Members
01/Overview
The Norfolk Terrier is a small, sturdy terrier known for its drop ears, wiry coat, compact build, and lively expression. Developed in England to control rats and other vermin, the breed combines courage and determination with an affectionate, outgoing personality.
Highlights
02/History
The Norfolk Terrier originated in England during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, particularly in East Anglia and the county of Norfolk. Small working terriers were kept by farmers, stable workers, and rural families to control rats and other vermin around barns, stables, and farm buildings.
These early dogs were bred primarily for usefulness rather than appearance. They needed to be small enough to enter tight spaces, but also strong, quick, and confident enough to handle demanding work.
The breed shares its early history with the Norwich Terrier. Small terriers associated with Cambridge University and the surrounding area were sometimes called Trumpington Terriers, and these dogs contributed to the development of both breeds.
For many years, prick-eared and drop-eared dogs were considered varieties of the same breed. They were bred together and shown under the Norwich Terrier name, despite the obvious difference in ear carriage.
The (Royal) Kennel Club recognized the Norwich Terrier in 1932, including both ear types. Over time, breeders increasingly treated the prick-eared and drop-eared dogs as separate types.
In 1964, The Kennel Club officially separated them. The prick-eared variety retained the name Norwich Terrier, while the drop-eared variety became the Norfolk Terrier. The American Kennel Club followed the same distinction in 1979.
The American Kennel Club places the Norfolk Terrier in the Terrier Group. The Norfolk Terrier Club serves as the breed’s AKC parent club.
The Fédération Cynologique Internationale recognizes the Norfolk Terrier as a British breed and places it in Group 3, Terriers, Section 2, Small-Sized Terriers.
03/Appearance
A mature Norfolk Terrier stands about 9 to 10 inches tall at the withers and typically weighs around 11 to 12 pounds.
Skull: The Norfolk Terrier has a broad, slightly rounded skull with good width between the ears. The stop is well defined, and the head should appear strong and proportionate to the dog’s compact body.
Expression: The expression is alert, intelligent, and lively, reflecting the breed’s confident terrier character.
Eyes: The eyes are small, dark, oval-shaped, and set well apart. They should convey a bright and attentive expression.
Ears: The ears are small, V-shaped, and slightly rounded at the tips. They drop forward close to the cheeks, distinguishing the Norfolk Terrier from the prick-eared Norwich Terrier.
Muzzle: The muzzle is strong and wedge-shaped, with good strength of jaw. It should not appear weak, narrow, or excessively pointed.
Nose: The nose is black.
Bite: The Norfolk Terrier has large teeth that meet in a scissor bite, with the upper incisors closely overlapping the lower incisors.
The Norfolk Terrier is compact and sturdy, with a body that is slightly longer than the height at the withers. The overall outline is balanced and workmanlike, reflecting a small terrier built for strength, agility, and movement through tight spaces.
The chest is moderately broad and deep, with well-sprung ribs, a strong back, and a sturdy loin. Bone is substantial for the breed’s small size, providing the strength needed for vermin work without making the dog appear heavy or coarse.
Texture: The Norfolk Terrier has a hard, wiry, straight outer coat with a close, dense undercoat. The coat lies close to the body and provides protection from weather and rough cover, with slightly longer hair around the neck and shoulders and modest furnishings on the face and legs.
Standard Colors
04/Consider
The Norfolk Terrier is lively, affectionate, confident, and strongly influenced by its working terrier background. Anyone considering the breed should be prepared for consistent training, regular exercise, early socialization, and routine coat care.
Interaction With Family
The level of affection a breed typically shows towards family members and familiar individuals.
Good With Other Dogs
The innate friendliness of a dog towards other dogs can depend on its breed.
Good With Young Children
The degree to which a breed will typically be patient with young children.
Amount Of Shedding
How much hair a breed typically leaves behind on clothes, furniture and floors.
Frequency Of Grooming
How often a breed needs brushing, bathing or a professional trim to stay in condition.
Amount Of Drooling
How prone a breed is to drool — worth knowing before you keep a towel by the door.
Openness To Strangers
How openly a breed tends to greet new people, visitors and strangers.
Protective Nature
How likely a breed is to alert you to — and stand between you and — anything unfamiliar.
Playfulness Level
How enthusiastic a breed stays about games and play well past puppyhood.
Trainability Level
How readily a breed takes direction and works with you rather than around you.
Barking Level
How much a breed uses its voice, and how readily.
Energy Level
How much get-up-and-go a breed brings to an average day.
Health
The Norfolk Terrier is generally considered a healthy and hardy breed with a typical lifespan of 12 to 16 years. Preventive veterinary care, balanced nutrition, regular exercise, good dental hygiene, and maintenance of a healthy weight can help support long-term health.
The Norfolk Terrier is affectionate, confident, curious, and lively. Despite its small size, it has the bold character of a working terrier and often approaches new situations with enthusiasm.
The breed is generally outgoing with family and can be friendly with unfamiliar people when properly socialized. It may still be assertive with other dogs and can have a strong instinct to chase small animals.
Norfolk Terriers can live successfully with respectful children, especially when raised with them. Their sturdy build and playful nature can suit active families, although interactions with young children should always be supervised.
Exercise Expectations
A healthy adult will benefit from about 45 to 60 minutes of activity each day. Scent games, retrieving, puzzle toys, and dog sports can provide additional mental engagement. Because of the breed’s strong prey drive, off-leash exercise should take place only in a securely enclosed area.
Grooming Expectations
The Norfolk Terrier can adapt well to apartment living when given enough exercise, training, and mental activity. Its alert nature and tendency to bark may require additional management in homes with close neighbors.
A securely fenced yard can provide space for play, but fencing should be checked carefully because the breed may dig beneath barriers or pursue small animals. Outdoor time should not replace daily walks, consistent training, and interaction with the family.
The Norfolk Terrier usually does best in a household that appreciates its confidence, energy, and affectionate nature. Regular companionship, consistent routines, and structured activity help the breed thrive.
05/Puppies
Norfolk Terrier puppies are lively, curious, and affectionate, with plenty of confidence for their small size. Early routines, positive socialization, patient training, and appropriate outlets for their natural terrier instincts help each pup develop into a confident and well-mannered adult.
A Norfolk Terrier puppy benefits from a predictable daily schedule that includes regular meals, potty breaks, sleep, play, training, and quiet time. A crate or secure puppy area can provide a safe place to rest and support housetraining when direct supervision is not possible.
Early socialization should introduce the puppy to different people, well-mannered dogs, household sounds, surfaces, vehicles, and unfamiliar environments. These experiences should remain positive and appropriate for the puppy’s age.
Training can begin as soon as the puppy arrives home. Short sessions can introduce name response, recall, leash walking, basic manners, impulse control, and calm behavior around visitors. Because the breed can be curious and easily distracted, recall and focus exercises are especially valuable.
A Norfolk Terrier puppy should receive a complete and balanced diet formulated for growth. Exercise should focus on supervised play, short walks, and gentle exploration rather than forced running or repetitive jumping while the puppy is still developing.
Regular veterinary visits are important during the first year. Grooming should also begin early so that the puppy becomes comfortable with brushing, nail trimming, ear checks, tooth brushing, and general handling.
06/Activities
Norfolk Terriers are energetic, intelligent, and determined dogs that often enjoy activities involving scent, speed, problem-solving, and close work with a handler. Here are some of the dog sports and activities in which Norfolk Terriers may participate:
Earthdog: Norfolk Terriers can use their natural hunting instincts to locate quarry underground in a controlled setting.
Barn Hunt: Barn Hunt allows the breed to search for safely enclosed rats hidden among bales of straw.
Agility: The Norfolk Terrier’s speed, balance, and enthusiasm can make Agility an engaging outlet for physical and mental energy.
Obedience: Obedience Trials test the breed’s ability to perform exercises accurately while working closely with a handler.
Rally: Rally Obedience combines movement through a course with varied obedience exercises that can help maintain the breed’s interest.
Scent Work: Norfolk Terriers can search for specific odors hidden in containers, indoor spaces, outdoor areas, or vehicles.
Fast CAT: This timed 100-yard dash provides a controlled opportunity for the breed to use its speed and chasing instinct.
Conformation Shows: Norfolk Terriers compete in Conformation Shows, where judges evaluate each dog according to the Breed Standard, including structure, movement, coat, expression, temperament, and overall type.
Trick Dog: Trick training provides mental stimulation and gives the Norfolk Terrier a productive way to use its intelligence and enthusiasm.
Canine Good Citizen: Norfolk Terriers may participate in programs that evaluate everyday manners, social behavior, and reliability around people and other dogs.
Gallery
07/Standards
The Norfolk Terrier is recognized by the world’s leading registries and kennel organizations, which categorize the breed into a specific Group based on its unique characteristics. This breed is recognized worldwide under the following Group designations:
The ideal Norfolk Terrier is described by a Breed Standard that is approved by each of the world’s leading registries and kennel organizations. The Standards for this breed may be found in the following links:
08/Clubs
Norfolk Terrier clubs support breed education, responsible breeding, health initiatives, rescue work, and participation in Conformation shows and Performance events.
Norfolk Terrier Club: Founded in 2009, this is the national breed club for the Norfolk Terrier in the United States and the breed’s AKC parent club.
Norfolk Terrier Club of Canada: Canada’s national organization for the Norfolk welcomes breeders, exhibitors, companion dog families, and other breed enthusiasts.
The Norfolk Terrier Club of Great Britain: Established in 1964, this organization is the national breed club which promotes the Norfolk Terrier through dog shows and educational initiatives.
09/Rescue
Breed-specific rescue organizations help Norfolk Terriers that have been surrendered, abandoned, or found in shelters. These groups may provide foster care, veterinary treatment, behavioral evaluation, and placement with an appropriate adoptive family.
Norfolk Terrier Club Rescue: The breed’s AKC parent club provides rescue information and may help connect Norfolk Terriers in need with foster or adoptive homes across the United States.
The Norfolk Terrier Club of Great Britain Rescue: The United Kingdom breed club supports the welfare and rehoming of Norfolk Terriers and may assist people seeking to adopt or surrender a dog.
Because the Norfolk Terrier is a relatively uncommon breed, dogs available through dedicated rescue programs may be limited. Local shelters, broader terrier rescue organizations, adoption databases, and breed clubs can provide additional information about a Norfolk Terrier or Norfolk mix that may currently be needing a home.
10/Facts
Drop Ears Define the Breed
The Norfolk Terrier has small, V-shaped drop ears, while the closely related Norwich Terrier has erect ears.
Developed as a Vermin Hunter
Early Norfolk-type terriers were used around farms, barns, and stables to control rats and other small pests.
11/FAQ
Norfolk Terriers can make excellent pets for people who appreciate an affectionate, lively, and confident companion. They need regular exercise, consistent training, routine grooming, and plenty of interaction with their family.
Official Standard of the Norfolk Terrier
General Appearance: The Norfolk Terrier, game and hardy, with expressive dropped ears, is one of the smallest of the working terriers. It is active and compact, free-moving, with good substance and bone. With its natural, weather-resistant coat and short legs, it is a "perfect demon" in the field. This versatile, agreeable breed can go to ground, bolt a fox and tackle or dispatch other small vermin, working alone or with a pack. Honorable scars from wear and tear are acceptable in the ring.
Size, Proportion, Substance: Height at the withers 9 to 10 inches at maturity. Bitches tend to be smaller than dogs. Length of back from point of withers to base of tail should be slightly longer than the height at the withers. Good substance and bone. Weight 11 to 12 pounds or that which is suitable for each individual dog's structure and balance. Fit working condition is a prime consideration.
Head: Eyes small, dark and oval, with black rims. Placed well apart with a sparkling, keen and intelligent expression. Ears neatly dropped, small, with a break at the skull line, carried close to the cheek and not falling lower than the outer corner of the eye. V-shaped, slightly rounded at the tip, smooth and velvety to the touch. Skull wide, slightly rounded, with good width between the ears. Muzzle is strong and wedge shaped. Its length is one-third less than a measurement from the occiput to the well-defined stop. Jaw clean and strong. Tight-lipped with a scissor bite and large teeth.
Neck, Topline, Body: Neck of medium length, strong and blending into well laid back shoulders. Level topline. Good width of chest. Ribs well sprung, chest moderately deep. Strong loins. Tail medium docked, of sufficient length to ensure a balanced outline. Straight, set on high, the base level with the topline. Not a squirrel tail.
Forequarters: Well laid back shoulders. Elbows close to ribs. Short, powerful legs, as straight as is consistent with the digging terrier. Pasterns firm. Feet round, pads thick, with strong, black nails.
Hindquarters: Broad with strong, muscular thighs. Good turn of stifle. Hocks well let down and straight when viewed from the rear. Feet as in front.
Coat: The protective coat is hard, wiry and straight, about 1½ to 2 inches long, lying close to the body, with a definite undercoat. The mane on neck and shoulders is longer and also forms a ruff at the base of the ears and the throat. Moderate furnishings of harsh texture on legs. Hair on the head and ears is short and smooth, except for slight eyebrows and whiskers. Some tidying is necessary to keep the dog neat, but shaping should be heavily penalized.
Color: All shades of red, wheaten, black and tan, or grizzle. Dark points permissible. White marks are not desirable.
Gait: Should be true, low and driving. In front, the legs extend forward from the shoulder. Good rear angulation showing great powers of propulsion. Viewed from the side, hind legs follow in the track of the forelegs, moving smoothly from the hip and flexing well at the stifle and hock. Topline remains level.
Temperament: Alert, gregarious, fearless and loyal. Never aggressive.
Approved October 13, 1981
Reformatted March 23, 1990
All About Judging
Learn how to judge the Norfolk Terrier: Understand their outline, balance, and expression, and evaluate their movement and structure.
Meet the Judges
Insights from the 2022 MCKC Breed Judge Beth Sweigart. Read about the judge’s opinions on various topics regarding the show.
The tail is set high and carried upright, contributing to the Norfolk Terrier’s alert and confident outline. It may be naturally long or traditionally docked in countries where the practice is permitted, and should remain balanced with the breed’s compact body.
A Note About Color: All shades of red, wheaten, black and tan, or grizzle are seen. Dark points are permissible. White marks, however, are not desirable.
Coat Type
Wiry, Double
The structure of the coat this breed carries.
Coat Length
Short
How long the breed's coat grows when kept in condition.
Adaptability Level
How easily a breed copes with changes in home, routine, noise and weather.
Mental Stimulation Needs
How much a breed needs a job, a puzzle or training to stay content.
A Norfolk Terrier should receive a complete and balanced diet suited to the dog’s age, activity level, and body condition. Portions should be measured carefully because even a small amount of excess weight can place unnecessary strain on the joints.
A puppy generally needs three or four small meals each day before gradually moving to two meals. Most adults are fed twice daily, with the amount adjusted according to the food’s caloric density and the dog’s level of activity.
Treats can be useful during training but should be given sparringly. Fresh water should always be available.
The Norfolk Terrier is intelligent and quick to learn, but it can also be independent and easily distracted. Training is most effective when sessions are short, varied, and supported by praise, food rewards, toys, or play.
Early socialization should introduce the puppy to different people, well-mannered dogs, environments, sounds, and surfaces. Recall, leash manners, impulse control, and calm greetings are especially useful because the breed may quickly react to movement or scent.
Clear and consistent expectations help prevent unwanted habits such as digging, excessive barking, or ignoring commands. Patient, reward-based training usually produces the best results.
Dogs kept in a traditional show coat are hand-stripped to remove dead outer hair while preserving the coat’s harsh texture and natural color. Pet coats are sometimes clipped for convenience, although clipping may soften the texture over time. Bathing is needed only occasionally unless the dog becomes particularly dirty. Nails should be trimmed regularly, ears should be checked for irritation or debris, and teeth should be brushed routinely.
