Page 330 - ShowSight - November 2019

THE
NORWICH TERRIER
1. Where do you live? What do you do “outside” of dogs?
2. In popularity, Norwich currently rank #108 out of 192. Is this good or bad when it comes to finding breeding stock?
Placing puppies?
3. Small dogs can fit into about any situation. Is the Norwich the ideal household companion?
4. Few terriers really “work” anymore. What about him serves him well in the living room? In the show ring?
5. At what age do you start to see definite signs of show-worthi- ness (or lack thereof)?
6. Showing dogs is not for the faint of heart. What is it that makes it all worthwhile?
7. What is the most important thing about the breed for a novice to keep in mind when judging?
8. What is your ultimate goal for the breed?
9. What is your favorite dog show memory?
10. Is there anything else you’d like to share about the breed? Please elaborate.
MARK & NANCY GUSTAVSON
Nancy Nosiglia is a second- generation breeder who’s parents started with Saint Bernards. Nor- wich Terriers have been running with the big dogs at BERIC Ken- nel since 1976. She and her hus- band Mark Gustavson have been together since 1984, breeding 14 generations of the BERIC line whose roots go back to the Legacy Kennels of Jericho, Chidley, and Barnstable.
We live in two locations in
Upstate New York—one in the Hudson Valley, the other just East
of Lake Ontario.
Nancy Nosiglia is a commercial photographer. Her husband,
Mark Gustavson is VP Strategic for a Marketing Agency.
Is the breed’s popularity good or bad when it comes to finding breeding stock? It’s a GOOD thing. We appreciate the small com- munity of dedicated breeders, and always have a waiting list for far more puppies than we can produce. That being said, we breed to advance our line as a first priority—puppy placement is never
a problem.
Is the Norwich the ideal household companion? Absolutely—
but one has to be a ‘Terrier’ person. Norwich are exceptionally fun, although they can be spiteful as well. If you don’t appreciate that temperament, you won’t get a BERIC dog.
What about the breed serves them well in the living room and in the show ring? Norwich definitely “work”. You’ll never have a mouse in your home, you’ll always be alerted to anything out of the ordinary, and most importantly, you’ll never feel lonely. Their engaging, curious attitude and playfulness serves them in both the living room and the show ring.
At what age do I start to see definite signs of show-worthiness? We evaluate for conformation at eight weeks, and make our picks then. That determines who we keep in our breeding program. As
for show-temperament, it’s a secondary concern. We don’t show everyone, and dogs that remain in our kennel are always Owner- Exhibited. We can usually spot a budding show prospect between four and seven weeks (and sometimes in the whelping box).
What is it that makes showing dogs all worthwhile?
Knowing that you breed a quality line. Health first, then tem- perament, then conformation. The exceptional examples make it to the show ring, but all end up in great homes.
What is the most important thing about the breed for a novice to keep in mind when judging? Know the Standard—always reward type, and form follows function. These little dogs should be able to run with the hounds and apply fearless gaminess to bolt a fox when it goes to ground. They may never actually do that in today’s world, but they need to have the physical attributes to be able to.
My ultimate goal for the breed? Stewarding the BERIC line as a foundation for solid breeding and exceptional dogs for the years to come.
My favorite dog show memory? Every year at Montgomery Week when we get to surround ourselves with people as crazy as we are. Oh, and going BOS at Eukenuba with GCH BERIC’s Taecini BBE.
Norwich are an exceptional breed. They deserve to only be bred responsibly, and always be placed in exceptional homes.
MARY AGGERS
I started showing back in the seventies so I have seen a lot of changes. Unfortunately many people do not stay in the dog game very long. We need to change that.
I live in Tennessee and Ohio. Outside of dogs, I enjoy golf, read- ing and just about anything outdoors.
Is the breed’s popularity good or bad when it comes to finding breeding stock? One of the biggest issues is small litters and we have a limited number of people breeding.
Normally placing puppies is not an issue with such a small num- ber of breeders demand exceeds the number of puppies.
Is the Norwich the ideal household companion? They live to be with you. Never far away and love attention.
What about the breed serves them well in the living room and in the show ring? They enjoy life have natural curiosity and enjoy a challenge. They enjoy our companionship which means everything to them.
At what age do I start to see definite signs of show-worthiness? You can have great confirmation but lack the fire that makes a great show dog. They always want to be the star the one you gravitate too. This you see very young the bite and confirmation takes time, puppies develop over time not like instant potatoes.
What is it that makes showing dogs all worthwhile? The love of the dogs. The camaraderie the joy of seeing beautiful sound dogs able to compete in all ways.
What is the most important thing about the breed for a novice to keep in mind when judging? If you’re a novice you need to learn, not judge. Be a sponge soak up everything you can about the breed.
My ultimate goal for the breed? They continue to get better with each breeding: the health the mental soundness is key.
My favorite dog show memory? Most of them are good and most important you bring the most important part of showing home with you—your dog!
This is for any breed; you get out of dog what you put into it. If you do not intend to make this a lifetime commitment to the dog
328 • ShowSight Magazine, noveMber 2019