Though we've been raising Norwich Terrier x Cairn Terrier 50/50 cross puppies for a couple of years in the beginning we only had a handful of these wonderful pups available to see if the cross matured to be everything we hoped for before raising more. (And they are everything we hoped for and more).
The idea behind the Norwich Cross is multi-faceted and we're very excited to share these amazing little dogs with the world. Though Cairn Terriers and Norwich Terriers are both incredible breeds on their own (that we also believe should be preserved as purebred dogs) there are many benefits to the cross bred pups to pet homes.
Why Raise Norwich Terrier x Cairn Terrier Cross Puppies:
From the Cairn Terrier Side: Cairn Terriers are wonderful big dogs in little bodies that are cheeky, playful, and thrive in most homes, however, even though they are lower energy than say a Jack Russel Terrier they are still generally higher energy than say a Scottish Terrier. We do have bloodlines that tend to be more calm and suggest those pups to families that is important to or that want great pets but don't lead an active lifestyle. Our "Calmer" Cairn bloodlines are always in high demand, and get rave reviews from families or homes that just don't have the steam to keep a Cain Terrier entertained.
From the Norwich Side: Norwich Terriers are rare, difficult to breed, difficult to find unrelated breeding mates, and difficult to whelp. They often require human intervention to copulate through the use of artificial insemination, and C-Sections to give birth. They have small litter numbers, and rarely give birth to females. All of this has stacked the odds agains the Norwich Terrier breed for long term sustainability. Because the bloodlines have been so bottle necked in the Norwich Terrier breed they are much more likely to have brachiocephalic issues (Shortened wind pipe/stressed breathing) along with a plethora of other problems. With all of these problems why would we want to strengthen and preserve a crossed line?
Because Norwich Terriers are generally wonderful pets. They are loyal and doting, and maintain that love able terrier character we have all come to love. Our Norwich Terriers have proven to have a better recall than the average Cairn Terrier, and an even more placid demeanor than the jovial Cairn.
In Summary Why They Make Great Pets
The Norwich x Cairn Terrier cross puppies are a bit calmer than the average Cairn Terrier and have potential to also be smaller. If they inherit the hard coat they may also be easier to groom. The Norwich Terriers have different coat variations than Cairns and it is possible the puppies could have fun "new" coat variations vs. what is seen in a purebred Cairn. They are a favorite of both homes with young children and older homes that want a trustworthy loving pet. Though both breeds bring a lot of magic to the table on their own, we think the cross is a great option for many families.
The Future
Eventually we plan that our cross program will have 3/4 Norwich 1/4 Cairn puppies available. We are probably 1 year at the time of this writing from that dream being a reality, but it gives us something to strive towards. The same qualities of temperament, conformation, health, etc. are our main priorities while aiming for the smaller size of the Norwich Terrier and "Hard Coats" that are much easier to groom than what is often seen in Cairn Terrier Coats today. The Hard Coat is also something we would like to focus on in our AKC Cairns, but is exceedingly rare and can't be prioritized over more important factors such as temperament.

