Original Work by James Scharnberg (circa 1975)
Letter from Jim to the Norwich Terrier Club:

I am reminded of a parable which I shall modify thusly: "First take the fable out of they mind's eye before deriding wth questionable 'facts' the work of thy brother." I refer to the rather frantic short back controversy rumored amongst Norwich fanciers. Before wading in with fists and shovel, let me say: any dog will look like he has a short back if he's fed like he's being fattened to be eaten. So an import arrives in the States is force-fed compared to what he has been getting, then appears at his first show over here. The pride of Crufts is a Goodyear blimp! And "knowledgeable" ringsiders whisper, "They sure are sending their oversize junk over. Boy, did .... get taken!"

Why shorten your dog's life by overfeeding? The poor little fellows have naturally profuse, hard coats, a kind-hearted murderer says, "Doesn't he have a great coat?" when really the dog is up to eight pounds overweight. The coat sticks out from the round surface like quills, and when tidied up for a show, some parts are overstripped or even overscissored! Then the animal is led into the ring a a Norwich terrier. Shame! The judge should excuse it. Its tail, buried amongst back-fat and bulging hams, looks like it has been docked too short. The rib lard pushes the elbows out. The neck is lost in a roll of fat. The hard, working claws stick short and straight out of heavy soft pads damp with sweat. Oh terror of fox earths, bane of rats, if only I could keep another dog, I'd save you ! There's a great little worker buried in there. With a back the right length.

Terriers are gluttons. My 11-year old Norwich is no exception. Fed lightly but well, she still eats beetles, mice, squirrels, fallen birds, and garbage. Sometimes I succeed in keeping her near 10 pounds. Then she won't get stuck in a groundhog hole, rub off the hair on her belly trying to catch squirrels, float too high out of the water chasing muskrats, and she can get down my nine-inch training tunnels in a working terrier demonstration. In summer she is not in danger of heat prostration and is still very quick on varmints.

Sincerely, Jim Scharnberg

"Working Terriers" from Notes On The Horn by James Fagan Scharnberg

Many people are horrified at the thought of their pet killing game in the country, or worried about risking their show stock being marked up. These Terrier Field Trials are about the closest thing to natural earthwork you can get with no danger at all to dog or quarry. And when you see your little tyke enter the earth and hear him start to bay and yap with excitement, you may find you're "hooked". There are different degrees of difficulty in our working tests, if you wish to go no further than the trials with your dog's hunting. And we can provide proper, safe training for the person who wants to develop his terrier for natural hunting if he wishes to join the AWTA (American Working Terrier Association).

From Notes On The Horn by James Scharnberg, date unknown

The American Working Terrier Association continues to grow. It's approaching the 200 mark in members and drawing very broad breed support across the country. Its newsletter, Down To Earth, is fascinating reading for the hunter or just plain "terrier lover". Alvin McGee took a second-place ribbon with his fine brood bitch, Ch. Castle Point Indigo, in the Novice B Class at Honey Brook, PA, Field Trial on August 3. His is the only Norwich I know of which placed at AWTA trials this year. Come on, let's give him a little company!

I put on a working demonstration with a 12-foot-long earth at the Montgomery County Kennel Club Match this last June. My Heidi did a smashing job, popping down almost as fast as you could say knife. After a couple run-throughs, we got an interested Westie to enter the earth and study the situation. The rain was coming down but this didn't stop people from sticking around for another demonstration and question-answer period after the show. If enough members are interested, and the Club approves, maybe a working demonstration and clinic could be part of the card at next fall's Norwich Terrier Match Show. Anyone interested in membership information and AWTA-sponsored events for terriers should write to: Mrs. Henry B. Lent, Jr., Secretary, American Working Terrier Assn., Fox Run Farm, R.D. 1, Penn Yan, NY 14527.

Our little terrier is game enough for anything. Seeing that spunky little Norwich bitch in the relay race after the fall Match at Mary Baird's, matching the larger dogs in intelligence and agility, made quite an impression on me. The more fun we can give our terriers - be it in the field, taught games, or obedience work - the better. There's an awful lot of energy and intelligence and instinct packed into those little bodies, just waiting - nay, dying - to be called upon.