Norfolk Terrier
About the Norfolk Terrier
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Small (10-25 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 9-10" |
| Weight | 11-12 lbs |
| Coat Type | Wire |
| Coat Length | Medium |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Moderate (30-60 min/day)
30 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
Moderate - Weekly
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Needs plenty of mental challenges
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $2,000-$3,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,200/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Norfolk Terriers may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Apartment Living
- First-Time Owners
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
Guides for your Norfolk Terrier
The story behind the Norfolk Terrier
The Norfolk and Norwich Terriers share a single history in East Anglia, England, where small red working terriers were kept from the nineteenth century for rats and for bolting fox, and became popular among Cambridge undergraduates, which spread them further. Both drop-eared and prick-eared dogs occurred within the same lines, and the type was recognised as one breed under the Norwich name in the early twentieth century, with the two ear carriages shown together. Breeders found the ear forms difficult to reconcile, and the Kennel Club separated them in the middle of the century, naming the drop-eared dogs Norfolk Terriers, with the AKC following some years later. Both remain working-sized terriers with modest registration numbers, kept by exhibitors, sporting homes and companion owners.
Originally bred for: Ratting, Fox bolting, Pack terrier work. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Norfolk Terrier
A busy little terrier eats well on a calorie-dense small-breed food given twice daily, with training treats subtracted from the daily ration. This breed puts on weight readily when exercise drops, so ribs should stay easy to find beneath the harsh jacket.
Watch for: No breed-specific food allergy is established. Small terriers with itchy skin or chewed paws are more often reacting to environmental allergens or grooming issues than to ingredients. Where food is genuinely suspected, run any elimination trial under veterinary direction rather than switching products repeatedly.
Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for small breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Norfolk Terrier
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a comfortable no-pull harness.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.