Norwich Terrier

Quick, sharp, and ever-moving, the Norwich loves his daily exercise. He likes to be in the thick of the action. What is happening, who is here, where everybody's going--these are the concerns of the Norwich. Fond of children, the Norwich makes a loyal, affectionate companion.

Norwich Terrier breed facts

The Norwich Terrier is a fearless little dog bred to hunt vermin.

The Norwich Terrier's prick ears are a distinguishing characteristic.

Information you should know before owning a Norwich Terrier

The Nowich Terrier is a hardy, happy-go-lucky, weatherproof companion.

The Norwich coat should be brushed weekly, but never clipped or shaped.

The roots of the Norwich were firmly planted in East Anglia, England. By the 1880’s owning a small ratting terrier was a fad among the sporting undergraduates of Cambridge University. A popular strain developed of very small red and black-and-tan working crossbreeds from native, Yorkshire, and Irish den stock.

By the turn of the century one of these Trumpington Terriers moved to a stable near the city of Norwich. "Rags" was sandy colored, short of leg, stocky with cropped ears. A notorious ratter and dominant sire, he is the modern breed’s progenitor. For the next two decades various horsemen bred other game terrier types to Rags and his descendants, including a half-sized brindle Staffordshire. So, from companions and barnyard ratters, there gradually developed a line of excellent fox bolters, and one of these introduced the breed to America in 1914.

Bred in Market Harborough by the noted Frank "Roughrider" Jones, "Willum" became the inseparable companion of a Philadelphia sportsman, Robert Strawbridge. This Jones terrier was also low legged, cropped and docked but his very hard coat had black shadings and his head showed a marked resemblance to a Bull Terrier. Willum proved a charming, muscular 12-pound ambassador, and a prolific sire of M.E H. Hunt Terriers in Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. He died at 14 years of age defending his hearth from a vicious canine intruder just a few years before the breed was recognized in England in 1932. Though the AKC made Norwich Terriers official in 1936, there are still some Americans who associate Norwich with Willum’s breeder and steadfastly call them Jones Terriers.

In 1964 England recognized the drop ear Norwich as a separate breed, terming them the Norfolk Terrier. The American Kennel Club took the same step effective January 1, 1979. The recognition of the two varieties as separate breeds is now the rule in all English-speaking countries and in Europe and Scandinavia.

Norwich are hardy, happy-go-lucky, weatherproof companions. Though game on vermin, they are usually gregarious with children, adults, and other domestic animals. Today they still weigh about 12 pounds, are short legged, sturdy and can be any shade from wheaten to dark red, black-and-tan or grizzle. They are very loyal, alert, and have a sensitive intelligence.

Is this a vulnerable breed? Yes, No	Yes
What size is this dog? Small, Medium, Large	Small
How much excercise is required? 30 mins a day, 1 hour a day, Over 2 hours a day	1 hour a day
How long is this dog's coat? Short, Medium, Long	Medium
How much grooming is required? Once a week, More than once a week, Every day	More than once a week
Does this dog shed? Does shed, Does not shed	Does shed
What area is this dog best suited to? Town, Country, Either	Either
What size house is required for this breed? Flat/Apartment, Small House, Large House	Flat
What size of garden is required? Small Garden, Large Garden, No Garden	Small garden

	General Appearance Small, low, keen dog, compact and strong with good substance and bone. Honourable scars from fair wear and tear not to be unduly penalised.
	Characteristics One of the smallest of the terriers. Lovable disposition, not quarrelsome, tremendously active with hardy constitution.
	Temperament Gay and fearless.
	Eyes Small, oval-shaped, dark, full of expression, bright and keen.
	Mouth Tight-lipped, jaws clean and strong. Rather large, strong teeth with perfect, regular scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws.
	Neck Strong of good length, commensurate with correct overall balance, flowing into well laid shoulders.
	Forequarters Legs short, powerful and straight; elbows close to body. Pasterns firm and upright.
	Body Short back, compact with good depth. Ribcage long and well sprung with short loin. Level topline.
	Hindquarters Broad, strong and muscular, well turned stifle. Low-set hock with great propulsion.
	Feet Rounded, well padded and cat-like. Pointing straight forward standing and moving. Tail Docking optional. (a) Medium docked. Set high, completing perfectly level topline. Carried erect. (b) Tail of moderate length to give a general balance to dog, thick at root and tapering towards tip, as straight as possible, carried jauntily, not excessively gay, completing perfectly level topline.
	Gait / Movement Small, low, keen dog, compact and strong with good substance and bone. Honourable scars from fair wear and tear not to be unduly penalised.
	Coat All shades of red, wheaten, black and tan or grizzle. White marks or patches are undesirable.
	Colour Ideal height at withers 25 cms (10 ins).