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Origin: UK
Height: 9-10 inches at
the shoulder
Weight: 11-12 pounds
Exercise Needs: Moderate
Grooming Needs: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 14-16 years
Good With Kids: Yes
Trainability: Medium
difficulty
Common Misspellings: Norwhich Terrier,
Norwitch Terrier
Alternate Names: Cantab Terrier, Jones Terrier
Originating in East Anglia, England, the
Norwich Terrier was developed for much the same
purpose of many other small-breed terriers - as
a ferocious and fearless little ratter.
Bred to keep the rats from the stable and
granary, he was also utilized to flush out foxes
that had gone to ground and, with his adorable
and endearing personality, he became a loving
family companion as well. Most Norwich
Terrier owners will rave about these wonderful
dogs' personalities and their wide array of
moods and expressions - many claim they are less
dog and more like little scruffy people.
Believed to be descended from either
relocated Irish Terriers or the now-extinct
Trumpington Terrier, these compact little dogs
were soon adopted as the mascots of Cambridge
University. Originally known as the Cantab
or Jones Terrier, these cute little dogs were
recognized regardless of whether they had
drooping ears or pricked ears. During the
1930's, however, breeders began to strive to
separate between the two varieties.
Claiming that they had distinctive differences
in both build and personality, breeders would
continue to fight to separate the two - a feat
that was accomplished roughly 30 years later.
While they were often interbred in the past,
today, the Norwich and Norfolk Terriers are
recognized as completely different breeds of
dog.
Norwich Terrier Appearance
The Norwich Terrier is a beautifully scruffy
little individual with an outgoing
temperament and a hardy build. One of the
smallest breeds of working terriers, he is somewhat
long in proportion to his tiny size, though in
typical terrier fashion, he believes he's the
biggest dog on the block! The Norwich
Terrier averages only 9-10 inches at the
shoulders but he is
solidly built, with short sturdy legs, good
depth of chest, and lively, bright eyes.
In the United States and Canada, the Norwich
Terrier's tail is usually docked, which is the
preferred appearance for the show ring.
Many other countries, however, are making the
move towards outlawing docked tails on these
cute little dogs. In the UK, tail docking
is only allowed for working dogs - If you have a
pet Norwich or one for show, his tail must be in
its natural form. Australia allows
breeders the option of docking or not, but the
countries of Cyprus, Greece, Norway, Sweden and
Switzerland have all banned the practice of tail
docking.
A Norwich Terrier's coat bears a harsh
outer texture with a soft and warm undercoat
beneath. They come in several different
colors - black and tan, grizzle, red, tan, and
wheaten.
Typical of
most 'ratters,' the Norwich possesses a courageous spirit
and rarely backs down from any kind of a
challenge. This does not mean he is an
aggressive dog, however. In fact, the
Norwich Terrier is also known to be an
excellent companion animal and is highly popular
with both children and the elderly. Known
for his keen intelligence and almost human
moods, the Norwich terrier puppy loves to please
and enjoys human companionship.
He's the perfect dog for the task he was bred
for; able to control the vermin during the day
and cuddle up on the couch at night. No
one can resist a Norwich when he turns on the
charm!
Norwich Terrier Exercise Needs
The Norwich Terrier is a busy little
individual who enjoys rousing games of fetch and
tug of war. A natural-born working dog, he
is used to a life of earning his keep and, while
he is not aggressive or timid, he can be
destructive in a home when left for long hours
unattended. Norwich puppies are very prone
to boredom and will scratch, dig and chew if
their natural desire to work is not entertained.
Because of this, it's advisable that Norwich
owners take their terriers to a dog park on a
regular basis or, at the very least, engage in
some form of invigorating play for a minimum of
one hour per day.
The Norwich Terrier requires a weekly
brushing, just to ensure that any tangles are
removed from his coat but he also requires
bi-annual coat stripping, which helps to remove
the dead hairs and to help the coat maintain its
proper appearance and consistency.
Additionally, stripping the coat promotes good
skin condition and helps to prevent mats.
Ideally, the Norwich Terrier should never be
clipped, only stripped, though some breeders
will clip their elderly dogs since it is quicker
and easier. Clipping the Norwich Terrier,
however, is damaging to his coat and should
never be done to a Norwich you intend to
exhibit.
The Norwich Terrier is a wonderful little
companion dog though, be forewarned that he can
sometimes be a handle to train. Incredibly
quick-witted and busy, these little terriers are
always curious about smells and what was that
noise over there and, oh, what did I just see?
Ever-alert and curious, this can sometimes make
them seem like the ADD poster children of the
dog world.
Providing your Norwich Terrier a
distraction-free training program is very
helpful and will assist in keeping his attention
focused on you. Also use lots of praise
and positive reinforcement, rather than
punishment - the Norwich Terrier loves a fuss
to be made over him and strives to please his
humans. Challenge him with new experiences
often and keep him wanting to learn more - if
you can accomplish that, you'll find the
Norwich Terrier puppy to be a very quick and
eager pupil.
Like most purebred dog breeds, Norwich Terriers can be prone to
certain hereditary health problems. That is
why choosing a responsible breeder from which
to purchase your Norwich Terrier puppy is very
important. Responsible Norwich Terrier breeders will be
well educated about the breed and carefully
screen their breeding dogs for disorders that
can affect these dogs.
Some health issues that may
affect the Norwich Terrier include, but are not limited
to:
Norwich Terriers are wonderful companion
animals, whether you're a single adult, part of
a family, or an elderly person. They are quick-witted,
affectionate and adapt well to changes in their surroundings.
Norwich
Terriers are known for their patience and
playfulness with children as well.
Additionally, their fairly easy-to-manage coat makes
them more preferable to some, rather than
other dog breeds that
require a great deal of grooming.
One downfall with the Norwich Terrier is his
rough and ready Terrier attitude.
While we know him as an adorable softy, he often
feels a need to challenge the bigger dogs and
put them in their place. Needless to say,
the other dogs don't always cooperate. Additionally, if
you have cats or small animals, you will need to
be wary of the Norwich Terrier, due to his
natural born hunting instinct. With proper
socialization, training and lots of love, you
may discover that the Norwich Terrier is the
right breed for you!
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There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn
more about the Norwich Terrier dog breed. We've compiled a list
of Norwich Terrier information sites to assist you in quickly
locating quality information about the Norwich Terrier dog breed,
while avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor
attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general.
If you know of a Norwich Terrier information site that offers
unique, quality information and photos of the Norwich Terrier
breed, please contact us with the URL and a brief description so
that our editors can consider it for inclusion in our list below.
Norwich Terriers are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking
at Norwich Terrier pictures, you can usually gain more insight
into what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can
help you decide if you really want to become a Norwich Terrier
owner. The following sites below offer pictures of Norwich
Terrier dogs, Norwich Terrier puppy photos, funny Norwich
Terrier photos and more. Enjoy!
Now that you have decided that the Norwich Terrier is the
right breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a
responsible Norwich Terrier breeder from which to buy a healthy,
well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good
breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first
Norwich Terrier puppy you find at the cheapest price available!
To buy a puppy from a responsible Norwich Terrier breeder, you
may need to pay more and wait longer. The additional money and
waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a
newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely
also purchase a great deal of additional expense and heartache,
since you will likely end up falling in love with a puppy with
health and behavioral problems that will likely need special care,
plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication - or even
euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible, caring
Norwich Terrier breeder who home-raises their puppies with love,
screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a health
guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the
Norwich Terrier breed and is in it for the love of the breed,
rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a
healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that
will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter
and companionship.
Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...
Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These
sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders
listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Norwich
Terrier puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many
sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for
puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear
of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the
breeders whom they allow to advertise.
We Highly Recommend:
Norwich Terrier clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn
even more about the Norwich Terrier dog breed, help you locate a
responsible Norwich Terrier breeder, or help you find a
Norwich Terrier dog or puppy in need of a second chance for a
loving, forever home. We've compiled the following list of
Norwich Terrier clubs and Norwich Terrier rescues web sites
for your convenience:
Choosing a name for your Norwich Terrier puppy can be a
daunting task! There are so many names to choose from that it can
take a lot of thought and research to find just the right name for
your Norwich Terrier. Usually, it's best to get to know your
puppy for a few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will
help you decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a
sense of humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to
one side? A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new
Norwich Terrier puppy over the first days or weeks, you should at
least have a clue about what type of name you want to give. There
are a ton of dog names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some
are wonderful information resources, while others, unfortunately,
are just "garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in
on visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Norwich Terrier puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
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