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EnglishIs Norwich Tales Written by a Norwich Terrier Expert or Breeder?
Updated
No. Norwich Tales is written by Barbara Huffman, who states plainly on the site that she is not a breeder, handler, or expert in the field of dogs. Her authority comes from lived experience rather than professional credentials: she has shared her life with Norwich Terriers since 1998, founded the site in 2001, and published a book, Norwich Tales – Exploring Life With Norwich Terriers, in 2012. Treat the content as enthusiast experience and personal observation, not breeding, veterinary, or professional advice.
What Barbara Huffman's background actually is
The site's "About us" page is unusually direct about her qualifications, which makes it easy to calibrate how much weight to give the content.
| Claim | Detail from the site |
|---|---|
| Professional dog status | Not a breeder, handler, or expert |
| Breed experience | Norwich Terriers since 1998 |
| Site founded | 2001 |
| Book | Norwich Tales – Exploring Life With Norwich Terriers, published 2012 |
| Media | Interviewed by Dog & Kennel magazine and other Terrier-specific publications |
| Day job | Communications & HR Director at a pet-friendly company in Charlotte, NC |
| Personal dogs named | Nigel and Divot (both deceased), Norman (2012), Sooner (2017) |
That combination — two decades of ownership, a published book, and trade-press interviews — is meaningful for a breed as small as the Norwich Terrier, but it is not the same as kennel, show, or clinical expertise.
Why the distinction matters when you read the site
The site's stated purpose is to help you decide whether a Norwich Terrier, or any dog, is right for you right now. That framing tells you what kind of source this is:
- Strong for: day-to-day life with the breed, temperament impressions, photos and videos, and honest questions about whether the commitment fits your situation.
- Not a substitute for: health testing and genetic guidance from a veterinarian, breeder referral and pedigree questions, or breed-standard and conformation judgments from a judge or experienced handler.
If you are weighing a decision that carries real consequences — a puppy purchase, a health concern, a breeding plan — use Norwich Tales as one owner's perspective and confirm specifics with a vet or a recognized breed club.
How to use it well
Read the personal essays and breed overviews as first-hand observation from someone who has lived with Norwich Terriers for decades, and note that the site itself frames dog ownership as "a big commitment… not something to be taken lightly." For anything where being wrong is costly, cross-check against professional sources. For everything else — what the breed is like to live with, and whether you want that — the site is a reasonable starting point.