Let's 'Ear It For The Norfolk
Country Life UK|April 25, 2018

These feisty little dogs, the smallest of the terrier family, are short of leg, but long on personality, finds Kate Green.

Kate Green
Let's 'Ear It For The Norfolk

It was all to do with the ears. Farmers and field sportsmen in East Anglia had long kept bouncy little brown dogs for ratting without worrying a jot about the shape of their ears, but, when dog shows resumed after the Second World War, a redoubtable lady was determined to champion the Norfolk terrier we know today.

Marion Macfie campaigned for the Kennel Club to recognise her favoured drop-eared version of the foxier-faced Norwich terrier —at the time, devotees were divided into two definite camps and things could get acrimonious when the down-turned-ear types were overlooked in the show ring. thus this charming addition to the canine gallery was born.

As a result of Miss Macfie’s efforts, the Norfolk, the smallest and one of the most delightful of the UK’s myriad terrier breeds, with its appealing head, chunky, wriggling body, jaunty, quivering tail and attractive, wiry rust or black-and-tan coat, became official in 1964. the Norwich terrier Club held an emergency meeting and a new breeders’ club was formed with Miss Macfie as president. Ever since, the Norfolk has been winning the hearts of owners who love their compact, sporting little dogs.

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