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Norfolk Terrier

Veterinarian Reviewed on December 23, 2007 by Dr. Janice Huntingford

Physical Characteristics

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Breed Group:

Terrier

Weight:

Approximately 5 kg or 12 lbs

Height:

Norfolk Terriers are quite small – 25-30 cm (10-12 inches).

Color(s):

This breed is found in a variety of colors including red, black, and tan.

Coat:

Their coat is made up of wiry, short hair.

Overview

Character:

Of the terrier group, Norfolks tend to be the most calm and gentle but, on rare occasion, can still be fearless and defensive. Still, they make good pets and excellent companions even for children as they love human interaction. In addition, they get along well with other house pets, including cats, and are usually social. They are quiet but bark when they’re anxious. As with most terriers, they’ve been bred as hunters so will chase and attack small rodents. They are confident, highly interactive, and usually mild mannered.

Country of Origin:

Norfolk Terriers are from England.

History:

They come from a long history of terriers throughout the English countryside and are closely related to the Norwich Terrier and other terriers of East Anglia. Originally known as the Cantab Terrier, it is believed that they first appeared as a result of cross-breeding between Cairn Terriers and the native red terriers of the Norfolk region. They were first admitted into the English Kennel club in the early 1930s and registered in the American Kennel Club somewhat later, around 1936.

They were originally bred as hunters in barns to kill rodents as well as used during fox hunts to drive foxes from their dens. They were not large enough to keep up with horses in the hunt so there is some debate about the validity of their use in hunts.

Name:

They are named after Norfolk County in England, where they originally appeared.

Temperament:

Norfolk Terriers demonstrate a great amount of fearlessness and courage. In the home, they make excellent pets, as they thrive on human companionship

Care

Training:

Training tends to be quite easy and these dogs progress very quickly.

Activity:

As a general rule, Norfolk terriers are as active as their environment. They can cope with a lot of exercise and love to explore. Though these dogs should not be kept outside (as they prefer contact with humans), they love the opportunity to roam and check out the landscape. For an active owner, these dogs can make excellent walking companions. However, since they are quite small, they cope quite well as indoor pets as well. While it is advisable to walk any dog at least once a day, the Norfolk Terrier will be content with its owner’s company and don’t require a lot of extra care, only attention.

Ownership:

As they are mild-mannered sociable dogs, they make excellent pets. Owners often describe feeling close relationships with their Norfolk Terriers likely because these dogs love human attention.

Breeders

List of dog breeds

Read also: Italian Greyhound
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Our Expert

Dr. Janice Huntingford
Janice Huntingford, DVM, has been in veterinary practice for over 30 years and has founded two veterinary clinics since receiving her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph. She has studied extensively in both conventional and holistic modalities. Ask Dr. Jan

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