Norfolk Terrier

Many people confuse the Norfolk Terrier with the Norwich Terrier. The easiest way to determine which breed is which is by looking at the ears. If the ears are dropped, you have seen a Norfolk Terrier. If the ears are erect, it is a Norwich Terrier. Although the two dogs are related, they are not the same breed. The Norfolk Terrier will be between nine and ten inches in adulthood. He will be a little bit longer than he is tall and will weigh about 6kg. As in most breeds, females will be slightly smaller than male dogs. The eyes will be small and dark with an intelligent and alert expression. The great thing about Norfolk Terriers is that they come in a variety of colors. The acceptable colours are red, black and tan, grizzle and wheaten. Darker points are allowed however, white markings are undesirable for the breed.

The breed came into existence in approximately 1880. The Norfolk Terrier was developed by British sportsmen. The Norfolk gypsies had small red dogs that traveled with them. The sportsmen used those dogs and bred them with the Yorkshire Terrier, Cairn Terrier, and a small Irish dog. The carefully selected breeding program gave us the wonderful Norfolk Terrier. The Norfolk Terrier was originally recognized as a drop-eared Norwich Terrier by the English Kennel Club in 1932. The Norfolk Terrier was recognized by the American Kennel Club as its own breed in 1979.

The Norfolk Terrier has a steady, happy-go-lucky attitude. They roll with the punches and rarely let anything bother them. They love spending time with their families and will be happy to chase a ball or Frisbee. Because they are very energetic little dogs, they love to play, be it indoors or outside. Playtime is essential for the well-being of a Norfolk Terrier. As much as they love to exercise and play, Norfolk Terriers also enjoy quiet time. They love to curl up on their owner's lap for petting and napping. Just because they love to play and cuddle does not mean that they are wimpy dogs. Quite the contrary, they are very outgoing and courageous little dogs. They do not realize that they are diminutive in stature when they are hunting down rats.

Norfolk coats are a mixture of soft hair for warmth and hard guard hair for strength. The coat tends to shed with a change of season so if trimmed or stripped at least twice a year, about March and September, you will avoid owning a dog that leaves hair on the couch! You can have this done professionally or learn to do this yourself. Of course, regular combing and brushing will keep your dog tidy in between. Nails must be trimmed regularly. Ears should be checked regularly and any discharge or smell requires a trip to the vet.