The Cairmal is a hybrid mix of the Cairn Terrier and the Maltese. The hybrid is a modern breed and does not have a history outside of its parent breeds. Since there is no hybrid standard, your Cairmal may have the appearance of either parent breed as well as traits from both, and owners should review the respective histories to get a better understanding of the possible dispositions and traits of their Cairmal. The Cairn is an old and ancient breed of Scotch Terriers that was only developed as a separate breed in the 19th century and distinguished from its other Scotch Terrier brothers by coat color. The ancestor of the Cairn Terrier, the Scotch Terrier, was first described in 55 BC by the Romans who identified the small dogs as agile hunters that went to the ground after their quarry. The Romans named these dogs Terrarii, which is Latin for workers of the earth. Over several centuries, the Terrier group lived and thrived as earth dogs in Scotland and England, making their way to France and parts of Germany as well. By the 1900s, the Cairn Terrier was firmly established as a wire-haired small Terrier of the Skye group in various colors, accepting white, which was designated for its cousin breed, the West Highland Terrier. The Cairn is often confused for the Scottish Terrier, but the Scottie has a more diverse genetic makeup, having a large gene pool history whereas the Cairn Terrier was limited the Isle of Skye. The Cairn acquired its name from the stone moments of the same name the little Terrier was known to hunt. The Maltese has always been considered a companion breed and most likely developed in the Mediterranean. Documentation on Maltese dogs is found in ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians, Greek, and Romans. The Maltese found its way west towards France in the 15th Century and was brought to England during the rule of King Henry VIII. The Maltese became a favorite of noble and royal women, such as Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Mary of Scots, and Queen Victoria. The Maltese is thought to originate from a Spitz-type dog but was developed into the Modern-day Maltese we know today by English breeders.
