Breed Notes 7 November 2026
Delegates from all 6 UK Breed Clubs attended the meeting of the Cairn Terrier Breed Council at Greens Norton on 27 September.
The following was discussed –
1. New CC winners
Owners of first time CC winners were reminded that this form should be completed as soon as possible after the win. The form can be found on the CTBC website at https://cairnterrierbreedcouncil.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/First-CC-request.pdf and should be sent to Linda Saich (Breed Historian). Year Book editors should try and include a mention of this in their Year Books.
2. New Trimming Leaflet
This is now on the Breed Council website at https://cairnterrierbreedcouncil.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/How-to-trim-your-Cairn-Terrier.pdf
3. Eye Testing
• Sue Manning BVSc (Hons) DVOphthal MRCVS will be giving a presentation on Cairn Terrier’s Eye Health in the lunch interval at the Midland CTC’s Championship Show on 6 December.
• There was a discussion on DNA Testing Kits available from the Cairn Terrier Club of America and a further meeting of the CTHWG would be held to discuss this further but it was agreed that CTHWG funds be used to purchase kits.
4. Financial position
The balances held by the CTBC and the CTHWG were notified to the meeting. The meeting was pleased to learn that the CTHG had received income from Frances Goldfinch (sale of the late Alma Smee’s memorabilia) and that there was an indication that a donation would be received from the Cairn Terrier Club.
5. Cairn Terrier Health & Welfare Group (CTHWG)
a) The committee (2 per Breed Club) –
Cairn Terrier Cub – Joan Percy & Pam Gardner
Midland CTC – Sarah Munday & Alison Waites
Cairn Terrier Assoc. – Joanne Johnson (Secretary) & Jackie Jones
S W & WOE CTC – Maggie Shopland & Geoff Thomas (since elected as Chair)
SCTC – Linda & Karen Saich
NOI CTC – to be decided.
The helpers – Heather Young, Janet Sinclair, Sharon Confue, Jo Smith, Gwynne Wright & Daphne Purvis
b) Draft constitution to be finalised.
c) Further fund raising to be discussed by the Group
d) Venue for future Eye Testing sessions to be explored.
6. Breed Education Co-ordinator
a) The number of Observations and Mentoring session undertaken in 2026 was notified to the meeting. Geoff Thomas to be added to list of Mentors and Lynda Hughes to list of Observers
b) From 1 January 2027 Judging Lists will no longer be maintained by the Breed Council. Instead there would be a link to RKC Find A Judge site. ( https://www.royalkennelclub.com/search/find-a-judge/) BEC to follow up with RKC to see if Breed Specialists could be identified on this site. Judges no longer judging would be required to notify RKC.
c) Training Day organised by Dawn Inett and Ann Waugh 18 September. Dawn’s report was read to the meeting and the day had proved successful.
d) Changes to Judges Education Programme –
• A3 assessments undertaken before 31/12/25 can now be used instead of Breed Specific Assessment
• MCE can now be taken before all other Level 1 criteria met
• L2 judges will be limited to 10 breeds until achieving L4 status in one breed.
• New L5 judges, and existing L5 judges for newly recognised breeds, will be able to achieve L2 status for breeds in their respective group by attending a Breed Appreciation Day (BAD) and passing a Multiple-choice Exam (MCE).
e) Breed Appreciation Day 11 April 2027 at Green Norton – arrangements were discussed.
7. Breed Notes & Our Dogs
It was agreed that Linda Firth would continue to write these and include them on the CTBC website.
8. Competition Awards & Our Dogs
Hopefully the competition would continue for 2026. Geoff Thomas agreed to devise a system for the BC to run on the BC website for 2027, to be finalised.
9. Date of next meeting
Date to be advised.
Please don’t forget that entries close on 16 November for the Midland Cairn Terrier Club’s Championship Show to be held on 6 December. The show is a Memorial Show for the late Jack Watson, who had served as Chairman and then President since the club was formed in 1981. A generous member who wishes to remain anonymous has kindly donated the sum of £100 in memory of Jack, this member described Jack as a “True terrier man” and I doubt that there is anyone who would disagree with that.
The committee has decided that the best way to celebrate Jack’s life is to share memories from a few friends over a glass of bubbly and some cake, kindly made by Sue McHale, committee member. So please come and join us. The celebration will take place in the lunch break, after the talk by Sue Manning on the Cairn’s eye health and just before judging recommences.
We have some beautiful memorial glass trophies to present to BIS, BOS and BPIS, they are really lovely and have been presented by the club. Cherry Davies, a close friend of Jack’s for many years has also donated £20 to BIS, £10 to BOS and £10 to BPIS. Dawn Inett has kindly donated £5 to the winners of all the Puppy classes and Shirley Watson has kindly offered a Pollyana Pickering framed print for Best Veteran in Show.
There are no online entries for this show so please post early as the post is not too reliable these days.
The booking form for the Breed Appreciation Day to be held at Greens Norton on 11 April 2027 is now available and can be found at https://cairnterrierbreedcouncil.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/BAD-booking-form-11-April-2027.pdf
Please note that even if you have not fully completed Level 1 you are still eligible to sit the Multiple Choice Exam and if you pass this on the day then you can go on to do the Group Mentoring Session. This is a recent change introduced by the Royal Kennel Club. Obviously places will be limited so please book early.
Linda Firth
Cairn Terrier Breed Notes 27 October 2026
I have some important news regarding Ocular Melanosis in Cairns from the Cairn Terrier Health and Welfare Group.
“The positive news that Dr Simon-Petersen-Jones’ research team at Michigan State University, USA, has developed a marker DNA test for the commonest form of Ocular Melanosis in Cairn Terriers, is great news for all Cairn owners.
The Foundation of The Cairn Terrier Club of America, who has done so much for funding this research, are now offering DNA test kits at a subsidised price.
The CTH&W Group have purchased 75 DNA kits at the discounted rate to offer to Cairn breeders that are resident in the Uk and members of one of the six national breed clubs.
This test is not a definitive test for OM but the marker test will help breeders make critical decisions about which dogs to use for breeding and also to identify young dogs that may go on to develop OM.
To fully understand more about this disease and the benefits of this test we recommend following the link to the project web page: https://cvm.msu.edu/research/faculty/comparative-ophthalmology/petersen-jones-laboratory/ocular-melanosis-om-in-dogs or through the Facebook page of the Foundation of The Cairn Terrier Club of America.
To enable the CTH&W Group to distribute these DNA kits fairly amongst Cairn owners we would ask people that would like to purchase kits to initially show an interest as to how many they would like to purchase and reply to our secretary to gauge the level of interest.
We anticipate that the kits will cost between £30-£40 with funds assisting further research.
Please reply with a show of interest to;
Joanne Yates-Johnson (Hon secretary) joanne.johnson17@btinterent.com by 8th December 2026.
Most of the 2027 championship show judges of Cairns have now been announced. 23 have been announced, 15 non specialists, 5 first of these are first time CC judges in our breed. 8 specialists have been named with only 1 first timer, 6 are left to be announced.
The judges are Manchester – Mrs M Hogarty, Crufts – Mrs L Saich, Scottish Breeds – Mr P R Eardley, Cairn Terrier Club – Mrs P Clarke, National Terrier – Mrs J Percy, WELKS – Mr D Pearson, SKC 1st show – Mr J Horswell, SKC 2nd show – Mrs G Wright*, Bath – Mr J Finney,
Southern Counties – Mrs E A Ingram, Three Counties – Mrs S Kinton, Border Union – Mr M Oxley, Windsor – Mr T J Ball*, Southern CTC – Mrs L Firth, Paignton – Mr C Powell,
Bournemouth – Ms F Snook*, Welsh Kennel Club – Mr B Aubrey, Driffield – Mr J J Ashe,
Darlington – Miss J T Singh*, North of Ireland CTC – Mrs J Eyeington*, Richmond – Mr M Walshaw, Cairn Terrier Association – Miss S F Confue, Midland C.T.C. – Mrs J Petts, LKA – Miss V Cox*.
All first time judges are marked with an asterisk. I am not surprised at these statistics, although I do think it is a sad state of affairs when non specialists outnumber specialist appointments by such a large margin. The new JEP has made it so much easier for non specialists to get passed by the RKC. But whilst ever there is a lack of interest by Cairn people in judging our breed then this trend will continue. As Breed Education Co-ordinator for our breed I wish more Cairn people would start on the judging ladder. I am there to help wherever I can.
In this connection I can now give you some more details about the BAD schedule for 11 April 2027. It will be held at Greens Norton, Towcester Road, Greens Norton, NN12 8BA. The day will start with the Breed Talk by Ann Waugh and this will be followed by some informal mentoring. After lunch (bring your own) the Multiple Choice Exam will take place. The criteria for taking this exam has now changed and the participants need not have completed all the stages of Level 1 before they take the exam. Group Mentoring will be the final activity and only Level 2 judges can register for this. The booking form will be available on Facebook and the Cairn Terrier Breed Council website in due course.
Now news of some changes announced by the RKC – “The Board has considered the recommendation that from 2029 to 2032 Birmingham Dog Show Society, Scottish Kennel Club and Welsh Kennel Club be allocated Challenge Certificates for all eligible breeds and be recognised as the three National Shows, alongside Crufts retaining its separate and distinctive position as the Royal Kennel Club’s flagship dog show. The Board agreed to approve the recommendation.
As part of this decision, the existing designations of All-Breed Championship Shows and Representative Shows will be replaced with the new designation of National Shows, with the relevant supporting documentation and Regulations amended accordingly.
The Royal Kennel Club (RKC) is taking forward the Judges Education Programme (JEP) Review recommendation to extend judging appointment intervals.
Following further consideration and listening to feedback, the changes will be introduced in two stages:
From 1 January 2029: Championship-level Group and Best in Show judging intervals will increase from 9 to 12 months.
From 1 January 2030: Level 4 Challenge Certificate (CC) judging intervals will increase from 18 to 24 months.
This phased approach will give judges and show organisers time to adjust and plan ahead.
Show organisers are asked to take these changes into account when planning future judging appointments.”
I am not sure I fully understand the paragraph which reads “As part of this decision, the existing designations of All-Breed Championship Shows and Representative Shows will be replaced with the new designation of National Shows, with the relevant supporting documentation and Regulations amended accordingly.” But no doubt it will all become clear with the passage of time.
I think it is quite good news about the extension from 18 months to 2 years. I don’t think an increase of 9 to 12 months is sufficient for Group and Best in Show judges though.
Linda Firth
Cairn Terrier Breed Notes 20 October 2026
I was sorry to learn that Our Dogs was no longer and surprised to have several Cairn people asking me to continue with the notes. I have agreed to do them for a trial period to see if there is any demand for them.
It has been a very busy few weeks. We did enjoy our trip to Montgomery and I have already posted the marked up catalogue on Facebook. It was a shame that judging day was the one day when it rained but it couldn’t be helped. We had visited Montgomery before, first as long ago as 1984 and then again in 2018 but this was the first time for us at this particular showground. It was nice to meet up with the three amigos, Mick Oxley, Mark Walshaw and Richard Allen were visiting also, to watch Mark judge the Bedlingtons.
I had a lovely entry of 87 Cairns with 25 of them being “specials”, i.e. all US Champions in the Best of Breed Class. My overall winner was a third time BOB at Montgomery – Elisabeth Thoedorsson’s Ch Hjohoo’s Yes Hjo Can (Ch Cairngold Chico JW x Hjohoo’s Take My Breath Away). Best Opposite went to Dayle Reynolds’ GCHS Ch Stonebridge Autumn Afternoon Delight (GCHS Ch Hjohoo’s Hjo Are Simply The Best x Ch Stonebridge Winds West. Select Dog (equivalent to Reserve Dog) was GCHG Beatus Amadeus Arbor Vitae and Select Bitch Ch Cobbelstone’s Golden Songbird. Winners Dog and Best of Winners was Stonehavens Lover Boy and Winners Bitch Quarrydene’s Soaring Ahead. I enjoyed myself (you wouldn’t know if from the photo of BOB!) and was kept on the straight and narrow by my two wonderful stewards. It was nice to see Lydia Hutchinson, Peggy Biesel and John and Barbars Kornylo there. Thank you to the Cairn Terrier Club of America for a well run show and to the exhibitors who had travelled many miles to be there.
Afterwards we were fortunate enough to be taken by our long standing friend, Karen Smith, to see Chicago on Broadway, the Statue of Liberty and do the 911 memorial tour which ended with a visit to the 911 museum. A very sobering and once in a lifetime experience. Then we ended up in Connecticut where we had a meal with Karen’s family and local resident, Joe Vernuccio.
The 9 days seemed to fly and we were no sooner home than found ourselves at the MCTC’s Fun Day at Newstead. This was again very well attended and I think the judges Janet Sinclair and Brenda Shannon enjoyed themselves. Brenda said it was harder to judge than Crufts!
The following weekend was the South Wales & West of England CTC’s Championship Show at Lydney, a beautiful venue. There was a good entry of 65 for judge Ann Waugh. BIS & DCC was Marie Hogarty’s Ch/Ir Ch Cadagio That’s What I Like (Ch/Fin/Ir Ch Cadagio Another Day in Paradise x Cadagio This Is Me). This was his 8th CC.
RDCC was Jo Lamb & the late Bernard Saltmarsh’s Tycadno Shining Star Around Macmoon JW (Ch Tom Trick’s Jocan Ty Cadno x Tycadno Stardust). This was his 5th RCC.
BOS/RBIS & BCC was Tina Griffiths’ Ch You’re So Bossy Seglavi with Wonderpaws (Imp Pol) (Pol Ch That’s A Power Play Seglavi x You Know Me and You Don’t Seglavi). This was her 4th CC. RBCC was the Firth’s Glenrood Silent Whisperer at Cairngold (Ch Cairngold Chico JW x Ch Whispers at Dawn at Glenrood. This was her 4th RCC.
Best Puppy in Show was the bitch, Joanne Johnson’s Pendley Olivia (Ch Cairngold Chico JW x Ch Pendley Sea Breeze), Best Baby Puppy in Show was Colin and Linda Saich’s Lindcoly Golden Spirit NAF (Lindcoly Austen Powers x Lindcoly Dark Spirit) and Best Veteran Ruth Parker Tucker’s Ch Uniquecottage Grey Borage (Uniquecottage Grey Balm x Kalan Coriander of Uniquecottage).
Linda Firth