Welcome to High Pines Norwich Terriers       Established in 1975, High Pines Norwich Terriers is one of the oldest breeders of Norwich Terriers in the USA. High Pines Norwich Terriers is dedicated to producing the highest quality, best temperament and healthiest Norwich Terriers that we can.  We are not a kennel but a mother and daughter team, Susan Sikorski, PhD. and Anne Sikorski, M.D. that love Norwich Terriers.  We breed only purebred AKC Registered Norwich Terriers and have generations of Champions to prove it.  We have a long history with Norwich Terriers and have produced numerous Champion Norwich Terriers over our many years.  Anne does not have a childhood memory without a Norwich Terrier in it and plans to extend her mothers breeding practice for decades more to come.  We hope that in viewing our website you will have a better understanding of this outstanding breed and how we try to further improve the quality of our dogs.  We strive to breed the highest quality, best personality and healthiest Norwich Terriers with each new carefully planned litter.         

Susan Sikorski, PhD. was breeding dogs far before 1975, as the daughter of a Veterinarian she was raised with and exposed to many other breeds of dogs.  As a dedicated dog breeder she focused her attentions on the delightful breed of Norwich Terriers. No other breed has captured the heart of any member of the Sikorski family as much as the Norwich Terrier.  High Pines Norwich Terriers began with Susan's first Norwich Terrier, Norstar’s Cinnamon Cookie CD.  Cinnamon was the 1st Anniversary present for Susan from husband Gerry Sikorski and became the Foundation matriarch for High Pines Norwich Terriers. This family's love of the Norwich Terrier breed has continued over the years with producing numerous Champions and many big wins, including a National Specialty Best of Breed Winner in 1986 with Ch. High Pine Topaz (grand-daughter of Cinnamon and daughter of Ember). Ch. High Pines Glowing Ember ROM was awarded Registry Of Merit for producing over 5 champions.

Our current litters may be traced back generations to our original High Pines Norwich Terrier bloodlines.       As these Norwich Terriers have always been very much a part of our family, and daughter Anne Sikorski grew up playing in the whelping box with our Norwich Terrier puppies.  Anne's childhood Norwich Terrier and beloved companion, was Ch. High Pines Ruby, daughter of Topaz.  Anne loves these dogs with her mother and shares the same passion to maintain the highest standard of excellence in personality, temperament, beauty and health.  Susan and Anne are both recognized members of the Norwich Terrier Club of America (NTCA) and Norwich Terrier Club, England (NTC).       High Pines Norwich Terriers is truly dedicated to promoting the health and future of the breed. High Pines Norwich Terriers breeding stock are subjected to numerous health tests including hips, patellas, eyes, cardiac and throat exam.  We encouraged genetic diversity of the breed and have imported Norwich Terriers from the UK and Europe. 

Susan and Anne are both recognized members of AKC Breeder of Merit program for our commitment to health.       As High Pines Norwich Terriers is a family hobby and we have enjoyed our many experiences and travels with our Norwich Terriers.  Headlight Bulb Brightness ChartWe traveled to not only Westminster Kennel Club in NYC and Eukanuba in Orlando, Florida but also to Cruft's in England and World Dog Show 2011 Paris, WDS 2012 Salzburg, Austria and WDS 2013 in Budapest, Hungary.       Magic Bullet Blender LidHigh Pines Norwich Terriers is based in Northern, Virginia, where our dogs, true to their “terrier nature” enjoy hunting the many mice but also larger game of deer, fox, squirrels, and anything that moves in our five wooded acres.  Window Blinds Repair Frisco Tx

We believe that Norwich Terriers embody the wonderful and endearing traits of terriers as they are dedicated, active and loyal.       We hope that you will enjoy seeing our dogs on this site and that it provides a view into our world and how we have shared our many life experiences with the delightful Norwich Terrier.         Thank you,                Susan Sikorski, PhD. & Annie Sikorski, M.D.High Pines Norwich Terriers -- The Sikorski Family at the Blessing of the Animals St. Peter's in the Woods Episcopal Church -- Fairfax Station, VA The Norfolk Terrier is a British breed of dog. Prior to gaining recognition as an independent breed in 1960, it was a variety of the Norwich Terrier, distinguished from the "prick eared" Norwich by its "drop ears" (or folded ears). Together, the Norfolk and Norwich Terriers are the smallest of the working terriers. Norfolk Terrier has a wire-haired coat The Norfolk Terrier has a wire-haired coat which, according to the various national kennel clubs' breed standards, can be "all shades of red, wheaten, black and tan, or grizzle."

They are the smallest of the working terriers. They are active and compact, free moving, with good substance and bone. Good substance means good spring of rib and bone that matches the body such that the dog can be a very agile ratter or earth-dog. Norfolk terriers are moderately proportioned dogs. A too heavy dog would not be agile. A too refined dog would make it a toy breed. Norfolks generally have more reach and drive and a stronger rear angulation, hence cover more ground than their Norwich cousins. Norfolk have good side gait owed to their balanced angulation front and rear and their slightly longer length of back. The ideal height is 9 to 10 in (23 to 25 cm) at the withers and weight is about 11 to 12 lb (5.0 to 5.4 kg). Norfolks are self-confident and carry themselves with presence and importance, holding their heads and tails erect. Norfolks are described as fearless, but can have an independent streak. They, along with Norwich Terriers and Border Terriers, have the softest temperaments of the Terrier Group.

Norfolks work in packs and must get along with other dogs. As companions, they love people and children and do make good pets. Their activity level is generally reflective of the pace of their environment. This breed should not be kept or live outside since they thrive on human contact. Generally, Norfolks are not given to digging but, like any dog, will dig out of boredom when left alone for too long a period. Norfolks are not yappers and are not particularly vocal; however, they will bark when appropriate given their watch-dog tendencies. They generally cohabit well with other household pets when introduced as a puppy. Outdoors, they are natural hunters with a strong prey drive for small vermin. Norfolks were originally bred as barn dogs Norfolks were originally bred as barn dogs to rid the barn of vermin. Some literature suggest that they were also occasionally used on the hunt to bolt animals of equal size from their den. To some extent they are still used in that capacity in continental Europe.

Norfolks are pack animals and hence expected to get along with other dogs while working or in the home. As a pack dog, they take turns working their prey. They are fearless and their courage is incredible. Today, of course, they are household companions and must have an agreeable disposition for living with people. The life expectancy of a Norfolk Terrier is 8–14 years, with some growing as old as 17 years.[3] Norfolks do have incidences of mitral valve disease, luxating patellas, and incorrect bites (where the teeth do not align with the breed standard, i.e. overshot or undershot). Norfolks most often have shallow hip sockets and many breedlines are dysplastic. There has never been a Norfolk Terrier recognized by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) as having "excellent" rated hips. Therefore responsible breeders are testing for hip dysplasia. Breeders that do not radiograph hips and have them evaluated by either OFA or PennHip, cannot answer questions regarding hip dysplasia in their breeding program.

Norfolks generally have medium to small litters. Responsible breeders only breed healthy dogs who are of good temperament, good pedigree lineage and best reflect the breed standard. The demand for Norfolk is far greater than the supply. The environment in which they are raised directly impacts the temperament of the puppy for its lifetime. A Norfolk Terrier at a conformation show These breeds have a double coat: a harsh, wiry topcoat and a soft, warm undercoat. Ideally, the coat is combed daily with a steel "greyhound" comb, but all that is really necessary for grooming a companion dog is a good combing once a week to remove the loose, dead hairs and prevent matting. As a minimum, the coat is hand stripped once in the Fall and once in the Spring. Clipping or cutting ruins the coat's colours and harsh texture. A Norfolk Terrier can be washed with a dog shampoo when it's dirty. The breed is considered largely hypoallergenic, although they do shed minimally year-round. In the 1880s, British sportsmen developed a working terrier of East Anglia in eastern England.

The Norwich Terrier and later the drop-eared variety now known as the Norfolk Terrier, were believed to have been developed by crossing local terrier-like dogs, small, short-legged Irish Terrier breeds and the small red terriers used by the Gypsy ratters of Norfolk (the county in which Norwich the city exists). They were first called the Cantab Terrier when they became fashionable for students to keep in their rooms at Cambridge University in England.[4] Later, they were called the Trumpington Terrier, after Trumpington Street where the breed was further developed at a livery stable.[5] Then, just prior to World War I, a prominent Irish horse rider Frank Jones sold quantities of the short-legged terriers to the United States, so there they were called Jones Terriers.[6] It was Jones who designated the terriers were from Norwich. In 1932, the Norwich was granted acceptance into the English Kennel Club and the first written standard was created. The American Kennel Club registered the first Norwich Terrier in 1936.