Base colour
All shades of red, wheaten, black and tan or grizzle
- White marks or patches but permissible
About the Norfolk Terrier
Origin: Great Britain
- Typical life span
- 12-16 years
- Size
- Small — from its typical weight
- Weight
- 5-5.5 kg
- Height
- 23-25 cm
- FCI status
- Recognised by FCI
- FCI group
- Terriers
- Origin
- Great Britain
- Known hereditary risks
- Not researched yet
About
What is a Norfolk Terrier?
Small, sturdy, and fearless terrier with a wiry, weather-resistant coat and characteristic drop ears. Known for its spirited, affectionate nature and bred for ratting and companionship.
Norfolk Terrier history and origins
Developed in Norfolk and East Anglia, England in the 1880s-early 20th century as farm dogs to control vermin and hunt foxes. Originally classified as the drop-eared variety of the Norwich Terrier, separated as distinct breed in 1964 by The Kennel Club (UK) and 1979 by the AKC based on ear carriage.
Norfolk Terrier appearance and size
Typically 5-5.5 kg and 23-25 cm at the shoulder — published as one range rather than separately for males and females.
What the breed standard says
- Bred for
- Terrier
- Behaviour and temperament
“A “demon” for its size. Lovable disposition, not quarrelsome, hardy constitution; alert and fearless”
Quoted from FCI standard n°272. It describes the breed the registry recognises, not any individual animal.
Breed reference from The Dog API.
Characteristics
- Size
- Small
- Exercise needsRead from what the breed was bred to do, in the registry’s own words: “Terrier” That is a working purpose, not a measured exercise requirement — an individual dog’s needs depend on its age, health and household.
- 4 of 5
- Easy to train
- —
- Amount of shedding
- —
- Grooming needs
- 5 of 5
- Good with children
- —
- Cost to keep
- —
- Tolerates being alone
- —
- Intelligence
- —
- Health of breed
- Not researched yet
Pros & cons
Pros & cons for the Norfolk Terrier
What you get with the Norfolk Terrier
- Purpose stated in the standard: “Terrier”
- The standard describes the breed as: “A “demon” for its size. Lovable disposition, not quarrelsome, hardy constitution; alert and fearless”
- Longer-lived than a crossbred dog — median 13.5 years across 970 animals, against 12
What you are taking on
- High grooming needs — the standard’s own description is “Hair on head and ears short and smooth, except for slight whiskers and eyebrows”
Drawn from sources rather than written as an opinion — cited health research, the registry’s own standard, and peer-reviewed longevity. FCI breed standard; McMillan et al. 2024, median age at death. One breeder’s animals can differ from any of it, and an empty column means we hold nothing for that side rather than that there is nothing to say.
Characteristics
FCI standard · Norfolk Terrier
Coat and colour
As the FCI standard sets it out. Every line below is the standard’s own wording.
Coat
Longer and rougher on neck and shoulders.
Hair on head and ears short and smooth, except for slight whiskers and eyebrows.
Excessive trimming undesirable
- Hard
- Wiry
- Straight
- Lying close to body
Colour
- Preferred
- Permissible
- Undesirable
- Disqualifying
Preferred, permissible, undesirable and disqualifying are FCI’s own words about the breed. They describe what the standard asks for — not an assessment of any individual dog, and not ours.
Shortened from FCI standard n°272 — each label is the standard’s own wording with the verdict lifted into the tag beside it. Read the full clause at source.
What the breed standard says
- Size
- “Ideal height at the withers: 25 cms”
- FCI distinguishes an ideal from what is permitted.
Quoted from FCI standard n°272. It describes the breed the registry recognises, not any individual animal.
Breed-level information from The Dog API. It describes the Norfolk Terrier in general; any individual animal can differ.
Health guide
What to ask for in a Norfolk Terrier
No breed-specific health panel has been written up for the Norfolk Terrier on this platform yet. That is a gap in our records, not a clean bill of health — ask the breeder which hereditary conditions their lines are tested for, and ask to see the results for both parents, dated and from a named laboratory.
Gallery
No photographs yet
This is where Norfolk Terrier owners’ own photographs will go, from the pet profiles they keep here. Nobody has added one to a public page yet.
A photograph in a pet profile stays private to its owner. We will not put one here unless they ask us to.
Puppies
No puppies listed right now
No Norfolk Terrier breeder has a record on this platform yet, so there is nothing to list. That is a gap in our coverage, not a fact about the breed.