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Norfolk Terrier
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Manufactured Dog Food VS Home Cooked Food
The food that you feed to your dog will have a direct impact on their health. Whether a young puppy who needs great nutrient to properly grow, an adult who needs to maintain weight and energy levels or a senior who can has a sensitive digestive system.

In addition, the choice you make can directly impact behavioral issues, such as eating grass or feces.
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What you MUST Know Before Getting a Puppy
Forget about the normal list that everyone writes about..."puppy proof your home", "choose the right breed".  The information you must know, goes MUCH deeper than that. This is insider information that no one talks about, the behind-the-scenes info you really must know before you make your choice....Click to Read More
Average Weight: 11-12 pounds (4.98 - 5.44 kg)
 Average Height: 9-10 inches  (22.86  to 25.4 cm)
Pronounced: Nor-fok (The "l" is silent)   TEH-ree-er
Group:  Terrier
Life Span: 14 Years
Average Litter:3
Origin: England

Appearance

The Norfolk Terrier is a hardy little dog with expressive dropped ears. He is one of the smallest of the working terrier but is active and compact with good substance and bone.  He is reputed to be a "perfect demon" in the field and in the show ring honorable scars from wear and tear and perfectly acceptable.  He has short, powerful legs, for this is a digging terrier.

Slightly longer than tall, the tail is docked (where legal) and set high.  The jaw is clean and strong, with tight lips and large teeth in a scissors bite.  The eyes are dark, oval and small.  The coat is double coat of weather resistant fur and is a hard wiry texture.  The hairs grow 1-2 inches long and lay very close to the body. 

Color

Accepted colors of the Norfolk Terrier are black, tan, grizzle, red and wheaten.  Grizzle is a mixture of usually at least 3 colors, wheaten is a faded, light creamy tan and red is a deep dark orange. A mixture of wheaten and red are very common as you can see by these Norfolk Terrier pictures.

Personality

This is an alert, gregarious, fearless and loyal small dog.  Known for his lively and friendly personality, it is very rare for the Norfolk Terrier to be aggressive toward humans.  This dog does bark and dig when left outdoors, this is an inside dog who loves outside play sessions.

Training can often calm down both issues. Normally well behaved with other pets, this dog can become a bit jealous and some will do best in a one-dog household.

Owners should remember that this is a sporting terrier.  His main attributes are gameness, hardienss, loyality to his master and great charm.

Origin & History

Often called the Jones Terrrier, in the early 1900's, this breed was developed by Frank "Roughrider"Jones.  He bred together working terriers from stables in Cambridge, Market Harborough and Norwich England. Recognized by the English Kennel Club in 1932, there was quite a bit of diversity in the type size and color.  A standard was drawn up, the "drop ear" and "prick" ear terriers were classifed as one breed. Then in 1964, they were divided.  The drop ear type became the Norfolk Terrier. 


Health

This is one of the healthiest breeds.  The most serious genetic disease in Norfolk Terrier dogs is a life threatening heart abnormality know as mitral valve disease, however this is rare.

Hip dysplasia can devlop, although most do very well with this condition and unless very severe it does not affect the dog's quality of life.

When breeding, dogs should be certified clear of the hip dysplasia, luxating patella and screened for genetic eye issues.

Exercise

The Norfolk Terrier is a very active small dog and needs an active lifestyle for mental and physical health.  This is the type of dog who likes to keep busy when indoors and enjoys joining in with family activities.  A good supply of dog toys should be readied if getting a puppy.

Grooming

The coat needs regular grooming, with some extra attention given during shedding.  Fur should occasionally be trimmed for tidiness and hygiene reasons, however shaping is penalized in the show ring. Because the coat is wiry, an owner may choose to bathe their Norfolk Terrier with a dry shampoo.  Dental cleanings should be done every day, with professional "full dentals" one time per year.  Nails will need trimming very couple of months.

Shedding

Norfolk Terriers normally have one shedding each year at the beginning of the hot summer months.  It is right before this time that the dog can be "plucked" by a professional groomer.  During this shedding phase, extra grooming should keep things under control.

Care & Training

Offering enough exercise and activity is a top priority.  Since this small dog loves to dig, many find it helpful to create the dog its own "digging area" in the yard so that other areas are not destroyed. this can be done by obtaining a child's sandbox or simply designating a certain area for the dog to dig and play, as their instinct tells them to do.  As with all small dog breeds, being aware of the signs of luxating patella and hip dysplasia is important. If an owner needs to be gone during the day, it is important that a proper indoor environment be created to keep this little dog happy.   Owners - Click Here For More Detailed Information




                      
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