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Norwich Terrier Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Facts, & Traits

Written by: Codee Chessher

Last Updated on March 20, 2024 by Nicole Cosgrove

norwich terrier dog standing on grass

Norwich Terrier Dog Breed: Info, Pictures, Facts, & Traits

The Norwich Terrier is a little-known terrier with a larger-than-life personality, and they come in your standard terrier colors, like wheaten. Norwich Terriers are family-oriented and loyal but have an independent, inquisitive spirit that makes them the ideal solo or family companion dog. If you’re interested in learning more about this scrappy little fuzzball, you’re in the right place! Let’s talk a bit more about these underrepresented terriers and what makes them tick down below.

Breed Overview

Height:

9 to 10 inches

Weight:

10 to 12 pounds

Lifespan:

12 to 14 years

Colors:

Wheaten, grizzle, black and tan, red

Suitable for:

Active families with or without children, moderately active singles, or seniors

Temperament:

Sweet, loyal, playful, bright

The Norwich Terrier is one of the smallest working terrier breeds, developed to hunt small game and vermin for the working class in 19th-century England. Coming in a modest palette of standard terrier colors like wheaten and red grizzle, the foxy Norwich is thought to trace their ancestry back to small red Irish Terriers that lived in the 18th century. Today, their small litter sizes make them a rarity compared to other, more popular terriers.

Norwich Terrier Breed Characteristics

Energy
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High-energy dogs will need a lot of mental and physical stimulation to stay happy and healthy, while low-energy dogs require minimal physical activity. It’s important when choosing a dog to make sure their energy levels match your lifestyle or vice versa.
Trainability
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Easy-to-train dogs are more skilled at learning prompts and actions quickly with minimal training. Dogs that are harder to train will require a bit more patience and practice.
Health
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Some breeds, due to their size or their breeds potential genetic health issues, have shorter lifespans than others. Proper exercise, nutrition, and hygiene also play an important role in the lifespan of your pet.
Lifespan
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Some dog breeds are prone to certain genetic health problems, and some more than others. This doesn’t mean that every dog will have these issues, but they have an increased risk, so it’s important to understand and prepare for any additional needs they may require.
Sociability
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Some dog breeds are more social than others, both towards humans and other dogs. More social dogs have a tendency to run up to strangers for pets and scratches, while less social dogs shy away and are more cautious, even potentially aggressive. No matter the breed, it’s important to socialize your dog and expose them to lots of different situations.

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Norwich Terrier Breed Puppies

Norwich Terrier puppy licking human hand
Image Credit: Natalia Fedosova, Shutterstock

Norwich Terriers are rare compared to most popular breeds, and you have a lot of work ahead if you plan to find one. The AKC marketplace is a fantastic resource that can help connect you with qualified and accredited breeders, but you may also have luck searching for Norwich Terrier enthusiast groups on social media to find breeders. Yet another vital resource is the Norwich Terrier Club of America, devoted to the breed in particular and with a web of potential breeder connections.

It’s crucial that you do your homework on the breeder before committing to a puppy – we know they’re adorable, but we promise it’s worth the extra work to get a healthy Norwich Terrier.


Temperament & Intelligence of the Norwich Terrier 🧠

Norwich Terriers are joyful, hyperactive, and highly curious dogs that thrive with human contact and love to play the clown for laughs. They have a brash, bold courage at odds with their diminutive size—the textbook definition of a “big dog in a small body.” Norwich Terriers are spirited, playful, and just as scrappy as any other terrier out there. They’re very social and emotional dogs that become attuned with their owners.

This breed is witty, intelligent, and generally eager to please for love and the right treats—perfect for new dog owners. Norwich Terriers like to live in the moment and have a hyperactive joyfulness that can infect even the most dour Scrooge. They grow very close to their family and don’t care for strangers at all, which they show with their best big dog bark. At home or out and about, the Norwich Terrier is happiest by your side.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 🏡

Yes, Norwich Terriers are cheery, sweet dogs that make spectacular family pets if you teach them proper boundaries early to temper their hyperactive side. They might be a little small for young kids, as, like kids, the Norwich doesn’t know their size and can play too rough sometimes. Some dogs are more patient and tolerant than others. They can be overly hyperactive at times and need your help to learn proper boundaries for regular play and when they’re being a bit much.

norwich terrier dogs sitting on grass
Image Credit: Lenkadan, Shutterstock

Does This Breed Get Along With Other Pets? 🐶 😽

Yes, Norwich Terriers usually get along well with other small dogs as long as they’re well-socialized as puppies. They can be a little annoying to big dogs, so your mileage may vary based on how the other dog receives the Norwich’s hyper personality. They can even learn to co-exist peacefully with some cats! Small prey animals like bunnies or guinea pigs aren’t a good idea because the Norwich has a strong prey drive toward small, flighty critters.

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Things to Know When Owning a Norwich Terrier

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

Norwich Terriers may not eat a lot compared to a larger dog, but they still need the best quality dog food you can give them. Aim for a small breed kibble with 25% to 32% protein for a Norwich puppy, settling at a moderate 18% to 24% once they reach adulthood. Protein helps fuel their growing muscles and maintains them as they grow, plus acts as an important energy source. Carbs, healthy fats, vitamins, and trace minerals round out your standard kibble to give your Norwich Terrier everything they need for a balanced diet.

Complete and balanced or not, Norwich Terriers enjoy meaty treats, veggies, and fruit like any other pup. Liver, beef, duck, lamb, chicken, and eggs are all great sources of protein, fats, and more. You can feed all of those daily in small amounts along with your dog’s food. Try to stay with the leaner cuts – they don’t need very much fat in their diet. However, treats should only make up 5 to 10% of their diet.

norwich terrier dog standing on stairs outdoor
Image Credit: Steve Bruckmann, Shutterstock

Exercise 🐕

Norwich Terriers are small but energetic dogs that need about an hour of vigorous exercise every day to stay happy and satisfy their innate need to do something. If you can, incorporate as many games as possible with a tasty treat to work out their little brain. You’d be shocked at how clever they can be. In general, though, Norwich Terriers are eager to please you and gladly learn any number of tricks if you keep the treats and belly scratches coming.

While active, Norwich Terriers can adapt to apartment life well as long as you take enough daily walks and invest in some games to play during long stints indoors. They need mentally stimulating games, perimeters to patrol, and interesting toys to puzzle out. Snuffle mats help make mealtime more engaging, while stuffing a Kong with frozen peanut butter can help them wile away some time on a lazy afternoon.

Training 🦮

Norwich Terriers are a treat to train as long as you get on the same page with a consistent routine. Short sessions with clear goals and rewards help set your dog up for success while building a solid foundation for future commands or tricks. They can be surprisingly acrobatic when they want to be and enjoy small-scale agility courses. One of the biggest things you need to work on with a Norwich Terrier is their barking. They love to bark at strangers and other animals.

That’s where socialization comes in. Careful, measured exposure to all sorts of people, places, and other animals helps teach your Norwich Terrier how the world works and how to appropriately act in various situations or settings. You should start by taking your dog on their leash to nearby destinations, like the park or a favorite walking trail, where you reward calm, thoughtful behavior and patiently ignore nuisance barking or leash tugging.

norwich terrier dog standing on grass and looking up
Image Credit: msupercolor, Shutterstock

Grooming ✂️

Norwich Terriers are typically groomed with a specialized stripping technique where the longest strands of fur are pulled out and the coat is worked into a desirable shape. They have a coarse, wiry coat that takes some patience to work with, or you can opt to hire an experienced dog groomer who’s familiar with stripping Norwich Terriers. Along with stripping, you’ll need to keep up with weekly grooming to remove shed fur. Thankfully, their coat is short and not prone to tangling in any major way.

Health and Conditions ❤️

When bred properly and screened for the most notable health issues by a good breeder, Norwich Terriers are very healthy dogs that live 12 to 14 long years. Like any breed, however, they’re more susceptible to certain conditions and diseases you should know about.

Minor Conditions
  • Luxating patella: Norwich Terriers are known to develop luxating patella, a condition where the knee dislocates, which can require medical intervention to treat long-term.
  • Dental problems: Just like 80% of all dogs, Norwich Terriers are susceptible to dental disease as a result of poor dental hygiene. Prevent dental disease later with routine dental care like teeth brushing and cleanings.

Serious Conditions
  • Upper airway syndrome: Also called UAS, Norwich Terriers are more likely to develop this potentially fatal respiratory condition affecting the larynx and lungs.

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Male vs. Female

Male Norwich Terriers are just a hair bigger and more solid than females, and males are also notably more difficult to housetrain. Females are generally more docile and affectionate, whereas boys are more social and hyperactive. Even once housetrained, male Norwich are known to mark indoors. That can sometimes be managed with neutering at the appropriate age. All that said, individual temperament counts for more than your dog’s sex and there are plenty of outgoing females or more chill males out there.

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3 Little-Known Facts About the Norwich Terrier

1. One of the Rarest Terriers

Norwich Terriers have notoriously small litters of just three or fewer puppies, which severely limits their populations and availability for would-be owners. Only a few hundred puppies are registered each year, despite best breeding conservation efforts.


2. Norwich Terriers Are Natural Vermin Hunters

Like other terriers, the Norwich was bred for their scrappy, can-do attitude, tenacity, and talent for chasing small creatures, usually rats or small game. They were mostly owned by working-class hunters who valued their affectionate and playful side at home.


3. Some Are Actually Norfolk Terriers

If you’ve ever seen a Norwich with droopy ears, it was actually a Norfolk Terrier! For most of their history, they were considered one and the same. It wasn’t until the 1960s and 70s that organizations like the AKC and UKC declared the drop-eared Norfolk a distinct breed from the perky, fox-eared Norwich.

norwich terrier dog standing on the grass
Image Credit: Lenkadan, Shutterstock

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Final Thoughts

Norwich Terriers are fun-sized terriers with all the big, affectionate heart of a giant dog and an endearing coarse wire-haired coat. They take a little work to properly groom but are otherwise the ideal family dog whether you have kids, dogs, or even cats.


Featured Image Credit: Lenkadan, Shutterstock

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