Slovak Cuvac vs Cairland Terrier - Breed Comparison

The Cairland Terrier is a cross between the Cairn Terrier and the West Highland White Terrier. It simply means that if you own a Cairland, you’re going to get a little bit of each dog in him.

This hybrid is a new breed which means you’re not going to get too much documented history on the dog. A tough little hunter of fox and otter, the Cairnland is thought to hail from Scotland.

Looking quite a bit like the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, the Slovak Cuvac is a large dog that has served as a guard dog. The Slovensky Cuvac is still used on sheep farms as he isn’t afraid of wolves and bears and will take them on if needs be.

Records of this dog have been kept since the 17th century already, and when the breed started dying out, a certain Dr Antonin Hruza put in efforts to revive the dog.

The registered breeding of the Slovensky Cuvac was established in Czechoslovakia and a club for the dog was established in 1933. A written standard was established in 1964. The dog is not recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.

The Cairland Terrier is a small dog standing anything between 20 and 35cm in height and weighing in at roughly 4 to 10kg. He has short legs, a compact little body, while being muscled and strong. He has small erect ears with a shortish upright tail.

The color of the medium length coat can be fairly varied which means brown, black, cream, fawn, brindle or even white from the Westie. The dog has two coats with the topcoat being fairly harsh, coarse and straight to slightly wavy while the undercoat is soft.

When it comes to temperament, the Cairland Terrier is social and feisty with a high self-esteem. He has a strong personality and can be somewhat stubborn but he is a great friend of children in the home. He just loves to take part in all their games.

With training and socialization which he undergoes easily, he will get on well with other pets too, although he can become aggressive with other dogs in his territory.

This is a large dog standing at between 59 and 70cm in height and weighing between 31 and 44kg.

The neck is broad and has quite a bit of fur around it. The head is large, the eyes dark brown, the double coat is white and thick and medium length. The eyes are brown, the ears medium length and floppy and the tail long and furry.

He has well-muscled limbs and is fairly agile for such a large dog.

Temperament:

This is a robust dog, used to spending time outdoors keeping watch over livestock. When he is invited into the home, he is gentle and well behaved, more so when he has been trained and socialized.

He is loving and loyal towards his human family and will get on well with children in the home. He isn’t the brightest dog but you can still have him trained.

Terriers are dogs that are full of character and self-confidence, and your Cairland Terrier is no different. These small dogs in the Terrier group don’t actively look for a fight with other dogs, but if they are provoked, they aren’t intimidated and will give bigger dogs a piece of their mind. They make splendid pets and will always be ready for a game.

Make sure that your Cairland Terrier remains the feisty little character he is by making sure he gets well looked after. Dogs aren’t known as man’s best friend for nothing, and in exchange for the care you give your Terrier, you’ll be rewarded by a loyal and devoted friend.

Your playful Slovak Cuvac is an affectionate dog, wanting nothing more than to be totally involved in his family’s life.

He is social and loving and also makes an excellent watchdog. He’s a big dog so think carefully before you bring him into your home. Many dog owners like the look of a big dog and forget that it costs a lot of money to feed a big dog and to pay for vet fees.

This big dog is wanting to be part of your family and not just to be discarded when you find that he is costing you too much.

Your Cairland is a tough, feisty little dog and you’re not going to find yourself constantly having to take him to the vet. However even healthy dogs can be affected by ill health, and we look at a couple of illness you want to watch for with your Terrier.

Diarrhoea:

This can be brought on by a change in diet. Usually you can keep food away from your pet for 24 hours, allowing the stomach to empty and to settle. However, if there is blood in the diarrhoea or your dog is vomiting, then veterinary advice must be sought.

Hay Fever:

Just like humans, a dog can have an allergy to pollen where you see watering of the eyes as well as sneezing. This is because of inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nose. Your vet can ease the problem for your pet.

This is a healthy dog breed, but as with many large dogs, hip dysplasia is a threat. Hip dysplasia is always reason for concern as the condition can reduce a dog’s quality of life.

It is distressing seeing your once active pet becoming reluctant to play and move around.

Canine hip dysplasia is a common skeletal condition. It can strike any size dog but is more prevalent with large dogs. The ball and socket of the hip doesn’t fit properly and deterioration sets in resulting in loss of function of the joint.

You will need to get your dog to the vet who will perform a physical exam and discuss treatments to alleviate the pain your dog can experience.

Grooming:

Because the Cairland Terrier is a hybrid breed, the coat can be wiry or soft, but it’s a low maintenance coat. He will need to be brushed twice a week. Some people take their Cairland to have the coat professionally trimmed while others buy a special stripping tool and they strip the hair a couple of times a year.

Dental Care:

Small dogs are prone to dental disease, so you will need to brush your Cairland’s teeth at least two or three times a week. Dental disease is a serious problem with dogs and it won’t only affect the teeth and gums but it can result in infection which can contribute to organ failure. Periodontal disease is always a big problem with little dogs. If you’re not sure how to go about looking after your dog’s teeth, you can always take your dog to the vet for dental check-ups and cleaning.

◆The thick white hair will require regular grooming to keep it free from burrs and dirt. He sheds so this brushing will help him to look more groomed.

◆The nails should be trimmed regularly and the ears too should be checked for redness and infection. You’ll need to look inside his mouth too as a rotting tooth can cause havoc within his body. A rotten tooth can also cause him tremendous pain and he has no way of telling you this.

◆Have your pet spayed or neutered if you don’t want any puppies. This is better for your dog’s health in the long run too.

◆Your Slovak Cuvac is going to need a lot of exercise as they have always been used to roaming the mountains watching over livestock.

◆This is a big dog so if you buy commercially manufactured food, make sure its for large, energetic dogs. There are good commercially manufactured dog foods on the market – just make sure you buy the best one for your pet to enhance health and longevity.

Try and give him some home made food too. Healthy food which won’t jeopardise his digestion is boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots. These can all be chopped up and small portions mixed into the dry kibble twice a week as a treat.

Try and include some raw meat occasionally. Your dog will thank you for not giving him exotic people foods which can do lots of harm. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water within his reach.