The breed first arrived in the U.S. sometime in the 20th Century when the British Frank “Roughrider” Jones bred a Norwich Terrier named “Willum” that was later exported to Philadelphia.
However, since Norwich Terriers looked too similar to their Norfolk cousins, it was only in 1979 when they were properly recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) as a different breed.
The difference between Norwich and Norfolk Terriers is with their ears. The Norwich is known to have perky ears while Norfolk has drop ears.
Contents
One-Time Costs of Norwich Terrier Ownership
- Norwich Terrier Price
The price of Norwich Terriers generally plays around $1,000 to $2,000. However, puppies or dogs sold with a limited registration status with the American Kennel Club would usually cost more; around $2,800 to $4,000 per puppy. Limited registration means you will not use your pet for breeding purposes.
- Shipping &Transport
Shipping would depend on the distance that would be traveled and the cargo (weight, crate, and other items). The costs of shipping alone could range from $120 to $500 and this does not include the amount you would have to spend on pet shipping requirements which include a vet health certificate ($35 to $300), a travel crate ($45 to $860), ground transport (if necessary), and customs clearance ($100 to $120).
- Obedience Training
Due to their independent nature, Norwich Terriers can be quite difficult to housetrain which make obedience training all the more important. Basically, you can enroll your dog in group obedience classes which may cost you around $100 to $175. You also have the choice of going for one-on-one training sessions for a hefty price of $500 to $1,200 which includes 5-week, 1 hour per week or 10-week, 1 hour per week for beginner or advanced classes.
Recurring Costs of Norwich Terrier Ownership
- Food Expenses
With their diminutive sizes, Norwich Terriers generally only weigh around 10 to 12 pounds and thus would need to eat ¾ to 1 ¾ cups of high-quality dog food every day. You can divide this amount into two meals a day for adult dogs and three or more for puppies.
Dog food prices range from $7 to $40 per 25-pound bag. Some dog food brands can reach prices up to $70 and beyond per 25-pound bag. This would all have to depend on the type of dog food you buy. You can choose from three varieties: premium, midrange, and less than premium.
Premium brands, as could be expected, lean towards the expensive side as they are made of the finest quality ingredients. Midrange brands, on the other hand, are made from high-quality ingredients but have been added with filler content. Less than premium brands are the most affordable but they offer below average protein, fat, and carbohydrate levels of dog food.
The most popular and commercially known products don’t necessarily mean they’re the best for your dogs which is why you should also conduct your own research regarding dog food.
Furthermore, you can also get dog treats for your pet for around $3 to over $40 per one-pound pack. There are a variety of dog treats for you to choose from such as the regular pellet-type treats, freeze-dried treats, or even dental dog treats designed to help clean your pet’s teeth and gums.
What’s important is that you buy treats that are of great quality and would not detract from your dog’s health and nutrition.
- Shelter
Norwich Terriers are flexible dogs able to thrive in both indoor and outdoor life. With this knowledge, you can buy them a simple $22 to $400 doghouse for the outdoors and a $17 to $70 dog bed for the indoors.
- Grooming
Norwich Terriers need regular grooming to maintain a neat appearance. A full-grooming session may cost around $35 to $100.
It would be better if you can find a pet groomer who can do hand-stripping on your dog because Norwich Terriers have an inner and outer coat. The process of hand-stripping could pluck out dead hair to make room for new ones.
- Regular Vet Visits
Once or twice a year, you should take your beloved dog to a vet for full checkup consisting of a physical exam ($30 to $125), vaccinations ($15 to $25), de-worming ($12), a heartworm test ($22 to $55), and blood work ($209). Furthermore, dental cleaning ($198 to $320) is also necessary to help prevent tartar build-up on your dog’s teeth.
- Medical Emergencies & Health Insurance
When things go unexpected and your pet is rushed to a vet hospital, know that medical emergencies can get incredibly expensive. In fact, some of the advanced surgical procedures can cost as much as $8,000.
To avoid such frivolous spending in one go, you can buy health insurance for your pet. This would cost around $25 to $100 every month.
- Miscellaneous Expenses
Your Norwich Terrier would definitely need a collar and leash because of its tendency to wander off. Collars typically cost around $3 to $22 for the simple variety and over $100 for the quality once, while leash prices can range from $10 to over $30.
Toys are also necessary to help stimulate the minds of your pets and you can get them for only $2 to $15.
Where to Buy A Norwich Terrier
The best place to get Norwich Terriers is a good breeder because you are sure to get a dog that is of great health, temperament, and structure. They may get a bit pricey but in the end, it’ll be worth it.
If you can’t afford the cost asked by reputable breeders, you would have more luck getting a good quality dog by adopting from a shelter than buying from a regular pet store or puppy mill.
When buying Norwich Terriers, try using the AKC Market to find dogs put on sale by member breeders. A good place to start when looking for reputable breeders would have to be Wild Goose Norwich.
Parting Words
When it comes to terriers, the Norwich terrier is definitely the smallest, standing at only 10 inches high. But don’t let its height fool you because it’s a dog that was originally bred to hunt rodents and foxes which is ironic since the Norwich terrier has a slightly foxy expression.
Norwich Terriers can live up to 14 years, are spirited, fearless, energetic, and affectionate creatures which sometimes cannot distinguish their own small sizes.