small breed
Norwich Terrier
The prick-eared half of a pair that was one breed until the splits of 1964 and 1979, when the upright-eared dogs kept the Norwich name. Next to a Norfolk, a Norwich is shorter and more compact through the back, and every bit as cheerful and portable. The health question that separates the two is the airway - narrowed nostrils, a long soft palate and swollen laryngeal tissue, common enough in this breed to carry a name of their own.
Pup Height
10 in or under
Pup Weight
About 12 lb
Ideally no more than 10 in at the withers, with an approximate weight of 12 lb, and a short-backed, compact body on short, powerful legs. Ears medium-sized, erect and pointed at the tips - the prick ears that separate the Norwich from the drop-eared Norfolk Terrier. A hard, wiry, straight coat that lies close to the body, with a definite ruff or mane around the neck and shoulders and short, smooth hair on the head apart from slight eyebrows and whiskers. All shades of red, wheaten, black and tan, or grizzle; white marks are undesirable, and honorable scars from fair wear and tear are not penalized. Source: AKC breed standard.
Pup Lifespan
12-15 years
Your pup, at a glance
What’s Life With This Pup Really Like?
High. Norwich Terriers love company and are happy to settle in a lap once the day's adventures are done.
Very good. Sturdy and good-humored enough for gentle play, though toddlers still need supervision.
Mixed. Easier with other dogs than many terriers, but small pets that run set off the prey drive.
Moderate. They announce arrivals and anything suspicious, and bark more when bored or alone.
Moderate. Busy and tireless outdoors, then content to rest indoors once the walks are done.
Light. A wiry coat that sheds little, especially when kept stripped.
Bold and enthusiastic. Chasing, digging and squeaky toys are the main attractions.
Minimal. A tidy mouth that rarely drools.
Fair. Smart and food-motivated but independent, with slow house training and unreliable recall.
Moderate. Alert and quick to sound off at visitors, but far too friendly to guard.
Moderate. Weekly brushing plus hand-stripping a few times a year to keep the coat correct.
Fairly high. Small and apartment-friendly, though the airway makes heat and hard exercise something to manage.
Lifestyle fit
Could This Be Your Best Breed?
Norwich Terriers fit an apartment or a small house, and suit a patient owner who expects months of housetraining, some digging, and a recall that stops working when something bolts. Twelve to fifteen years at $1,500 to $3,000 a year, with hand-stripping a few times a year inside that. Anyone in a hot climate should ask every breeder about the airway first, and be ready to walk away from a litter.
Living Space
Happy in an apartment or a small house as long as the daily walks happen. A yard is a bonus but needs a secure fence with no gaps and nothing to tunnel under - a Norwich Terrier fits through very little and digs with purpose.
Pup Experience
Workable for a first-time owner who is patient and consistent. Norwich Terriers are affectionate and keen to be involved, but they are still terriers, so house training and recall take longer than the size suggests.
Daily Pup Time
About 45 minutes to an hour of walks and play daily, plus a weekly brush and a hand-strip or professional groom a few times a year.
Allergies & Coat
The Norwich Terrier scores 3/10 for shedding and 1/10 for drooling. No dog is truly hypoallergenic. The allergens come from dander and saliva, and a coat that sheds this little leaves far less of them on your furniture, floors, and clothes.
Quirks & challenges
The Not-So-Easy Stuff
Digging
A ratter's instinct that goes straight into lawns and flower beds. A sandpit or digging box gives it somewhere to go.
Unreliable Recall
A moving squirrel or a good scent wipes out the training. Keep them on a leash or inside a secure fence.
Prey Drive
Pet rodents, rabbits and birds are at real risk. A cat raised with them from puppyhood is usually accepted.
Slow House Training
Norwich Terriers can take months to be reliable indoors. A crate and a strict routine make the difference.
Hard to Find
Small litters and few breeders mean a waiting list is normal, often for a year or more.
Breathing Concerns
Some Norwich Terriers have a narrow upper airway that makes heat, hard exercise and anesthesia riskier. Know the signs and tell every vet.
The good, the bad & the hairy
Health, Care & Costs
Understanding the health risks and ongoing costs of a Norwich Terrier helps you plan for a happy, healthy life together.
12-15 years
$60-$100
per groom (hand-strip, bath, nails, ears) every 8-12 weeks, or $0-$500/year if you learn to strip the coat at home
$1,500-$3,000/year
all-in (food, routine vet, grooming, insurance, incidentals)
Health Risks
Conditions this breed is prone to.
Norwich Terrier upper airway syndrome is a combination of narrowed nostrils, an elongated soft palate and swollen or collapsing tissue in the larynx, and it is common in the breed even in dogs that seem fine. It shows as noisy breathing, snorting, exercise and heat intolerance, and extra risk under anesthesia. A variant in the ADAMTS3 gene has been linked to it and some labs offer a test, but the variant is widespread in the breed, so breeders use the result alongside airway exams rather than on its own.
Idiopathic epilepsy - recurring seizures with no other cause found - occurs in the breed, usually starting between one and five years of age. There is no DNA test; daily medication controls it in most dogs, so ask breeders about seizures in the family line.
More common than the size suggests - Norwich Terriers show a notable rate in OFA hip data. Many live comfortably at this weight, but some develop arthritis or need surgery. Ask for hip evaluations on both parents.
The kneecap slips out of place, causing a skip or a held-up hind leg. Mild cases are simply monitored; severe ones need surgery. Parents should have patella evaluations.
Full-size terrier teeth in a small mouth lead to crowding, tartar and gum disease. Daily brushing and periodic cleanings help - and because of the airway, those cleanings are worth doing with a vet experienced in the breed's anesthetic risk.
Norwich Terriers have small litters and one of the highest cesarean rates of any breed, with most puppies delivered surgically. This matters more to breeders than owners, but it is a large part of why puppies are hard to find.
Insurance & Health Coverage
Insure early. Upper airway syndrome is often noted at a first vet visit or a first anesthetic, and once it is on the record it becomes a pre-existing condition that no new policy will cover. If surgery on the airway is ever needed, it is specialist work, so check that a policy covers referral care.
Epilepsy means lifelong medication and regular blood tests, and a seizure emergency can mean an overnight hospital stay. Look for a policy whose annual limit comfortably covers years of ongoing treatment rather than a single event.
Hip dysplasia and patellar luxation can both end in orthopedic surgery costing thousands, and some insurers apply waiting periods or bilateral exclusions to joint conditions. Routine dental cleanings are excluded by many policies, so read that clause too.
Get a Pet Insurance Quote
Care needs
The Daily Routine
Grooming
A hard, wiry coat that sheds lightly and needs a weekly brush and comb. To keep the correct texture and color, the coat is hand-stripped a few times a year - clipping softens and fades it. Trim nails regularly and brush teeth daily.
Exercise
Two good walks a day plus play, around 45 minutes to an hour in total. Norwich Terriers have plenty of stamina for longer outings, but exercise belongs on a leash or inside a secure fence, and in hot weather keep it short and cool because of the airway.
Food & Weight
Small, sturdy and always interested in food, so weight creeps on easily - and extra weight makes both the breathing and the joints worse. Measure meals, count training treats in the daily ration and keep a Norwich lean enough that the ribs are easy to feel.
Similar breeds
If This Isn’t Quite the One
Norfolk Terrier
The drop-eared sister breed, shown as the same breed until the split, so size, coat and sociable temperament are almost identical. The Norfolk carries the ears folded and is slightly longer in the back; the health question to ask shifts from the airway to the heart.
Border Terrier
Another hardy, friendly working terrier with a hand-stripped coat. The Border is taller, leggier and more of an athlete; the Norwich is smaller, more compact and easier to carry.
Cairn Terrier
A close match in size, prick ears and scrappy charm. Cairns are a little heavier and often more vocal; Norwich Terriers tend to be easier with other dogs.
Australian Terrier
Another small, confident terrier with a harsh coat and plenty of self-belief. Aussies are heavier, keener watchdogs and more inclined to bark.