Norwich Terrier

Behavior

Norwich Terriers are considered to be a typical, classic terrier. They feature all of the behavioral traits most often found in the terrier breeds. They have a strong, fearless attitude, are loving to their family and yet are fiercely independent. They love to be family dogs since they are pack animals and consider the family to be their pack. They never seem to get tired of playing ball and can play for hours on end. Even senior dogs of this breed are said to still love to play catch and fetch well into their later years.

Norwich Terriers need plenty of exercise to be happy and healthy. Taking daily walks and playing ball can make a big difference in your dog’s demeanor.  While they are small in size and might seem good for apartment life, they are not the type of dog to lie on the couch for hours. They want to constantly be engaged and need companionship, so they are ideal for household where someone is at home often or even one that has companion dogs to keep them company and be part of the pack. Training started at a young age can help make a big difference with this breed and should be done.

The Norwich Terrier, like other terriers is prone to barking, especially when they are alone a lot. Companion dogs can make a big difference in the barking. These dogs do not go well with cats and other small animals as they were bred to hunt small animals and can be aggressive with them. This breed also has a need to dig, so finding constructive digging for them to do is beneficial for everyone.

Appearance

Like many other terriers, the Norwich Terrier has very short legs and a wiry coat. They are stocky with a tapered muzzle and dark, oval eyes. They feature a double coat, with a thick coat underneath and a wiry coat on top and can be in a wide variety of colors. Most of the breed is no more than ten inches tall and weighs only ten to twelve pounds when fully grown. The soft undercoat they have acts as a layer of insulation while the wiry top coat is ideal for the type of hunting that they were originally bred for.

Grooming

Most Norwich Terriers do not shed very much throughout the whole year. Brushing your dog on a weekly basis can help to remove any loose hair and tangles and prevent any matting from occurring. Having the coat stripped about twice a year if you are raiding a show dog is necessary. Many family dogs get clipped but clipping can change the texture and color of the dog’s hair and makes them more likely to shed.

History

The Norwich Terrier and the Norfolk Terrier come from the same region and were bred around the same time. The dog was bred to root out rats and other vermin in the late 1800s. Cambridge University then adopted one of these terriers as its mascot and it became known as a Norwich Terrier, indicating the location in England. The breed has been maintained steadily since then and been one of the most popular of all terrier breeds. The breed was introduced to the United States in 1914 and has steadily grown in popularity since then. The Norwich Terrier and Norfolk Terrier are very often confused for one another because they look so much alike. Experts distinguish them by the Norwich’s ears that tend to stick up more than those of the Norfolk.