairns? Because they love me, and each other.

I love my two cairn boys!

• He's a GREAT snuggler and loves to sleep with his head resting on your leg or arm
• He's very funny and makes me laugh every day with his antics
• He's got the cutest darn face that you can't be mad at him even when he's really, really bad
• He loves everyone -- male or female, big or little and whether they like him or not!

• He LOVES to walk -- he would go for a walk 200 times a day if you offered
• He "arrrooooo's" when I come home from work each day -- and also at a full moon!
• He has a very funny tail wag that goes around in circles
• He's got big, beautiful, soulful eyes that just melt your heart

The last time I had been owned by a Cairn was when I was a very young girl. I knew I had loved her...but I couldn't remember what had made her so special to me. Except that she and I were always together, and my Mom loved her, too, I knew that. Mom rarely was recalled sitting without Betsy on her lap...it was like they were one.

Of course, this and other memories of my childhood Cairn didn't prepare me for the arrival in my house of Bonnie's little Foster boy Rowan. It was, in fact, love at first sight when Bonnie forwarded a picture of this little ink-stain faced creature who was momentarily distracted from his "fuzzy duck" to look at the camera with sad, forlorn eyes. It is a picture forever burned into my mind and the insides of my eyelids. I knew I had to have him.

After the initial period of adjustment, while he assessed us and our worthiness, he started to emerge from the shell created by his former treatment. At first, he would make me laugh each and every time I had him in the yard; he'd bounce, bound and prance like a deer. It was so sweet and endearing seeing his happy face as he raced about my small fenced in yard. I soon learned that these happy times always preceded his being a "good boy" outside.

Time passed, and Ro'an as we now write his name, got more and more endearing. Bonnie had told me that he gave "sweet kisses" and I didn't know what she meant. Both my other guys gave kisses, the kind that washed any tears away...but Ro, nibbles. It's like nothing I ever experienced before, it is just so sweet. When I come home from work I am greeted with three waggy tails, one girl who patiently sits and waits to be adored and scritched; one boy who goes nutty-bananas and chases around the house and jumps on me and everything in his way; then there is Ro. He chases Joey...then distracts him so he can run over to me and nibble, nibble, nibble. He nibbles my shoes, my ankles, my knees, my coat...everything he can to show me he loves me...and there is no question to me that he does that!

Then there are the times when he KNOWS he's been a naughty boy but we haven't found it yet...most times I can call him and he comes over to me and jumps onto my lap...these times, he lowers his head and sticks the very tip of his tongue out as he slowly slinks over to me...at these times he must be certain that the jinks is up, certainly this time "...they will kill me...I am such a bad boy." Just try to keep a straight face at such times...he cracks me up! I swipe him up and hold him like a little baby and cover his face with kisses instead of scolding him...ah, he helps me keep my floors clean! ;-)

The older he gets (he's all of almost 4) he endears himself deeper and deeper into my heart and soul. I still don't remember a great deal about Betsy, my Cairn, but things like the prancing certainly ring true in my memory...I love my Westie, she is my heart dog...but Rowan/Ro'an...is a very special boy to me and I expect him to grow in that every minute of every day of his life with me...never again will he suffer ill treatment. Never again will he be yelled at, not fed nutritious food. He found a good home where he is loved...no, not just loved, more adored.

For the last 2 1/2 years our lives have been blessed with the antics of a clown, a gentleman, a dear sweet love...and for the blessings he has brought my household I thank Colonel Potter...without the love a group of women had for this little guy, we may never have had the opportunity to gain Rowan's release from the Puppy Mill, and have him fostered by sweet, Bonnie and Alan...thank you Colonel Potter.

• I love the way they use their noses open the door to sneak into the bathroom and wait until I'm done taking a shower. Just sitting there looking up at me.
• I love the way Rocky sits on the sofa gazing at me with such a loving look in his eyes.
• I love that little "gulp" sound they make when they are not sure if everything is ok.
• I love Grommy's clown personality. I love how his ears go up, down, up, down and how his tail never stops wagging.
• I love the way Rocky tries to "fake out" the other furkids so they will drop their treat. He will run to the door and give a bark. The others will drop what ever they have and run to the door barking. Rocky will run back and steal the treats.
• I just love everything about my furkids and my foster furkids.

For the laughs – a Cairn can go from 0 to 60 in 2.2 seconds, from a sound sleep to chasing vermin from the yard. And drag any object six times their size if there is a crumb of food available. And take over the coziest spots in the human’s living spaces, sometimes to hide. And dance on their toes, or sit pretty, for a treat or dinner. And put their wet noses in any beverage I leave at their level. And know if I go anywhere near their leash, that a walkie is due and they will be by my side in a split second.

Over 30 years ago, I met my first cairns while house-sitting. The new friends had two cairns and an Irish setter. After about 2 years, one of their kids was pregnant, and they promised me a pup. Well, she only had 2 puppies, and sadly one died. So they could not part with the other. So I started to search for my own. I lived in Indianapolis, Indiana and found my way to Brown County, and to what I’m sure was a mill, though I had no idea what that was at the time. Lady Sassy Frassy, a beautiful wheaten, spent her next 16 years with me. I remember telling my parents, that they were about to be grandparents, and how they almost fainted dead away as I wasn’t married.

Sassy was a stinker. One nice day she was outside and slipped into the basement window sill for a nap. When I checked on her, she was no where in the fenced back yard. Hysterical, I gathered a bicycle posse and started looking for her – all to no avail. For some reason, I went into the basement, and there she was – caught on a water pipe 8 feet above the cement floor.

When I lost her, I thought no one could take her place. But then, 3 days later, I found Annie K, a dark brindle. By then we lived in Columbus Ohio and a small community paper offered a home raised female 3 month old puppy. I met her parents, Keystone and Kristy – that’s where the “K” comes from. And she spent 14 years with me, just going to the Rainbow Bridge last February. I met Col Potter thru Annie’s needs so she continues to bless my life.

In 1999, after I FINALLY completed my undergrad degree (just before I turned 50), my brother and sister knew I wanted a playmate for Annie, so they found Sofia on the internet. Sofia was born in Spain and named after their Queen by the college student who brought her to the States. Sofia had a submissive urination problem at that time, and the girl wanted to find her a new home. Sofia, a very dark black brindle, is a joy, very well-behaved, death on squirrels, a horsey for the Puppy Kiara and just a delight.

In February 2000, I left for what turned out to be a 4-month stay in Long Beach, California to care for my dying brother, and then settle his estate. It was so hard being away from “the girls” but they were perfect guests for a friend who kept them. And they were wonderful solace for me as I went thru a very long grieving process.

Last year, I felt I was financially able to have 3 furkids, that Annie would enjoy mothering a puppy, and Sofia a new playmate. I found Kiara, but then found out how ill Annie was with pancreatic cancer. Annie missed Kiara Ann by one week, but she passed so many very similar traits to Kiara, that they must have met somewhere along the way. Today, Kiara is 13 months old, happy, healthy, funny, sweet. Ornery – a very normal cairn! She is also the bane of Sofia’s existence, who once, just once in her life, would have liked to have been an only dog (well, she was for 1 week).

Then my foster “boys” – see how that worked out! What loves, each in his own special way, they have been. Two have gone to their forever families, and one gets healthier every day, and hopes to find his forever family soon. I still want that 3rd furkid, now I want a male and a CP kid. Maybe once Jeeves finds his home, we will start working on our own forever guy.

My cairns make me feel special, needed, and loved. They give me the best of life! Why do I love my Cairns? What’s not to love?

Karen G
PostAdoption Coordinator
Blest be the tie that binds...

As someone with the nickname 'Ms Adventure', Cairns seem a perfect fit. I got my first cairn by chance, I wanted a small dog, and someone told me cairns would be perfect for me.. and she was right. I love a dog that can look at me and question my sanity.. and be right.

I called a breeder (I was in Wales, UK) and said I wanted a female dog.. he said 'Oh, you want a bitch'... and all I could think was 'no, I want a nice doggie'. We were both right. Abby graced our family for 13 years, enticing my brother and parents to also get cairns. When all our six cairns got together, it was such a hoot.. no squirrel or plane was safe!

I love them when they say 'NO, thank you, I prefer to play', when they come and cuddle knowing I need their strength to get thru the day, when they riot when I arrive home, when they tell me I've been derelict about something, when they try to convince me to let them eat the bird (not a chance).

All my dogs get a song... and they know their song and love it. Good thing they have a tin ear!

We had our own English Abby, we loved Art for Art's sake, we were Kookoo for Cocoa Puff, Duncan is our Brown Warrior, Edy's a Sweetie, Frankie is Cranky, Miss Maggie has naturally curly hair (she's a bichon), and a Good Rest brings Peace and Happiness.

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men might strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,–I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!–and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

My Cairn, Gilly, has made my retirement a joy.

Having taught First Graders (many with ADD or ADHD)for 33 years, I was ready to sit back and relax. Then my terrier mix, Rags, died. I quickly realized I needed a little furkid in my life again so I went in search of a breeder. Finding Gilly was a miracle in itself, and so I brought him home. The problem was I forgot about the "Joys of Puppyhood", and he was a trip!! My friends all laughed hysterically saying that I went from ADD first graders to an ADD dog. And that he was!

Going on 6 years later he has mellowed out a lot and is content to lay in "his" recliner waiting for someone to walk on "his" sidewalk, ring "his" doorbell or come to visit HIM. A bouncy ball of blond fur (who began life as a brindle) is just what I need. He loves to play with his favorite ball, steal the underwear and run around the house with it, do his nightly "zoomies", walk the Canaltrail and always cuddle next to his Mommy on the couch (or if she dares - the recliner). His newest habit is crawling under the covers to snuggle on a cold winter night.

Gilly brings me joy, makes me keep moving, keeps me young and is the love of my life. Cairns rule!

In addition to the cairn traits of intelligence, persistence, willfulness, resourcefulness, endless love and affection, uniqueness and eternal optimism:

• Kenney, for knowing his status as senior cairn in the household and always acting as my protector and for having selected me to be his owner when he was six weeks old and I was very close to adopting his littermate, and his demand to be included whenever a foster leaves our care.
• Kelley, for his love of stuffies, his morning ritual of retrieving any stuffy that may have strayed into a foster's crate, his constant patrol at my front door and his most gentle nature.
• Jenette, for overcoming some of her terrible puppy mill induced fears to be on constant squirrel patrol in the back yard, to have mastered stairs after 18 months of living with me, to stomp her feet and chatter at me when she wants to go outside, and for her fondness of a good belly rub.

• Trinidad, for his enthusiasm for life and his intense desire for some lap time and some one on one attention
• Bonnie (Siobhan), for her sunny disposition, her desperate want to be loved on and paid attention to, and her ability to move her crate across the room during the middle of the night.

They always have smiles on their fluffy faces and are more beautiful than any human being I know! They are feisty, yet lovable. They always make a bad day good.

This is why I love my cairns!!

I love my cairns because they are always overjoyed to see me. Even if I am cranky!

I love them because they make me laugh.

I love them because they make me cry.

I love to smell the tops of their heads. Sigh. It makes my happy. And I get puppy kisses!

I love them because they protect me from evil squirrels.

Through my kids I have a wealth of friends and family!

They are stubborn and snooty. I love them! They remind me of me! :)

Sigh, they are perfect! What is not to love!

I love my CP Cairn, Taddy, because he is such a comical little fellow. He has the sweetest face and is like a cuddly bear. I love to dry and brush him after a bath because HE loves it so much! He is my first Cairn and what made me fall in love with the breed.

I love my CP Cairn, Digger, because despite his visual impairment (don't tell him he is blind; he doesn't really know it), he is independent and fearless, a true terrier. I love it when he runs across the yard with his hair blowing in the wind. I love him because he loves life and lives it to the fullest. He is adorable.

I love my terrier-mix shelter dog, Marlee Su, because she is so vivacious. She's a beautiful girl who has given me 12 years of many laughs, a lot of sassy back talk, and a lot of love.

I love all my dogs, present and past, because of the comfort and unconditional love they give me.

Molly Jolie came home to us this past July 12th. It was a hot, dry day as it is most July days in Texas. She was so shy and quiet that I wondered and worried about her adjusting as she had been living with wonderful foster parents Rebecca and Stan for over three months. They loved her so and after having been so happy there with them and sister Katie, was fearful that she was very sad at leaving them. Before that she had been turned out of her home of almost six years and left to fend for herself on the streets of Houston. I would look at her and wonder what was going on in her little head and how she perceived just who we were and how she would fit in to this new world. Gus, our other much loved Cairn who is now four, stood back and tried to figure out who this little girl was and why she was suddenly in his territory. In other words ---ALL of us were a bit apprehensive as to what the future held.

Molly was not to be defeated by this new set of circumstances, however. She looked us over, sat back a few days and assessed us all. The third day she was here, she jumped up for the first time on the couch where I was in full recline and lay there with her face not more than three inches from mine and stared into my eyes for several minutes ----this soulful look that seemed to me as if she was saying - I don't know why I am here; who are you; what I am to do? It was the strangest experience I have ever had with any dog. We lay there just staring at each other for well over ten minutes. I began to talk softly to her saying that she was home, she was mine and I was hers and there would be no more worry or fear in her life. Since that day, Molly has seemed at home. She seemed to understand that indeed, she was home and that no one would send her away; that her days would be filled with good food, hugs, walks, rides in the car, running with Gus, and loving arms to surround her. She soon even took Gus in charge and now even helps us keep him in line! As far as my husband and I; well, we are her personal staff now!

It is amazing to me that Molly has taken my heart as no other dog in my life has done. Before we adopted Molly, we had so hoped to adopt Amaretto, the dear little deaf girl that stole so many hearts of the Col Potter volunteers. I wanted her so desperately, but it was not to be. Amaretto's days were numbered short, and she was loved and cared for by her foster mom, Claudia until she crossed the bridge. At that time I felt I could love no other, but Molly----well, Molly is my heart. She is my most precious girl and I am so grateful that I was allowed to share her life.

Thank you Col Potter.

Why I love my cairn....some days I wonder...like during a fast winter thaw. he is let outside to enjoy the weak warm sunshine while I toil over washing the kitchen floor...his greatest joy is to run thru muddy leaves and dig, deeply inhaling all the fresh stinkies. as I let him back in on the freshly washed floor to race everywhere dancing, prancing muddy footprints & barking to me of his special finds with his beautiful deep brown eyes shining brightly with such excitement...some days I wonder. he shows me a different viewpoint to leafy mud. I guess having clean floors aren't everything in life. happiness is.

Why I love my cairn....some days I wonder....like saving that one, special, leftover. I forgot it was there, then deciding that was the ONLY food I really wanted...nice, greasy fried onions over a deliciously browned sirloin burger with melted bleu cheese on toasted rye bread...oooo it was going to be so wonderful!! all it really needed was for me to get up and get a big tall glass of ice water to go with it...I sit back down, giving fond looks to my shiny brown eyed baby with such a happy tail a waggin' and just the biggest smile I have yet to see on his face...a split second of questioning flashes in my mind as I sit back down & reach for the now very empty plate...some days I wonder...he reminds me that some foods are meant to be shared with your best buddy-after all-I did have the first half...

Why I love my cairn....most days I know...like when I'm feeling kind of down he knows just exactly what will make me laugh...it can be the underpants in the wash pile... he comes prancing back in with them over his head with one eye showing, pawing at my leg to look... or he has this special funny thing that he does with his teeth...he makes his lips stick way up to his gums so all his teeth hang out looking like vampire dog with a smile while his tongue hangs to the floor....

Why I love my cairn...most days I know....like when he snuggles into the small of my back every nite when we go to sleep...he is like having my own personal little living heating pad...he fits perfectly...I'm sure he does this just to make my back feel good...it cant be that he wants to stay away from my feet & legs that will push him off in the middle of the cold nite...

So, all in all, I think I'll let him stay here with me just as long as he will have me....I can wash floors, I can get more food but I can never ever get another sailor, my cairn, who I so dearly love with all my heart...

I love my Cairn Myra because she walks exactly the same speed that I do. And I love that to her a walk is this best possible thing that could happen in the world. I love the fact that when I am walking with her, she is so happy her tail constantly goes back and forth like a banner waving in the air and we never are afraid of meeting other dogs and people because she loves everyone she meets

I love my Cairn because she can stand in the front window barking for 15 min. solid at the neighbor's new FOR SALE sign in their front yard because IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE!! And I love even more the fact that I can look out the window to see what she is barking at and I know EXACTLY what it is

I love my Cairn because she never lets anything go by without commenting on it. It's so nice to have someone else in the house to talk to me even if it's grumbling. Listening to her play with a toy always brings a smile to my face.

I love my Cairn when she goes outside (ALWAYS outside) and rolls over on her back to scratch and stretch. She rolls on her back and waves her little feet in the air and reminds me of a turtle that can't get back up.

I love my Cairn because she taught me that short-legged terriers aren't afraid of ANYTHING - not 12 feet of snow, not huge barking dogs - nothing. She plunges in and faces every adversity down and comes out with her tail wagging. She's taught me to do the same

I love my Cairn Bogart just because he exists - against all possibility - he survived when he could have been killed. If it was fate - I love fate for sparing him and bringing him to me

I love my Cairn because he has no teeth and since his favorite way to show affection is to bite my hand, this is a GOOD thing. Seeing his toothless little face makes my day especially when he cocks his head at something I am explaining to him

I love my Cairn because he doesn't have perfect ears - one goes out at an angel and gives him personality. And I love his little black-tipped tail when it wags and wags

I love to see him be brave - it's hard and it's taken some time but every time he is brave enough to take a toy, or walk past a scary object (my coat for example), my heart rejoices.

I love to hear him doing his "rollies" - when he thinks no one is around he will roll over on his back and make all kinds of happy noises.

I love that my Cairns - both of them - lean on me - literally - when Myra is grooming herself, she will use me for her security object and in turn that makes ME feel needed - I help her balance. And Bogie is just beginning to come and lay himself on my legs or lap when we are resting on couch. And they are both the best electric blankets money CAN'T buy.

I love my Cairns because they are so different - black and almost white - big and small - out-going and shy but they teach me every day about love and laughter, sometimes tears but they have truly rescued me.

And I LOVE most of my foster Cairns because they know WHEN TO GO HOME - to their forever homes and they know my home is just a way-station.

It was just about a year ago that I met a little cairn terrier who was adopted by one of our teachers at the school carnival petting zoo. The lady had just lost her other dog and could hardly get through the days that followed. Then she adopted Mattie. Suddenly that smile was back. She brought Mattie to the school to meet some of the kids and to play with Jake, our pet therapy dog. When I saw Mattie, I decided right then and there that I was going to have a cairn terrier as soon as summer vacation started and my young collie, Shannon turned two. Shannon was still very young and needy and I wanted to wait until summer.

In May I went to the search engine and read the story of Colonel Potter. I scrolled down to Kansas and saw the face of little Button, who is now my Patrick Derry McGee. Pat is one of the funniest characters that I have ever met. Within days he changed from his little belly crawls to "supervising" the yard. Kaaren, his foster Mom, said that he loved to cuddle. He certainly does. My scottie, Briggy, seemed fine with this little six month old pup joining the family. This little boy just turned one and has been with us only since late June, I don't know what we ever did without him. He is so playful and is learning what "no" means. I particularly love the way he looks at me out of the corner of his eyes. I am still the boss, little Pat.

After our foster Paris was adopted it was the consensus that we missed her so much that we had to have another little cairn. Maggie (Serena) took a nice long plane ride on December 11th from New Haven to Kansas City. Maggie Killarney was settled here in no time at all. She loves to play with Pat and Shannon. Maggie would very much like to be "Queen Maggie". She tried to push the little foster, Guadeloupe, around a few weeks ago. After she realized that she would get a nice long morning in the crate for such antics, she has decided to settle for Princess Maggie and let me be the Queen. She loves to cuddle as well. She wags her little tail veeerrrryyyyyy fast when I come home. She loves to spend every evening on the sofa with me after a long day of play. She is very free with her kisses.

My little foster Guadeloupe is the sweetest little lady you would ever want to meet. She is starting to get her confidence back after her spif with Maggie. She loves people. She and my mother "talk all day". She needs a home where she can be a little princess too. She has such a big heart. Lou does not let a little "fork in the road" stop her from rising to the true cairn that she is.

We all are so glad that these babies came into our life---- must have been rather boring this time last year. We hear from Cousin Chilly (fka Paris) that she is having a spectacular life in the mountains with her forever family.

I thought answering "Why I love Fred" would be easy. For some reason it wasn't. After over a week of considering this, I think it's now time I get all my thoughts down on paper (or perhaps e-paper?)

His previous owners didn't love him. They tied him up on their property as far away from them as possible. They apparently didn't feed him much and obviously hadn't taken him to the vet in years, if ever. When the humane investigator showed up and gave them the option of taking Fred to the vet or turning him over, they said "we don't want that dog anyway".

Fred ended up at the Sacramento SPCA and was there for about 3 months. He became a volunteer favorite, so much so when I started to volunteer there I wasn't known as Denise, I was called "Fred's Mom". I almost had that put on my name tag.

I have no idea why everybody who meets him seems to fall in love with him. He just has that "something special" that I can't really define. To most people he's really a little aloof - one of the SSPCA volunteers who absolutely adores him JUST got a kiss on the hand from him last October (3 years after I adopted him). Another volunteer has a picture of the two of them and shows it when she speaks of Fred in a class she teaches for the shelter. I think his normally calm demeanor, his smile, and possibly his wonderful ears (they've been described as "helicopter ears") just attract people.

For the life of me I can't figure out why his previous owners didn't fall under his spell. A psychic once told me that Fred had great sadness in his past and how it was unusual for a dogs to remember that much of their past. She also told me that he was very spiritual and very special and that he loved me very much.

I think the main reason I love Fred is because he does love me so much. I feel honored that such a special dog (and I didn't really need a psychic to tell me this) finds me worthy of his love.

There are so many reasons to love our cairns. Sometime I think they work together not only do they make us laugh but sometime I feel like I could pull my hair out. Take for instance our bed. Even going from a queen to a king size bed after we got little Fallen, her and Willow still own most of it. My husband is really great with the girls but when they get there balls in the middle of the night and use his belly as a slide I find it funny but he doesn't. So I guess its weight watchers for us. No belly no slide.

Its everything about them that we love. The look you get when they know they did something they shouldn't have but they are so darn cute there's no getting upset. And most of all it's the unconditional love you receive every single day rain or shine. I feel truly blessed that they are in our life.

I count my blessings every day.

We took her to see my Dad, in October of 2001. He had been pretty much sleeping in his chair and fairly nonresponsive that day. Brandy got a gleam in her eye, I still see this when she is about to get into mischievous deeds, and she jumped into my Fathers' lap. He awoke with a smile and instantly reached out to pet her and continued until she got down. That was the best gift my girl, BrandyApple could have given me. This never happened again and we buried my Father on Christmas Eve of that year.

That is why I love my BrandyApple.

There are so many reasons I love my two Cairns, it's hard to narrow it down to just a few. I love the look in their eyes when we're having some tummy skritches, or when they're just being mellow.

I love how peaceful they look when they're sleeping, how Yogi lays on his back in my lap and falls asleep, and the sounds of snoring from both of them. I love the happy little trot that they have any time we go for a walk, and the way they alert when they see the neighbor's cat teasing them.

I love how they wait with rapt attention while I fix their breakfast or dinner, and how they "know" when snack time is here. There are a million reasons, but mostly, I just love how they fill my life with love.

• I love early morning bed pets and telling them how beautiful they are and how much they are loved.
• I love coming home from work when Kenzie brings me her ball and pushes it to me to kick. No, hi mom, just please kick my ball!
• I love it when I’m on the computer and Hamish wants my attention and starts “telling” me to either get up or let me in your lap!
• I love watching them zoom across the back yard after the squirrels and critters.
• I love watching them outside on a nice spring/summer day just enjoying being a dog.

My first Cairn, Muggsy, lived in a pet store cage for six months before coming to live in our home and in our hearts forever.

We loved his joy in exploring his new world, and laughed at his reactions to and embracing of a world that would now have his mark on it--in more ways than one!

We loved how he accepted us, was unwavering in his loyalty and trust, and gave us a parade everytime we entered the door. He was a mascot for my daughter's tennis team through high school and college. He was in a local production of The Wiz. Backstage, he loved the lion and steered clear of the wizard.

I loved how he filled the niche in my heart and life when my kids left home. Loved how he snuggled and cuddled when I read the paper or we watched tv. How he found comfort in following the sun streaming in the windows in different spots throughout the day. Smiled when he nested in a laundry basket full of clean, folded clothes.

Muggs brought me to the CPCRN site and broke my heart when the time came to say good-bye. Now my mind is at peace with all we shared, and in my heart I often let him know how much he is still loved, will always be missed, and always talked about in our family.

Which brings us to Miss Charlotte, a Col Potter kiddo. She had been found as a stray in VA with severe skin and ear problems. By the time we adopted her, she was in great shape, a beautiful girl with a unique outlook on life. She is an observer. Independent, self-confident, draws her own conclusions, doesn't seek out lots of attention, a real thinker. She will often go in a room all by herself, but also comes to check on us, gently nudging you on the back of your leg with her nose. She gives great kisses, arooos, and literally throws herself into both her play and you when zooming with her toys.

Charlotte isn't like Muggsy, and I love that very thing about her. Charlotte and I would have missed out on so much if I had expected her to be like another cairn. I admire her braveness and understand just how much it means when she does come and ask for a skritch, or a rump rub--no belly rubs for this individualist, of course. I have enjoyed learning to listen for the beat of the drummer that Charlotte marches to. I have also smiled when on the first night here she pulled out the only toy that Muggsy had played with in quite a while. I feel comforted when she warms in the sun, and the first time she dove into a basket of folded clothes, I know that Muggsy smiled at all of us.

As for parades when you return home? We're still waiting--Charlotte says she'll get back to us on that one.

Well I don't have Cairns, or foster Cairns, etc. but I do have two "bleached" Cairns and you can call them Cairns ... they really don't mind. So here are my reasons why I love my pups:

• I love that you have taught me that mornings can be good. I love the happy little dance you do every morning when I first wake up.
• I love the way you dance a wiggle when I first get home. Like I am the best thing that has happened to you all day.
• I love the way you climb up on my lap when you think I have been on the computer long enough and its time for hugs
• Most of all, I love just being with you and the way you seem to help make everything OK.

• I love you because you aren't perfect. You were born with issues but you have overcome them and looking at you today always brings a smile to my face.
• I love they way you have be sleeping touching me
• I love the feel of you sleeping in my arms and look in your eyes first thing in the morning.
• I love you because you are mine and no matter where we are you always want to be with me. You are my little boy ...

. . . as the sun goes down each day . . . and our kids have had their dinner and many hours of play time, love and laughter . . . and as the kids are tucked into bed each night, and we get our last kiss of the day . . . and we tell all of our special kids that we love them for the last time that day, I realize that THEY have given us the biggest gift in the world. Not only with their honest love they are able to give, but by the GIFT they have given me through your friendship.

Into the wee hours of the night there is still computer time ... time to perhaps help more kids that Col. Potter needs to help save. Time to work on one more email on a fundraiser, or finally time to get caught up on the many things that we all said we can help with, that always seem to fall into the race for the finish category.

Perhaps you have time to answer a note from another dear cairn friend who just says hello, or who might have a question, who may have their most loved little cairn who we know is on their final journey . . . a time to touch base once more with our purpose for working rescue. Maybe you have a few minutes to once again look at the new foster kids pictures and you celebrate each baby step some of our very damaged kids make.

The bottom line for me and many others, is that through our dogs, through our devotion to helping our rescue kids . . . WE HAVE ALL ALL BEEN BLESSED. We have been given the gift of life long friendships through our dogs. . . they have given US a purpose, and the friends we have meet and love who are now the dearest of friends and family, we met through our own dogs, through our foster kids and through Col. Potter.

WHY DO I LOVE MY CAIRNS? Because they have allowed me to be part of one of the greatest breeds that we all have been blessed to have know . . . they have ALSO given me the friendship of people who are the greatest that one could ever hope for.

• I love his little nose that never stops working and has to be into absolutely everything.
• I love his inquiring eyes that must take in everything, from every angle and which offer us a window into his loving silly soul.
• I love his little mouth that forms the sweetest and the most devilish of expressions - sometimes simultaneously. I love that little mouth that offers licks when we are sad and when we are loved, and that is always ready to take a piece of whatever we are eating, even to spit it out afterwards because it is not up to his particular liking.
• I love his ears that offer us a window to another world as watching them lets us know that there are things out there to hear that we can not even imagine no less hear.
• I love his little tail that goes in all directions all the time, but especially when it spins like a helicopter blade when his dad comes home.
• I love his play bow which with which he engages everyone.
• I love the way that once I let someone in the house he has never met a stranger in contrast to the way he knows, beyond a doubt, that that same person is the devil incarnate before I let them in.
• I love his little paw which he lifts all the time in play. He is left pawed. We never knew a dog was "pawed"!
• I love the way he stealthily approaches in the morning, when we have just barely awakened. He gets really low and slowly creeps across the bed only to end his stealth creep with a leap onto me to heartily kiss my face and then to burrow into my armpit, roll over on his back, and somehow or another maneuver my hand onto his belly for rubs and then, suddenly, in the wink of an eye, is asleep and snoring.
• I love his snoring. I really do. How come it is so endearing when a dog snores and it so noxious when a human does? That, I think, is one of the most pressing questions in the universe.
• I love the way that no matter what mood I am in, he does something every day that makes me laugh out loud.
• I love... well -- I love everything about him. Everything. He is my Spanky and he is my sweet funny little boy. And that is just the way it is.

I loved my first Cairn, Bryndle, because she taught me that Cairns are different from other dogs. I got her at 8 years old when my Sister passed away and no one wanted Bryndle. From her, I got unconditional love and joy. She was by my side for 6 years and through her eyes, I learned the beauty of walking in leaves, chasing squirrels, sleeping in bed with a dog (something we had NEVER done before), and the amazement of watching a tiny little girl keep on going even through a major illness.

I love my 4 current Cairns because they have led me to a different and wonderful life. Because of them, I have experienced the wonder of having puppies, the fun of showing a dog in the ring, and meeting a wonderful bunch of people that share the same love of the breed that I do.

When I come in from work each evening, there are always 4 little noses pushing in to see me. Maxx and Diva wait and tell me about their day, Annie just leaps up and waits for me to touch her and Ozzie shows total joy that I am home. This is the most wonderful feeling in the world - knowing that they trust me and that they know I love them. Each is beautiful in their own ways.

• Ball Playing
• Lunging on their leashes to get to the Deer on our land
• Chasing a falling leaf
• Cuddling up on the couch and not giving us room to sit on it
• Swimming in the lake when we go to our boat
• Riding on our Sea Doo with us
• Taking long walks in the woods
• Smiling at us every day
• Maxx having his nightly discussions with my DH & I
• Maxx chasing away Thunder when it rains. He will not come in the house till the storm is over
• Maxx claiming his place on the lap of my DH each evening and enjoying TV with him
• Ozzie doing his Leash spin (he thinks by spinning in a circle, he will be able to get off the leash - doesn't happen but he keeps trying)
• The Cairn races through our house each night
• The Sprong Jump that Annie does when she is chasing a mole in the yard
• Diva thinking she is hiding when she goes under our bed (her butt is sticking out)
• The play bows they all do when company comes to our home
• The way our friends react to all of my dogs. They think we are crazy for having 4 of them but they too love each and every one.
• The joy of watching them play with my nephew who suffers from brain cancer - each and every one of them plays with him perfectly
• Diva being the Queen of our home. She Rules and the Others Follow!

I love everything about them and appreciate the Joy they have brought into my home!

I love my Louie because:

• He is such a boy! I love his gregariousness, his sweetness and his tenderness.
• He is so much like his Daddy! When he wants something -- he wants it NOW! And he's not afraid to say so!
• He loves me more than anybody in this world.

I love my Ella because:

• She is so sweet and vulnerable, yet such a little tiger when she wants to be.
• She wants nothing more than to please me and will do anything I ask (well, almost!)
• She is such a tease!!!!!! She loves to tease everybody -- the cat, Louie, me, her Daddy, everybody!

I have loved every dog that has been a part of my life no matter what their breed, if they were mine or a foster. Some have been a lot easier to love than others, but they all have taken a piece of my heart with them.

Duffy and Muffin were my childhood Scotties. Duffy loved everyone to come to visit, but he didn't want you to leave and would let you know by trying to bite you as you left. Muffin was a swwet boy who loved everyone.

Lancelot, a Westie, was MY first baby after I got married. He was totally spoiled (as he should be) and extremely independent. Lancelot went to the Rainbow Bridge 14 years ago on Valentine's Day.

Spencer, Cairn, is my HEART dog! If there was ever a PERFECT Cairn, it was my Spencer who left me for the Rainbow Bridge almost 4 years ago, but who also brought me to Col. Potter.

Bailey is my Testy Westie. He definitely let's you know what he doesn't like i.e. baths, grooming, nails trimmed. What he does love is chasing critters, going for walks and playing with his ball still at almost 14 years old! He also loves cuddling with his mommy which makes me VERY happy!

Hawthorne is my CP PM boy. He is a very SPECIAL boy who has had a very long and challenging road to learn to trust and love people. Hawthorne relies on Bailey to teach and show him. Hawthorne has come so far in the almost three years we've had him and we celebrate every new baby step he takes. My Spencer brought Hawthorne to me ...

Then there are my CP fosters: Bosley, Winslowe, Lucas, Couderay, Tabitha, Gunnar and Snowy ... each so different, each with a piece of my heart.

All of these furkids have brought more joy and love into my life than I ever thought possible. The love I have given them has been repaid a thousand times over ...

I love Gilly because he's my little fuzzy boyfriend. He came here from a puppymill as a scared little rack of bones. He's come a long way...including in the weight dept. ;) Gilly is MINE and I am HIS. I am his favorite person in the world....I wish that weren't so but it is and I have to respect his feelings. He was the star of his obedience class, keeping his eyes glued on me to see what I wanted him to do. He made me so proud every minute we were in class. At home he's a wonderful little gentleman showing new fosters that things are okay here and helping them be relaxed. He leads them out to go potty and then back into the house. He's first in line to get his teeth brushed or his nails filed. I always walk new kids attached to Gilly...heck, he even made Missy Parker calm on a walk! Gilly sleeps between our pillows and waits until he knows I'm awake to give me nose bumps and kisses to start my day off right.

I love Janna because she ADORES her Papa. Is she perfect? Heck no, she's still a loud little girl with some toy aggression issues. But she shows her love so clearly especially to Alan. She practically climbs his leg whimpering with joy to see him again...even if he's only been gone 5 minutes. After she gets up his leg and into his arms she gives his face a royal "tongue lashing" while continuing to produce her whimpering little monologue. She's a sweetheart and we're lucky to have her in our family. Gilly also loves her as is evidenced by the fact that he lets her get away with things no other dog would be allowed to do. He lets her bully him into playing with shrill screeches and mock (I hope) bites to his privates.

I love my foster kids because there's always something special about them. We're getting close to having had 30 fosters and there's always something unique. Kurry was the sweetest little gentleman when he arrived after suffering so severely with sarcoptic mange. Fletcher is another sweet little guy with a strong spirit to survive his debilitating IBD. Cammie came from 7 years in a puppymill with determnation that she wasn't going to waste the rest of her life....she was going to have happy days and fun! Lizzie was the happiest and bounciest little girl I've ever seen. Tally was Mr. Personality, the life of the party. Melora was so sweet and gentle. Missy Parker is a scared little girl who is beginning to break out and show her true (strong!) Cairn spirit. She LOVES Tricks for Treats time just before bed and makes sure she gets her fair share. :) Her big sad eyes have me treating her when Janna and Gilly do a trick after she's crated....never happened before.

• He wakes up in a good mood every single day
• He has changed my mind about never wanting a male dog
• He wags his tail so hard when we get home, his whole butt shakes
• He makes it easy for me to talk about the joys of adopting a puppymill kid

I love my cairn Rowdy because he's the sweetest little dog I've ever met. And he makes us laugh. A lot. ;-)

I love the way he arroo roo roos like he's telling us something really important or taking us to task for something we're not doing right. And because he loves his adopted older grouchy sister Rissa (the bleached cairn).

We love them because, no matter what is going on in the world, they remain constant in their love and devotion. They make us laugh at their silly little antics.

We went 4 years without a dog, thinking that we would never have another after Ceilidh died. Ten minutes after I met Piper on a rescue trip, I was hooked. I knew I could never be without a dog again. And Grover has added to that feeling. We didn't think we could handle two dogs again, but never gave taking Grover a second thought! They make our lives complete.

OX,
Charlie and Helen

I love Cairns because they have just the right mix of sweetness and nuttiness. I begin and end each day on various terrier forums. Stories from the terriers themselves never fail to bring a smile to my face.

I am fortunate to have spent more than half my life with the world's most perfect Cairn, Mischief . Mishy was my best friend growing up and from the minute we met, she had my heart completely and I became her slave. She was stubborn, silly and sweet all in one and never failed to make me smile even when she was doing something mischievous. She crossed the Rainbow Bridge on her own terms a year ago on January 17, 2005. I miss her and I will never stop loving her. Because of her, I hope to get more involved with Cairn rescue in the future and one day have another Cairn of my own to love because I just simply can not live without a Cairn in my life!

• I love the way they chew their cookies with their mouths open.
• I love with way the go nuts when I come home from work.
• I love the way they act like they have to go potty in hopes of getting a cookie.
• I love they way their tails stand straight up.
• I love the happy way their little butts sashay when they walk.
• I love the way they keep me warm when I am taking a nap.
• I love that I am their mommy.
• I love that they led me to Col. Potters.
• I love that they make my life so full.
• I love the way they smell.
• I love that they let me kiss them all over.
• I love to watch my husband be all soft and sweet with them.
• I love how they look into my soul when I talk to them.

I love that I will never live a day without a cairn in my life.

I can't think of just a few reasons why I love my babies,but I can think of a lot of reasons why. I love my Mona (greyhound) because she is a gentle soul, takes all the new additions to the household in stride, and has come so far since she first arrived in our home. She has gone from being scared of everything and everyone to being an official greeter to all our guests. She courageously learned to walk on wood floors, climb steps, and feel safe anywhere in the house. She loves without restraint, and is not afraid to talk to you to let you know what she wants.

I love my Charlie (cairn) for everything he is.....loving, friendly, flexible, always on the look-out for food, and my best bud. He has always been willing to have another join our clan, loves everyone he meets, but yet makes me feel special. He is great with the grandkids, patient, understanding, and always ready to play. He is my cuddle bug, my smiler, my playful pup. He is simply the best.

I love my Tiggie(cairn) for oh so many reasons. She is sweet, devoted to me and my constant companion. She is a puppymill rescue who is trying so hard to learn to be happy, relaxed, and a fun-loving cairn. She is a great pal to Charlie, and I want only to help her forget her past life and have fun and unconditional love in her life now. I love how she interacts with Charlie, how they play together, how they mimic each other, how beautiful she is.

I love our newest addition, Mr. Fluffy, (cock-a-poo) for his adaptability, his devotion, his fun outlook on life, and general all-around sweet nature. He spent the first 12 years of his life with an elderly relative who passed away. He spent numerous weeks at a vets while his owner was hospitalized but maintained his good spirits, and was loved by all the staff. I love how he has come into our lives and made himself at home. I love his 2 little teeth that stick out in the front (the only ones he has) and his pretty white hair. I love his big dark eyes, his respect of our other dogs, and the way he has taken all the changes in his stride and continues to be a happy little guy.

Could I go on and on....yes, very easily. But I think you get the idea......I love my furkids and they love me.

• I love the way Sammy is so very happy to have me back even when its just from being in another room for 30 seconds.
• The way he nestles his little head between my shoulder and neck when he is tired.

• I love his big dark brown eyes.
• I love his profile.
• I love the way he makes me laugh when he wants to play and the way he is so serious when he is in “protect” mode.
• I love the way his little back legs hop together when he runs.
• I love the way he really thinks he is the dominate one when playing with Angel (our 65 pound Golden Retriever mix). And I also love the way Angel is so sweet and tolerant of his aggressiveness.
• I love the way he will let me kiss the bridge of his muzzle for as long as I want to.
• I love the way his little tail wags so fast that its just a blur.
• I love the way he snorts when he tells me it is time for a cookie or to play with a special toy.
• I adore his personality. There is something very very special about a Cairn personality.
• I love the way he makes me happy to be his mommy.
• I love the way he makes my problems disappear.

How can you not love a cairn? I had Vincent, my heart dog, for 16.5 years. He was everything to me and when he went to Rainbow Bridge, I thought I would die. He died on August 28, 2004. Little did I know, that same day he was sending an angel to our lives. Sissy was born on August 28, 2004. She is the most loving, sweetest, energetic dog I have ever seen. We got her from Col Potter on Dec 4, 2004.

The reason we love her is the minute you walk in the door, she is dancing, wiggling that little tail, running back and forth to find her ring to throw out in the yard. She talks to us constantly in her Cairn voice. All you have to do is say Sissy, Sissy, Sissy and she stops what she is doing and comes running to give you kisses, nibbles, and love. I love her because she has put some life back into our home since we lost Vince. She never sees a stranger, loves anything and everything. She was fortunate as she only was in a puppymill for a month before she was rescued. She was Almond of the nuts.

Cairns are the most loving, sweetest, smartest, and energetic of all the dogs I have ever had. They crave love and they give love with nothing expected. We love this little munchin with all our heart and hope she is with us for many years to come. Thanks to Ann S and her family for giving her a wonderful start in life.

• I Love The Way Joplin Wakes up on His Back in The Morning, with his Sleepy Bed Head.
• I Love the Way he Makes Every Nonbark Sound he Can Make When he is Seriously talking to you.
• I Love Watching him Run from Window to Window " On Patrol" .
• I Love how he trys so hard to give hugs.
• I Love What a Fantastic Little person He is!!!