ANTA History
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Revised 11/14/05

ANTA HISTORY

The impact of the Bethways kennels' move to Santa Fe from Connecticut in 1973 was awesome. For more than twenty years, Barbara Fournier dedicated her efforts to breeding and exhibiting drop ear Norwich while managing boarding facilities for horses, dogs and cats. Many owners of Bethways stock missed Bobby's coffee klatches, hospitality and help almost as soon as the dog-laden motor home crossed the Hudson.

For ten years Barbara voiced her conviction that breed separation would benefit both prick and drop ear Norwich. Her YES votes for separation in sweepstakes classes and at club specialties were building blocks toward Norfolk recognition.

However, it was Jane and Everett Anderson that cultivated the seeds of separation in 1975 as hosts for a spring drop ear match in Mystic, Connecticut. The record breaking turn out for Judge Anne Winston emphatically supported the need for breed recognition.

During the next three years there was little positive action generated by the Norwich Terrier Club. On the negative side, the board withdrew a financial commitment toward an educational Norwich and Norfolk pedigree publication.

So in the spring of 1978 at a Connecticut meeting of Norfolk owners, the initiation of a separate breed club was discussed. Urging an AKC visit, Barbara Fournier cited the happy memories of help and information she received upon joining the Norwich Terrier Club in 1952.

Exploring the possibilities of a new breed club, Jane Anderson and Joan Read found AKC President Stifel and Secretary Mooty cautiously encouraging. As a first requirement toward Norfolk recognition, fifty names of drop ear supporters were needed.

Before the list was submitted, an odd coincidence occurred. Pressure from a Canadian breeder galvanized the existing Norwich Terrier Club to action. The cause: an "illegitimate" (mixed breed) litter sired by an American Norwich Terrier D.E. x a Canadian Norfolk Terrier dam. The solution was the recognition of drop ear Norwich Terriers as Norfolk Terriers by NTC board members, a move which gained AKC approval as of January, 1979. This landmark decision by the AKC set a precedent by allowing two breeds in one club. This decision also obliterated ANTA's chances of Norfolk Terrier parenthood; i.e., being the club which protects the standard and provides the AKC Gazette column.

Undaunted, Barbara's "Connecticut Connection" held a well attended spring event in Hamden, Connecticut, which included a drag hunt after road kill. The fall teach-in with Joy Taylor in Oyster Bay, NY, attracted AKC judges, professional handlers, as well as a full complement of Norfolk owners.

In a final try as Norwich and Norfolk Terrier Club member, Barbara succeeded in correcting the glaring errors in the proposed breed standards and then headed the club's separation poll. Though the membership found in favor of separation, the board would not accept a simple majority vote. Realizing it might take years for Norfolk owners to receive the guidance, education and communication they deserved, she agreed to activate ANTA and assumed its presidency.

ANTA's first efforts were to publish a quarterly information circular, called ANTIC, and put on its first event in October, 1981, in Bedford Village, NY. Since then, ANTIC has continued to educate and inform and flourished with subscribers worldwide. Each year ANTA now holds three major events and occasional smaller ones, which include conformation and sporting activities along with instructional clinics. Early on the Club produced a comprehensive brochure and distributed a video on all facets of the breed. In 1989, founding ANTA Board member Joan R. Read authored of The Norfolk Terrier, the first American book devoted to this breed. A revised Second Edition came out in 1994 and is available from ANTA. Additional accomplishments have been 1990 and 1995 editions of the Norfolk Terrier Pedigree Book, the 1981-1993 Yearbook, and this web site.

In 1995 ANTA began an annual educational seminar to honor the memory of the late Joan Read. Subjects have ranged from "Form and Function in Short-Legged Terriers" in 1995 with noted terrier judge Mrs. Lydia C. Hutchinson to "The Terrier In Sporting Art" presented in 1997 by noted canine art historian Mr. William Secord.

Adapted and Updated from ANTA Yearbook 1981 - 1993

ANTA CELEBRATES 25TH ANNIVERSARY AT UPCOMING FALL FESTIVAL

For those of you whose enthusiasm for Norfolks is of fairly recent origin, the importance of breed separation may seem of little consequence. However, for those involved in establishing the Norfolk Terrier as a breed separate from its prick-eared cousin, the Norwich, the path was lengthy and often circuitous.

English Norfolk Terrier Club Founded

As with the breed, the origins of a club specific to Norfolks started in England. The Norfolk Terrier Club (England) 1986 yearbook contained a fascinating history, portions of which follow:

"An inaugural meeting of the `Caretaker Committee' of the Norfolk Terrier Club was convened on 4th October 1964 at Tempsford, Sandy, Bedfordshire. This Committee had been set up at an Emergency Meeting of the Norwich Terrier Club and consisted of those members of the Norwich Terrier Club Committee who had stated their intention to also join the proposed Norfolk Terrier Club on its formation, the members being Mrs. M. Bunting, Miss M. S. S. Macfie, Mrs. S. Monckton, Mrs. E. O'Hanlon, Mrs. R. L. Richardson, Mrs. M. J. Taylor, Maj. N. Bradshaw and Mr. R. Finney. Mrs. O'Hanlon was elected chairman and Major Bradshaw Hon. Secretary with Mr. Finney as Asst. Secretary. The Norfolk Terrier Club was born."

"Since the late fifties there had been considerable disagreement about the two types of Norwich, drop and prick-ears, and the Kennel Club had been asked officially to divide the breed into two varieties, each with its own register, but this request was refused. However, in 1964, when the request was made once again, the Kennel Club replied that the submitted Breed Standards for the two varieties of Norwich Terrier had been considered, but the request that the breed should be divided into two varieties was unacceptable. But, a suggestion was made that two entirely different breeds should be formed, and, if that was acceptable to the Norwich Club, names for the two breeds would have to be submitted."

Norfolks Get A Name

"The Club was now faced with one of two courses. (a) to reject the offer outright, and continue to fight for simple division, or (b) to take up the Kennel Club suggestion. At the General Meeting of members of the Norwich Terrier Club on 4th July 1964 at Windsor, it was decided that the Kennel Club be asked to approve separation of the breed into two, with a further resolution that the new breed should be formed from the drop-ears and that their name should be Norfolk Terriers this being the most popular name suggested, others including Trumpington, Jones, Suffolk and Ballybrick Terriers. The official letter from the Kennel Club, dated 28th September, 1964, agreed to the creation of a new breed by deciding that the Norwich Terrier Prick-ear only should be known as the Norwich Terrier. The Drop-ear Norwich Terrier should be the Norfolk Terrier."

Norfolk Terriers in America

As stated in "Norwich Terriers USA 1936-1966" by Constance Stuart Larrabee and Joan Redmond Read, it is apparent that differences of opinion regarding the prick ear and drop ear versions of this small terrier had been in full swing for a long time:

"It is apparent from the early history that there was a diversity in type, size, color, coat and ear carriage, as well as a diversity of opinion among the early breeders, many unidentified. Correct color and ear carriage were constantly argued. It is almost miraculous that by 1932 the ideal Norwich was agreed to be the small low-legged dog with slightly foxy expression, hard wiry coat and the characteristics and conformation for which we strive today."

"In America the early Norwich were called Jones after their breeder, Roughrider Jones. Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1936 as the Norwich Terrier, some effort was made to register them as Jones Terriers, but official policy would not permit naming a breed after a living person."

It was not until 1979 that the American Kennel Club granted breed separation in this country, and the Norfolk Terrier was made official. Gestation began almost immediately, and ANTA was officially whelped in 1980. Credit for the creation of this successful little club belongs, in large part, to two of the breed's staunchest early supporters, Joan Read and Barbara Fournier. Although neither of these pioneering breeders will be with us in actuality at our Fall Festival, we are quite sure they will both be there in spirit.

ANTIC, September, 2005

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