Obtaining a Norfolk Terrier

Have you decided? Should it really be a Norfolk Terrier? Have you just looked at pictures of the breed in a book, or have you actually looked at their lives with Norfolk owners or breeders? It is not sufficient to only read beautiful descriptions and then select the breed on the basis of nice pictures in a book. One must invest a little more effort than that. Have you searched yourself to determine whether you can do justice to some dog’s offspring with enough time and patience to raise it in agreement with their way of life? Are you aware that the dog will shed and must occasionally have its coat groomed? Will you be able to tolerate from the outset the little puddles or handfuls that will adorn your carpet, the trenches that will be dug in your garden, and the overturned water bowl onto your kitchen floor where the puppy will splash with bliss in the puddle? Did you know you must be ready for your Norfolk to have its own armchair because television will be one of its favorite pastimes? These are typical Norfolk qualities. Is your yard or balcony fenced in so a Norfolk can safely wander around on its own and not climb over or under the barrier at any point? Some Norfolks can make a significant jump, while some can climb. Besides, all Norfolks are very imaginative when it comes to overcoming a barrier!

Have you determined if any family members are free from dog allergies, asked the landlords if dogs are allowed, and studied technical literature to learn about training puppies? Have you also determined expected overhead expenses, which are independent of the cost of buying the dog, such as an animal license, insurance, veterinary fees as well as general care and feeding? Have you thought of the cost of a kennel stay for your dog during vacations? If you have considered all these things, then you can advance to the next step, which is to select a breeder.

Have you considered a list of breeder associations, such as a Norfolk Terrier club? From this you can get some addresses, make appointments with different breeders and then go there. Do not delay this step and do not seek excuses. Remember that you are seeking a dog that will bring you many years of enjoyment. Don’t listen to stupid rumors of this and that about various breeders. Form your own opinion from visits and face-to-face talks with individual breeders whether you like their dogs or not. Once you find the breeder you like, you will form a bond of trust with them. When this happens, you will be able to count on them later to help you with any dog problems you might have. The breeder on the other hand, has the welfare of his puppies in his heart and will ask you many questions before he promises you a puppy from one of his dogs.

It is my many years of personal experience I’ve learned that twelve weeks of age is a good time for a new owner to take delivery of a Norfolk puppy. I feel that delivery at eight weeks is too early. Between the eighth and twelfth week, a puppy learns social behavior by almost constant contact with its littermates and the mother from whom they also should not be separated too early. By twelve weeks, they are more durable and will already have developed some natural immunization protection, thereby adapting themselves to a problem free new life. I believe that many dog behavioral problems are based on too early a departure from the litter. Puppies that leave early fail to learn complete "dog like" social behavior. As a rule, they become "humanized" as the alpha dog in their new families.

Many Norfolk Terriers easily adapt themselves to new relationships including older dogs and rarely are there any problems with this. So, there is the chance for an older dog to adapt to older people. I usually council older people about this and suggest that they think it over because a very young Norfolk Terrier is extremely lively and is not always easy to restrain. A dog, which is several years old, can still bring a lot of joy in a home without the problems of basic training and the quirks of a puppy. Ask your breeder for an older animal or the address of an agency for Norfolk Terrier rescue where an older dog might be available. In Germany, you can contact it at Tel. 07223 250 293 or on the Internet under www@norfolkterrier-info.de , keywords Norfolk Terrier Rescue. In the USA, you can contact them at www.norfolkterrier.org .

Another frequent question concerns gender. It is surprising how often people generalize the differences between dog and bitch, which does not represent a Norfolk. This does not necessarily depend on gender. Dogs must be trained a slight bit more strictly so they don’t become little machos. As a rule, they become balanced in character in about a year, have an instinct for play, and assuming the training takes, becomes an incredibly dedicated and devoted herd guide. They can show aggression toward other dogs while walking, but this can be prevented with proper obedience training.

Bitches are subject to hormonal fluctuations in their behaviors: they are in heat approximately two times a year and afterwards some have a false pregnancy. That is, they change their behaviors, some become disobedient, and they play a game by putting on an appearance of being pregnant and showing distinct nest-building behavior. Do not mistake this for a disease! It is a natural behavior and not perverse. The often-recommended ingenious solution of neutering is not an easy thing to agree with. Castration or a hysterectomy changes the dogs. Red-haired dogs lose the color, i.e. they look older than their years and with a more faded color, the coat loses brilliancy and structure. In addition, the under coat grows rampant and more coarse. Hair composition thereby changes with time. This is not always very prominent, however, it can be.

Neutered Norfolk Terriers usually have very good appetites. An overweight condition is not to be gotten rid of by starvation diets. This is not done any more. Castrated dogs find the smell of their companion species uninteresting, which applies only to males. Spoiling for a fight is certainly reduced, and a castrated dog is perceived by other dogs to be "not complete." One risk factor of neutering may be a narcosis. (Every narcosis is a risk, so never put a dog under anaesthesia if not absolutely needed!)

Another risk of neutering may be that some bitches become
urine incontinent two to three years later.

According to the German law for the protection of animals, castration is not allowed without a conclusive reason. Incidentally, my advice is if you have decided on a bitch, pay attention during her heat and accept her moods. Otherwise, find a better a dog. If you are allowed to castrate your dog because medical reasons require it, then that’s one thing. If castration is just for your convenience and you don’t desire to live with his peculiarities and all that is too annoying for you, then why do you need a dog?

Written by Dr. Frauke Hinsch, 2002

Translated from German by Carl Weaver