How long does a Cairn Terrier live?

The listed lifespan for a Cairn Terrier is 13–15 years.

How tall is a Cairn Terrier?

The listed height for a Cairn Terrier is 10 in (male), 9.5 in (female).

Is a Cairn Terrier good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Cairn Terrier is 3 out of 5.

When is a Cairn Terrier full grown?

The growth size band for a Cairn Terrier is 8–12 months.

Terrier Group

Cairn Terrier

Cairn Terrier is a small dog in the Terrier Group. Adult weight is 14 lb (male), 13 lb (female), height is 10 in (male), 9.5 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 13–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Alert, Cheerful, Busy.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Cairn Terrier dog — Photo: Ronald Müller-Hagen ( Ketterechts ) · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan13–15 years

Weight14 lb (male), 13 lb (female)

SizeSmall GroupTerrier Group

Height

10 in (male), 9.5 in (female)

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

2 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 14 years is about 0.4 years longer than the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 13.5 lb is about 2.5 lb lighter than the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is Scotland. The coat is described as double, wiry, medium. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.6 points below the group average of 3.6 for the Terrier Group. Shedding scores 2 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 68 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Cardiac Exam, Kidney Ultrasound for Missing Kidney (aplasia) or Deformed Kidney (dysplasia), Ocular Melanosis (OM) Eye Exam, Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy (Terrier) (GLD) - DNA Test, and Liver Portosystemic Vascular Anomaly (PSVA) and Microvascular Dysplasia (MVD). These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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