Norfolk Terrier Personality, White, Life Span, Size, & Grooming

Norfolk Terrier Dog Breed Introduction

Norfolk Terrier is a toy-sized terrier that was developed in East Anglia, England. It is considered one of the smallest working breeds along with Norwich Terrier. Initially, Norfolk Terriers were known as the drop ear variety of Norwich Terriers until 1979 when AKC recognized them as a separate breed. Despite their diminutive toy-size, Norfolk Terriers are confident, feisty, sturdy, and genuine terriers that are up for the game of adventure.

This breed shares many traits with their close cousin, Norwich Terriers including the coat color and texture as well as the body size. However, Norwich Terriers have prick ears while Norfolk Terriers have drop ears. Furthermore, the latter generally has more reach and drive as well as a stronger rear angulation hence covering more ground than the former. This not an overly vocal breed. However, it will bark to notify the owner of approaching strangers making them excellent watchdogs. These are bold dogs that may possess an independent streak.

The Norfolk Terriers are pack dogs that get along with other dogs and cats. However, due to their prey drive and ratting heritage, they may pursue small pets such as hamsters, birds, gerbils, and reptiles as prey. These are companion dogs that make great pets. Norfolk Terriers also love people and children. This is not a Kennel breed. A Norfolk Terrier thrives on human contact. Despite shedding all-year round at moderate levels and having a double coat, Norfolk Terriers are largely considered hypoallergenic.

Norfolk Terrier Origin | History

The British Sportsmen developed a working terrier in East Anglia, England for ratting. The Norwich Terrier was believed to have been developed by crossing local terrier dogs, small-legged Irish Terriers, and small red Terriers used by the Romani Ratters of Norfolk. These dogs were first known as Cantab Terrier and became fashionable for Cambridge University students to keep them in their rooms.

Norfolk Terrier's Photo — **A Norfolk Terrier’s Photo**

Initially, the Norwich (drop-ears) and Norwich ( prick ears) were considered one breed. Before World War I, Frank Jones, a prominent Irish horse rider sold quantities of the short-legged terriers to the United States. Therefore, they were known as Jones Terriers. The two Norwich Varieties were recognized as a separate breed by the Kennel Club in 1964 as Norwich Terrier( prick ears)and Norfolk Terriers( drop ear).

The two varieties were later recognized by CKC(Canada Kennel Club) as a separate breeds in 1977 followed by AKC (American Kennel Club ) and UKC (United Kennel Club )in 1979. The names of the two breeds refer to their place of Origin. The county of Norfolk and the Town of the Norfolk County, Norwich. Some of the older terriers believed to factor into the fun-loving and fearless nature of the Norfolk Terrier is Glen of Imaal, Cairn, and Border Terriers.

Norfolk Terrier Life Span

A Norfolk Terrier has a life span of 12 to 16 years.

Norfolk Terrier Grooming

The Norfolk Terriers have a wiry, harsh, and straight topcoat and a warm undercoat. It requires weekly grooming using a steel greyhound comb to remove loose hair and prevent matting. The Norfolks are low maintenance dogs. However, they require stripping at least twice year during Spring and Fall to get rid of the old hair and promote new hair growth. A coat that is overdue for hand stripping is long, shaggy, and parts between clumps of hair. Owners should avoid clipping the coat. It softens the texture, making it wooly, light in color and no longer weatherproof.

The coat can be maintained by frequent rolling. This is where the coat is stripped on a regular basis hence hairs of all lengths are growing in. However, some Norfolk Terriers may have a more profuse and softer coat. This coat type can be kept tidy by stripping with a rake and thinning scissors. The coat can also be clipped by a professional. Although rare, some Norfolk Terriers may have a fluffy coat. It will be inhumane to strip such a coat. Such dogs need clipping. The same goes to Senior Norfolk Terriers.

The Norfolk Terriers need an occasional bath unless they roll in something stinky. Although, if the dog has rolled in the mud, the coat can just be brushed out after the mud has dried. Use a hypoallergenic shampoo and conditioner designed for wiry-coated breeds. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the grooming products from the coat to prevent skin irritation using lukewarm water.

Clean the eye corners using a damp clean washcloth or unscented canine wipes. Trim the nails of Norfolk Terriers every 3 to 5 weeks using nail clippers or grinders to prevent overgrowth, cracking, and splitting. brush the teeth of a Norfolk Terrier at least twice a week to remove tartar buildup using a canine toothpaste and finger toothbrush. Clean the ears on a weekly basis using cotton balls and an ear cleanser solution.

Norfolk Terrier Haircut

The haircut of a Norfolk Terrier depend on its coat texture. Typically, most Norfolk Terriers have a wiry and harsh coat that requires stripping at least twice a year. However, some may have a softer and more profuse coat that can be kept tidy by clipping or stripping with a rake and thinning scissors. A Norfolk Terrier that has a fluffy coat will have to be clipped.

Norfolk Terrier Shedding

The Norfolk Terriers shed all-year round at low levels. However, they blow off their coats in Spring and Fall due to seasonal change.

Norfolk Terrier Coat | Coat Type

The Norfolk Terriers have a wiry, straight, and hard coat that is about 1.5 to 2 inches long lying close to the body with a definite undercoat.

Norfolk Terrier Hypoallergenic

Although Norfolk Terriers shed all-year round at low levels and heavily twice a year while blowing off their coats, they are widely regarded hypoallergenic. However, allergists argue that not only the fur or hair triggers allergic reaction but also the dander, saliva, urine, and mucus of a dog. Therefore, Norfolk owners should spend lots of time with the dog in question before adopting to ensure the dog does not trigger their allergic reactions.

Norfolk Terrier Training

As compared to other terriers, Norfolk Terriers are geared to be more sociable than the typical independent terrier. This is also a highly trainable breed with an eagerness to learn new tricks and commands from their parents. Although, they may be quite stubborn. For this reason, owners should make use of positive reinforcement methods to encourage positive behaviors through the use of treats, toys, playtime, petting, and verbal praise.

This is also a sensitive breed and harsh training methods should not be used on them. They make training counterproductive. Therefore, parents should avoid shoving, kicking, beating, yelling, and use of choke or prong collars. Keep the training sessions fun, short, and challenging for a period of 5 minutes distributed throughout the day to avoid boredom and distraction. Norfolk Terriers are also intelligent dogs that closely bond with their families. However, they try to challenge the limits of their owners making obedience training a must.

Parents should also assume pack leadership for a successful training. This form of leadership enables a Norfolk Terrier to reach its full potential since it understands it is under the leadership of a respected, loving, and trusted leader who will make decisions for the well-being of the entire pack. The Norfolk Terriers should be socialized in order to mature as well-mannered and well-adjusted dogs. This training normally starts from the age of 3 weeks while the pup is with the breeder until the age of 16 weeks after it has already settled in its new home.

To socialize a Norfolk, expose it to a wide variety of people, places, animals, situations, sight, smell, and sounds such as baby crying sounds, doorbells, vacuum cleaners, lawn mowers, washing machine, sirens, and whistles. Enrolling a Norfolk Terrier in a puppy class will also serve as a form of socialization. These classes enables the parent to not only identify and correct bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance. Start teaching Norfolk Terriers basic commands word like come, sit, stay, heel, lie down, and drop it one at a time to avoid overwhelming the pet. Effectively housebreak Norfolks by creating a feeding schedule, potty training, and crate training.

Norfolk Terrier Personality | Temperament | Traits

Sociable.
Alert.
Loyal.
Fearless.
Stubborn.
Spirited.
Feisty.
Confident.
Versatile.
Energetic.

Norfolk Terrier Exercise

The Norfolk Terriers are energetic dogs that need daily exercise in form of daily long walks and game of fetch with the owner. This breed has a high prey drive and should exercise in a secured area and go for walks while on a leash.

Norfolk Terrier Barking

A Norfolk Terrier is not an overly vocal breed. However, they will bark when they deem it necessary based on their watch-dog tendencies. If left alone for long hours or not given enough exercise the dog will amuse itself by chewing, digging, and barking.

Norfolk Terrier Height

The Norfolk Terriers have a height of 9 to 10 inches ( approx. 23 to 25 cm ).

Norfolk Terrier Weight

Adult Norfolk Terriers have a weight of 11 to 12 pounds ( approx. 5.0 to 5.4 kg ).

Norfolk Terrier Size

The Norfolk Terrier is the smallest dog breed of the terrier type along with Norwich Terriers with a weight of 11 to 12 pounds ( approx. 5.0 to 5.4 kg ) and a height of 9 to 10 inches ( approx. 23 to 25 cm ).

Norfolk Terrier Health Issues

The Norfolk Terrier is a robust and healthy breed that has a life span of 12 to 16 years. Although some may live up to the age of 17 years. However, Norfolk Terriers are affected by certain health issues such as patellar luxation, mitral valve disease, vaccination sensitivity, canine hip dysplasia, and incorrect bites.

Apart from Norfolk Terriers, other dog breeds include:

Norfolk Terrier Names

The Norfolk Terrier parents may decide to get a name for the pup before it joins them home from the breeder or days after the pet has settled home to understand better the personality of a particular dog. Parents may get name inspirations from the England origin, coat color and texture, personality of the dog, movies, celebrity Norfolk Terriers, songs, food, historical figures, and nature.

Regardless of where the owner sources the name, he or she should ensure it will not be a source of embarrassment if uttered out loud in the public parks and malls. Norfolk Terriers and other dog breeds better understand names that have vowels.

If a pooch parent has chosen a long name, they should make an effort of finding a cute nickname for the pet. Avoid giving your Norfolk Terrier a name that rhymes with the command words to curb confusion. If a fur baby shares a name with any family member or guest that frequent your home, it may cause confusion. Some of the names that Norfolk owners give to their pets include;

Maddie.
Nana.
Lush.
Gigi.
Fuzzy.
Yolo.
Sunny.
Tad.
Zannie.
Ghost.
Speedy.
Roxy, etc.

Norfolk Terrier Food | Dog Food

The amount of food that Norfolk Terriers feed on depend on their activity level, age, metabolism, size, and body build. Norfolk Terrier puppies tend to have a high metabolism rate as compared to adults and senior dogs. Therefore, a youngster needs to feed 3 or 4 times a day from when it starts weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, Norfolk Terriers should feed on two meals a day for the rest of their lives with snacks and treats in between. However, Norfolk owners should watch out for calorie consumption and weight level to avoid overfeeding their pets.

Avoid leaving the feeding bowl out all day since Norfolk Terriers will eat just about anything and everything they get their paws on. The Norfolk Terriers may feed on dry food, wet food, home made, or a raw diet depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. Regardless of the food type, the owner should ensure that the pet feeds on a balanced diet. This allows it to maintain a good health eventually allowing it to develop cognitively and physically. If the Norfolk parent decides to feed the dog the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.

The commercial dog food should never contain preservatives, chemicals, additives, meat by-products, generic meat products, and fillers. The same goes to the snacks. Feed a Norfolk Terrier with food for toy-sized puppies, adults, and senior depending on its age. Make a habit of regularly checking the physique of your pooch to know whether it is overweight or underweight.

If you can see the ribs, chances are the dog is underweight. Although, if the ribs are not visible but you can feel them without pressing hard, the Norfolk has an ideal weight. If you cannot feel the ribs, the pet is obese. After getting a puppy from a breeder, the owner is likely to switch to another quality food. They should gradually do this over a period of one month by mixing both old food and new food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Norfolk Terrier is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.

Norfolk Terrier White | Colors

The Norfolk Terriers may have all shades of wheaten, red, grizzle, or black and tan. Dark points are allowed. White marks are undesirable.

Do Norfolk Terrier Shed | Do Norfolk Terriers Shed

Yes. Norfolk Terriers shed all-year round at low levels and heavily in Spring and Fall when experiencing seasonal change.

Are Norfolk Terriers Hypoallergenic

The Norfolk Terriers are largely considered hypoallergenic. However, they shed all-year round at low levels and heavily twice a year while experiencing seasonal change.

Norfolk Terriers Quick Facts

They have prick ears that distinguish them from their close cousins, Norwich Terriers.
Norfolk Terriers are largely considered hypoallergenic, although, they have a moulting coat.
These are pack animals that get along well with other dogs.

Norfolk Terrier Personality, White, Life Span, Size, Grooming, Shedding, and Hypoallergenic