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Cairn Terrier

Cairn Terrier genetic profile from the CanVAS Atlas. 120 dogs in the Atlas, heterozygosity 0.31. Nearest relatives, trait loci frequencies, cohort distribution.

What the atlas says about Cairn Terrier

In the atlas, the Cairn Terrier clusters consistently as Cairn Terrier (100% of the 120 dogs here). At the trait loci, FGF4_retrogene_CFA18 runs lower than average (8% here vs 77%); HMGA2 runs lower than average (1% here vs 56%).

High breed predictability score (1.15), individual dogs of this breed reliably cluster together genetically.

Closest genetic neighbors in the atlas: West Highland White Terrier, Fox Terrier Wire, Scottish Terrier, Norwich Terrier, and Miniature Schnauzer.

Genetic dimensions · CanVAS atlas

What the genome says about Cairn Terrier

Computed from the 14,478 research dogs in the Atlas. Methods: technical methodology.

Dogs in the Atlas
120Founders
91 from Shannon, 18 from Hayward2016, 10 from Spatola
Genetic diversity
0.31Moderate
Mean heterozygosity across the breed. Ranks 50th most genetically tight of 107 ranked breeds.
Cluster structure
Splits into two genetic sub-populations
Intra-breed RMS distance: 34.84 · likely working/show-line, regional, or kennel lineage split.
Nearest genetic relatives
  1. West Highland White Terrier6.66
  2. Fox Terrier Wire8.15
  3. Scottish Terrier8.72
  4. Norwich Terrier14.90
  5. Miniature Schnauzer16.33
Top-10 PC corrected Euclidean. Lower = closer.
Trait genetics
Allele frequencies at named morphology loci

Frequency of the alternate allele in this breed at each locus's representative SNP. Methods + caveats in technical methodology.

Body size
IGF190%
HMGA21%
SMAD222%
LCORL100%
STC287%
ADAMTS1796%
Leg length
FGF4·CFA188%
FGF4·CFA1267%
Coat
RSPO2100%
FGF590%
KRT7198%
MC1R84%
Ear set
MSRB370%
Skull shape
BMP347%
SMOC284%
Add your Cairn Terrier to the Atlas

You can add your Cairn Terrier right now at /add/ as a Charted star. Or, if you'd rather wait for DNA uploads, leave your email and we'll let you know the moment those open.

Last updated
Sources: CanVAS (Brundage 2026) · CanVAS dimensions data