My sister has had two Cairn terriers. Originally, the Cairn was used as a hunting dog, to eradicate rats, otters, fox and wild cats. The Cairn terrier didn't become an official breed until 1910.

Ideally, the Cairn is supposed to be brave, cheerful and have a great deal of self confidence, though not be aggressive. It used to have a coat that was relatively easy to groom, but lately, breeders more focused on show results than function and companionship have changed the coat quality.

The West Highland White terrier is closely related to the Cairn and the Scottish terrier. Like the name says, it's always white. Westies are usually tough, nice and full of self confidence. The one I got as a child was a very interesting and unusual dog, but she never liked me. After only a few weeks, she'd forced mom to take her on as her own dog.

When she grew up, she turned out to be a very unique dog. She seemed to be telepathic. If, without saying anything, or even glancing in the direction of the leash or the front door, you began to think about maybe taking the dog out for a walk, she began to bark encouragingly. This is true. If she wanted something, it would usually 'fall down' to the floor. Not just if it was within her reach, but otherwise too. How did she do it? I have no idea.

She lived to be very old and she stayed healthy and agile for a long time. At the age of 12 she lost one eye. The vet was reluctant to operate on such an old dog, but after listening to the heartbeat, she didn't hesitate anymore. At the age of 18 the westie fell asleep and never woke up again.

Scotties seem to be adorable. Their ancestry can be traced back to 16 century Scotland. The dog today known as the Scottish terrier, was bred and developed in and around Aberdeen, and for a while that was what the breed was called, unofficially - Aberdeen terriers. The Scottie is supposed to have a strong personality and a lot of charm. It's adaptable and not destructive at all.

Terriers can be a handful. They're tough, have a cool attitude, but they're also a bit loud and aggressive. Also, I find that grooming a terrier is more difficult than grooming a longhaired dog. But despite that, they have a very special charm.