Faithful and friendly…
That’s the Norwich Terrier Dog. This is one of the reasons why we here at IndulgeYourPet love these little guys. But just because we love these little guys doesn’t mean that they’re automatically going to be “right” for you.
For this reason…
We wanted to take a moment and talk about the Norwich Terrier dog breed in a bit more detail so that if you’re ever given the opportunity to own one of these awesome little guys, you’ll know for sure whether or not it’s a good idea!
So, without further ado, let’s dive right in.
Norwich Terrier Dog Breed Fast Facts
Country of Origin: England
Original Purpose: Ratting and fox bolting
Height: 10 inches at the shoulder
Weight: 11 to 12 pounds
Dog Breed Classification: Terrier group
Life Span: 12 to 15 years
Origin of the Norwich Terrier
While it’s probably impossible to determine when “exactly” this little Terrier came into existence since he is so closely related to the Norfolk Terrier, but what is known is that right around the start of the 19th century, one particular Norfolk Terrier by the name of “Rags” really proved himself to be quite a “ratter”.
So much so…
That he was used to sire countless litters. And it just so happened that “Rags” lived right next to Norwich. And over time, “Rags” offspring began to take on certain characteristics of their own which is why folks began referring to them as Norwich Terriers rather than Norfolk. Some folks even referred to the as “Jones Terriers” since “Rags” was owned by a Mr. Jones.
And while…
Both the Norwich and Norfolk Terriers were once considered the same breed, called as the Trumpington Terriers (nothing to do with President Trump!). The American Kennel Club decided to separate the Trumpington Terrier into two different breeds: Norfolk Terriers, which have drop ears and Norwich Terriers, which have prick ears.
A breed standard…
For the Norwich Terrier was recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1936. The Norwich Terrier Club was started shortly after. The Norwich Terrier remains a popular breed in the United States and the UK.
Physical Characteristics of the Norwich Terrier
The Norwich Terrier is a small breed. The adult dog stands at only 10 inches at the shoulder level and weighs only 10 to 12 pounds.
The Norwich has…
Short legs, a wiry coat and pointed prick ears. He has a muscular, stocky body structure, with a round skull with a well defined stop and a slender muzzle. He has dark, expressive, almond shaped eyes covered by black rims.
He also has…
A double coat that is thick inside and wiry on the outside. His double coat is of the colors grizzle, red, wheaten or black and tan.
Norwich Terrier Temperament and Personality
The Norwich Terrier is certainly one of the best family dogs out there, especially if you have children at home. He is a playful dog, active and energetic and he loves kids. He enjoys being a part of their games and never gets tired.
Plus…
Norwich Puppies, in particular, are really cute. A Norwich puppy that grows up with your kids treats them as his siblings and forms an extraordinary bond with his owners, one that lasts for the rest of his life.
But be warned…
These little guys can be fierce when he wants to be – he makes for a very good watchdog and you can trust him to keep a watch on your kids as they play outside the house. You can be sure that he will warn you in time if he suspects anything amiss, such as a potential intruder approaching your property.
But remember…
These guys are “Terriers” and like most terriers, he loves digging. And if there is one thing that the Norwich Terrier really likes, it’s digging. He can dig and dig for hours. He can be relentless at that.
He can dig…
Beneath the fence when you’re not looking. He has a strong prey drive and the reason he digs all the time is because he is always searching for prey.
Trainability
The adult Norwich is an intelligent breed, always eager to please and enthusiastic about learning new tricks. He is responsive to his owners’ commands and does well at most dog sports.
However…
Norwich puppies are not so easy to train. They resist training – albeit cheerfully. Crate training them is not easy. But they can come around provided you are persistent and use positive reinforcement training methods.
Norwich Terrier Health Problems
The Norwich Terrier is quite healthy. He has a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years, but can live longer provided he gets the right kind of medical attention on time if he was to fall sick.
He is known to suffer from the following health problems…
- Collapsing Trachea,
- Epilepsy,
- Mitral Valve Disease,
- Glaucoma,
- Lens Luxation.
And while…
Many of these conditions may not be life threatening, they can certainly become quite expensive to deal with particularly if they become recurring issues.
This is why…
We here at IndulgeYourPet also recommend that any new pet owner take a moment and see what it might cost for you to purchase a pet insurance policy for your new animal.
Now will a pet insurance policy be right for everyone?
No, probably not. But until you fully understand what these policies “will” and “won’t” cover and how much these pet insurance policies cost, how will you know if one might be right for you?
For more information on who we feel currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies out there, we would encourage you to check out our Best Pet Insurance Policies article.
