Norjack

puppypants

Anyone have any experience of a Norfolk terrier/Jack Russel terrier. I'm going to see one today with a view to buying it. The lady has had it for 1 week but her other dog keeps snapping at it. I know that this is just normal behaviour in them sorting out pack status etc, and she's probably not given it long enough. :T:T

krlyr

If it has been sold to her as a "Norjack" then I would be wary about paying any money for what is essentially a crossbreed.
I would want to know why the breeder chose to breed this combination, what research they did into the lineage of the stud and dam of the litter. What health tests were done in both the parents and their ancestors. What socialisation the puppies went through - were they introduced to various sights and sounds, textures, smells, people, objects, dogs, etc. in the vital stages of their development, like a responsible breeder would do. Were they raised on a good diet to allow for the best physical development possible?
This is important with any breed of dog but with the fad of 'designer' crossbreeds and the invention of these combined names, it would raise a red flag in terms of a BYB/puppyfarm situation.

The Norfolk Terrier is prone to mitral valve disease, luxating patellas, overshot or undershot bites, and often have shallow hip joints which means many lines suffer from hip dysplasia. Were all these conditions researched and tested for/investigated where possible? Were the parents hipscored, for example?

The Jack Russell Terrier has a longer list of health conditions the breed can be prone to. To copy and paste, these can include "hereditary cataracts, ectopia lentis, congenital deafness, patellar luxation, ataxia, myasthenia gravis, Legg–Calv!–Perthes syndrome and von Willebrand disease."

Some of these conditions combined could mean serious bad news for the puppes. Legg–Calv!–Perthes syndrome, for example, is a condition where the ball section of the femur deteriorates due to a restricted blood flow. Combine that with the shallow hip joints see in many lines of the Norfolk Terrier and you could end up with a dog with some serious lameness and joint pain.

The Puppy Plan goes into details of what puppies should be exposed to at what age and why
http://www.thepuppyplan.com/
http://www.thepuppyplan.com/?page_id=31

If this pup wasn't exposed to things during its development and has then gone straight into a home where it does not get along with the resident dog, bear in mind the longterm behavioural implications. I had a puppy from simialr circumstances and she was never very good with other dogs (OK with a select few but very reactive to others on walks)

Of course, I may be way off and it's just an accidental litter, rehomed as best as could be but circumstances just don't suit - but I would be wary that money is being involved rather than the owner just wanting the best possible home for the pup.

rising_from_the_ashes

Sorry but there is no such breed as a Norjack - I wish people would stop coming up with stupid names for crossbreed dogs .... (nothing wrong with crossbreeds at all - but trying to make up breeds & sell them for huge amounts of money stinks!).

Agree with everything krlyr has said - I'd certainly not be after paying a lot of money for it - if they actually want the best for the dog, then I'd suggest a donation to a local rescue.....
Good luck & let us know how it goes!

puppypants

Thank you both for your advice. I have cancelled my visit to see the pup.

krlyr

If you're interested in getting a puppy then I'd recommend a read of this article as well as the Puppy Plan (the latter will give you a good idea of what to expect from a reputable breeder and some good questions to as them to filter out the dud ones)
http://www.apbc.org.uk/articles/good_breeder

Also this one relates more to choosing a puppy but has info on choosing a breeder too
http://www.apdt.co.uk/dog-owners/choosing-a-puppy

Of course, the other option is the rescue route. You may still face health or behavioural issues in a rescue dog but many healthy dogs with good temperament end up in rescue through no fault of their own too. Although it's a bit of a gamble due to having no history of the dog, you do at least guarantee that you're not funding the poor practice of backyard breeders and puppyfarms! A good rescue will also do as much of an assessment as they can, have the dogs vet checked, and will probably notice any potential issues from their experience with dogs (such as an odd gait or similar).
The Dogpages forum lists breed rescues, if you're interested in a specific kind of Terrier, but you can also change the view to list rescues by region to find general rescues with a variety of breeds if you're not set on one particular one.
http://www.dogpages.org.uk/breeds.htm

puppypants

Thanks Krylr. Boy, you do put a lot of effort into your replies, and it is very much appreciated! I'm not an inexperienced dog owner. I have had dogs all my adult life, mostly from puppies. I have also had rescue dogs the last of which I had to have PTS 4 weeks ago. She was a 3 year old ex puppy farm breeding !!!!! who had never experienced anything other than neglect and filth. I had her for 6 years, the first 4 of which, only I saw her personality and humour. She was the most stunning looking Lhasa Apso with the biggest heart and a huge personality. She was gentle and kind. The last two years with her were wonderful as she decided to fully accept visitors to my home and everyone was able to see what I saw in her. She went blind gradually 4 months ago and then before she was PTS, she was circling, unable to walk in a straight line and had nystagmus. I had to make the heartbreaking decision to end her suffering there and then at the vets.

As you can imagine, I have a huge hole in my life which is Katie shaped! Thanks for your advice and efforts.

Rosie x

minimad1970

Hi krlyr, You always give really detailed and knowledgeable advice on this forum.:) Do you mind me asking how you know all these things, do you work with dogs professionally?