Norwich Terrier
諾里奇㹴
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Norwich Terrier is one of the smallest working terriers — about 25 cm and 5 kg of hard, wiry coat over a stocky body, with the prick ears that tell it apart from its drop-eared twin the Norfolk — bred in East Anglia as a fearless ratter, run in packs with the foxhounds and adopted as a dorm-room mascot by Cambridge undergraduates in the 1880s. Norwich are alert, gregarious, loyal, curious and affectionate: happy-go-lucky, fearless, sometimes bossy, energetic enough to play fetch all day and affectionate enough for hours on a lap. They need a lead or a fence because the hunting instinct is intact, short positive training sessions, diligent dental care, and a coat that is hand-stripped rather than clipped.
Facts
| Size | Small |
|---|---|
| Height | 25cm |
| Weight | 5.4kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–15years |
| Breed group | AKC: terrier FCI: 3 |
| Role | Terrier |
| Coat | Wire coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–120min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 3 hours |
| Companionship need | 5/ 5 |
| Trainability | 3/ 5 |
| Barking | 4/ 5 |
| Good with children | 5/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 3/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 3/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 3/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Hip dysplasia
Commonly reported in the breed; breeders screen hips by X-ray. Ask your vet about hip screening and about keeping your dog lean and fit.
Epilepsy
Idiopathic epilepsy is reported in the breed. Ask your vet promptly if your dog has a seizure.
Upper airway syndrome (NTUAS)
Norwich Terrier upper airway syndrome — a complex, variable respiratory condition whose prevalence and inheritance are still poorly understood — is reported in the breed by the AKC and the parent club. Ask your vet to assess breathing if your dog snores loudly, breathes noisily or tires quickly in warm weather.
Degenerative myelopathy
Degenerative myelopathy, a progressive spinal cord condition of older dogs, is reported in the breed; a DNA test identifies risk. Ask your vet if an older dog shows hind-leg weakness.
Weight gain
The breed gains weight easily. Ask your vet about body-condition scoring and portion sizes.
Neuroaxonal dystrophy / neurological DNA-tested conditions
Inherited neurological conditions are reported in the breed and DNA tests exist for some. Ask your breeder which tests were done.
Patellar luxation
The parent club lists patellar luxation among the breed's health concerns and recommends an OFA patella evaluation for breeding stock. Ask your vet if your dog skips or holds up a hind leg.
Glaucoma
Primary lens luxation, a painful inherited eye disorder that can lead to blindness, is reported in the breed; the parent club notes a DNA test is now available. Ask your breeder about PLL status and your vet urgently if an eye becomes cloudy, red or painful.
Behaviour
Happy-go-lucky, fearless, sometimes bossy
The AKC says Norwich were bred to be more sociable than the usual independent-minded terrier because they ran in packs on foxhunts, and describes them as happy-go-lucky, fearless and sometimes even bossy — energetic enough to play fetch all day, affectionate enough to enjoy hours of lap time, clever but sometimes stubborn, so short, positive training sessions work best; its trait chart scores children and openness to strangers 5/5. The CKC calls them gay and fearless little teddy bears with a pert personality, fine little watchdogs that announce strangers but are not given to needless barking.
Hunting instincts intact — lead or fence
The AKC says the Norwich keeps its original hunting instincts and jovial temperament, is inquisitive and energetic, needs ample exercise to stay fit in mind and body, and because of those instincts must be walked on a lead or let out only in a securely fenced area; it is eager to please, responds well to training and does well at earthdog, barn hunt, obedience and agility, and the wire coat should be hand-stripped because clipping fades the colour and softens the texture. The CKC calls it tremendously active, always ready to play, with a hardy constitution; the Royal Kennel Club suggests up to 1 hour a day.
Temperament
The AKC summarises the breed's temperament as "alert / gregarious / loyal / curious / affectionate".
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 4/5 (high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 3/5, barking level 4/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Norwich Terrier
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Norwich Terrier (Terriers)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Norwich Terrier
Breed characteristics (size small, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan over 10 years).
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Norwich Terrier (standard no. 72, group 3)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The parent club's buyer's guide describes a fearless, loyal and affectionate dog with an outgoing, amiable personality, happy and confident and not aggressive or quarrelsome with other dogs, that thrives on human attention and is good with well-behaved children if socialisation continues after it leaves the breeder. It says many Norwich have a high prey drive and must be fenced or walked on a lead because they will run off after squirrels and rabbits, that most bark as an alarm but are generally quieter than some breeds, that they are quite trainable given dedication and consistency, and that the coat must be combed several times a week and hand-stripped every eight to ten weeks — finding a groomer willing to hand-strip is difficult. It names upper airway syndrome, epilepsy and paroxysmal dyskinesias as health concerns, warns that only about 200 litters of about three puppies are registered a year so breeders keep waiting lists, and cautions against 'faux Norwich' — mixed-breed puppies sold online as Norwich.”
— Norwich Terrier Club of America — Norwich Terrier Buyers Guide via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Norwich Terrier — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Norwich Terrier — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Norwich Terrier — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Norwich Terrier — FCI standard no. 72 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Norwich Terrier Buyers Guide — Norwich Terrier Club of America — Norwich Terrier Club of America (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Norwich Health — Norwich Terrier Club of America — Norwich Terrier Club of America (public breed information) (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.