To increase the probability that you buy a healthy puppy that is sound in mind and body, contact a reputable show breeder from the list of breeders in your area on the Cairn Terrier Club of America website: www.cairnterrier.org Both the buyer and seller of a puppy have responsibilities.

For the buyer:

1. Ask what health screenings have been done on the sire and the dam of this litter.

2. Have any tests been done on the puppies themselves?

3. Ask what kind of health guarantee the breeder provides.

4. Ask if the breeder plans to mentor puppy buyers in grooming, feeding, etc.

5. Are you willing to continue to feed, groom, and train this puppy as the breeder asks of you?

For the seller:

1. To ensure the puppy’s future health and success with its family, the breeder should interview and meet all of the family members. Every single member of the family must want this puppy.

2. Does the home include a large, securely fenced back yard?

3. How many children are in the family? What are their ages?

4. Is someone at home with the puppy during the day? If not, then is the family willing to invest in “Doggy Day Care”?

5. Is the family eager to enroll their new charge in Puppy Kindergarten and then go on to agility, fly ball, earthdog trials, etc.?

6. The breeder should offer to take back the dog at any time in its life should its family experience an emergency situation that prevents keeping the dog.

7. The breeder should also provide hard copies of all test results done on the puppy itself or its sire and dam.
        If the Cairn develops a life threatening, genetic disease during its lifetime, the breeder should replace that dog free of charge from his/her next litter.
        Two licensed and unaffiliated veterinarians should confirm the diagnosis as genetic in origin.

8. Extensive mentoring in grooming, feeding, handling tips, etc. should be provided by the breeder.