I visited a Cairn Terrier breeder who claimed a dog for sale, 1.5 years, was a retired and trained show dog. The dog does not respond to the word sit and pulls on the leash while walking, even on short leash. Apparently the dog had walked for half an hour that day beforehand.
Is this expected behaviour?
It's quite common for show dogs not to be taught "sit": the thinking is that if you teach "sit", they learn that it's a normal behavior, and you don't ever want a dog to sit at the wrong moment in the show ring, like when the judge approaches the dog for the examination, or when they're taking the final look at all the dogs in the ring. (Some people teach "stand", since reinforcing a desired behavior can be easier than eliminating an undesired one.)
"Retired" means only that the owner has decided not to show the dog any more; it doesn't really imply anything about success or lack of it in the show ring.
With regards to the pulling, the show environment is going to be very different from what the dog is used to: strange location, lots of strange dogs around, possibly a strange human at the other end of the leash, possibly a different leash (show leashes tend to have a narrow thin collar so as not to interfere with the judge's view of the dog).
Anecdotal evidence for the last: I have a dog that would behave perfectly until the moment I stepped into the show ring, then would start pulling as strongly as he could, arching his back and choking just as the judge was getting their first impression of all the dogs. Another dog was perfect in the show ring on a show leash, but she's a chore to walk on her normal flat collar because she'll pull for the first 15 to 20 minutes before settling down.
in response to "Cairn Terrier breeder who claimed a dog for sale, 1.5 years, was a retired and trained show dog."
I am a pro dog walker (for a decade), mostly off lead now. Like some people have alluded to, Terriers do have strong wills. They are NOT stubborn, they are doing what they were evolved to do. They are great hunters, and love to dig and hunt vermin. This means that they were bred to be independent. That said, once you train a hunting dog, properly, consistently, regularly. They can become one of the best 'trained dogs' around.
Unless you put the hours in, and do it regularly, they will figure stuff out for themselves and resist change, because they dont see you as their leader, just the feeder and friend.
Also be very aware that any small breed dog will still often be considered a puppy between 0 and 4 years of age. With age, can come some level of maturity. But when young puppies love to play and sleep and explore. Your training has to be in small pieces. I would recommend any reputable volunteer training group in your area to achieve this, and do it with them at least weekly. Your own training with your dog should be for short periods, several times per day, with rewards.
I also know that not all show dogs are trained to voice command. Some are just for aesthetic show of code and physical traits, not doing tasks.
Cairn Terriers can be great pets, but do take substantial time, and patience initially to get them to listen consistently. Good luck on your journey.
