Grooming the Norwich Terrier

By Cindra Grooming Products — USA-Made Professional Grooming Essentials

The Norwich Terrier is virtually identical to the Norfolk Terrier in body and coat, distinguished by one key feature: its upright prick ears. The smallest of the working terriers, the Norwich is a tough, fearless little dog with a hard wiry coat maintained by hand stripping and weekly brushing.

Coat

The Norwich Terrier has a hard, wiry, straight outer coat that lies close to the body over a soft, warm undercoat. The coat is slightly longer and rougher around the neck and shoulders, forming a protective mane. Colors include all shades of red, red grizzle, black and tan, and grizzle and tan. The coat is weather-resistant and low-shedding. Hand stripping maintains the correct texture and color; clipping softens the coat over time. The prick ears of the Norwich are a key distinguishing feature from the drop-eared Norfolk Terrier.

Character

The Norwich Terrier is alert, curious, and full of energy in a very small package. One of the most affectionate and sociable terrier breeds, the Norwich gets along well with people and other dogs compared to many of its terrier cousins. They are intelligent, quick to learn, and eager to please — while still carrying the terrier’s independent spirit. An excellent companion dog for active owners who want big personality in a small, low-shedding package.

Recommended Cindra Products

  • Texturizing Shampoo — maintains the hard wiry jacket; ideal for show preparation
  • Cleansing Shampoo — deep clean for dirty coats before stripping or bathing
  • Super Coat — diluted 90/10; light finishing mist to reduce static without softening the wire jacket

Problems & Solutions

Problem Cause Solution
Soft, fluffy coat texture Repeated clipping; incorrect product use Return to hand stripping; use Texturizing Shampoo; avoid conditioners on the jacket
Color fading Clipping instead of stripping Hand strip to allow new pigmented coat to grow through
Neck mane becoming flat or matted Infrequent brushing of the longer neck coat Brush and comb the neck mane weekly; hand strip to maintain proper length and texture
Ear base coat matting Longer coat at base of prick ears traps debris Keep base of ears trimmed and clean; check weekly during brushing

Hands-On Grooming Guide

Hand Stripping

Hand strip the jacket two to three times a year for pet dogs; show dogs use a rolling strip schedule. Pull dead outer coat in the direction of growth using a stripping knife or finger cots with cornstarch. The neck and shoulder mane tends to grow faster and longer; tidy it more frequently. The coat is ready when it feels open and loose and hairs pull easily.

Between Strips

Brush weekly with a slicker brush, paying attention to the neck mane. Comb through with a steel comb. Bathe every 6–8 weeks using Texturizing Shampoo. Tidy the feet and keep the base of the ears clean. Check ears weekly for debris.

Shedding

The Norwich Terrier is low-shedding when properly maintained by hand stripping. Dead coat is retained in the jacket; stripping removes it at the root. Without stripping, dead coat eventually breaks free and sheds. A well-kept Norwich leaves very little hair around the home.

Puppy vs. Adult Coat

Feature Puppy Adult
Coat texture Softer puppy coat; first strip at 4–6 months Hard, wiry, close-lying with longer neck mane
Stripping First strip at 4–6 months 2–3 times yearly (pet); rolling schedule (show)
Key focus Building grooming tolerance; handling ears Neck mane maintenance; ear base check

Quick Grooming Schedule

Task Frequency
Brushing Weekly
Ear check Weekly
Bath Every 6–8 weeks
Hand stripping 2–3 times yearly
Feet tidy Every 4–6 weeks
Nail trim Every 3–4 weeks

Resources