Norwich Terrier: Your Complete Guide

Norwich terriers are feisty little dogs with many characteristics of other terrier-type dogs in a smaller frame. Like other terriers, Norwich terriers have a long history of working alongside their owners, where their duty was to keep vermin away from homes and yards.

In today’s world, we no longer need ratter dogs, but the Norwich terrier can make great companions for the right individuals and families. Our guide will walk you through the breed characteristics of the Norwich terrier, covering everything from physical features and temperament to grooming needs and health.

Quick Look at the Norwich Terrier

Below is a quick table summarizing the Norwich terrier’s physical characteristics, lifespan, temperament, and grooming needs.

What Is the History of Norwich Terriers?

The Norwich terrier originates from East Anglia, near the territory of modern-day Norwich City, England. These dogs date back to the late 19th century when small terrier-type dogs were commonly kept as ratters in stables and homes.

The Norwich terrier came about as a descendant of the Irish terrier and other various short-legged terriers. One look-alike of the Norwich terrier, the Norfolk terrier, also appeared at roughly the same time. The two breeds were so similar that they were classified as the same breed by The Kennel Club in 1932.

In the 1930s, breeders increased their efforts to distinguish these two breeds. As a result, the Norwich terriers became identifiable by their erect ears, whereas Norfolk terriers had drop ears.

What Do Norwich Terriers Look Like?

The Norwich terrier’s appearance is characterized by pointed ears, which separates the breed from the Norfolk terrier. One highlight of this difference is the ears stand up naturally but get perfectly erect when something catches their attention.

Norwich terriers have a compact body that’s well-built and proportioned. Like other small terriers, they have short legs with a long rib cage that makes them appear stiff when observing something with interest.

As for coat colors, Norwich terriers can be any shade of red, wheaten, and tan. There are also black varieties that appear similar to the Yorkshire terrier but have a much coarser look.

What Size Is a Norwich Terrier?

The Norwich terrier is one of the smallest terriers, standing 10 inches tall and weighing around 12 pounds. However, don’t let this dog’s small size fool you. They are courageous little dogs that almost always act bigger than their size.

What Is a Norwich Terrier’s Coat Type and Length?

The Norwich terrier has a straight or wiry coat that’s quite rough to the touch and requires regular grooming. The fur is short throughout the body but slightly longer on the neck and chest, forming a ruff.

The undercoat is soft and shed minimally year-round. Coupled with the breed’s small size, occasional brushing is enough to maintain shedding.

Under all this fur, the Norwich terrier hides an athletic and agile body ready for action. These dogs are capable of taking on much more than their size would indicate with their athleticism, making them suitable for various dog sports and outdoor adventures.

What Is a Norwich Terrier’s Temperament?

Courageous, bossy, and hard-headed are accurate descriptions of the Norwich terrier. Since these dogs have a long history of keeping their owner’s stables and homes free of vermin, they are brave dogs that aren’t afraid of being challenged. Norwich terriers may be tiny, but their personality is much bigger than their frame.

Norwich terriers are intelligent dogs that are alert to their surroundings. They are high energy with a strong prey drive that makes them prone to chasing small animals and digging.

At home with their owners, these dogs are affectionate cuddle buddies who love being at the center of attention. They pair well with active children but aren’t the most tolerable when it comes to rowdy behavior.

While this summarizes the Norwich terrier’s temperament, there’s much more to talk about their big personality. Below, you’ll learn more about their family life, aggression, and other temperament traits.

Are Norwich Terriers Good With Kids?

The small size of the Norwich terrier makes this breed a great companion and playmate for active children. You can watch kids and Norwich terriers play for hours, and you’ll have yourself free entertainment. However, Norwich terriers are strong-willed dogs that won’t take unruly behavior from children lightly.

They aren’t particularly aggressive dogs, but the terrier instincts may make a Norwich terrier snap if children play with them roughly, not respecting their space. An adult’s supervision is essential when children and Norwich terriers are playing to ensure everyone gets along well with each other nicely.

Nonetheless, a Norwich terrier will get along well with children of all ages as long as they feel safe. Just like supervision, teaching children boundaries and how to behave around a dog is important.

Are Norwich Terriers Good With Other Animals?

Norwich terriers are lively dogs that get along well with other pets in the family. They are social enough to initiate play with friendly dogs but may try to display their fair share of dominance around assertive dogs. Also, they may show a bit of jealousy if they aren’t getting as much attention as other dogs.

They can also get along with cats with enough patience and proper introduction. However, the same can’t be said for prey animals such as rabbits and Guinea pigs. Due to their terrier lineage, Norwich terriers have a high prey drive that may make them chase small animals instinctively.

If you have other dogs or cats, a Norwich terrier will adapt quickly and become an excellent addition to your family. Those with prey animals should keep their pets away from a Norwich terrier, preferably in a separate part of the house.

Are Norwich Terriers Aggressive?

Norwich terriers rarely get aggressive, though some of their behavior may be mistaken for aggression. They are courageous dogs with a pride bigger than their size. With proper socialization, they will happily greet unfamiliar dogs and accept affection from strangers.

However, the terrier instincts of the Norwich terrier may sometimes make them display disorderly behavior. Although controlling these dogs is easy, early socialization is a must to ensure they don’t develop behavioral issues. Otherwise, resource guarding, food aggression, and destructive behavior may grow from a lack of socialization.

Do Norwich Terriers Bark?

Their terrier lineage, high prey drive, and the working-dog nature of the breed make the Norwich terrier prone to barking more than other breeds. They can also become yappy when startled or excited.

Still, Norwich terriers don’t use their voice to communicate with their owners. When these dogs bark, there’s often a reason, such as a stranger approaching their home. This makes the breed a natural when it comes to watchdog duties.

A Norwich terrier will surely bark with a reason, but this can intensify if under-exercised. Due to this, apartment dwellers may question the breed’s appropriateness. The best way to curb excessive barking is to teach them to keep quiet and exercise them sufficiently. With these, a Norwich terrier will do just fine in apartments of all sizes.

Are Norwich Terriers Affectionate?

Norwich terriers are not only one of the smallest terrier-type dogs but also one of the most affectionate. They bond strongly with everyone in their family but often get attached to one person – calling them their special human.

Norwich terriers aren’t particularly lap dogs with their energetic nature. Still, nothing is more fulfilling for a Norwich terrier than cuddling up with their favored person after an intense day of play.

This affectionate personality makes them warm up to strangers quickly, but it takes them a while to let go of the natural suspicion they have. Once assured that a stranger is not a threat, they will show their true personality and demand just as much attention from them as they do from owners.

Are Norwich Terriers Intelligent?

Norwich terriers are intelligent dogs with a big personality. They keep an alert eye and aren’t afraid to investigate new sights and smells. Being strong-minded dogs, Norwich terriers are natural problem solvers and will do anything to get what they want.

With these and other characteristics of the breed, Norwich terriers thrive when given a job to do. Given that hunting vermin is a part of their history, getting them involved in dog sports is an excellent way to satisfy their curiosity.

Are Norwich Terriers Energetic?

The Norwich terrier is a high-energy breed with an athletic body that doesn’t know when to stop. As you can expect, Norwich terriers require at least an hour of exercise every day. They match the best with active owners and make excellent companions for hikes and long walks.

If exercised insufficiently for long periods, a Norwich terrier may display behavioral issues that can be difficult to manage. Some may bark more often than usual, while others may ruin your yard by digging endlessly.

Providing them with sufficient exercise can be demanding at times, but it’s one of the most important care needs of this breed that benefits their health. Consider dog sports like agility training and scent work to meet a Norwich terrier’s exercise needs if they can’t get enough from simple walks.

Are Norwich Terriers Easy to Train?

Their eagerness to please and high intelligence make the Norwich terrier an easy-to-train breed. You can finish basic obedience training in a matter of a few weeks and advance to more complicated tricks.

However, Norwich terriers are notoriously difficult to housetrain due to their small bladders. Although it can take some time, using lots of praise and encouragement can prevent accidents from happening too often during puppyhood.

Also, off-leash training requires a competent trainer due to their high prey drive. It’s not advisable to let them off-leash in unfenced areas until they are fully trained and have mastered recall. Otherwise, they may go after any animal they see as prey.

Are Norwich Terriers Good Watchdogs?

Norwich terriers are natural watchdogs that always keep an alert eye. They are quick to let their people know if anything strange appears near their territory. Some Norwich terriers may even take keeping a watchful eye over their territory as their purpose with pride.

However, this breed doesn’t make a good guard dog due to their small size, although a Norwich terrier may think otherwise.

Are Norwich Terriers Good Service Dogs?

Trainability, loyalty, and eagerness to please are highly favored qualities in service dogs. However, the high prey drive and the small size of the Norwich terrier don’t make them suitable for much service animal work.

These dogs can learn any command suitable for their size, but their instincts may get in the way of executing them in public. Being an emotional support animal is a more fitting job for Norwich terriers.

How to Care for a Norwich Terrier?

Norwich terriers require their owner’s attention to live a healthy, happy life. While the most necessary care need is sufficient exercise, followed by plenty of mental stimulation, there are some general care needs that future Norwich terrier owners should know.

Do You Need to Groom a Norwich Terrier?

Norwich terriers need regular grooming to maintain a tidy appearance. The coat of this breed is short but requires brushing at least a few times a week to remove dead hair and prevent matting, especially around the neck.

These dogs also need occasional haircuts every few months. You can take them to a groomer, but learning how to cut your dog’s hair at home and investing in high-quality pet grooming shears will save you a lot of money in the long run.

Like every dog, Norwich terriers also require regular nail trimming, bathing when dirty, dental care, and ear cleaning.

Do Norwich Terriers Shed?

Norwich terriers have a soft undercoat that sheds minimally. Although some consider this breed as hypoallergenic, Norwich terriers aren’t as hypoallergenic as terriers like the Maltese or Biewer terrier. They still produce dander that can cause allergies, especially during seasonal changes where the shedding steps up a bit more than usual.

What Health Problems Do Norwich Terriers Have?

Although the Norwich terrier is generally a healthy breed, there are a few canine diseases they are at risk for developing. Here’s a list of common health problems found in Norwich terriers.

• Hip Dysplasia: Although more common with larger breeds, Norwich terriers are prone to hip dysplasia that can cause movement difficulties and muscle loss.
• Bite Defects: Norwich terriers can suffer from underbite and overbite, which can cause problems with their jaw and teeth.
• Epilepsy: Like in humans, Norwich terriers can also have epilepsy that leads to seizures.
• Dental Issues: Norwich terriers are prone to developing tartar and plaque. Daily dental care is essential to ensure these don’t lead to more severe problems.

Additionally, Norwich terriers are at risk of inheriting cataracts and degenerative myelopathy, an incurable disease that affects the spinal cord. It’s critically important for those interested in this breed to contact a breeder who scans their dogs and does preventive genetic testing to reduce the chances of these health problems.

How Long Do Norwich Terriers Live?

On average, Norwich terriers live between 12 and 15 years, which is about the same as other terrier dogs similar in size.

What Should a Norwich Terrier Eat?

Like most dogs, Norwich terriers should eat high-quality commercial dog food appropriate for their size and activity levels. They should be fed about one cup of dog food per day.

Optionally, you can feed them homemade food instead of kibble, but consult your veterinarian before changing their diet to verify your Norwich terrier gets all the nutrients they need.

Is a Norwich Terrier the Right Dog for Me?

The Norwich terrier is a lively dog breed with an affectionate, courageous, and energetic temperament. These dogs match the best with individuals and families living an active life. They make great companions for all kinds of outdoor activities, from hiking to swimming.

Although Norwich terriers have their fair share of challenges, such as being difficult to housebreak, it’s very well worth having an energetic little friend with undying loyalty in the end.

If these facts aren’t intimidating and you’re looking for a small furry friend to tag along on your adventures, you’ll find the Norwich terrier to be an excellent dog breed for you.