It’s hard to think of the Cairn Terrier without mentioning Toto, Dorothy’s dog from The Wizard of Oz. Like Toto, Cairns are feisty, intelligent and loyal little dogs who may be small, but are not lacking in bravery.

The Cairn is a native of Scotland and has been around since the 1500’s. They were originally bred for fox hunting and rodent control. The name "Cairn" refers to narrow gaps between rocks, and the breed was particularly adept at squeezing through these gaps to kill rats. These days Cairns are more commonly seen as companion dogs.

Standing just 10 to 13 inches at the withers, and weighing just 18 pounds, the Cairn Terrier is a strong, compact little dog. The face is sharp and fox-like, and the ears small an erect. The coat can be brindle, cream, gray, red, sandy, or wheaten, and is rough and shaggy.

These alert, clever and mischievous dogs have bags of character. They are confident, affectionate and friendly and ideally suited to the role of companion dog. They do well with children, although are not best suited to young kids. You'll also have to supervise them around non-canine pets, particularly rodents, as they still possess a strong prey drive.

Training a Cairn is usually easy. They are eager to please and keen to learn, with a special talent for learning tricks. Males tend to be easier to train than females, but both genders respond well to positive training methods. Shouting or any form of punishment will be ineffective, because they are quite sensitive.

They are also very quick and agile, meaning that they are keen competitors in various canine sports. Cairns do exceptionally well at flyball, agility and obedience trials.

With an average lifespan of between 12 and 15 years, the Cairn is a healthy, robust dog. However, they are not immune to genetic diseases and are known to suffer from progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, hypothyroidism, and entropion. These dogs are also very sensitive to flea bites, so you'll need to take steps to control these pests.

Grooming a Cairn Terrier is fairly easy. They shed very little and require only a good brush down every other day to keep the coat looking its best. The undercoat tends to be quite sensitive so be careful to brush gently. The dog can be bathed monthly and you should also take care to trim the hair around the eyes.

Because of their small size, Cairns can live most anywhere and do well in an apartment. They are however, highly active dogs requiring daily exercise. This should include a walk plus games, as Cairns love to play and are particularly fond of chasing a ball.

Finding good puppy names, for a Cairn Terrier can be a challenge. Your best bet is to use an online dog names database like Puppy Names HQ, which has literally thousands of excellent dog names, including a mega-list of cool dog names.

The Borzoi is an elegant sight hound that originated in Russia around the Middle Ages. Originally bred by crossing Arabian greyhounds with Russian hunting dogs, the Borzoi was used by the aristocracy to hunt wolves, foxes, and hares. These days, the Borzoi is more commonly seen as a companion dog than as a hunter.The breed has much in common with its ancestor, the Greyhound. Both dog's have a slim, athletic build a long muzzle and a domed head. They also share the high-set, widely spaced ears, and the small ears, typical of most sighthounds.

However the coats of the two breeds are significantly different. The Borzoi coat is long, silky and wavy and can be solid or patched in any color Borzois are intelligent, affectionate and gentle dogs who are extremely loyal and form close bonds with their immediate family. In common with other hunting breeds they tend to be independent thinkers and this can make them a challenge to train.

Despite this, Borzois can most certainly be trained. You will however have to be firm and persistent, using a positive reward based training method, like clicker training. These dogs do not respond well to harsh treatment and are also sensitive to voice tone.

These dogs are particularly fastidious and are known to groom like cats. They are also one of the quieter dog breeds, and seldom bark.If you're thinking of getting a Borzoi, you'll have to bear in mind that this is still a hunting dog at heart. The instinct to chase is still very dominant, and they will run after anything that they see as prey. They are astoundingly quick and you'll have absolutely no chance of keeping up with a Borzoi, once he gets going.

Although they are generally friendly dogs, Borzois simply can't help themselves once the hunting instinct kicks in. There is no malice intended, but they will track and hunt small animals, including cats that they have not been socialized with.

This is a healthy dog breed that is seemingly immune to major inherited diseases. Cardiac disease and canine cancers do occur but are rare. In addition, the breed is susceptible to gastric torsion or bloat. Like many sighthounds, the Borzoi is sensitive to anesthetics. The median lifespan for the Borzoi is a short 7-10 years, although some have been known to reach 14 years of age.

As you’d expect with that luxuriant coat the Borzoi requires regular brushing and occasional trimming to keep them looking their best. They are also heavy shedders, especially in the spring when they moult their thick winter undercoat.

Despite their athleticism, exercise needs are medium. Borzois can be real couch potatoes, but still need daily walks.

If you’re looking for a name for your Borzoi, the best advice is to visit a dog names, website. The one that I recommend is Puppy Names HQ, which has a huge database of excellent dog names including 1000s of girl dog names.