Norwich Terrier puppies

About the Norwich Terrier

The Norwich Terrier was worked in East Anglia as a ratter and fox bolter, and shares their history with the Norfolk Terrier, from which they differ mainly in their erect ears. They are one of the smallest terriers, standing about 25 cm and weighing about 5.4 kg, with a hard, nearly weatherproof outer coat over a soft undercoat. Despite the size they are a sturdy, deep chested dog with real substance, and they have kept the hunting instincts intact.

The wiry coat wants hand stripping rather than clipping, which fades the colour and softens the texture, so allow for the time or find a groomer who will do it. Exercise is a daily walk plus games, always on lead or inside a securely fenced garden, because the prey drive overrides recall. They rate highly with children, with supervision and socialisation as always. Dental care matters, since the breed builds plaque quickly. A Norwich may fit on your lap, but they still need their exercise.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Norwich Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. This is a high energy breed. At eight weeks that shows up as intensity rather than stamina, and they will need a job to do long before they need long walks. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Norwich Terrier upper airway syndrome, graded by laryngoscopic airway examination under a breed screening programme
• Patellar luxation, detected on orthopaedic examination and managed by weight control or surgery in severe cases
• Tracheal collapse, detected by radiography or tracheoscopy, a harness rather than a collar reduces pressure on the windpipe
• Periodontal disease, detected at veterinary dental examination and treated by cleaning under anaesthetic
• Loss of genetic diversity, managed by checking the inbreeding coefficient before mating

Your Norwich Terrier puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Norwich Terrier.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 5.4 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 22 inch (22 x 14 x 16 in, 56 x 36 x 41 cm) for an adult of up to 5.4 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other small breeds

More on the Norwich Terrier

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Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Norwich Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/norwich-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Gamma Corvi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.