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What is Norwich Tales?
Norwich Tales is a personal, enthusiast-run website about Norwich Terriers, created and written by Barbara Huffman. Its stated purpose is to help visitors learn about the breed and decide whether a Norwich Terrier—or any dog—fits their life right now, as well as to share photos, videos, and stories for people who simply enjoy the breed. The site describes itself as a tribute to Norwich Terriers, drawing on the author's experience living with them since 1998; she notes she is not a breeder, handler, or breed expert, and that she founded the site in 2001 and published a book of the same name in 2012.
Who it is for
- Prospective owners weighing whether a Norwich Terrier suits their household, schedule, and commitment level.
- Current owners and breed fans who want photos, videos, and personal stories rather than technical breed documentation.
- Readers who prefer a first-person, long-term owner's perspective over an official club or breeder source.
What to expect
The tone is personal and narrative, centered on the author's own dogs over the years. That makes it a warm starting point for getting a feel for life with the breed, but it is not a substitute for health testing information, breeder referrals, or a breed club's official guidance. Treat it as one experienced owner's account, not as authoritative breed or veterinary advice.
If you are considering the breed, read the site's breed and "is this right for you" material first, then verify health, temperament, and breeder questions with a national breed club or your veterinarian. For a broader breed reference alongside it, see the American Kennel Club.
How can I tell if a Norwich Terrier is the right dog breed for me?
Norwich Tales approaches that question from a personal rather than a professional angle: it was founded in 2001 by Barbara Huffman, who has lived with Norwich Terriers since 1998 and wrote a book on the breed in 2012, but who states plainly that she is not a breeder, handler or breed expert. That mix is useful, but it means you should treat the site as one owner's long experience plus breed enthusiasm, not as an authoritative or veterinary source. See Norwich Tales.
What actually determines fit
Norwich Terriers are small, sturdy terriers, and terrier character is the crux of the decision. The practical questions are less about appearance and more about daily life:
- Energy and exercise. Terriers generally need real daily activity and mental engagement, not just a short walk. If your routine leaves no room for that, the breed may frustrate you.
- Terrier temperament. Expect independence, confidence, prey drive and a tendency to chase. Training takes patience and consistency more than force.
- Companionship. These are dogs that want to be with their people. Long, solitary days suit them poorly.
- Time horizon. The site's own framing is that bringing a dog home is a major commitment, not a light decision — a fair starting point for any breed.
- Budget and logistics. Grooming, insurance, vet care, boarding and possible training classes all add up; work out the numbers before you fall for a photo.
- Your household. Consider allergies, children, other pets, renters' rules and how much mess and noise you can live with.
A realistic way to test it
Spend time with the breed before committing. Contact a breed club or rescue group, attend a show or meet-up, and ask owners what surprised them — the honest answers usually concern barking, digging, chasing or stubbornness rather than anything glamorous. If you can, foster or dog-sit a terrier first; a weekend of real routine tells you more than months of reading.
Where to go next
The site is best used for photos, owner stories and a feel for what life with the breed looks like day to day, and its stated goal is helping you decide whether a Norwich Terrier — or any dog — is right for you right now. For neutral, non-commercial health and temperament information, check the breed's national club and a welfare organisation; for a second opinion on terrier traits generally, The Kennel Club and American Kennel Club publish breed profiles. If you decide against a Norwich Terrier, the same exercise — energy, temperament, time, budget — will point you toward a breed that genuinely suits your life.
What is it like to live with a Norwich Terrier on a daily basis?
Norwich Tales answers this from one owner's long experience rather than from breed-club generalities. The site's author, Barbara Huffman, has lived with Norwich Terriers since 1998 and describes daily life with them as "a wonderful, whimsical world" shaped by an "adorable and feisty" perspective. Her framing is honest about the commitment: she treats bringing any dog home as a serious decision and aims to help readers judge whether a Norwich Terrier fits their life right now.
What that suggests day to day
- Expect a small terrier with a big personality. "Feisty" is the operative word — terriers were bred to work, so they tend to be busy, alert and opinionated rather than decorative lap dogs.
- Companionship is the main reward. Huffman's account centers on hiking in the woods with her husband and their two Norwich Terriers, which points to a dog that wants to be included in your routine.
- The bond is long-running. She traces her dogs from Nigel and Divot through Norman and Sooner, so the site reads as a record of life across multiple dogs, not a first-year impression.
H3. How to use the site If you are deciding whether the breed suits you, read the "About us" section first — it states the author's perspective and limits plainly (she is not a breeder, handler or breed expert, but a longtime owner and author). Then use her photos and videos to calibrate energy level and temperament against your own household, and treat her experience as one informed owner's view rather than a training manual. For breed-standard and health information, cross-check with a national club such as American Kennel Club or a terrier-specific organization.
H3. A useful test before committing Spend a week tracking how often you are home, how much daily walking or hiking you already do, and how you would handle a vocal, determined terrier. If that week looks compatible with a busy, people-oriented small dog, the breed is worth pursuing further; if not, Huffman's own advice applies — wait until it is right.
What should I know before bringing a Norwich Terrier puppy home?
Before bringing a Norwich Terrier puppy home, the most important thing to settle is whether this breed fits your daily life, not just your wish for a cute dog. Norwich Tales frames the site around exactly that decision: its stated goal is helping visitors decide whether a Norwich Terrier — or any dog — is right for them right now, and it describes bringing a dog into your life as a big commitment. Use that as your starting filter.
Norwich Terriers are terriers. Expect a small, sturdy, feisty, affectionate companion with real opinions and real energy, not a decorative lapdog. The site's own language — "unique, adorable and feisty perspective" — is a fair signal of temperament. Plan for daily exercise, training that keeps a busy mind occupied, and a household that tolerates terrier independence. They were bred to work, so boredom tends to turn into barking, digging or mischief.
H3 Practical checklist before you commit
- Time: Who walks, trains and plays with the puppy every day, including in bad weather and busy weeks?
- Money: Budget for purchase or adoption, vaccinations, microchipping, spay/neuter, food, insurance or emergency savings, grooming, boarding and training classes.
- Home: Landlord or HOA rules, fenced or secure outdoor space, stairs, and whether anyone in the home has allergies or mobility limits.
- People: Ages of children, other pets, and who is home during the day.
- Plan B: Who cares for the dog if you travel, get ill or your work schedule changes?
- Lifespan: This is a commitment measured in many years, so consider your next decade, not just this year.
H3 Choosing a puppy and a source Prioritise health and temperament over colour or convenience. Ask to meet the dam (and sire if possible), see where the puppies were raised, and get written health information for the parents. A responsible source asks you as many questions as you ask them, and will take the dog back if your circumstances change. Avoid any seller who won't let you visit, can't show health records, or offers to ship a puppy without meeting you.
Norwich Tales is written by Barbara Huffman, who has lived with Norwich Terriers since 1998 and founded the site in 2001. She describes herself plainly as a dog lover, not a breeder, handler or breed expert — a useful, honest framing. Treat the site as an enthusiast's experience-based resource for breed character, photos and owner perspective, and pair it with veterinary guidance and breed-club health information for medical decisions.
H3 First weeks at home
- Puppy-proof one safe room before arrival: cables, plants, bins, small objects, and anything chewable.
- Keep the first days quiet. Too many visitors overwhelm a young puppy.
- Continue whatever food and routine the breeder used, then transition gradually.
- Start house-training, crate or pen training, and gentle handling from day one.
- Book a vet visit within the first few days and follow their vaccination and parasite schedule.
- Enrol in a puppy class once your vet says it's safe — early socialisation matters more than perfect obedience.
H3 A realistic reader scenario Imagine you work long office days, live in an apartment with no lift, and want a dog that will happily sleep until noon. A Norwich Terrier will likely frustrate you, and you'll frustrate the dog. Now imagine you work from home, enjoy a daily walk in the woods, and want a dog that joins you everywhere and makes you laugh. That's much closer to the life the breed suits — and to the hiking-with-dogs picture the site's author describes.
Next step: write your checklist answers down, then contact two or three reputable sources — a vet, a breed club, and an experienced owner — and ask them to challenge your plan before you look at any puppy. For breed background and owner perspective, start with Norwich Tales.
Are Norwich Terriers good with children and other pets?
Norwich Terriers are generally described as affectionate, feisty little terriers that can do well with children and other pets when they are raised with them and matched to the household's energy level. The breed's terrier nature means they may chase small pets or react defensively if handled roughly, so calm, respectful children and supervised introductions matter more than the breed label alone.
What to expect with children
- They are sturdy, playful and often enjoy games, but terriers can be sensitive to rough or unpredictable handling.
- School-age children who can follow rules about gentle play and giving the dog space tend to be the best fit.
- Toddlers should always be supervised; a small terrier can be knocked or squeezed accidentally and may snap in response.
What to expect with other pets
- With dogs, early socialization and a compatible play style help; Norwich Terriers can be assertive and may not back down from a larger dog.
- With cats and small animals, terrier prey drive is the main risk. Some live peacefully with cats they grew up with, while others will chase rodents, rabbits or birds.
- Introductions are usually easier when the Norwich Terrier is young and the resident pet is confident and dog-savvy.
A practical next step
If you are considering one, arrange a meet-and-greet in a neutral space and ask the breeder or rescue how the dog has lived with children and other animals. For breed background and owner-written perspective, see Norwich Tales; for general breed information and health topics, the American Kennel Club is a useful reference.
Decision criterion
Choose a Norwich Terrier if your household can supervise interactions, provide consistent training and accept that terrier instincts may never fully disappear. If you have very young children or free-roaming small pets, a different breed or an adult dog with a known history may be the safer match.
What common health issues affect Norwich Terriers?
Norwich Tales is an owner-written site rather than a veterinary or breeder resource, so it is most useful for breed orientation and day-to-day life with the breed, not as a medical reference. Its author, Barbara Huffman, describes herself as a longtime Norwich Terrier owner since 1998 and explicitly not a breeder, handler or breed expert. Read it as one experienced owner's perspective.
That context matters for your question. The site's stated purpose is helping people decide whether a Norwich Terrier fits their life, and it notes that bringing a dog home is a serious commitment. It does not present a health-issue list in the material available here, so treat any health claims you find there as owner experience rather than clinical guidance.
What to check instead
For breed-specific health conditions, the reliable starting points are breed clubs and veterinary sources:
- The parent breed club in your country usually publishes a health statement and recommended screening tests.
- National kennel club breed pages summarise inherited conditions and screening schemes.
- A veterinarian can tell you which conditions are actually relevant to a puppy's lineage.
American Kennel Club breed pages and The Kennel Club health information are examples of official bodies that publish this kind of material. Norwich Tales may still be worth reading for temperament, grooming and daily routine.
A practical next step
If you are evaluating a specific puppy, ask the breeder directly which health tests were done on the parents and grandparents, and ask to see the certificates rather than a verbal summary. Then have your own vet review those results with you. That conversation will tell you far more about your individual dog's risk than any general breed article, including this one.
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