Serbian Tricolour Hound vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison

The Serbian Tricolour Hound was once known as the Yugoslavian Tricolour Hound. It’s a rare dog breed that you won’t find much outside of the Balkans.

These dogs were bred for hunting in packs but in these more modern times they are more of a companion dog.

It is thought that the Serbian Tricolour Hound was a variant of the Serbian Hound until 1946 when a separate breed standard was established. It was recognized by the Federation Cynologique Internationale in 1961.

The Cairn Terrier originates in the Scottish Highlands. This feisty little dog was given the name Cairn, as he used to hunt prey between the Scottish cairns. At first the dog was grouped as a ‘Skye Terrier’way back in the 1900s with the Scottish and West Highland White Terrier. Then the different breeds began to be bred separately.

The name Cairn Terrier didn’t appear in print till 1887. It was in 1912 that the Kennel Club of the United Kingdom recognized the Cairn Terrier.

The Serbian Tricolour Hound is a medium sized dog standing at between 44 to 55cm in height and weighing in the region of 20 to 25kg.

He is a strong, muscular, solidly built dog with a rounded skull and longish muzzle. The ears of this dog are long and floppy and the long, curved tail hangs down but is held high when the dog is excited.The dog has a short, glossy coat which is essentially a rusty color. There is quite a lot of black with some white on the coat too.

Temperament:

Loving and loyal, this dog was once used for hunting and he has learned to listen carefully to- and respond well to his owner.

He loves his human family and makes a great family pet. He gets on well with the kids, loving to take part in their games. He is intelligent and with training and socialization he is obedient, well balanced and well mannered.

Friendly and social, all he wants is to be with his human family, but even so he is better suited to life with a family who lives on a large property in the suburbs or countryside as opposed to living in the city.

Temperament:

The small sturdily built working Terrier is intelligent and courageous. Bright-eyed, he is small and active and he just loves to work- and party hard with his human family. You’ll see if you’ve got a ball you want to throw for him, his tail is quivering in anticipation and his ears are erect and alert to any noise. He is smart, independent and courageous.

Coat of Many Colors:

The Cairn Terrier has a tough, weather-resistant coat that can be any color but not white. He has a waterproof double coat – the outer one being wiry while the undercoat is soft. You’ll find the coat in man colours such as grey, black, red and brindle with dark points on the ears and muzzle.

The interesting thing with a Cairn is that when you get a puppy, you can’t be sure what color he will end up being as it changes over the years. The ears are fox-like, small and erect, and the natural medium-to-short tail is held straight out.

The Serbian Tricolour Hound is a loving, loyal, active, devoted breed that loves his human family, wanting to be involved in all the activities they’re involved in.

He is somewhat reserved with strangers but training and socialization helps to make him well behaved around them and it means you can take him with you wherever you go as he is well behaved.

These Serbian dogs make splendid pets, and if you take good care of yours, he will provide you with unconditional love.

The Cairn Terrier is a fearless, jaunty little dog, known for his courageous spirit and inquisitive nature. He may be small, but he is stubborn. He will respond well to training and socialization which will turn him into the most awesome pet for families. He can make a wonderful friend and playmate for children too. Socialization and training ensures he gets on well with other pets in the household too.

He is small and energetic, and therefore not the kind of dog you can ignore in terms of exercise. He’ll need a good walk every day and he just loves to chase a ball as it takes him back to the days when he was used to chasing- and catching mice.

He isn’t your typical lap-dog at all and with the right care he becomes a devoted, loyal and loving companion.

The Serbian Tricolour Hound is such a healthy dog breed and with the right nutrition and exercise can reach 12 to 15 years of age. He is a rare dog breed so there isn’t a whole lot of information available about his health.

There are always going to be those common dog illnesses that many dogs succumb to. Some of them are hip dysplasia, cancer, skin problems and parasites.

Ear Infections:

With his floppy ears, check out the insides of his ears to ensure there are no signs of redness and ear discharge.

Hip Dysplasia:

Hip dysplasia is a condition where parts of the hip joints don’t fit properly together. This creates a situation where there is abnormal wear and tear on the joints. It can lead to arthritis even and pain for your dog.

Parasites – Tapeworm, Fleas ad Ticks:

The tapeworm is a parasite spread to dogs but also to people and it is through the ingestion of infected fleas. You can often detect this when you discover parts of the worm crawling in your dog’s bowel movements.

Check your dog over for ticks and fleas too when you brush him as these can lead to other illnesses such as tick bite fever.

The Cairn Terrier is a robust little dog, and with good care can reach 14 years of age and even older. However, with every dog breed there are some health concerns particular to that breed. With your Cairn Terrier look out for a disease known as Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GCL).

Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GCL)

Known also as Krabbe Disease, Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) is a rare but fatal disease. It is caused by a mutation on the dog’s DNA. There is abnormal processing of an enzyme needed for the production of myelin, a substance that protects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. The dog is weak, it has tremors and isn’t co-ordinated. The Cairn Terrier is a breed of dog more susceptible to GCL.

Bone and joint diseases

Your Cairn Terrier may well suffer with joint diseases. These diseases, such as luxating patella which is about loose knee joints, and hip dysplasia which is a degenerative hip disease, can cause plenty of pain and discomfort for your pet.

Eye Diseases

Glaucoma is an eye disease where there is pressure on the eye, causing inadequate fluid drainage. Without treatment, there can be damage to the optic nerve which can lead to blindness.

The short, shiny coat of the Serbian Tricolor Hound will require nothing more than a good brush twice a week to keep the coat nice and smooth. You can even take a damp cloth and wipe the coat over with it to remove dust.

Exercise:

Provide your dog with a regular amount of exercise every day. Dogs become sad and unhealthy when they’re just stuck in the back yard and left on their own. Take him for walks each day and throw a ball for him to fetch. Simple little games like this will keep him happy as he loves to spend time with you.

Vaccines:

Keep your dogs vaccines up to date to avoid deadly diseases.

Diet:

Only the very best food is good enough for a dog. Dry kibble is excellent and convenient but try and feed your dog some home-made food too. Avoid spicy, exotic foods as this can upset your dog’s digestive system. Speak to your vet if you’re unsure how to feed your dog to ensure his good health and longevity.

Grooming:

The Cairn Terrier sheds very little and the coat is easy to groom. Give him a thorough brushing twice a week to rid him of loose hairs. Some trimming will be needed as the coat can become shaggy and unruly.

Brush his teeth at least 2 or 3 times a week to prevent tartar build up that can lead to bacteria, gum disease and possible tooth loss.

Diet:

The Cairn Terrier is small but he is an active dog and therefore needs to be on a high-quality dog food. If you feed him a commercially manufactured food, make sure its appropriate to his age, size and activity levels.

He is a small dog so you want to be careful about not letting him become overweight. Try and alternate his commercially manufactured food with some home-made rice, vegetables and meat and also include some raw meat in from time to time. This is of particular importance as chronic skin allergies are common in all terrier breeds. Make sure that there is always a clean bowl of fresh water available to him day and night.