Norfolk Terrier
region Britain
cut 25-26cm
weight maximum. 5kg
hair Hard and straight, lying against the body, with a "wire" texture.
dress The dress comes in all shades of red, wheaten, black and tan or gray. White marks or patches are undesirable but acceptable.
head Skull is broad and slightly rounded, of good width between the ears, with a well-marked stop.
eyes Oval shape and deep in the eye sockets, dark brown or black in color
tail Previously the custom was to dock the tail. a) Medium cropped, set on level with the topline and carried erect. b) Tail of moderate length for the general balance of the dog; thick at the base and tapering towards the tip
behaviour Lively and fearless, a demon for its size. Of a kind nature, he must not be aggressive, even if he must be able to defend himself if necessary.
federation FCI nomenclature group 3 section 2 no 272
introduction
The Norfolk Terrier, originating from Great Britain, is the smallest of the working terriers (as opposed to the pleasure terriers). It is part of the branch of terriers used in the 18th and 19th centuries as vermin hunters and, as far as Norfolk is concerned, as ratters. Before 1960, when it was recognized as a breed in its own right, it was considered a variety of the Norwich terrier, which was distinguished by its folded ears.
origins
In the 1880s, the British selected a breed of working terrier from the east of England. It is assumed that the Norwich Terrier and the lop-eared variety that would later be known as the Norfolk Terrier were obtained from crosses between local lines of Terriers, some Irish Terrier relatives, and small red-coated dogs. used as ratters by the Gypsies of Norfolk. They were once called the Cantab Terrier when it was fashionable for Cambridge students to have one in their room. They were later called Trumpington Terriers, after a street in the vicinity of the breed's birthplace. Just before World War I, an Irishman sold large quantities of them in the United States and they were momentarily renamed Jones Terriers. In 1932, the Norwich Terrier was officially recognized by the British Kennel Club and the first breed standard was drafted. the American Kennel Club registered the first Norwich Terrier in 1936. In 1964, the Kennel Club reclassified the lop-eared variety as a breed in its own right, which was called the Norfolk Terrier, while the prick-eared variety kept the name of Norwich Terrier. This distinction was endorsed by the American Kennel Club and the Canadian Kennel Club in 1979. Over the generations, these two breeds have developed distinctive traits both physically and temperamentally.
temper
The standard specifies that the Norfolk, "lively and fearless, is a fiend for its size". Of a kind nature, he must not be aggressive, even if he must be able to defend himself if necessary. Along with the Norwich Terrier and the Border Terrier, he has one of the best characters in the terrier group. The Norfolk Terrier is a pleasant companion dog and their activity level adapts to the size of their surroundings. They should not be kept permanently outside because it only flourishes in contact with human beings. Outside, he retains his instinct to rat and remains very motivated by the extermination of small pests. He has no particular propensity to dig, but he can develop the habit of doing so through idleness or if he is left alone for too long periods. The Norfolk is a very self-confident dog, as evidenced by its demeanor and gait, straight head and erect tail. Shy or aggressive individuals are atypical. His natural is to be confident, cheerful and full of life. He can't stand being ignored by his master.