Living With Two Norfolk Terriers

I live with two Norfolk Terriers, Hank & Otto. As anyone with a terrier knows, there’s not a lot of spa-like quiet to be found with a terrier in the house.

Norfolk Terriers appear to be cuddly little teddy bears, but they are really big dogs trapped in small bodies. Most people are surprised to learn that this drop-earned English hunting dog was bred to bolt fox from hiding in the woods. It’s very similar to its close relative with pointed ears, the Norwich Terrier. Several years ago a Norfolk Terrier named Coco sparked a lot of interest in the breed by winning several important dog shows. Unfortunately, there are only about 800 Norfolk Terriers available each year in the US, and breeders keep many of these dogs for their own.

It’s not uncommon to search for several years to locate a puppy from a well-regarded breeder. I was very fortunate to find a good breeder in Richmond and got both dogs as puppies. Here’s Pickles, a 1 year old female that’s looking for a good home. Get in touch with me if you’d like my breeder’s contact info, and I’d be happy to pass it along.

Their wiry coats on display in some great photos must be stripped by hand rather than clipped with grooming tools. My original plan was to rock the dog show world but tearing up local trails around Great Falls is a lot more fun.

My dogs are pretty strong-willed and feisty but are very loyal and devoted to me. It’s virtually impossible not to include them in every activity, from a run in Great Falls Park or errands around town. They are not aggressive but will always stand up for themselves whenever they feel threatened. They’re also very protective of children. Last week, I had a chance to witness this behavior first hand.

I was walking along the trails of Great Falls Park with Hank and Otto. Ahead of us on a narrow path were a mother and her 2 small children. From behind us, an otherwise friendly but high energy Labrador came bounding along off lead. Before I could react, my two dogs made a dash toward the children and positioned themselves to be an obstacle to the Lab. The Lab was more amused by this behavior than threatened and made a few playful lunges to keep my terriers on their toes before heading off with its owner. Hank and Otto were proud to receive the affection from the children they just rescued from near certain danger. At least that’s how they tell the story of what took place.

Like their different coat colors, Hank and Otto have very different personalities. Hank, the older of the two, loves being around people and fashions himself the Mayor of Great Falls. He’d rather socialize than exercise. My attempts to explain that Great Falls is in the Dranesville District and has a Supervisor instead of a Mayor have been consistently ignored. In the nearby photo Hank has his paw raised, which is a common Norfolk gesture of friendliness to greet a stranger. Otto has a high-octane personality and loves to run and stay active 24/7. He loves to race by runners who are traveling at a fast pace, thinking that they are competing with him.

They thrive on being around people and attract attention everywhere we go, especially after they’ve just been groomed. Passersby often remark about their confident, “giving-it-their-all” walk. They were bred to be always on their toes, looking for trouble, and my dogs work hard to live up to that. I love their fearless nature and “can do” spirit. Sometimes I’d like to sit them down in front of a mirror to remind them of their small 12″ frames, but that wouldn’t slow them down. Just the other day, Otto flew out of an open window in my SUV to chase off some deer in the front yard. He was back in a flash for his reward for a job well done.

As a dog lover, I’m certainly sensitive to the challenges that owners face when traveling or when searching for a home. Living in Great Falls and near to the dog park in Reston, it’s easy to take for granted the open space that dogs need and enjoy. I recently did a home search where finding an urban, dog-friendly home was a top consideration. I have to give more than a little credit to my two terriers for having made me aware of what makes a home and neighborhood a pet-friendly environment.