Mary Allen
The Norwich Terrier is one of the smallest terrier breeds. Over the past decades, he has evolved from a hunting dog to a family and companion dog. However, the terrier heritage cannot be denied: Norwich Terriers are fun to be with and very confident in their size. If you are looking for a comfortable four-legged friend with whom you will never get bored, the Norwich Terrier is the right choice!
Norwich Terrier: From Hunter to Lap Dog
The Norwich Terrier as we know it today is a relatively young breed. Small hunting terriers have existed in Norfolk, England around Norwich for many centuries. Their job was to guard the yards and streets from rodents. Small powerful dogs were highly valued as rat hunters. It was only at the end of the 19th century that attempts were made to develop a real breed from these dogs. Irish, Yorkshire, Border, and Cairn Terriers were probably also involved. One male named “Rag”, in particular, left a mark on the breed, as all of his descendants had red fur. The focus was on the courage of the little rat hunters, their willingness to work, and their passion for hunting. The scope of their application has been extended to work underground.
At that time, the Norfolk and the Norwich Terrier were still the same breeds. It was not until 1932 that they were separated and recognized by worldwide associations. At this point, the position of the ears was decisive. Today, differences between breeds go far beyond the position of the ears.
Norwich Terrier Personality
The little Norwich Terrier has all the qualities that are characteristic of terriers: courage, endurance, self-confidence, and hunting enthusiasts. However, in recent years, dogs have been selected not so much for their performance characteristics but for their friendliness. They love their people, are loyal, affectionate.
Adult Norwich Terriers can range from slightly reserved to overly aggressive towards strangers. However, with good socialization and clear rules, this behavior can be brought under control. They are vigilant and usually report visitors before they even ring the bell. Underused members of the breed often develop an excessive tendency to bark, as well as letting neighbors know about visitors, passing cars, or anything they hear or see. This can be avoided by training appropriate for the use and suitable for Norwich.
Even though they don’t look like small hunting dogs, they are very active, full of energy, and love to move. They love to play and love to chase things. Here you need to be careful: like a terrier, Norwich is also interested in small animals and cats. This is just as important when running free without a leash as it is when keeping these animals in the household. If a Norwich puppy grows up with companion animals, he will most likely accept them as pack members and leave them alone. The friendly terrier is also well suited to keeping multiple dogs.
Upbringing & Attitude
Anyone who can win over a Norwich Terrier with these arguments will end up with an obedient, smart, and intelligent dog that loves to learn new things. Things like tricking the dog or looking for treats are great activities that build alertness and intelligence without stimulating your nimble canine friend. To look for treats, he must learn to sit and wait. You then hide the treats in insight and out of sight. After being released, he can look for them and, of course, eat them. The game takes dogs indoors and outdoors.
The Norwich Terrier gets along in almost every home – whether it is a large house with a garden or a small apartment in the city. Enough exercise long walks and brain jogging is critical for mental performance. Strong dwarfs cope even with long hikes without problems, if the weather is not too hot. The Norwich Terrier only needs a basket or a dog trailer on long bike rides so he can ride along from time to time.
Norwich Terrier Care
Like all terriers, the Norwich is born with a fairly comfortable dose of desire to please. But he has another very useful quality: “The Will to Cheese.” This is a playful description of certain gluttony that you can perfectly use in raising children. The stubborn terrier will do just about anything for a piece of cheese (or a treat, or liverwurst).
Bred for endurance, Norwich Terriers require minimal grooming. Periodic cleaning and checking of the eyes, ears, and nails are sufficient for basic care.
Fur must be trimmed by hand twice a year. Old dead hair is pulled out of the fur. If you stick to it, you will have an almost non-shedding terrier in everyday life. Under no circumstances should Norwich be cut off. This permanently destroys the structure of the hair and deprives them of their resistance to weathering.
Characteristics & Health
Unfortunately, Norwich Terriers tend to gain a lot of weight. They are real vacuum cleaners, they eat almost everything and in unlimited quantities – if they are allowed to. This is where you really need to stay in shape, watch your diet, and make sure you get enough exercise.
In addition to a tendency to be overweight, the Norwich Terrier is considered a strong breed. Well-known but very rare hereditary diseases include patellar luxation, eye disease, lens luxation and cataracts, epilepsy, heart defects, and upper respiratory tract syndrome.
Most Norwich Terriers live to be 16 years old or even older.