By Greg Perry

Here's my story about our first cairn, Kula.  She's been a wonderful dog, our first cairn, and the dog instrumental in our passions for cairn terriers. 

We had Terra, our golden retriever for over 12 years.  Terra was so special that after she left us we needed a break, so we went 9 months without a four foot.

Meanwhile, Val would go to the Bay Area around SF to see visit with her Grandmother a couple of times a year.  Her Grandmother had a cairn terrier, George, who Val fell in love with.   

Val approached me about getting a new puppy.  She sold me on cairns.  I agreed and we got Kula for Val for Christmas.  We didn't really have her on Christmas day.  In fact, for Christmas, Kula was a promise.

Right after the New Year, we started searching for a cairn and found some puppies in Yakima.  We had several conversations with the breeder who had puppies that were ready and made the trip over the Cascades to get her.

There were 2 puppies to choose from.  The breeder thought perhaps the other puppy was nicer, but Val zeroed in on Kula like a laser.  It was real life love at first sight.

Kula rode on Val's lap the entire way home.  Complete love developed between the two of them that day.  In fact, outside of sleep, they were always together.  When Val went to her work as a secretary, Kula went with her every day and became the school mascot.

Kula is now 7 years old.  She's still our constant companion.  She has a charm about her that endears her to everyone.  We have two more cairn terriers, and Kula has been their teacher.  If they  get out of line, Kula is there to straighten them out and guide them. 

Val has trained and completed an AKC rally obedience title with Kula and is currently training her in agility.  Last Wednesday evening, Kula had her first group lesson since last September.  She was so happy to be working agility again, she smiled and pranced all the way around the course.

Everyone should have a "heart" dog.  Kula is that for Val.