Norwich Terrier Grooming

Norwich Terriers are adorable little terriers which resemble Yorkshire Terriers. The Norwich Terrier has the same origin as the Norfolk Terrier. In the beginning they where the same breed, but the Norwich Terrier came to be the social home dog, whilst the Norfolk was more often used to hunt rodents and vermin.

They have a wiry, hard overcoat which repels water, but requires some in depth care in order to keep the dog looking its best. Grooming your Norwich Terrier can be time consuming, but the end result is a very cute dog.

Don’t Clip your Norwich Terrier

Norwich Terriers need to be combed and brushed daily as part of an upkeep routine and to keep dead hair and dirt from accumulating on the coat and leading to an unkempt appearance. This is also a great time for you to check if there is anything odd on your dog such as bumps or rashes. Only brush or comb, don’t clip your dog. Wiry coats do not respond well to clipping – the coat becomes overly soft and bumpy and your dog will itch from dead hair shafts. Instead, hand pluck and strip to get rid of dead hair and only trim the ends of hairs around the face, chest, and genital areas.

You also have to pluck ear hair, not cut it, because cutting ear hair will leave the shaft behind and cause irritation. Fortunately, a full stripping and plucking need only be done about twice a year; the rest of the time, you can get by with trimming and brushing and combing.

No Scheduled Bathing Required

Norwich Terriers do not require scheduled bathing – Their coat does a fine job of keeping itself clean. However, if you have to give your dog a bath, use canine shampoo and rinse it off well; dried shampoo is itchy and leaves unsightly flakes behind. Always pat dry your Norwich Terrier so that the coat retains its, hard, tight appearance.

Norwich Terriers have many of the same grooming needs as other dogs. Their nails should be clipped every couple of weeks to prevent damage from the nails and keep your dog comfortable while he is walking. Ears should be inspected regularly for signs of anything strange (and anything strange should be reported to your vet) and cleaned with a cleaning solution and a cotton ball around the outside part of the inside ear. This is to remove ear wax.

Dog Getting His Teeth Brushed

Norwich Terriers also have to have the corners of their eyes cleaned since debris builds up there and can lead to stains and a home for bacteria. Norwich Terriers also have to have their teeth brushed daily, starting as early as possible. Use a canine toothpaste and toothbrush or finger brush only; human toothpaste is inedible at best and poisonous at worst. Starting early will help your dog get used to the idea of having its teeth brushed.

Learning how to groom your Norwich Terrier is not only a good way to save money on grooming bills but also gives you a chance to cuddle with your dog and inspect your dog for any early signs of trouble. Norwich Terriers greatly benefit from regular grooming and they need to be hand stripped and plucked at least twice yearly. This keeps their coat colors crisp and gets rid of dead hair. Grooming your Norwich Terrier can be a very fun activity for you and your dog as long as you are patient and free with the treats.