Raising dogs, in particular taking care of the norwich terrier, is old hat for people across the world. Zoologists postulate dogs were originally domesticated sometime between 12,000 and twenty five thousand years ago—and that canines evolved from wolves. Since then, we have selectively bred more than 400 different breeds, ranging in size from four-pound teacup poodles all the way up to Irish wolfhounds, who have earned the distinction of tallest canine. But the most widespread dogs are non-pedigree dogs—the one-of-a-kind dogs known as mutts. The norwich terrier is another popular choice with dog owners. Many owners are oblivious, however, of many of the most common norwich terrier care tips.
General cost of care for your norwich terrier
The yearly budget for raising your norwich terrier—including everything from food and snacks, veterinary care, toys and license—can range between four hundred twenty and seven hundred eighty dollars. This doesn’t even account for capital expenses for sterilization surgery, collar and leash, dog carrier and crate. Tip: Be sure you have procured all of your supplies before getting your norwich terrier home.
General norwich terrier Care
Feeding your norwich terrier
- norwich terrier pups between eight and twelve weeks old need 4 meals in a 24 hour period.
- Feed norwich terrier puppies three to 6 months old three meals in a 24 hour period.
- Feed pups six months to one year old two meals daily.
- By the time your norwich terrier reaches his or her first birthday, 1 meal in a twenty-four hour period is all that’s required.
- Some norwich terriers, however, eat two smaller servings. It’s your duty to adapt to your norwich terrier’s eating schedule.
High-quality dry food provides balanced nutrition for adult norwich terriers and can mix with broth, canned food, or water. Your norwich terrier may also be fond of cooked eggs, cottage cheese, and fruits and vegetables, but these dishes shouldn’t add up to more than 10 percent of his or her daily nutrition. norwich terrier pups need to be given top-quality, brand-name puppy food. Please try to cut down on “table food”, however, because it can cause vitamin and mineral deficiencies, bone and teeth issues, and may cause very picky eating habits and obesity. Give clean, fresh water exclusively, and be sure to wash food and water bowls very often.
norwich terrier Care Tips: Your norwich terrier needs exercise daily
norwich terriers need some physical activity in order to stay in shape, stimulate their minds, and maintain good health. Exercise also really helps norwich terriers avoid boredom, which often has the potential to lead to to destructive behavior. A little fun and games can curb many of your norwich terrier’s instinctual urges to dig, chase, herd, chew and retrieve. Activity needs can vary based on your norwich terrier’s level of health and her age—but merely a walk down the street every day and 10 minutes in the backyard probably won’t suffice. If your norwich terrier is a 6 to 18 month adolescent, his requirements will be greater.
norwich terrier Grooming Tips
Regular brushing will help keep your norwich terrier clean and reduce shedding. Check for fleas and ticks daily during the summer or other warm weather. Sometimes norwich terriers don’t need a bath more than a few times per year. Before giving her a bath, cut out or comb any mats from the norwich terrier’s coat. Rinse all soap out of the coat, or the dirt will stick to soap residue.
norwich terrier Handling
Pups are obviously easier to handle. To carry the norwich terrier puppy, take one hand and put it under the dog’s chest, either with the forearm or your other hand supporting his or her back legs and rump. Never try to grab or lift your pup by his or her forelegs, tail or back of the neck. If you must lift a larger, adult norwich terrier, pick it up from the underside, bracing her chest with one arm and rump with your other arm.
Housing the norwich terrier
norwich terriers need a warm quiet location to be able to sleep away from all breezes and away from the ground or floor. You may wish to think about buying a dog bed, or think about making one from a wood box. Place a clean blanket, sheet, comforter, or pillow inside the bed for cushioning. Wash the norwich terrier’s bedding often. If the norwich terrier will be spending a lot of time outdoors, make certain he has plenty of cool water and covering in hot weather, and a covered, warm, dry shelter in the cold.
Licensing and Identification for norwich terriers
There are licensing rules to follow in your community. You should connect the license to your norwich terrier’s collar. This, together with an identification tag, can easily help you recover your norwich terrier should she get lost.
norwich terrier Temperament Facts
Thoughts on norwich terrier Training
A well-mannered, companion norwich terrier can be a pleasure to raise. However, left untrained, your norwich terrier will most likely be nothing but trouble. Training your norwich terrier on the fundamentals—”Come”, “Down”, “Heel”, “Off”, “Sit”, “Stay”, and “Leave it”—bolsters your relationship both with your pooch as well as your company. If you have a puppy, begin teaching her the right behavior ASAP! Meals should be utilized as incentive and a reward. Pups can be enrolled in obedience class when they are adequately immunized. Contact your community humane society or SPCA for details about training classes. It is best to walk your norwich terrier leashed while in public, even as a pup. Just be sure your dog will come to you if you tell her to. An aggressive or disobedient norwich terrier cannot play with kids.
Your norwich terrier’s Health
norwich terriers should visit the vet for a full examination, innoculations and a heartworm assessment annualy, and immediately if he is sick or hurt.
The Oral Health of Your norwich terrier
Although we may simply dislike our norwich terrier’s bad breath, it’s important to be aware of what it may represent. Foul-smelling breath is most commonly an indication that your norwich terrier should get an oral examination. Plaque brought on by bacteria causes a foul odor that can only be cured by treatment by a professional. Once you have given your norwich terrier a professional cleaning, his mouth can be maintained by brushing regularly, feeding a special diet focused on dental health, and eliminating table food. Your veterinarian can supply you with other information on eradicating dental disease and bad breath. You can easily brush your norwich terrier’s teeth with a doggie toothpaste or a simple baking soda and water paste twice weekly. Brush them with a gauze pad, nylon pantyhose stretched over the finger, or a child’s soft toothbrush. Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, often affects norwich terriers. This troublesome condition can possibly lead to tooth loss as well as cause disease to the rest of his body. Your vet will brush your norwich terrier’s teeth as part of his routine health test.
Breeds with Halitosis (bad breath)
If your norwich terrier has bad breath, periodontal disease might not necessarily be the issue, as other illnesses have that symptom. A sweet, fruity smell may often be a sign of diabetes, while intestinal or liver diseases may cause foul breath. If your norwich terrier’s breath smells of ammonia or urine, kidney disease is a possible reason. If ever you determine your norwich terrier has bad breath and other symptoms of disease, like loss of appetite, vomiting and nausea, weight loss, moodiness, including depression, increasing urination and drinking, plan a trip to his veterinarian.
Dealing with Ticks and Fleas in norwich terriers
When it’s warm, it’s of utmost importance for you to perform daily inspections of your norwich terrier for ticks and fleas. Find fleas using a flea comb. There are several new procedures of flea and tick elimination. Get advice from your vet about his options.
Heartworms in norwich terriers
The heartworm is a parasite that lives in the heart and is passed from a contaminated dog to your norwich terrier by mosquitoes. Heartworm infestations are fatal. Your norwich terrier should have a heartworm screen each and every spring—this is required for stopping infestations from the previous year. A monthly pill taken throughout the warm, wet time of the year will protect your norwich terrier. If you ever travel in warmer regions with your norwich terrier in winter, your dog should be on the preventive medicine during the trip. In some of the more moderate climates, veterinarians advise preventative parasite medication throughout the year.
Toxins and Medicines
If you’re thinking about giving your norwich terrier tablets that was not prescribed for him by his veterinarian, don’t even think about it. For example, did you know that one regular-strength ibuprofen capsule will most likely cause stomach ulcers in some dogs Make sure your norwich terrier is never exposed to rat poison and other rodenticides. When you believe your pooch has eaten a poison, immediately call the veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 for twenty-four-hour animal poison information.
norwich terriers: Neutering and Spaying
Female norwich terriers should be spayed—the removal of the ovaries and uterus—and males neutered—extraction of the testicles—by six months old. You will greatly reduce your female norwich terrier’s breast cancer risk by spaying prior to adulthood. Spaying also eliminates the chance of an infected uterus, a very serious problem in more mature females that requires intensive medical care. Testicular cancer, prostate diseases, certain aggressive behavior and some hernias are all preventable by neutering male norwich terriers.
norwich terrier Vaccinations
- norwich terrier puppies should be innoculated with a combo shot (called the “5-in-one”) at two, 3 and four months old, and again once every year. This vaccine immunizes your puppy from parainfluenza, parvovirus, leptospirosis, hepatitis, and distemper. The norwich terrier puppy’s vaccination program cannot be finished prior to 4 months old.
- If you have an uninnoculated norwich terrier older than 4 or five months, she will need a set of 2 vaccinations two or 3 weeks apart, followed by an annual vaccination.
- norwich terrier pup socialization and vaccination should go hand in hand. Most doctors advise that new owners take their norwich terrier puppies to socialization classes, beginning at eight or 9 weeks old. They should have already received their first vaccinations by then.
Since rules vary around the country, contact your community doctor for information about rabies immunization. For example, New York City statutes state that pets older than three months must be vaccinated for rabies. The initial rabies vaccine must be followed up by a subsequent innoculation the next year, and then every three years. There are many vaccines that are effective for your norwich terrier. Ask your norwich terrier’s vet for his opinion. Please be aware, if your norwich terrier happens to get sick because she is not properly innoculated, the vaccination needs to be given once your dog has recovered.
Intestinal Worms in norwich terriers
norwich terriers are commonly exposed to worms—in all areas, both rural and urban. Eggs that carry intestinal worms are transmitted through a norwich terrier’s stool. Even the healthiest of norwich terrier puppies carry hookworms or roundworms. An accurate, early diagnosis is the secret to treatment. Early, accurate diagnosis maximizes the possibility that prescribed medicine will be highly effective against your norwich terrier’s worms. A dewormer that eradicates roundworms, for example, cannot kill tapeworms. Your doctor can best determine the culprit—and assign the appropriate medicine.
Additional norwich terrier Care Tips
Checklist of norwich terrier Supplies
- Excellent-quality dog food and snacks specifically for norwich terriers and similarly-sized dogs
- Food bowl
- Water bowl
- Toys, toys and more toys, including safe chew toys
- Comb & brush for grooming, including a flea comb
- Collar with license and ID tag
- Leash
- Dog carrier (for puppies)
- Crate for training
- Dog bed or box with sheet or towel
- Dog toothbrush
The no-no list
The following items should never be fed to norwich terriers:
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate
- Grapes or raisins
- Spoiled or moldy food of any kind
- Onions, chives & garlic
- Chicken, turkey, or any other poultry bones
- Salt & salty foods
- Tomato leaves, unripe fruit or stems
- Dough
The “Bottom” Line
Retain your norwich terrier on a leash whenever you are outside, unless you are in a fenced-in, secured area. When your norwich terrier goes number two on a neighbor’s lawn, the sidewalk or any other public place, please remove and dispose of it! Don’t forget to check out these other articles about norwich terriers
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