ABOUT NORWICH TERRIERS
Short-legged terriers have long been valued in England, but only in the 1880s did the
breed that would eventually become both the Norwich and Norfolk Terriers emerge
from obscurity. At that time, owning one of these small ratters became a fad among
Cambridge University students. The little terriers became known as CanTab, and later
Trumpington Terriers. Around 1900, a Trumpington Terrier named Rags came to a
stable near Norwich and gained notoriety as a ratter as well as sire. He sired countless
offspring and is the patriarch of the modern Norwich.
One of his sons came to America and proved to be an amiable ambassador for the
breed. To this day, many people still refer to the Norwich as the "Jones" Terrier, after
this dog's owner. The "Jones" Terrier was incorporated into various foxhound hunt
packs. The AKC recognized the breed in 1936. At that time the breed had both prick
and drop ears, but in 1979 the dropped-eared variety was recognized as a separate
breed, the Norfolk Terrier. Although lacking the flash of its long-legged competitors in
the Terrier group, the Norwich has proven itself as formidable a competitor in the
show ring as it ever was in the field.
The Norwich Terrier, like the Norfolk, is a true terrier at heart, always ready for
adventure and excitement. It is a pert, independent, amusing companion, best suited
with a sense of adventure and humor.
