The Norfolk terrier is naturally inclined towards a few odd habits, traits and qualities that are all its own. Many of these quirks and characteristics are perhaps owed to their natural tendency to be such brave, proud examples of what a dog can be, while others are simply owed to good genetics and their natural shape.
The dog is commonly, and correctly, thought to be almost perfectly balanced, making the Norfolk terrier an unbelievable agile breed of sport and working dog. No doubt the Norfolk's inclination towards balance comes in handy when the Norfolk is taken into the field to hunt small game or let loose in a barn to track and incapacitate rodents and other vermin. Not to mention the small size of the Norfolk. Too large of a breed, while having its own plus side in being stronger or having a higher top speed, and the agility starts to suffer, making the Norfolk perhaps the most qualified of all known breeds for the above mentioned tasks.
The Norfolk is known as an emotionally resilient, flexible breed, however, they are nonetheless prideful (as they have every right to be) and given to fits of jealousy of other pets and feelings of rejection. When this happens, rather than sulk, or become apathetic, they are known to take a page from the children's book of how to get attention. Most often, they'll wind up digging at the carpet or ignoring commands. This may be interpreted as a sign of a disobedient dog, but is more likely an indication that he or she just needs more attention and wishes to be given treatment equal to that which the other animals in the house are receiving.
As a pack dog, the Norfolk terrier has a unique sense of fairness. Rather than waiting for the alpha dog to get his fill and then picking off the leftovers, the Norfolk terrier take turns hunting prey. This is perhaps owed to their courage, pride and eagerness, as they may grow restless or even ashamed being simply provided for.
The Norfolk terrier average litter size is just two puppies. It is thanks in part to this that it can be difficult obtaining, or even locating, a Norfolk puppy to adopt on the first try. Another contributing factor is that they become unhealthy and unhappy in a kennel environment and so, they are not a popular choice for puppy mills or commercial breeders, leaving only dedicated professionals to the task of breeding the Norfolk. While this makes it so that very few Norfolk terriers are available for adoption, it almost guarantees that, should you be lucky enough to find an available Norfolk puppy, their personal history is likely to be devoid of any serious neglect or abuse (although any adopter of a Norfolk should nonetheless inquire and verify that this is, in fact, the case, before taking one home).
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