Norwich Terrier
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 Description:
The Norwich Terrier is a feisty and fearless
sturdy dog measuring no more than ten inches
at withers. He is lovable, friendly, good
natured and thrives on human companionship.
The Norwich Terrier comes from the East
Anglia region in England where he was used
primarily as a ratter as well as to hunt
other small vermin. (Norwich is the nominal
capital of this region.) Norwich Terriers
were also later used to bolt foxes during
a hunt. This particular type of dog has
been around since at least the late 1800s
and it is believed possible ancestors might
include the Irish Terrier, Trumpington Terrier,
red terrier and other terrier breeds.
The Norwich Terrier had two varieties
and the most distinguishing feature which
divided them was the ear carriage. In 1964,
England recognized the two as separate breeds
- the Norwich Terrier has the prick ear
while the 'new' Norfolk
Terrier has the drop ear. The
American Kennel Club officially recognized
the Norwich Terrier in 1936, but not until
1979 did it divide the two varieties and
recognize the Norfolk Terrier as separate
breed.
Height:
The ideal height for a Norwich Terrier "...should
not exceed 10 inches at the withers"
according to the AKC breed standard. (10
inches = 25.4 centimeters)
Weight:
The weight for the Norwich Terrier should
be approximately 12 pounds (5.44 kilograms).
Weight should be proportion to the size
of the Norwich Terrier.
Coat Type:
The Norwich Terrier has a double coat. The
outer coat is lies close to the body and
is wiry, hard and straight. The Norwich
Terrier's undercoat is soft. Medium in length
and shaggy and is more pronounced around
the neck and shoulder forming a mane. Grooming
is minimal - the coat should never be clipped,
just tidied so that it appears as natural
as possible. Basic maintenance for the Norwich
Terrier coat includes brushing daily or
weekly with a steel comb. The Norwich Terrier
is a light shedder.
Color:
The color of the Norwich Terrier coat varies
and can be any shade of wheaten, red, black
and tan or grizzle (gray or grayish).
Temperament:
The Norwich Terrier is active, affectionate
and very intelligent. He is rarely aggressive
and generally does well with other pets
as long as they have been socialized with
them. Norwich Terriers are good natured
and love people - including children - and
do not shy away from strangers. However,
he will bark at those he does not know making
him a good watch dog. He is sensitive and
responds best to positive training methods.
Norwich Terriers want to be with people
and not left outside for long periods where
they can quickly become bored and start
digging and / or barking. This breed as
with any terrier can be stubborn, independent
and dominant, therefore it's extremely important
for any owner to understand he must always
be seen as the leader. Daily walks and free
play with your Norwich Terrier are perfect
for exercise and stimuation.
Health Concerns:
The Norwich Terrier is a generally
a very healthy breed. Some health issues
which can occur include: epilepsy, cataracts,
hip dysplasia, mitral valve disease and
narrow tracheas which can cause breathing
problems. However, none of these health
issues are prevalent among the Norwich Terrier
breed. Life expectancy for a Norwich Terrier
is between 12 - 16 years.
Special Interest:
• The American Kennel Club officially
recognized the Norwich Terrier in 1936.
• Norwich Terriers with drop ears
became known as Norfolk
Terriers and were recognized by the
AKC as a separate breed in 1979. Norwich
Terriers have prick ears.
• In the 1880s, it was trendy for
Cambridge University students to own a Norwich
Terrier which they referred to as Cantab
Terrier.
Classifications:
AKC: Terrier Group
ANKC: Group 2 Terriers
CKC: Group 4 Terriers
FCI: Group 3 Section 2 Small Sized Terriers
KC: Terriers
NZKC: Terriers
UKC: Terriers
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