Adopt a Norwich Terrier

Picture: Kent and Donna Dannen

Family:

terrier

Area of origin:

England

Original function:

ratting, fox bolting

Average size of male:

Ht: 10, Wt: 12

Average size of female:

Ht: 10, Wt: 12

Other names:

none

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Energy
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Exercise
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Playfulness
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Affection
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Friendliness towards dogs
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Friendliness towards other pets
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Friendliness towards strangers
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Ease of training
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Watchdog ability
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Protection ability
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Grooming
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Cold tolerance
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Heat tolerance

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Norwich Terrier Dog Temperament

The Norwich terrier, like the Norfolk, is a true terrier at heart, always ready for adventure and excitement. He is a hunter and may chase small animals. He is a pert, independent, amusing — but sometimes challenging — companion, best suited for people with a sense of adventure and humor.

Norwich Terrier Dog Care

The Norwich needs to stretch his legs with a good walk or short run every day. He especially likes combining a run with a chance to explore, but any such off-leash expeditions must be done only in a safe area. He is better suited as a house dog with yard access. His wiry coat needs combing one to two times weekly, plus stripping of dead hairs three to four times a year.

Norwich Terrier Dog Health

Major concerns: none
Minor concerns: none
Occasionally seen: cardiomyopathy, patellar luxation
Suggested tests: (cardiac), (knee)
Life span: 13-15 years

Dogs Related to the Norwich Terrier

American Staffordshire Terrier
Australian Terrier
Bedlington Terrier
Border Terrier
Bull Terrier
Cairn Terrier
Dandie Dinmont Terrier
Smooth Fox Terrier
Wire Fox Terrier
Irish Terrier

Interested in the history of the Norwich Terrier dog breed?

Short-legged ratting terriers have long been valued in England, but only in the 1880s did the breed that would eventually become both the Norwich and Norfolk terriers emerge from obscurity. At that time, owning one of these small ratters became a fad among Cambridge University students. The little terriers became known as CanTab, and later Trumpington, terriers. Around 1900, a Trumpington terrier named Rags came to a stable near Norwich and gained notoriety as a ratter as well as sire. He sired countless offspring and is the patriarch of the modern Norwich. One of his sons came to America and proved to be an amiable ambassador for the breed. To this day, many people still refer to the Norwich as the "Jones" terrier, after this dog's owner. The Jones terrier was incorporated into various foxhound hunt packs. The AKC recognized the breed in 1936. At that time the breed had both prick and drop ears, but in 1979 the dropped-eared variety was recognized as a separate breed, the Norfolk terrier. Although lacking the flash of his long-legged competitors in the terrier group, the Norwich has proven himself as formidable a competitor in the show ring as he ever was in the field. Despite his show ring success, however, he enjoys only moderate popularity as a pet.