The Norfolk Terrier’s Vocation

The Norfolk Terrier’s Vocation

(The more recent ones anyway)

After spending some time as a breeder of Beagles and a part-time professional handler, I began a decade or so as a foxhunter. That pastime requires several packs of hounds and, of course, terriers. Mine were non-descript Jack Russell-type terriers which were then known as “shorties” or “puddin’s.” Today’s AKC Russell Terrier didn’t exist in those days. Neither did the AKC’s Parson Russell Terrier. The existence and well-being of the hunt terriers depend entirely on their ability to pursue a red fox underground and cause it to bolt to renew the chase. In the United States, we kill very few foxes and many hunts get to know their resident foxes pretty well. (Unfortunately, digging to fox during a formal hunt has been banned by MFHA since 2008.) When my professional fox hunting days were over, I started seeking an appropriate AKC terrier breed that would allow me to do a little recreational terrier work.

One fateful day in the foxhunting capitol of the US, Middleburg, Virginia, I happened on a lovely pair of Norfolk and their very amiable (and knowledgeable) owner, and it wasn’t long before the first Norfolk, a British import, came into the picture. At that point, I knew pretty much everything there was to know about terriers, so I didn’t do my homework as to the history of the breed. Norfolks were about the right size and shape, and I loved the red and also the black and tan coloration. Moreover, they were AKC registered, and thus, I could resume showing in addition to time spent in the field. (Never mind that they weren’t predominantly white.)

Had I even thought to ask I would have learned that today’s Norfolk Terrier first appeared on the scene in the late 1800s, not in the hunt field but in the dormitories of Cambridge University in England. Then, of course, and on through 1978, the breed was known as the Norwich Terrier of the drop-eared and prick-eared types. You might not have heard of Cantab Terriers or Jones Terriers, but these small dogs were promoted through the expert salesmanship of a gentleman named “Doggy” Lawrence and also a stalwart sportsman by the name of “Roughrider” Jones, both of them essentially dog peddlers. Still, there is little doubt that the foundation of these essentially pet puppies was to be found in the hunt terriers to which Lawrence and Jones had pretty much unrestricted access. Color, temperament, and overall conformation were adequate proof of that. Nonetheless, the breed was not initially bred to a specific function, other than the amusement of chasing rats in dormitory rooms and providing companionship to hardworking students.

By all accounts the breed did very well indeed through the 1930s, at least in agricultural ratting. One supposedly authoritative tome claimed the breed was used by recognized hunts into the 1960s, but there is little evidence to support that claim. It has been proven though that Jones Terriers can and have been used to bolt fox on both sides of the pond, but few would argue that they lack the size and strength to have a career as true “working terriers” which, by definition, requires the pursuit of fox and/or badger underground. And so, it was for decades that the breed(s) had to be content with the occasional acknowledgement as ratters of great prowess, a title that requires little documentation.

Fast forward then to an AKC Conformation show held in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. A professional handler (WK) had her set-up near the abandoned terminal building and her set-up was overrun by rats. She complained loudly (as WK is wont to do) and the park superintendent and assistant show chair responded to the distress call. I had, at the time, a couple of untested Norfolks, which I brought over to take a look. They got a rat or two in short order and dispersed the remainder. Their ability was not lost on the super who asked if we might bring the dogs back after the park closed at 10:00 p.m. This began weekly hunting forays with a grand view of the Manhattan skyline and a splendid opportunity to test the natural instincts of a variety of terrier breeds.

About that same time, Susan Ely was breeding her Pinchbeck Norfolks in central New Jersey and joined us on our nightly missions. During the day, Sue hunted her dogs with Teddy Moritz and her Miniature Longhaired Dachshunds on groundhog. As the Pinchbecks were on the smaller end of the nine to ten inches in height and 11-12 pounds demanded by the AKC Standard they were able to do amazingly well at being put to ground for groundhog in addition to their success in the Conformation ring.

The Norfolk is a “softer” terrier than the black dogs and its more conservative approach keeps it safe. The Norfolk often marks occupied dens with nothing more than an intense stare and a stiffening of its neck. Both are useful traits that save a heap of money in vet bills.

Unlike fox and badger, which most always reuse dens from year to year, groundhogs move from place to place. They hibernate in winter and breed in the early spring. In the fall, they gain a pretty good layer of fat to see them through the winter and the dens are dug larger to accommodate the 17 lbs. or so that a large GH can weigh. Those dens present no problem to the Norfolk who can generally at least work back to the quarry. In the spring and early summer, one is apt to encounter much smaller dens and the “Good width of chest. Ribs well sprung, chest moderately deep.” mandated by the Standard is actually a hindrance rather than an asset. I’m not for one-minute advocating that anyone not breed to the Standard, but rather that one work your Norfolk with as much regard as possible for their success and safety.

Those same words in the AKC Standard prevent us from spanning the Norfolk as we would a Parson, a Russell, or a Border Terrier. Still, the actual work of the breed suggests that each of these characteristics should be present in some moderation. Bigger is not always better.

And then there’s the tail. “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.” Norfolks are not “hard terriers” like a Patterdale, Lakeland, or Jagdterrier. They display a certain amount of common sense in their hunting, but even so, frequently require manual extrication from dens. This is most often accomplished by grabbing ahold of the tail and pulling like crazy while the “perfect demon” at the other end pushes relentlessly toward the quarry. As a judge, my eye likes a shorter tail. It balances the dog. As a dirt dogger, I look for a tail that is docked slightly longer, and thick and strong enough to get a good grip. About the only thing we can’t countenance is the squirrel tail or “snap tail” that is carried over the back. This tail gets caught in the den and is inaccessible in case of difficulty or emergency.

With the Norfolk’s less aggressive style of hunting comes its “charge and parry” style of holding quarry at bay or persuading it to bolt. The “Hocks well let down and straight when viewed from the rear.” For me, that’s a really important quality. The short hocks are what enable the dog to get its rear under it in a tight spot in order to shift into reverse. It may do this hundreds of times on a single hunt. Short hocks make it easier… and safer too.

But in reality, the use of Norfolks as a real working terrier has been both sporadic and recent. There are no groundhogs in England and it was here on this side of the pond that the breed made mark as a truly useful working terrier. But since its origin, the breed has been known as a better than average ratter. On the streets or on the farm, the size and temperament of the Norfolk make it the perfect choice for the foundation of a rat pack. Hunting rats with a single dog isn’t always productive and “working alone or with a pack,” and “Alert, gregarious, fearless and loyal. Never aggressive.” take on great importance. For the most part, most Norfolks are excellent team players and even those with a sharper temperament can be useful.

To be a good ratter requires the strong, wedge-shaped muzzle, large teeth, and strength of neck mentioned in the Standard. Given these qualities, the Norfolk will be able to rapidly kill a rat with a single shake and quickly move on to the next one. Any dog can kill a rat; a properly constructed Norfolk can do it faster, better, and longer. I’ve had well-bred Norfolks that were productive ratters up until age 13.

Norfolks don’t recognize their own gameness at an early age. Sometimes it takes a year or two for the light to go on. Sue Ely calls it “The Epiphany” and it’s a great thing to see. (Even more impressive when it’s YOUR dog.) Waiting for it requires patience, but during that time you want to recognize that your dog has the conformation attributes to do the job. Most current Breed Standards don’t contain the old “Scale of Points” that helped set judging priorities. It’s this writer’s hope that your understanding of the breed’s current vocations and job descriptions will help you set your own judging priorities. It’s not the age-old, “Norfolks were originally bred to…” It’s here and now!