The Cairmar Kennels of Joe and Betty Marcum originated in 1969, with the purchase of Brightridge Sandboy.  Betty spent 18 long months attempting to learn to show and groom the Cairn.  After a very disappointing outing at the Texas Kennel Club, Sandboy was turned over to Bernard Owens, a handler, who within weeks was putting breed wins and group placements on the dog.  Our second acquisition was Ch. Tradorohg's Connamarah, from Mildred Bryant.  "Stormie", already the dam of 3 champions when purchased, gave Cairmar 9 more for a total of 12 champions.

Acting upon the advice of several breeders, we at Cairmar tried to pick a type and then acquired dogs of that type.  The acquisition of Caithness Periwinkle and later Caithness Barnabas provided the spark that became Cairmar.  Barnabas produced 33 champions total, including 6 champions by Tradorohg's Connamarah.

Betty is a student and read everything she could acquire.  The Longworth Shepherd breeding theory, "let the sire of the sire be the grandsire on the dam's side, was the foundation of Cairmar Kennels.

After the purchase of Tradorohg's Connamarah, we became acquainted with her breeder, Dorothy Higgins, who earned the first CDX on a Cairn, Ch. Tradorohg's Dunstan Claymore.  The common ancestor of note of Dunstan Claymore and Barnabas was CH. Caithness Fays Falcon.  For a short period of time, Dunstan Claymore lived at Cairmar and we were fortunate to have several litters sired by him, which enhanced our breeding program.

During this same time frame, Wolfpit Kennels was having great success with Ch. Cairnwood's Quince, both in the show ring and in the breeding program.  A breeding between Quince and Ch. Milbryan Killarnery O'Cairmar produced Ch. Cairmar Connecticut Yankee, sold to Molly Wilder, who later produced Ch. Whetstone Halston, who was from an all champion litter of four, and is the sire of 31 champions.  With Halston, Cairmar achieved the extremely hard straight coat, which is so desired as well as tremendous showmanship.

As time passed, Betty realized that better movement could be a tremendous assets to the American Cairn.  Cairmar dogs were as a rule sound, but shoulder layback and rear angulation could stand improvement.  In an effort to improve Cairmar, she made a trip to England, in 1978, again in 1980 and 1983.  During these trips, she imported dogs for Cairmar and several other breeders as well.  One of the most beautifully constructed of the dogs was American Ch. Avenelhouse Plain Jane.

The next step was breeding Plain Jane to the two different types, the Caithness influence coming down from Falcon, Dunstan Claymore, and Barnabas, and the Halston get.  Although often seen as many as five and more generations back in many American Cairns of today, these influences can still be seen.  The Cairns resulting from these breedings were then crossed back into the two Cairn types and the next step was accomplished.  Lovely typey heads, moderate size, profuse coats and good sound movement.