Sometimes, good things really do come in small packages. The diminutive and cute Norwich Terrier may no longer be popularly used as a hunting dog, but it’s sure to put a smile on your face and joy in your heart as a superb companion dog.Recognised as a Terrier by the Kennel Club of Great Britain, these little canines are not to be confused with their ‘cousin’ breed, the Norfolk Terrier. How can one tell the difference between a Norwich Terrier and a Norfolk Terrier? The ears give it away. Whereas Norwich Terriers can be identified by their ‘prick’ ears, Norfolk Terriers have ‘drop’ ears.There are many great reasons to purchase a Norwich Terrier puppy, their adorable appearance being one of the most popular. They may be small, but their temperament is hardy and their heart is as big and courageous as a lion’s.
Why Norwich Terriers are Great
Some highlights of Norwich Terriers:
Companionship: this breed is an ideal companion that will return all of the love and adoration you share with it.
First-time ownership: although they may be stubborn at times, Norwich Terriers are a superb choice of puppy for first-time owners.
Intelligent: despite their small size, Norwich Terriers are quite intelligent and can be trained with ease.
Apartment living: this breed is quite happy being indoors in apartments and homes of various sizes, but always ensure he’s getting plenty of exercise outdoors.
Things to Consider when Looking at Norwich Terriers for Sale
Some downsides to the Norwich Terrier:
Digging: although they may not be chasing rodents, Norwich Terriers nevertheless have a tendency to dig holes in flowerbeds, gardens, and elsewhere.
Barking: some Norwich Terriers tend to bark often, which can be annoying at times.
Grooming: this breed requires a high amount of grooming in order to have a healthy coat of fur.
Hot weather: this breed doesn’t tolerate hot and humid weather very well and prefers colder climates.
History of the Norwich Terrier
The small Norwich Terrier breed dates back to over a century ago, where it was perhaps bred from the Cairn Terrier, Red Terrier, and Border Terrier. Working Terrier dogs in East Anglia had already been popular for ratting and hunting. These Terriers were bred to be even smaller for the purpose of ratting and burrowing to find vermin in stables, storehouses, and famously at Cambridge University.In 1932, the Kennel Club of Great Britain recognised the Norwich Terrier as an official breed. At the time, however, these little canines had both pricked and drop ears. It was not until 1964 that these two variants were each recognised as the Norwich Terrier and the Norfolk Terrier, respectively.In recent years, the population has unfortunately declined to such an extent that the Kennel Club now recognises the Norwich Terrier as being a vulnerable native breed.
Appearance
The Norwich Terrier is amongst the smallest Terriers, and Norwich Terrier puppies are very small indeed. They’re also compact, low, and have a robust physique for their size. They have pricked ears, which differentiates them from their ‘cousin’ breed, the Norfolk Terrier, which has drop ears.The Federation Cynologique Internationale recognises various colours for the Norwich Terrier’s coat and does not consider marks or patches to be desirable. This breed has a double coat of hard, wiry fur that is relatively short. Whiskers and eyebrows are commonly bushy.
How big is the Norwich Terrier?
Norwich Terriers are small sized dogs. Males and females grow on average to 24-25.5 cm in height.
How heavy is a Norwich Terrier?
Fully-grown adult male and female Norwich Terriers weigh between 5-5.5 kg on average.
What colour is the Norwich Terrier?
The Kennel Club of Great Britain recognises the following colours for Norwich Terriers:
Red (all shades)
Wheaten
Black and tan
Grizzle
The appearance of white patches or marks are undesirable.
Temperament
To many, Norwich Terriers may appear friendly and active. They aren’t wrong. One surprising feature of the Norwich Terrier’s temperament is that it’s fearless yet intelligent for its size. Owing to its history as a hunting companion used for ratting and burrowing, these little canines are no slouch when it comes to cleverness.Although this breed is no longer primarily a hunting dog, it’s always been a loving companion for owners over the course of the past century. As with any puppy, however, care and attention should be given to Norwich Terrier puppies to encourage positive behaviour. Socialisation is an important consideration, particularly since they tend to live quite long and should become accustomed to you and your family as puppies so that they understand their boundaries and respect them.
Do Norwich Terriers make good guard dogs?
Owing to their alertness, Norwich Terriers are excellent watchdogs. They lack the physical strength to effectively guard your home, but they’ll surely bark whenever they notice suspicious activity at home.
Do Norwich Terriers bark a lot?
Unfortunately, this breed will bark quite frequently, so it may be difficult to tell if they’re actually trying to alert you or if they’re simply excited. The tone and pitch of their barking may change depending on what they’re trying to express.
Are Norwich Terriers easy to train?
Norwich Terriers are easy to train. It shouldn’t require much effort to teach them proper behaviour, commands, and tricks as you prefer. This is due to their loyalty and intelligence.
Are Norwich Terriers playful?
This breed is more playful than most other dog breeds. Norwich Terrier puppies will sometimes nip and chew when excited, and they’ll most certainly bark as well. They are active and energetic, so playing is a natural activity for them.
Are Norwich Terriers good with children?
The Norwich Terrier is an excellent puppy choice for those with children, however, younger children should be supervised whilst playing with the puppy since the puppy may become overly excited and engage in rougher play.
Are Norwich Terriers good with other pets?
The Norwich Terrier breed gets along very well with other pets. Dogs won’t create any problems for Norwich Terriers, but cats may sometimes be chased around. Smaller pets such as rodents may trigger the preying nature of this breed and may not get along well.
Can I leave a Norwich Terrier alone?
Norwich Terriers don’t much like being left alone for extended periods, but they rank about average when compared with other breeds. Always provide adequate attention and affection for your puppy to ensure that it doesn’t engage in destructive behaviour due to boredom or neglect.
Do Norwich Terriers like water?
This breed tends to enjoy water and swimming, which can be excellent physical exercise. Always allow your puppy to engage their curiosity with water and never force them to swim since some will not enjoy it and become frightful around water.
Health
How long do Norwich Terriers live?
Generally, Norwich Terriers are expected to live anywhere from 12-16 years.
How much exercise does a Norwich Terrier need?
Norwich Terriers are excitable and active, so plenty of exercise is recommended. Puppies shouldn’t be over-exercised, however, since their bones are still developing. Aim for approximately an hour a day of physical stimulation and playtime.
What are Norwich Terriers’ common health issues?
This breed is prone to a few common health issues, including primary lens luxation, patellar luxation, eye cataracts, and heart problems. They are also highly prone to putting on weight, so don’t neglect a healthy diet and lifestyle for your Norwich Terrier.
Care
How much space do I need for a Norwich Terrier?
Not much space is required to keep a Norwich Terrier. They can live just fine in apartments and smaller homes, but some daily outdoor activity is always recommended.
What should I feed my Norwich Terrier?
Norwich Terriers should eat ¼ to ½ cups of dry food per day, divided into two meals. Choose high-quality dog food to promote healthy development and adjust as necessary depending on his metabolism and activity levels.
How much grooming do Norwich Terriers need?
This breed requires a fair bit of grooming, particularly for its wiry and coarse coat of fur. Professional groomers should be visited at least twice a year to ensure that their coats are hand stripped. Aside from that, a weekly brush is all that’s necessary to keep their fur in good condition.
Do Norwich Terriers shed?
Norwich Terriers shed very little to no fur at all, which makes them an ideal hypoallergenic puppy choice as well as reducing the amount of brushing and cleaning required.
Average Costs
How much does it cost to keep a Norwich Terrier?
As a rough guide in pricing: Cost to buy: roughly £300-600 for a well-bred Norwich Terrier puppyOther costs (Vet, Food etc): £50-90 per month
Specific Buying Guide
You can read our general buying guide here, with the most important thing being going to view your Norwich Terrier puppy, seeing it with its mother, and checking the quality of the breeder. More specifically, here is some Norwich Terrier puppy buying advice:
Overly shy or aggressive puppies may not be common, but these are signs of fault that should be noted immediately when visiting the puppy for yourself.
Norwich Terriers are a rare breed, which may attract some dealers to maximise litters in unscrupulous ways using unethical practices. Avoid purchasing from dealers of poor repute and opt to spend the time and money to purchase a puppy that’s been bred according to standards and in an ethical manner.
Other Reading, Adopting Norwich Terrier Puppies and Rescue Organisations
