Jacairn

11-12 lbs
11-12"
United States
Cairn Terrier
Jack Russell Terrier

The Jacairn is a hybrid breed dog whose parent breeds are the Jack Russell Terrier and the Cairn Terrier. He is a low-maintenance dog who needs only infrequent grooming. Very intelligent and his highly trainable, this eager canine watches and listens to his owner for each command. He is a rather active dog who will require daily exercise in order not to get into mischief. However, if you are active and on-the-go, the Jacairn will be right beside you all the way. He is great with children and loves to play with his family. He may also be a climber and enjoy digging in the yard from time to time.

purpose Purpose
Companion
history Date of Origin
Unknown
ancestry Ancestry
Jack Russell Terrier and Cairn Terrier

Jacairn Health

Average Size
Male Jacairn size stats
Height: 12-14 inches Weight: 12-15 lbs
Female Jacairn size stats
Height: 11-12 inches Weight: 11-12 lbs
Major Concerns
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Glaucoma
  • Lens Luxation
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Legg-Calve Perthes Disease
  • Cryptorchidism
  • Craniomandibular Osteopathy (Lion Jaw)
Occasional Tests
  • Hip And Eyes
  • X-Rays
  • Full Body Examination
  • Thyroid Testing

Jacairn Breed History

The origins of the Jacairn are not totally known. In order to understand the history of Jacairn, perhaps a look at his parent breeds will shed some light on the history of the hybrid breed. The Jack Russell Terrier is not without Hollywood recognition. Willie Morris’ book and later movie adaptation, My Dog Skip, featured a Jack Russell Terrier as young Willie’s best friend. The Jack Russell originated in southern England in approximately the mid to late 1800s and was a favorite of hunters who preferred to be on horseback during the hunt. He was brought to the United States in the 1930s where his main purpose was hunting with other hounds; his job was to flush foxes out of their dens so that larger hounds could chase them. The Cairn Terrier hails from the Isle of Skye and is more than 200 years old. He is related to the Scotch Terriers, and in 1912, he was designated as his own breed, having shared a Scottish Terrier moniker with other similar Terriers. In 1913, the first Cairn terrier was brought to the United States by Mrs. Henry Price and Mrs. Byron Rodgers. In the same year, he was added to the American Kennel Club's roster of breeds.

Jacairn Breed Appearance

The Jacairn will be a small dog like both parent breeds. The Jack Russell Terrier is mostly white, with wiry hair. Some Jack Russells have a smooth coat; others have a slightly longer, rough coat. The Cairn Terrier has a double coat and may be red, brindle, black, sand, or gray. You can expect the Jacairn to have medium-length, possibly wavy hair of any color scheme. It will most likely repel water. His ears will typically fold over but can perk up quickly when excited. He will have a winsome smile that gives a hint to the charm of his personality.

Eye Color Possibilities
brown Jacairn eyes
Brown
Nose Color Possibilities
black Jacairn nose
Black
Coat Color Possibilities
red Jacairn coat
Red
brindle Jacairn coat
Brindle
black Jacairn coat
Black
gray Jacairn coat
Gray
Coat Length
coat
Short Medium Long
Coat Density
coat density
pin
Sparse Normal Dense
Coat Texture
coat texture
Jacairn wavy coat texture
Straight Wiry Wavy Curly Corded

Jacairn Breed Maintenance

The Jacairn will have medium length hair, and it may be wavy. Depending on the Jack Russell parent breed, it may be somewhat coarse. It may also be long and straight. Brush your Jacairn at least once a week with a soft bristle brush. Bathe only when necessary. You should brush your Jacairn’s teeth at least three times a week; however, if you want to prevent gum disease, brush the dog’s teeth daily. Trim your dog’s nails every other week. The rule of thumb is if you can hear your dog’s nails clicking on the floor, it is time to cut them. Because he ears can trap moisture, be sure to check for yeast or bacterial buildup. Your veterinarian can advise on a suitable wash for the ears and show you best how to use the product.

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Brushes for Jacairn
Pin Brush
Pin Brush
Slicker Brush
Slicker Brush
Comb
Comb
Nail Clipper
Nail Clipper
Brushing Frequency
fur daily fur weekly fur monthly
Jacairn requires weekly brushing
Daily Weekly Monthly

Jacairn Temperament

The Jacairn will be a mixture of the personalities of his parent breeds. Described as happy, energetic, loving, and extremely intelligent, he is a mischief maker, although he is so charming and cute that you may forgive his misbehavior. He loves to dig and can sometimes be a ball of energy. A very friendly dog as well, your Jacairn will be tough and independent. He is loyal to his family, however. He loves to play with all members of his family, and he may follow you from room to room. He absolutely does not like to be scolded, so it may be best to reward the good times rather than continually punish him for unwanted behavior. 

Jacairn Activity Requirements

The Jacairn is a high-activity dog. He loves to play; however, he will do well in an apartment or home as long as he gets daily exercise. This can come in the form of outdoor play in a fenced-in yard or brisk walks with the owner. Be prepared – he may dig out of boredom if left in the fenced-in area too long. He might also enjoy a trip to the dog park. Obedience classes are a good outlet for expending energy too, and the interaction with his classmates will teach him to trust others of his kind.

Activity Level
low activity medium activity high activity
Low Medium High
Rec. Walk Mileage Per Week
9 miles
walk mileage
Minutes of Activity Per Day
60 minutes
activity minutes

Jacairn Food Consumption

Cups Per Day
3 cups
cup per day cost cup per day cost cup per day cost
Daily Cost
$1.20 - $1.40
food bowls daily cost
Monthly Cost
$34.00 - $45.00
food bag monthly cost

Jacairn Owner Experiences

Ted
2 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Park
Ted is a loving highly intelligent boisterous and very loyal little dog
7 years ago
Puff
11 Weeks
1 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Sweet , wants to please extremely smart , very trainable,affectionate,wants to be in same room. Responds to distraction for unwanted behavior. Loves to play fetch
7 years ago
Hercules
3 Years
2 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
I recently adopted him from our local animal shelter. He is doing great even with the cats.
6 years, 10 months ago
Dixie
10 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing, going for walks, hiking & cuddling.
She was a rescue- the neighbor left her outside 24/7 so she would dig under the fence and seek shelter/food/water/attention in our yard.. So i kept her! She is great with my special needs daughter, is super affectionate and loves to burrow under the blankets to sleep with me at night. Dixie is such a lover and i couldn't imagine our lives without her!
6 years, 8 months ago
Starla
2 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
We just adopted her last month. She’s really attached to me. Very sweet. A little skittish. She’s a very sweet dog who loves kids.
6 years, 7 months ago
Bailey
11 Years
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Bailey was a rescue so she has always been a nervous dog around other animals she’s not familiar with and doesn’t really like children as they are too rough. She’s extremely well trained and even at 11 seems like a puppy. She cries for you to pet her and give her attention. Very lovable and loyal.
5 years, 7 months ago
Oliver
1 Year
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Fetch
Walking
Watching tv
Relaxing
Playdate
Super smart and a fast learner, rings a little bell by the door to go out and is learning how to use iFetch. He is a snuggle bug in the morning and a ball of energy in the evening. He is a rescue dog but is thought to be Cairn terrier-poodle mix with Jack Russell. He is always quiet in his crate and LOVES kids, people and any other animals. His favorite movie is Benji.
4 years, 9 months ago
Kooka
12 Years
1 People
House
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Teasing
Walking
Cuddling
Playing
Kooka was a six-month old rescue. He's now 12 (years). Easily the most intelligent dog I've ever seen; he listens to every conversation—which I realised when I saw he knows words before I ever explain them to him. Loves to walk, run, play "catch the biscuit" [I toss a piece into the air and he has to catch it], and get trained. As in, he knows when I start to teach him a new trick and he gets all excited :-) And yes, he really loves his sleep... he arranges lots of pillows and bedsheets to get the perfect "nest"!
4 years, 3 months ago
Finn
7 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Gorgeous dog who spends ages getting his bed just right. Loves pillows and snuggles. Can be very independent at times but sniffs every blade of grass and just loves other dogs. He’s running the house and we just adore him. He likes familiarity as he’s a rescue and was previously abused, been with us from 8 months and we brought him back to UK from USA.
4 years, 2 months ago
Tilly
5 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
She’s very affectionate but not with other dogs (apart from our Jack Russell) or people, she can walk for miles, and loves her small ball which she controls with her feet, dribbling and passing, she has a stick and line with a squeaky toy attached and we swing it in the air for her to catch in mid air, once your accepted she’s very loving and yes she spends time scurrying her throws to make a bed
4 years ago
Eddie
12 Weeks
3 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
He is a nice puppy and very playful
4 years ago
Bella
2 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
Playing
Run
She is a little rescue. Very active and intelligent.
3 years, 11 months ago
Mean Girl
10 Years
2 People
House & Yard
Health
Grooming
Friendliness
Energy
Trainability
Pastimes
MG is a elderly rescue, feral for over 6 months after elderly owner died. Her mates were taken into the sanctuary, but she escaped. Has no clue about harnesses, leads, or being the only dog. Aggressive, bites, very intelligent. Doesn't like changes.
3 years, 6 months ago
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