Appearance

The Norwich Terrier is a small but sturdy built dog, and another of the smallest of Terriers. The body is short but powerful with dense bones, a deep chest, short back and level top line, short and straight front legs, and a high-set tail that can be cropped. The round head has a fox-like muzzle, distinctive prick ears, dark eyes and distinctive eyebrows and whiskers. The coat is wiry and straight with a thick undercoat, and the coloring varies but includes black and tan, grizzle, red and wheaten.

History

Breeders in turn-of-the-century England developed a small rat-catching, fox-chasing terrier called the Norwich Terrier. For several decades, this diverse breed had both hanging ears and pricked ears, not to mention a variety of colors and coats. In 1964, the English Kennel Club categorized the hanging-ear variety as the Norfolk Terrier and the prick-ear variety as the Norwich Terrier.