Norfolk Terrier Breed Magazine - Showsight

Norfolk Terrier Breed Magazine features information, expert articles, and stunning photos from AKC judges, breeders, and owners.

TERRIER NORFOLK

Let’s Talk Breed Education!

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Official Standard of the Norfolk Terrier General Appearance: The Norfolk Terrier, game and hardy, with expressive dropped ears, is one of the smallest of the working terriers. It is active and compact, free-moving, with good substance and bone. With its natural, weather-resistant coat and short legs, it is a "perfect demon" in the field. This versatile, agreeable breed can go to ground, bolt a fox and tackle or dispatch other small vermin, working alone or with a pack. Honorable scars from wear and tear are acceptable in the ring. Size, Proportion, Substance: Height at the withers 9 to 10 inches at maturity. Bitches tend to be smaller than dogs. Length of back from point of withers to base of tail should be slightly longer than the height at the withers. Good substance and bone. Weight 11 to 12 pounds or that which is suitable for each individual dog's structure and balance. Fit working condition is a prime consideration. Head: Eyes small, dark and oval, with black rims. Placed well apart with a sparkling, keen and intelligent expression. Ears neatly dropped, small, with a break at the skull line, carried close to the cheek and not falling lower than the outer corner of the eye. V-shaped, slightly rounded at the tip, smooth and velvety to the touch. Skull wide, slightly rounded, with good width between the ears. Muzzle is strong and wedge shaped. Its length is one-third less than a measurement from the occiput to the well-defined stop. Jaw clean and strong. Tight-lipped with a scissor bite and large teeth. Neck, Topline, Body: Neck of medium length, strong and blending into well laid back shoulders. Level topline . Good width of chest. Ribs well sprung, chest moderately deep. Strong loins. Tail medium docked, of sufficient length to ensure a balanced outline. Straight, set on high, the base level with the topline. Not a squirrel tail. Forequarters: Well laid back shoulders. Elbows close to ribs. Short, powerful legs, as straight as is consistent with the digging terrier. Pasterns firm. Feet round, pads thick, with strong, black nails. Hindquarters: Broad with strong, muscular thighs. Good turn of stifle. Hocks well let down and straight when viewed from the rear. Feet as in front. Coat: The protective coat is hard, wiry and straight, about 1½ to 2 inches long, lying close to the body, with a definite undercoat. The mane on neck and shoulders is longer and also forms a ruff at the base of the ears and the throat. Moderate furnishings of harsh texture on legs. Hair on the head and ears is short and smooth, except for slight eyebrows and whiskers. Some tidying is necessary to keep the dog neat, but shaping should be heavily penalized. Color: All shades of red, wheaten, black and tan, or grizzle. Dark points permissible. White marks are not desirable. Gait: Should be true, low and driving. In front, the legs extend forward from the shoulder. Good rear angulation showing great powers of propulsion. Viewed from the side, hind legs follow in the track of the forelegs, moving smoothly from the hip and flexing well at the stifle and hock. Topline remains level.

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Temperament: Alert, gregarious, fearless and loyal. Never aggressive.

Approved October 13, 1981 Reformatted March 23, 1990

JUDGING THE NORFOLK TERRIER by LOUISE LEONE

N orfolk Terrier judges and breeders hold the key to future of the Norfolk Terrier. Judges and breeders share the responsibility to help guide the Nor- folk Terriers’ future. Judges must evaluate characteristics and have an understanding of breed type when making their decision. Th e judge must have a thorough under- standing of canine anatomy and movement and most importantly Norfolk Terriers. Judges must have the ability to evaluate the whole dog and not get caught up on one fault of the dog. You start evaluating dogs as they enter the ring. Norfolk Terriers have a distinctive outline di ff erent from any other terrier. At this point as you are looking at the dog’s outline you should be saying to yourself, “Now, that is a Norfolk Terrier!” Overall balance and proportion is what to look for in the Norfolk Terrier. Th e next thing to

look at is the head and expression, proper ear set, dark oval shaped eyes and that hint of mischief that says, ‘Look at me’. Norfolk Terriers are slightly o ff square, he is about 9 to 10 inches tall and weighs approximately 12 pounds. He should have good bone without being course and have good substance. His height and weight are less important than structure, balance and fit working condition. Th e Norfolk chest should fill your hand. Th e upper arm should sit directly under the withers. His shoulders must be well laid back giv- ing a moderate length of neck. He must have low hocks that are set behind the tail to allow great propulsion from the rear. If this is correct the stifle will naturally have a good bend. After your first impression of the dogs on the ground, move them around the ring to see their topline, length of neck, tail set and carriage. Th e topline should

be level as the dog moves. After you assess the dog on the go around you are ready for table examination. Check overall outline first, approach the dog from the front of the table with confidence. Examine the head checking proportion, ear placement, width of skull, eyes, expression and bite. You should be looking for expressive eyes that are wide set, small, dark and oval . Th e ears are V-shaped, wide set on a slightly rounded skull and point to the corner of the eye. Th e length of the muzzle is one- third the length of the head from the tip of the nose to the occiput. Norfolk Terriers have scissor bite with strong, large teeth set in a wedge-shaped muzzle. As you start your examination of the body you should remember that this is a small terrier of good substance and there is nothing toyish about the Norfolk. Th e Norfolk is a balanced dog with well sprung ribs, a broad chest and short loin. His neck

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(photos courtesy of Barbara Miller, Donna Cass and Derek Glas)

is moderate and strong. His shoulders should be well laid back with his elbows close to his ribs. His tail is medium docked long enough to give balance in the overall outline and must always be carried erect. Th e forelegs should be straight, short and powerful. Th e front feet are larger and rounder than the rear feet. A Norfolk should have a good driving rear that is well angulated with good bend of stifle and strong muscular thighs. Th e hocks should be low and straight when viewed from the rear. A Norfolk is a double coated dog. His coat should be hard lying close to the body with a definite undercoat. His outer coat should not be soft or wavy. Th e harsh double coat serves as a protection from the weather and is one of the breed char- acteristics. Coat colors are shades of red, wheaten, black and tan and grizzle. No preference should be given to color. When it comes time to move the dogs individually remember that he is a working terrier. A mincing, short gait is not correct. As you watch him as he is going away from you, his legs should follow in the tracks of the front legs. When you watch him coming back to you his front legs should

move straight down from the shoulder. He should have a smooth side gait with good reach and drive on the go around. Judges should never ask that the dogs be spared. Th is isn’t an aggressive breed. Also, these dogs are low to the ground. PLEASE never bend down over the dog. If you must feel the dog’s shoulders once again as you walk down the line ask the exhibitor to put the dog back on the table. Many a good Norfolk has lost his desire to show because of a bad experience. I hope that this helps you understand and enjoy judging the Norfolk Terrier as much as I do. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Louise Leone of Franktown, Colorado has been in the sport of purebred dogs since 1974. Louise has shown Miniature Schnau- zers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, Norfolk Terriers, Norwich Terriers, and Border Ter- riers. She is best-known for her owner han- dled multiple Best in Show Norfolk Terriers and multiple Best in Show Border Terrier. Louise has served as Secretary of the Norfolk- Norwich Terrier Club, Norfolk-Norwich Terri er Club Judges Education Chair,

Secretary of the Norfolk Terrier Club, Nor- folk Terrier Club Judges Education Chair- man, wrote the First Comparison of the Nor- folk Terrier and the Norwich Terrier, wrote the fi rst Judges Educational Handbook on the Norfolk Terrier and the Norwich Terrier, worked on the Committee for the Norfolk Terrier Illustrated . Louise is an AKC Judge.

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JUDGING THE NORWICH TERRIER: A BREEDER’S PERSPECTIVE by JANE R. SCHUBART M y perspective of judging Norwich Terriers is that of a breeder. I’m not an AKC licensed judge. From inside

the ring my experience is limited to judg- ing two Norwich sweepstakes and a cou- ple of matches. Just enough to appreciate how di ffi cult judging can be. Th at said, from outside the ring I’ve spent hundreds of hours judging Norwich. Th rough the lens of a breeder, I view the purpose of dog shows as being to facilitate evaluation of future breeding stock. Whether inside or outside the ring, my approach is to evaluate the overall dog first. I make my “first cut” on type. I’m looking for a hardy little hunt ter- rier who appears capable of dispatching small vermin. He is fearless and never shy. Although the smallest of the terriers, Norwich should have substance—never fine-boned or toy-ish. He is a sturdy dog in a small package and surprisingly heavy when lifted. First, I like to watch a Norwich mov- ing. He should cover the ground e ffi - ciently. His neck should be of su ffi cient length and not stu ff y, blending into well laid back shoulders to enable good reach. His height is achieved from depth of body, not length of leg. His body is short coupled, with good spring of ribs and just a little distance from the last rib to the tail. His should have short strong hocks and su ffi cient angulation to propel him forward with his topline remaining level. In keeping with his working ori- gin, the Norwich tail is medium-docked and of su ffi cient length to grasp. It is set high at 12 o’clock. All the pieces should fit together to give a pleasing picture of a small sturdy, spirited dog who moves with confidence and purpose. He should not appear long-cast or too stu ff y. Heads are important for correct breed type. Th e wedge-shaped muzzle is strong and slightly tapering. Th e Norwich stan- dard says a “slightly foxy expression”.

From “Illustrated Guide to the Standard of Norwich Terriers” The Norwich Club of America, © 2013. Used with permission.

Th at doesn’t mean a fox-shaped muzzle. Rather, it means that his expression is alert, keen and interested. Th e skull is broad and slightly domed. His eyes are dark and a medium oval size. Round eyes look toy-ish and spoil the expression. His small prick ears should be set well apart and not too high on his head. He has a pronounced stop and his muzzle is neither too long nor too short. Th e proportion of the head is approximately two-fifths muzzle and three-fifths backskull. Th e standard says, “Tight-lipped with large teeth. A scissor bite.” It is silent about missing teeth. Having first evaluated the side view, I watch him coming and going to evaluate

soundness. Going away, he should neither move too close nor too wide. His elbows should not stick out coming towards you and he should not paddle. Ideally, his hind legs follow in the track of the front legs, converging slightly with speed, but some Norwich move a bit wide in front due to their full rib spring and short legs. I don’t mind this if the movement is true. At this point, I have a sense of the dog’s virtues and weak points. Now, I will exam- ine him more closely on the table, looking at details. His front legs are suppose to be straight and must be felt. Clever grooming can cover up crooked legs. His toes may turn out just slightly, however, his feet are

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From “Illustrated Guide to the Standard of Norwich Terriers” The Norwich Club of America, © 2013. Used with permission.

small and ideally he stands on well-arched toes pointed forward with thick pads. I feel the neck and shoulder placement with my hands. While he should have good lay- back, because he has short legs and is sup- pose to have good spring of rib, the chest will have some width. Also, I check the topline and tailset with my hands because clever grooming can cover up rolls and topline dips. Th e o ffi cial standard describes the traits of the ideal Norwich. Some details are very specific, but I believe that exces- sive focus on details tends to result in fault judging. Fault judging is less pro- ductive when evaluating breeding stock. I first look for correct Norwich type and expression and forgive small faults (such as a slightly gay tail, missing tooth, even a softer coat). Th e judge who understands the more subtle qualities prized in a Nor- wich will not reward a dog who is simply sound and lacks breed type. While I believe that the dog show com- petition should focus on conformation, showmanship in the ring is important to the extent that it displays the dog’s tem- perament. Show-ring presence reveals the

dog’s attitude. In the ring, the Norwich look best left alone to stack themselves. Some judges will spar Norwich. I don’t mind the judge who brings them to the center to stand on their own, but they are pack dogs and should not be sparred nose to nose. You don’t want a Norwich show- ing aggression. Also, when judging Nor- wich, do not favor one color over another. Coat color is least important. All shades of red, wheaten, black and tan or grizzle are equally acceptable colors. Th e coat texture is to be hard, wiry and straight. It is a nearly weatherproof, double coat that should blend and appear as one piece on the body. Th e trim should be neat and not overly shaped. Th e coat should be healthy and not open or blown. Th e Norwich standard has remained relatively unchanged since the first Eng- lish standard in 1932. It is my hope that the attributes that so endeared the found- ing Norwich breeders will continue to be upheld. To this end, members of the Norwich Terrier Club of America recent- ly published the first Illustrated Guide to the Standard of Norwich Terriers , for Norwich breeders, owners, exhibitors

and judges. Copies are available for $10 plus $2.50 postage. To order, please con- tact Patty Warrender, Notions Chair, at pwnoridge@gmail.com. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane Schubart is a member of the Norwich Terrier Club of America (currently 2 nd Vice-President and Chair of the Illustrated Stan- dard Commit-

tee). She is a parent club approved AKC Ring- side Mentor for Norwich Terriers, the AKC Breed Columnist for the Norwich Terrier and (with Alison Freehling) author of the Norwich Terrier chapter for Th e AKC Complete Dog Book (21 st Edition), released in August 2014. She is also a member of the Norwich Terrier Club, England (NTC). Jane and her husband have loved, owned and bred Norwich for 15 years under the prefix ASCOT. Th ey live in Pennsylvania.

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JUDGING THE NORFOLK TERRIER

By Beth Sweigart

I

have bred and owned Norfolks so long that when I fi rst started over 35 years ago they were still called drop eared Norwiches. So much has changed since then. My fi rst Norfolk was bred

I showed dogs with Peter Green while I lived on Long Island running Mrs Read’s kennel and showing mostly terriers, sporting dogs, and a lot of the newly rec- ognized Portuguese Water Dogs. When Joan died I moved to PA with Peter and the Green Team took o ff . We retired from handling in 2006 and have been judging here and abroad ever since. I am currently approved to judge all terriers, and some toy, sporting, and working breeds. I still breed Norwich, Norfolks, and A ff en- pinschers, and show occasionally. I have been honored to judge both the Norwich and Norfolk national specialties and it is about judging the Norfolk which I have been asked to write today. I think when judging any breed the fi rst thing to consider is the outline. Th e silhouette should be distinctive and immediately recognizable. Th e Nor- folk is short backed but not square. He has a slightly longer ribcage not as well sprung as his cousin the Norwich. He has short sturdy legs with good angula- tion fore and aft. He has a hard rough coat that does not appear to be trimmed or scissored. My pet peeve is a dog that has been trimmed with a very short top coat and masses of skirt and leg hair giv- ing an arti fi cial appearance. A correctly groomed Norfolk should look like his coat grew that way naturally. Norfolks should not be top and tailed but should

by John Mandeville, CH Ragedge Are You Ready, “Mu ffi n” is the Norfolk from whom all the Yarrow and Yarrow Venerie Norfolks are descended. When I fi rst had Norfolks I lived in Virginia and Labs were my main breed. It was through Labs that I met Mrs Joan Read of the famous Chidley Labradors and Norwiches. She was my fi rst client as a professional handler and my mentor till her death in 1995. Joan introduced me to John and Pam Beale who became clients and later part- ners and have been now for over 20 years. Our most famous collaboration of course was Coco, Eng Am Ch Cracknor Cause Celebre, whom I showed and Pam co owned with Stephanie Ingram and Coco’s breeder Elisabeth Matel!. Since approximately 1995 Pam and I have co-bred and owned Norfolks and lat- er Norwiches with great success. Having bred numerous Champion, Best in Show, and National Specialty winners under the Yarrow-Venerie pre fi x. We strived to breed sound typey dogs who will be great companions as well as good examples of the breed in type and structure.

stand on their own and be attentive to their handler. After initial assessment on the ground move the exhibit around the ring to see how he comports himself. Many dogs on their toes when they are standing fall apart on the move. Struc- ture and balance can be seen as a dog moves. Th is is the time to check for gen- eral soundness sometimes in a large class it is better to move 2 or3 dogs at a time to give careful consideration to each one as it goes around the ring. Th is is also the time to check topline, length of neck, tail set, and carriage. After your fi rst general assessment of the dog on the move you

“I think when judging any breed the first thing to consider is the outline. THE SILHOUETTE SHOULD BE DISTINCTIVE AND IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZABLE.”

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“THE EYE SHOULD BE DARK, EXPRESSIVE, AND INQUISITIVE. Light eyes or eyes that are too large or too small give a foreign expression.”

are ready for a more detailed examination on the table. First check the overall out- line, then approach the dog head on with con fi dence. I always examine the head fi rst checking proportion, ear placement, width of skull, eyes, and expression. After the dog is used to my hands on his head I check the bite. Some Norfolks are put o ff by someone fi rst diving in to check their teeth. Th ey should have good width of back skull and a strong muzzle slight- ly shorter then the back skull. Th e ears are set fairly wide and point downward towards the outside corner of the eye. Try to avoid dogs with long ears shaped like a Sealyham or ones that are hanging down toward their cheek. Th e eye should be dark, expressive, and inquisitive. Light eyes or eyes that are too large or too small give a foreign expression. If their eyes are too small they can have a mean or hard bitten look that is not typical and too large an eye will give a soulful look which is also foreign for a Norfolk. A dark medium eye full of mischief is ideal. When you start your examination of the body, you should be impressed that

this is a small dog of good substance- nothing toyish about it. Check for shoul- der placement upper arm and feel his front legs for substance are they strong and straight or just groomed to look so. Check his feet are they well padded or fl at footed. You will fi nd as you judge Norwich and Norfolks that Norfolk feet are not usually as well arched or rounded as Norwiches. But they should never be fl at footed. Th e neck should fi t cleanly into well placed shoulders that have good layback. Th e back is short, strong, and level with a high set tail. And as terrier people like to say “there should be a lot of dog behind the tail”. A weak topline and low tail set are not characteristic. Norfolks are generally slightly longer cast than their cousin the Norwich. Th is does not mean they are a long dog and extra length should be in the rib cage and not the loin. Since Norfolks are a coated breed, grooming plays an important role in their appearance. You must feel for good bone, good shoulder layback, and good turn of sti fl e. Don’t be fooled by someone’s

grooming prowess. Be sure to check for coat texture and density. A harsh double coat is a must. When the time comes to move the dog individually make sure he moves away on strong hind quarters with good propul- sion. Short strong hocks should move par- allel and demonsrate good drive. Th e front coming back should be true with no sign of weaving or being out at the elbow. On the last go around from the side, check again for balance of movement. Does he have good reach AND drive and does of he move all of one piece. After you have gone over your class if you are still undecided have a couple of your favorites out to stand on their own. I do not advise sparing per se as norfolks are pack dogs and should not be quarrelsome. Th ey should however be alert and fearless. Seeing a terrier standing on his own mak- ing the most of himself is a wonderful sight. I hope I have been able to help you understand the breed I have loved and have been involved with for so many years and that you enjoy judging this wonderful breed for all it has to o ff er.

“Don’t be fooled by someone’s grooming prowess. BE SURE TO CHECK FOR COAT TEXTURE AND DENSITY. A HARSH DOUBLE COAT IS A MUST.”

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OVER THE YEARS NORFOLK TERRIERS BY Deborah Pritchard, GLENELG NORFOLK TERRIERS EST. 1973 BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS BY SALLY ANNE THOMPSON

N

orfolk Terriers are curious, intelligent, problem solvers. Unlike some terrier breeds, if given good outdoor exercise, they “hang out” relaxed indoors. I tell new owners that just because they are small, the Norfolk is not just a lap dog, although they adore their peoples’ laps while being alert to whatever is going on out the window. Th e Norfolk Ter- rier thinks and acts big. Th ey probably have remained working terriers longer than many of the other terrier breeds. In the “old” days, we had to deal with fl ying ears, digging fronts and muzzles that were too long. Careful breeding, examining pedigrees and outcrossing with imports improved our Norfolks. Probably Nanfan Culver, bred by Joy Taylor and imported by Jim and Marjorie McTernan, was responsible for much of the improvement we achieved in the 80s. Joan Read (Chidley) and Barbara Miller (Max-well) imported British stud dogs which improved our breeding stock. Th e high quality of Norfolk Terriers shown at the most recent MCKC Spe- cialty (October 2019) was remarked by those who know the breed. For 60 years Anne Rogers Clark was an icon as a handler and a judge. She was the fi rst female handler to win Westminster Best In Show and one of only a few judges licensed by the AKC to judge all 165 breeds and varieties. Happily for we Norfolk Terrier lovers, Annie and her husband Jim Clark met a Terrier bitch (Nanfan Corricle) that Constance Larrabee (Kings Prevention Norwich) had brought from England. Th e Clarks were charmed by this “drop- eared” Norwich, never having been impressed with the prick-eared variety. Th ey went on to develop the Surrey Norfolk Terriers with Corricle’s daughter Ahoy. Once when asked to explain the di ff erence between the Norwich and Nor- folk, Annie said “Easy...the Norwich with their ears up bark and don’t think, the Norfolks with their ears down think and then bark!” Today in the Conformation ring, we have too many Norfolk judges who don’t know the breed, seeing it as similar to the Norwich. Oh that Annie Clark was around today to teach them what they should be looking for (and in all

the other recognized breeds). She was once questioned by a judge to summarize when judging, the essence of a proper Norfolk. Her reply, “First of all do not judge them generically. Hard coated, down and back, sound, top-line, tail up, but there’s much, much more to them than that. Th ey’re unlike any of the other little terriers. Th ey’ve always had more angles in their front and back ends than the Norwich have, and they look longer but shouldn’t be. Th ey should be short backed, chubby and chunky. Th ey should have some fore chest out in front of their forelegs. If I could get both countries to rewrite the Standard as regards foreface to back skull, I would be very happy because people come to me thinking that the proportions are quite incorrect. Th e foreface should be just slightly shorter than the back skull, not one third to two thirds which will give it a Gri ff on look rather than Norfolk and there will never be enough room in there for those big teeth which can dispatch a rat.” £ Transcribed by Trisha Broom from a video taken by Denis Ruffles of an interview. Published in the NTC (U.K.) Newsletter Summer 2001.

CH. Max-Well’s Venus

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THE VERSATILE NORFOLK TERRIER by LARRY HOTTOT

L ooking for a little, high-powered dog to add to your family? Th is little dog was originally bred in the farm lands of Europe as barn dogs to rid the barn of vermin and used on occasion to bolt query on a hunt. Today’s Norfolk Terrier retain many of those origi- nal breeding characteristics. Th eir cour- age is incredible with the natural hunter instincts with a strong drive for prey for small vermin, rats, squirrels, chipmunks and such. Norfolk’s typical temperament is happy, spirited, self-confident and thrive on human contact. Th e Norfolk Ter- rier is an active, energetic, fearless, feisty, sociable and charming, all rolled into one, small dog. Th ey are assertive without being aggressive and usually get along with other dogs. However, the Norfolk should not be left home alone around gerbils, guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, birds and other small family pets as their hunting instincts will “kick in”. Th e Norfolk Terrier needs daily exercise and enjoys walking and jog- ging. He will take as much exercise as you can give. Th ey also enjoy agility, Earthdog tests, tracking, obedience and the confor- mation ring. Th ey should always be on lead or in a fenced area, as they do not know the dangers of the road, often said to not be road smart. Th ey will take o ff after a squir- rel and run right into tra ffi c. Th e fence must be secure and without openings as they are talented escape artists. Th ey love children and are well-behaved with respectful kids. Many are good with other family pets if introduced as a puppy and allowed to grow together. Most are not yappy, but they will bark if someone knocks on the door, rings the doorbell or is seen walking by. Th ey do make good watchdogs, but once someone is inside your home, the Norfolk Terrier loves everyone! Th ey will bark and/or dig if they are bored, lonely or unexercised. Th ey are trainable but learn slowly and look for- ward to reward treats. Th ey are willing to please, but always independent-minded. Th ey are usually quick to housetrain. Th ey are loyal, devoted and loving and will want to be included in all family life aspects

and activities. Th e Norfolk Terriers love to take rides in vehicles to see di ff erent sights, people and locations, which is helpful to sooth the fears of only going in a vehicle for grooming or vet appointments. Norfolk Terriers love to participate in many di ff erent events, excelling in all. From conformation, agility, Barn Hunt, obedience, Earthdog (or going to ground), to dock diving and therapy dogs. Th e following are some of the events that may interest the owner or the dog. Most have a by-product of gaining exercise for both the handler as well as the dog, while allowing the Norfolk to be the Terrier Th e sport of showing one’s dog in the show ring dates back decades and contin- ues today. Originally, the owners exhib- ited their own dogs, showing to judges who are trained to know and understand the Breed Standards, for the award of Champion in the breed. For Norfolk Ter- riers, the most notable was English-Amer- ican Champion Cracknor Cause Celebre, “Coco”. Handled by Beth Sweigert and Peter Green, Coco went Best in Show at the AKC Invitational in 2003 and 47 oth- er BIS in 2003. Th e high point in 2003 was Coco winning BIS for all four shows of the Montgomery Weekend which had never been done before. Th e pièce de résistance was winning Best in Show at Crufts 2005—a great Ambassador for the Norfolk Terrier breed. DOCK DIVING they are. IN THE CONFORMATION RING Dock diving or dock jumping is an activity that surfaced in 1997. Th e AKC o ffi cially became involved in 2014 with introducing title recognition for dogs competing in the North American Diving Dogs events. Dock jumping is a competi- tion in which a dog runs o ff the dock into a pool or body of water. Known as jump- ing a wave, the team of dog and handler, are measured by how far the dog jumps

into the pool. Jumps begin qualifying at 0.1" to over 30 feet. Th e sport is open to all breeds and mixed breeds. Events are held indoors and outdoors and in con- junction with AKC All Breed Shows. Th e lap dog competition is for breeds under 16" at the withers; this is where the Nor- folk Terrier fits in. OBEDIENCE Norfolk Terriers remain a rarity in the obedience ring. With the right person, the Norfolk Terriers are certainly capable of learning high-precision work. Th ey are attentive and have an overwhelming desire to please. While it is gratifying to receive the high scores and blue ribbons, it is important for the dogs and handlers to have a really good time in the ring. AGILITY Norfolk Terriers do very well in the sport and the sport has a lot to recom- mend it to Norfolk Terrier owners. Th e Norfolk Terriers are busy little dogs, who can easily get themselves into all kinds of trouble when bored. Th ey’re also a bunch who appreciate their food and treats, lead- ing to a relatively high incidence of obe- sity in the breed. What better than a sport that entertains them and keeps them fit. Norfolk are inventive little dogs. You need a creative and creative trainer to

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“THE SPORT OF BARN HUNT IS MODELED AFTER THAT JOB THE NORFOLK TERRIER IS ADEPTLY SUITED.”

keep up. To keep the Norfolk excited and willing to work hard, rewards are a must. Squeaky toys are often seen as the ulti- mate rewards for these little rat catchers. But high value treats work wonderfully as well. To see these little dogs work through the various obstacles in a set path is truly remarkable. EARTHDOG Earthdog trials tests the working abil- ity and instinct of the Norfolk Terriers. Since these dogs were bred to hunt vermin and other quarry which lived in under- ground dens, these tests can be a natural extension of the Norfolk Terrier’s instinc- tive hunting skills. While Earthdog trials involve man-made underground tunnels that the dogs must navigate, while scent- ing “the quarry”, the dog must follow the scent to the quarry and then “work” the quarry. “Working” means barking, scratching, staring, pawing, digging— any active behavior. Th e quarry is protect- ed at all times by wooden bars across the end of the tunnel, therefore, the hunting encounter is controlled and neither the dog nor the quarry (usually two rats) are endangered by the activity. BARN HUNT Th is event places the Norfolk Ter- rier back to their roots of searching in a farm environment for their prey.

Historically, many breeds were used by itinerant “rat catchers” to rid farms of crop-robbing, disease-spreading rats. Th e sport of Barn Hunt is modeled after that job the Norfolk Terrier is adeptly suited. Th e sport takes place in a barn-like atmo- sphere that can be re-created almost any- where. An enclosed ring, 50-60 bales of straw or hay, some tubes and some rats are all it takes for these terriers to get their rat on Barn Hunt style. Th e Norfolk Terrier is a versatile dog with many opportunities for both the dog and the people to participate in. Regard- less of one’s preference, these little dogs will aim to please and all for a reward treat and the loving embrace of their peo- ple. Some Norfolk Terriers will just love to fetch the ball for as long as your arm will move and still want more. Th is is a gregarious dog that is a like no other. ABOUT THE AUTHOR We have been involved with Norfolk Terriers since 2004 when we got our fi rst Norfolk (Samson) and met breeders who mentored, coached and advised us on the breed. Samson is such a joy that we have added others to our family and each is a gem. As far as what I do, I am the webmas- ter for the NTC among a variety of other things needed to help the club run. To us, it is all about these little dogs and bettering the breed we have come to love deeply.

Meet The Breeds in NYC 2015, “Cutter”.

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LIVING WITH A NORFOLK TERRIER

W hen people ask me why I chose a Norfolk Ter- rier I tell them I wanted a small dog with a large personality. Th at is what you get when you own a Norfolk. Th is is a breed that has a huge heart, they love life andthey love their owners. Because of these traits, when you own a Norfolk the possibilities of what you can do are endless. If you are buying one for a pet, the Norfolk is a good choice, they like to walk, play with toys and of course relax with their owners. If you are thinking of trying some per- formance events with this breed you will not be disappointed. Norfolks have a lot of courage and although they enjoy being with their owners, they like to be indepen- dent as well. For these reasons, they make great performance dogs. Of course the breed originated in Eng- land and were one of the breeds kept as a farm dog. Th ey liked to hunt and chase mice as well as larger quarry. So two per- formance events they do well in are Earth- dog and the new sport of Barn Hunt. To start a dog in either sport it is important to find a place for some basic training. To start a young dog in Earthdog it is best to find a trainer who has both tunnels in the ground and above the ground. I like to try and start my dogs around 6 months of age and work with them over the period of few months. It is never too late to start you dogs training. Older dogs will like this as much as the young puppies. It is best to begin with tunnels above the ground, get- ting the puppy used to crawling through the tunnel and then adding a corner and eventually the end piece which has the dog behind the bars barking at the rat. Th is way when you move on to training in the ground they have some idea of what

By Linda Federici Rugby Terriers

they are suppose to do and they have been inside a tunnel. Barn Hunt is a sport that is for all breeds, but like Earthdog is a favorite for our Nor- folks. Once again finding a trainer or a class is the best way to start your dog. Th is sport involves hay bales. I think of it as a find and seek for the dog. In the first level, there are 3 tubes hidden among hay bales, one is emp- ty, one has dirty bedding (from the rat) and one has a live rat in the tube. Th e dogs job is to roam around the fenced in area and find the tube with the rat. Tracking is a fun sport to try with your Norfolk. Mine for one love to walk. In this sport their independence works to help them follow the track and find the glove. Th is is the only sport that the dog is in control. A track layer has walked a track of about 450 yards in the first level of this test. Th e idea behind this sport is the dog is able to follow the scent of the track layer, who has walked the track and at the end of the track they have left a glove. Th e dog who is harnessed and walking at least 20 feet ahead of his owner has his nose to the ground and is following the scent for 450 yards or so till he finds the glove. Only the track layer and the judges know where the map of the track, the handler has no idea where the track goes, he is following his dog. Although a small breed, the Norfolk has endurance and walks right along hap- pily wagging his tail the whole way. Agility is a popular sport to do with a Norfolk. Th ey are agile and can be quite fast which are two things needed for a good agility dog. Th is time owner and handler must work together to run the course cor- rectly in the amount of time given. Obedience can be challenging with a Norfolk but one thing that helps with training in obedience is a Norfolk will work for food! Th ere are several types of obedience, regular obedience and then Rally. Which ever one you are going

to try, like with all the other sports you need to find a place to train and train weekly for several months or longer to get you and your dog ready to compete if that is what you would like to do. A sport for all breeds that opened a few years ago is lure coursing. For my dogs, this is their favorite sport by far. A Nor- folk has a great prey drive, they love to chase and they are fast. Th is is the perfect performance event to try if you are new to the world of trialing your dog. Not much practice is needed, my dogs will chase any- thing and a plastic bag is what they are chasing. Lots of fun to watch them run. When you are not training you Norfolk you are living with him or her and that can be a challenge as well. I live with three Norfolks, all are related and get along well. I have a 6-year-old female, her 3-year-old son and 1-year-old daughter from her second lit- ter. I live in the suburbs in a small house with a small yard. I take lots of walks— mine will walk in any weather, at any time of the day! If someone comes to the house

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His outer coat should not be soft or wavy. Th e harsh dou- ble coat serves as a protection from the weather and is one of the breed characteristics. Coat colors are shades of red, wheaten, black and tan and grizzle. No preference should be given to color. When it comes time to move the dogs individually remem- ber that he is a working terrier. A mincing, short gait is not correct. As you watch him as he is going away from you, his legs should follow in the tracks of the front legs. When you watch him coming back to you his front legs should move straight down from the shoulder. He should have a smooth side gait with good reach and drive on the go around. Judges should never ask that the dogs be spared. Th is isn’t an aggressive breed. Also, these dogs are low to the ground. PLEASE never bend down over the dog. If you must feel the dog’s shoulders once again as you walk down the line ask the exhibitor to put the dog back on the table. Many a good Nor- folk has lost his desire to show because of a bad experience. I hope that this helps you understand and enjoy judging the Norfolk Terrier as much as I do.

or even near it they let me know. One of the things I like best about my dogs is they love being near me, in the same room, sitting on the couch but they do not want to be on me. Everyone greets me when I come home from work but then they move on to a toy or go out and check on the yard. Th e coats on the Norfolks are nice, I keep mine tidy. I have them groomed several times a year, 3 or 4. If you talk to your breeder they can give you pointers on keeping the coats tidy in between grooming or even how to groom the dog yourself. Although this takes patience, time and a strong wrist it is not as hard as you would think. If you groom your dog regularly he will learn to tolerate this. Nails are important to keep up as well, too many times you see a dog with toe nails curling under and that is not good for his feet. Like the grooming if you trim your dogs nails every few weeks they will get better and better at sitting still for this. One of the things highest on a Norfolks list of favorite things to do is eat. Th is is a small dog with a big appetite and when you own a Norfolk you need to keep this in mind. Th ey love to eat, but you do not want to let them get over weight. Exercise can help keep them trim, but more importantly you can not over feed them or allow them too many snacks. When training your Norfolk either for performance or just teaching them manners make sure you are cutting back their meals since they are getting treats in class or at home. If my dogs attend a class like agility, obedience or tracking where I know they will be getting treats or a big jackpot. Th ey do not get one of their meals, I cut out breakfast or lunch. Norfolks are a great dog, lots of personality, loyal and lov- ing. With training and structure they make great pets and/or performance dogs.

BIO Louise Leone of Frank-

town, Colorado has been in the sport of purebred dogs since 1974. Louise has shown Miniature Schnauzers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, Norfolk Terriers, Norwich Terriers and Border Terri- ers. She is best -known for her owner handled multiple Best in Show Norfolk Terriers and

BIO Linda Federici graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in dental hygiene and has worked in pri- vate practice for 25 years. She got her first Norfolk Terrier in 1999 and her love of terriers began. Linda has shown her dogs successfully in confirmation, agility, rally, tracking, Earthdog and barn hunt. Besides dogs, Linda’s other passion is travel—if she is not at a dog show or trial, she is traveling the world.

multiple Best in Show Border Terrier. Louise has served as Secretary of the Norfolk-Norwich Terrier Club, Norfolk- Norwich Terrier Club Judges Education Chair, Secretary of the Norfolk Terrier Club, Norfolk Terrier Club Judges Edu- cation Chairman, wrote the First Comparison of the Norfolk Terrier and the Norwich Terrier, wrote the first Judges Edu- cational Handbook on the Norfolk Terrier and the Norwich Terrier, worked on the Committee for the Norfolk Terrier Illustrated. Louise is an AKC Judge.

240 • S HOW S IGHT M AGAZINE , A PRIL 2014

THE NORFOLK TERRIER

By Barbara Miller

T

he Norfolk and Nor- wich terriers were once one breed; the Nor- wich terrier prick ear and the Norwich ter- rier drop ear. It wasn’t

“THE NORFOLK IS THE SMALLEST OF THE WORKING TERRIERS.”

until January 1979 that the breeds earned the right to become two; the Norfolk ter- rier and the Norwich terrier. Until the 1930s the prick and drop ear were inter- bred. Th e Norfolk terrier came from sim- ple beginnings and now are considered a force in the Terrier group ring on either side of the big pond. Th is game and hardy little fellow with expressive drop ears, ten inches at the withers weighing about 12 to 14 pounds thinks of itself as a giant canine with a heart of gold. Th e Norfolk is the smallest of the working terriers. It is active and compact, free moving, with good bone and substance. Th e coat is weather resistant and its short legs make it a perfect demon in the fi eld. Th is little guy is a bundle of energy and fi ts right at home in the busy family household. Th ere’s a tendency in today’s fast mov- ing world to think of “Now” and forget- ting “When.” As custodians of our breed we surely must give some time and e ff ort

to remembering the past because it is only then as breeders we can move into the future. Th e background for our little breed began in the 1880s in England with a man named “Doggy” Lawrence who produced a small terrier breeding a Yorkshire to an Irish terrier. His cleaver little dogs were sold mainly to the stu- dents at Cambridge University to clear out the vermin in the dormitories. His dogs were referred to as “Cantab Terriers” one of which, a red, was bred to a Scot- tish type terrier owned by Jodrell Hop- kins in 1900. As a graduate of Cambridge he wanted a small dog for his livery stable on Th rumpington Street to keep the rats at bay. Fortunately, Rags, a red coated male and Nell a female with a dark coat

was the results of this breeding. Both had prick ears and Hopkins labeled them “ Th rumpington Terriers.” In 1901 Frank Jones better known “Roughrider” who worked for Jack Cooke, master of a pack of staghounds, bred his small red terriers that he brought to England with him from Ireland to “Rags.” All resulting whelps had pricks ears. A few years later, Podge Low owned a little bitch that he named “Ninety” with most probably a bit of Dandie Dinmont in her background, pure white with fl y away ears and leggy to boot was sold to a graduate of Cambridge, Richard Hoare. He bred her to Rags and the drop ear was born. It wasn’t until 1932 that Bif- fi n of Beau fi n was born and became the

“As custodians of our breed we surely must GIVE SOME TIME AND EFFORT TO REMEMBERING THE PAST BECAUSE IT IS ONLY THEN AS BREEDERS WE CAN MOVE INTO THE FUTURE.”

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“A GOOD NORFOLK COAT IS WEATHER RESISTANT AND IN MOST INSTANCES RED yet black and tan and grizzle are acceptable colors.”

breed’s fi rst champion in 1935 in Eng- land. England recognized the breed as Norwich prick and drop ear in 1932. Gordon Massey of Maryland imported the fi rst drop ear champion in 1936, With- erslack Sport; that same year the AKC rec- ognized the breed in our country. Both the drop and prick were exhib- ited as one breed until January 1979 in our country. Having two breeds stand alone in the ring brought out the quali- ties of each. Th e Norfolk Terrier began to shine as they were no longer in the shad- ow of the prick ear. We learned quickly that the Norfolk required a bit more than tidying as we all got accustomed to using trimming knives; some more skilled at it than others. A glowing coat and one free of dead hair adds to the Norfolk’s health and well being. Stripping out these dead hairs hastens the growth of the new coat. A good Norfolk coat is weather resistant and in most instances red yet black and

tan and grizzle are acceptable colors. Th e coat is harsh, never soft and fl u ff y. Nor- folks are alert and most often responsive to their handlers when in the show ring. Norfolk have never lost the spirit of going to ground and today there are many trials open to the breed for competition. Yearly more Norfolk owners are taking part in this performance activity earning titles in this area of our sport. Agility is anoth- er endeavor the Norfolk and his owner enjoys. Th is breed is the perfect family pet for the city or country. If not being exhib- ited brushing and combing a few times a week are su ffi cient to maintain the coat. Th e Norfolk breed is easily trainable and always willing to learn if the owner puts in the time required to teach the young pup commands. Some in the breed are train- ing their Norfolk for Canine Good Citi- zen whereby owner and Norfolk can go to nursing homes and hospitals to help ease the pain of the elderly or those who are ill.

Th is breed is willing to please its owner and for the most part is non quarrelsome still it is wise to introduce the Norfolk to other dogs in a neutral area. As a family companion they rank high on anyone’s list requiring low maintenance but requiring the attention of family and friends. Fortunately in January 2009 we earned the right to become our own club, the Norfolk Terrier Club serving our mem- bership well. As a young organization we have thrived continuing to have a yearly fun weekend combined with our Match show. We recognize our membership with medallions, club pins, and trophies for the e ff orts they put into making our little breed, the guys at the end of the ter- rier line, outstanding terriers in the fi eld, show ring or as the family companion. We owe our forefathers a great deal of thanks for their fortitude in seeing to it this breed was developed with the skill they brought with them as breeders.

“NORFOLK HAVE NEVER LOST THE SPIRIT OF GOING TO GROUND and today there are many trials open to the breed for competition.”

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A Survey on the NORFOLK TERRIER With KAren C. WilSon

I live in Slate Mills (Sperryville), VA on a quiet and lovely 80 acres on the “morning side” of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Outside of dogs, my husband (of 56 years) and I love to travel and usually take three foreign trips a year; I love to cook, sew and knit. We began showing dogs in 1965—though we both have had dogs all our lives. I began judging in 1992 with two Terrier breeds. 1. Describe the breed in three words. The Norfolk Terrier is active, alert and hardy (in fit working condition). 2. What are your “must have” traits in this breed? My “must haves” are expressive drop ears, free moving, level topline, slightly longer than tall, hard and wiry coat, with an intelligent and keen expression. 3. Are there any traits in this breed you fear are becoming exaggerated? There is often some over trimming in the show ring. (And of course some un-needed enhancement of color in some areas of the country.) 4. Do you think the dogs you see in this breed are better now than they were when you first started judging? Why or why not? On the whole the breed has improved in the past few years with many key breeders trying to stick to the stan- dard and keep the breed sound. 5. What do you think new judges misunderstand about the breed? New judges may miss the key factors that make the Nor- folk and Norwich different. A good seminar presented

by both breed clubs can help the new judges, and should be mandatory for anyone who will be judging Terriers. There are many breed mentors who are very helpful. 6. And, for a bit of humor: What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever experienced at a dog show? One funny thing that happened (though not in the Terrier ring), on a very hot day all the gentlemen were wearing suits or sport coats. I told the ring steward that she could inform the exhibitors they could, “Take their clothes off.” Well, that was not what I meant to say. I meant to take their coats off. Being himself, Peter Green was at ring side and he took his coat off, and then began to reach for his belt! I then realized what came out of my mouth and I quickly clarified my remark.

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