HOUSEBREAKING

When a puppy Cairn arrives in its new family, I  encourage a good relationship between the owners and the puppy. I underline the importance of playing with the puppy and the necessity of removing objects in the home and yard that can be dangerous to the puppy Cairn.

Before knowing you, your puppy was living with its brothers and sisters in familiar surroundings.  Upon leaving its littermates, your puppy may be quite insecure.  It is recommended that you acquire your puppy during a weekend or while you are on holidays.  When you get home take the puppy to where you want it to make its toilet.  Encourage it to hurry up and then praise it when it has finished. Then take it into the house, show him his dishes, his cage and his playthings. You must establish areas where the puppy will not be allowed to go. When your Cairn arrives at your home you must be well equiped.  You should have a water bowl, food bowl, a comb, a brush, a claw-cutter, kwik stop (coagulator), shampoo, scissors, strippers, a dog collar and leash for the size of the puppy, a cage and plenty of dog playthings. You must also get through the first night at home.  In order to prevent nocturnal damages ( bed-wetting etc.), remove the water bowl two hours before bedtime and take your puppy out before going to bed.  Your Cairn will sleep in its cage during the four coming months and it must always have free or easy access.  If your Cairn has to sleep in an isolated room, it is recommended to leave your radio on for the first few nights.  If your puppy cries at bedtime, during the night, console or comfort him with your voice but never have him taken out of his cage. Time will pass by and your puppy will accept bedtime easily.  Here's a little advice:

	- Keep all objects that can be destroyed out of reach of your Cairn.
	- Never leave your puppy an old shoe as a plaything, it will never know the difference between an old shoe and a new one that costs $200. Your odor is the same in all shoes.
	- Never let your dog climb up on your lap pretending it is small.  If it tries to bite your hands, tell it not to do so and give him a toy.
	- Never leave your puppy with its collar or a choke collar on during your absence, even if it's in his or her cage.

All these measures are necessary in order for your puppy to become a splendid Cairn and above all an important and appreciated member of your family.  For the cleanliness in the house it is not difficult to teach the dog to go to the door and ask to go out.  I suggest a system that I have been using for the last 20 years.  I hang two bells to a string near the door.  Each time that I take the puppy out I have him ring the bells with its paw and I congradulate him.  After two weeks of training, the puppy will ring the bell alone, when it wants to go out.  It is an easy and practical method for those who have a large house and want to avoid disasters on the door-sill.  The Cairn rapidly acquires the notion, "bell = going outside".  Then the dog will make use of the bells whenever in need of doing so in order to play and/or simply to attract your attention when you are looking at the best TV series of the year.  You have to keep calm and make sure that the dog has done all its needs, then you put the bells away for a few minutes.  Sorry I have to part on these words.  The bells are tingling.