Breed Info

THE AKC STANDARD

Featured on this page at right and immediately below is Ch. Windsor's Mumms the Word "Brut" (Breeder/Owners Dori & Phil Ramon - Windsor Norwich - website) who won Best of Breed at Westminster Kennel Club in 2003. (photos used with permission)

The following is an excerpt from the official AKC Breed Standard for the Norwich Terrier. See the AKC website for the full breed standard and additional information.

General Appearance

The Norwich Terrier, spirited and stocky with sensitive prick ears and a slightly foxy expression, is one of the smallest working terriers. This sturdy descendent of ratting companions, eager to dispatch small vermin alone or in a pack, has good bone and substance and an almost weatherproof coat.

Size, Proportion and Substance

One of the smallest of the terriers, the ideal height should not exceed 10 inches at the withers. Distance from the top of the withers to the ground and from the withers to the base of tail are approximately equal. Good bone and substance. Weight approximately 12 pounds. It should be in proportion to the individual dog's structure and balance. Fit working condition is a prime consideration.

Coat

Hard, wiry and straight, lying close to the body with a definite undercoat. The coat on neck and shoulders forms a protective mane. The hair on head, ears and muzzle, except for slight eyebrows and whiskers, is short and smooth. This breed should be shown with as natural a coat as possible. A minimum of tidying is permissible but shaping should be heavily penalized.

Color

All shades of red, wheaten, black and tan or grizzle.

Temperament

Gay, fearless, loyal and affectionate. Adaptable and sporting, they make ideal companions.

Approved October 13, 1981
Reformatted March 23, 1990

PET POTENTIAL

For the potential pet owner some of the above terms may be foreign. What you really want to know is "What are these dogs like to live with? Are they active? Do they bark a lot like other little dogs I know? Do they get along with other dogs? Do they like kids? Do they shed?" I'm sure there are many other questions that are of concern to any potential pet owner but lets start with a brief overview and then we'll get to those questions.

These dogs are small but sturdy. They are not fine boned like a toy breed. They are independent thinkers, happy, inquisitive, smart, and energetic little dogs. They are a joy to live with, displaying a fun sense of humor, quirky personality, and lots of affection. While they are very affectionate, they are not likely to be content to just be a lap dog. Norwich Terriers need regular physical exercise and mental stimulation in addition to lap and cuddle time. When they have consistent leadership and clear instruction they will be a happy member of your pack. The Norwich Terrier is described as "The terrier that loves people." And they really do!

IS THE NORWICH TERRIER THE RIGHT DOG FOR ME?

That depends. Because the Norwich is cute, sturdy and a handy size does not mean that this is the right companion for you just because you have a small dog in mind. There are 27 AKC recognized terrier breeds, and it is said that the Norwich has the softest temperament but he is still a terrier at heart with all the tenacity, feistiness, and attitude of his larger brethren. When considering any dog, you must be completely honest and ask yourself some tough questions about what you really want and can handle in a canine companion. Consider your available time, your abilities with dogs, your family's lifestyle, and your budget.

DO I REALLY HAVE TIME FOR A DOG?

Divot Romping in the Morning Sun

Make sure you have the proper amount of time to spend with a dog. Dogs are social creatures. Their social group is called a pack and it is their family. Coincidentally, Norwich were originally kept as pack terriers on the farms where they worked ridding the barns and land of vermin. Leaving a dog alone for long periods of time could result in behavioral problems stemming from fear, boredom, and frustration. Norwich Terriers are energetic, busy little dogs, and they will not always be content to lie around sleeping on your lap while you relax after a long day at work, especially a young dog. He doesn't know that you've had a long tiring day and frankly doesn't care -- he's ready for some playtime and fun with his favorite person! The Norwich Terrier needs regular daily exercise (a morning and additional evening walk will be much appreciated especially by a younger dog) and mental stimulation. Some basic obedience review, or toys created to exercise problem-solving skills will be fun for him as well. Without enough human interaction and daily exercise, you could have a naughty, depressed and pudgy pet. He won't be happy living with you and you won't be happy living with him. Make sure you have the time to spend with a dog to meet all of his needs. I believe that many behavioral problems could be alleviated if the owner gave sufficient exercise, leadership, and mental stimulation.

DO I HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THIS DOG WAS BRED FOR AND CAN I ACCEPT THAT?

9 month old Dig-N-Pop
Spicy Wassail, "Holly" with
her catch of the day. Photo
courtesy of Magda O'Mansky.
www.dignpop.com

Too often people buy a dog for every reason except the right one. They like the look or the size of the dog, or the way the coat feels or they like the status of the breed of the moment. When reasons for choosing a certain breed are everything but the right ones, trouble lies ahead for all involved. Do not overlook knowing one of the most important things about your potential pet - what he was bred for. Norwich Terriers are vermin hunters originally bred to hunt in packs, so his instinct enables him to think and act quickly, without the need of human instruction to do his job. The modern Norwich Terriers' primary duties probably will not include ridding your home and land of vermin, but the instinct and independent nature are still deeply ingrained. This means that you cannot get hysterical and discipline him when and if he proudly presents you with a cute baby bunny he's just dispatched. You must instead heap praise upon him for his skill and tenacity!

Diggin' Divot had no luck that day.

Some people may find a Terrier difficult to live with and some people find it an exciting and humorous challenge. Norwich Terriers can have a high prey drive and definitely have good digging abilities, speed, courage and tenacity. Instincts and genetics are powerful forces so know the purpose of your breed of choice and fully embrace it or keep searching for a breed that better suits your needs. If you really want a full time low energy lap dog, this little hunter is probably not for you!

I HAVE A FENCED IN YARD. ISN'T THAT ENOUGH FOR A LITTLE NORWICH TERRIER? DO I STILL HAVE TO WALK HIM DAILY?

Nigel and Divot on an
off-leash excursion

To be sure, a fenced in yard is important for the containment and safety of your dog, but if that yard is his only outing, you're denying him some things that are very important to a dog - socialization and exploration. Your dog needs the mental stimulation of going away from his home territory (with you) to explore the world beyond his fence, and you both will benefit from the bonding experience (and good health!) that a walk brings. Our domestic dogs' ancestors were roaming canids so our dogs are natural born rovers (pun intended). Their wild cousins still walk their territories and experience it with all their senses and your domesticated dog will certainly enjoy that same activity. A leash walk (done with him heeling respectfully at your side) reinforces your leadership and his trust in you, and it allows him to experience his world with all of his canine senses too. When the occasion presents itself (only if your dog is reliable), an off-leash excursion is an exciting change for him. You'll both come home physically tired but mentally fulfilled as well.

WHAT IS MY SKILL LEVEL WITH TRAINING A DOG?

Terriers are intelligent dogs and some can be strong-willed and some can be downright stubborn. This isn't to say that they are not obedient. They certainly can be, but you must find the right method of training and communicating with your individual dog. Not all breeds can be trained using the same methods and not all Norwich Terriers can be trained using the same methods. Training your Norwich takes patience and creativity and a willingness to be flexible and adapt to his temperament and abilities.

AM I COMFORTABLE WITH A DOG THAT CAN HAVE AN INDEPENDENT NATURE?

Don't be offended if your Norwich chooses to leave your side and go off in another room for a nap and some privacy. A Norwich Terrier's independent nature enables them to be confident -- they don't need to be at your side constantly. Most will but some won't at certain times. Your independent Norwich may be one moment off snoozing in another room then in another moment, be coming to get you to inform you that it is time for everyone to go to bed!

IS THE NORWICH A BARKY LITTLE DOG?

In my experience with Nigel and Divot the answer is "No." All dogs will bark - that's natural. A dog that runs around barking for no reason at all is a dog that is probably fearful, bored, or frustrated and this is a dog that could use some physical and mental stimulation as well as some training. There are several things that cause Nigel and Divot to bark: 1) Someone is at the door; 2) They are playing, chasing and wrestling; 3) There is a critter in the back yard. All of these occasions are perfectly normal and acceptable reasons to bark.

ARE NORWICH TERRIERS GOOD WITH CHILDREN?

Norwich Terriers love people in general and many seem to especially enjoy children. A puppy may not be a good fit for a home with very young children due to their small size, but placement depends on the dog, the children, and the parent's willingness to supervise at all times. Nigel seems to be particularly attracted to children. He greets all children with his entire body wagging, and his tongue giving "air kisses" before he even reaches them. Because of his obvious friendliness and small stature, children are drawn to him. We walk Nigel and Divot every morning, and most evenings they get an after dinner walk as well. Nigel especially loves the latter walk because that's when children are outside playing. Once he has been petted and kissed at a particular house, every time he passes that house he stops to see if anyone is going to come out and pet him. Divot on the other hand is much more shy with people, especially children. I think she is uncomfortable when a small hand comes bearing down upon her head, so she often backs away and removes herself from the situation. I always try to help children learn how to safely and respectfully approach a strange dog. Unfortunately, it seems that may parents don't teach children to ask first if they may pet your dog, nor does it seem that they teach them how to carefully pet a small dog. It is ultimately my responsibility to protect Nigel and Divot from any children who are being unruly.

THE COAT IS WIRY FEELING - NOT SOFT! HOW COME?

The Norwich is a double-coated dog. They have a soft downy undercoat for insulation and a harsh guard coat that keeps them dry and dirt-free. By now you know that Norwich were originally bred for hunting vermin and sometimes this hunt took them underground. This is called "going to ground." The hard, wiry coat easily sheds dirt and water and was (and still is) perfectly suited for this kind of activity. While your Norwich may not be going to ground often or ever, it is the correct coat for the breed. If you want a soft coat to pet, the Norwich Terrier isn't the dog for you.

HOW DO YOU GROOM A WIRY COATED DOG?

Nigel 2/3 stripped
down to his undies.

Hand pulling (called "stripping") the guard coat is necessary to achieve the hard, waterproof coat of this breed. Brushing is all hat is necessary on a daily basis, but weekly stripping sessions (30+ minutes) will help keep the coat tidy and keep him from shedding. In addition to weekly stripping sessions, there are time when, the coat just gets too long and it all just needs to come out and you will need to strip the entire dog. Some people do this twice a year rather than do the weekly sessions. In Norwich circles this is lovingly referred to as "taking him (or her) down to the undies." Hand stripping is a skill that you can learn with time and practice. If you can learn the basics, it will suffice for a pet coat, but even keeping a pet coat tidy is time consuming. Having a terrier hand-stripped by a professional groomer can be expensive and groomers that know how to strip a terrier are in short supply. Some groomers want to take a shortcut and use clippers on them and you do not want to allow that.* If you use clippers on the guard coat you will essentially be cutting it, leaving only the soft downy undercoat and your dog is going to shed! When I first got Nigel I did not strip him because I didn't take the time to learn how and I was afraid I'd hurt him. (Just look at some of those old photos in the gallery!) By the time he was a year old, he did not look like a Norwich, his coat was more difficult to keep clean, and he shed a lot. I began to hand strip him after some hands-on tutoring from my breeder at the time we got Divot, and I am glad I learned the basics because they look more like a Norwich should look and shedding is minimal.

*In the case of an older dog, you may have to resort to clippering due to the sensitivity of the skin of an elderly dog.

WHAT ELSE IS REQUIRED TO GROOM A NORWICH ON A REGULAR BASIS?

Nigel and Divot get their teeth brushed every day. They love it. I am not sure why but they have always accepted it as part of their day and after their evening meal, they wait expectantly to have their teeth brushed. They regularly get bones or bully sticks to chew on but if they don't mind having their teeth brushed, I don't mind doing it. Part of regular grooming of a Norwich is trimming nails. I trim Nigel and Divot's nails about every other week using a Dremel cordless grinder. Even though they are walked daily on hard surfaces, they still need these regular nail trims. In addition to nail trims, they need the hair between their pads trimmed regularly. Daily I wipe their eyes with a warm cloth to remove any debris, and several times a week I clean their feet and butts too. I usually bathe Nigel and Divot only once a year if that, and that's only if needed. Did you say "once a year?" Yes I did! Over-bathing a dog can dry his skin, causing him to itch. With proper nutrition, daily brushing and weekly stripping touch-ups your Norwich will not smell! He will not need weekly or monthly baths as other breeds do. That's the beauty of this wonderful, hard coated breed.

For more information on grooming a Norwich Terrier, visit the Wildgoose Norfolk & Norwich Terriers website and click on "Grooming." Victor and Corrine have done an excellent job of demonstrating the grooming of a Norwich Terrier.

DO I REALLY WANT A DOG THAT I CANNOT READILY TRUST OFF LEASH?

Make sure that you are willing to provide safety and containment for your Norwich. These are true terriers and they do for the most part have a high prey drive. Their desire to catch the prey is stronger than their desire to stay in your yard should the opportunity to give chase present itself. Besides their high prey drive they are friendly dogs and a neighbor walking by could be enough to send him running out to the street for a friendly greeting. If you live in a rural area, traffic might not be your concern but larger predators can be. Norwich are small dogs and can be prey for larger predatory wild animals, and even large birds of prey. We live in the desert and have several predatory animals such as coyotes, bobcats, and owls. We also have javalinas that roam here. All of these are very real threats to a small dog like a Norwich. If you cannot fence in your yard and you don't want to take a dog out on a leash for every outing, maybe another breed or another type of pet should be considered. Some Norwich owners do allow their dogs off leash in their non-fenced yard for potty breaks and also on outings, but trusting them off leash comes with time, training, and risk. There are times on outings when I allow Nigel and Divot off leash but I assess each individual situation. What is the terrain? What creatures are known to inhabit the area? What is the overall risk involved in this situation? Always remember that you are responsible for your dog's safety.

These are but a few of the questions that you should be asking yourself. Even expensive and purebred dogs can be found in shelters today, mostly due to the lack of research and preparation on the part of people who wanted that particular dog in the first place. Many an innocent pet has paid the price for a human's lack of understanding and a "gotta have that dog" mentality. The time you spend choosing the right breed for you will never be a waste of time - for you or for any dog.

POSSIBLE HEALTH CONCERNS

Allergies seem to be a common health concern for many breeds these days and Norwich Terriers are no different. I am not alone in having found that a natural, nutritious diet can help to alleviate those itchy skin problems. For more information on how I have treated Nigel and Divot's allergies by incorporating raw food and alternative therapies, read the section called Our Holistic Journey.

It seems that more and more we are finding additional health concerns in our breed. When I first began researching the breed in 1994, the main concerns mentioned were luxating patella (displaced kneecap), and collapsed trachea. In recent years in addition to collapsed trachea, elongated soft palate and everted laryngeal saccules (ELS) are emerging in our breed and collectively referred to as UAS or Upper Airway Syndrome. In addition, Epilepsy is an issue with our breed as it is in many others. Responsible breeders research pedigrees and do what they can to remove the suspect breeding stock from their programs. Responsible breeders test their breeding stock for all potential problems. Currently tests are available for hips, elbows, knees, thyroid, eyes and also cardio health. Ask any breeder you are considering what tests they run on their dogs and ask them what health problems are showing up in their lines.

Norwich Terriers can be very sensitive to the Leptospirosis vaccine, the rabies vaccine, and to anesthesia. Speak to your vet about the Lepto strains in your area and about the vaccines necessity. In recent years there have been a small percentage of Norwich Terriers that have had a reaction to the adjuvant used in the rabies vaccine. This is called Rabies Vaccine Induced Ischemic Dermatopathy (RVI-ID), which manifests itself as sores or lesions on the skin. See our Recommended Reading section for more information on this important topic. Try to avoid having your dog anesthetized (unless you absolutely have to) by properly maintaining his health, including good dental health, which is the most common procedure that involves anesthetic.

Obesity in our pets is on the rise and it's as dangerous for them as it is for us. Know what your dog's optimum weight should be for his build and be vigilant about keeping it there. The AKC breed standard says 12 pounds is ideal for a Norwich. That is certainly applicable if your dog's build fits the standard. Many pets will not fit into those parameters. Nigel is slightly larger and Divot is slightly smaller than the standard calls for so neither of my dogs is 12 pounds. Nigel would look anorexic at 12 pounds Divot would be fat at 12 pounds. When you run your hands down the sides of your dog (front to back) you should be able to feel ribs without applying too much pressure. Also, standing over your dog looking down, you should see a defined waist. When in full coat, the latter test may be harder to go by, so use your hands and a scale to monitor weight. Just 3 excess pounds on a Norwich is the difference between normal and obese and it can mean a multitude of health problems for your dog from his bone structure to his internal organs. By feeding a healthy diet, making fresh water always available, and giving plenty of daily exercise, it will be much easier to keep him at a healthy weight.

If, after more research, talking with breeders, asking yourself these questions and more, and spending some time with Norwich Terriers, you feel certain that this is a good fit for you, it's time to find the right breeder to work with so that you can adopt your new best friend with confidence!