Breed library

Norfolk Terrier

Also known as Norfork Terrier.

Norfolk Terrier photograph.
Norfolk terrier CAC.jpg - Nutak at Dutch Wikipedia ( Original text: NTCN, mw.G. Hajnova ). CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Norfolk_terrier_CAC.jpg. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Breed overview

The Norfolk Terrier is a British breed of dog. Together, the Norfolk and Norwich Terriers are the smallest of the working terriers.

  • Breed classification: terrierBreed reference breed group.
  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.
  • Country of origin: United KingdomBreed reference country of origin.

Breed facts

  • In the 1880s, British sportsmen developed a working terrier of East Anglia in eastern England.
  • Later, they were called the Trumpington Terrier, after Trumpington Street where the breed was further developed at a livery stable.
  • Then, just prior to World War I, a prominent Irish horse rider Frank Jones sold quantities of the short-legged terriers to the United States, so there they were called Jones Terriers.
  • In 1932, the Norwich was granted acceptance into the English Kennel Club and the first written standard was created.
  • The American Kennel Club registered the first Norwich Terrier in 1936.

Size and appearance

Norfolk Terriers are the smallest of the working terriers. They are active and compact, free moving, with good substance and bone. Good substance means good spring of rib and bone that matches the body such that the dog can be a very agile ratter or earth-dog.

  • Body mass reference: 5 - 7 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 5 - 7 kg. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 25 - 30 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 25 - 30 cm. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 25 cmBreed reference height.
  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat texture: straight
  • Coat texture: wiry
  • Height category: short
  • Weight category: small

Personality and behavior

Norfolks are described as fearless, but can have an independent streak. They, along with Norwich Terriers and Border Terriers, have the softest temperaments of the Terrier Group. Norfolks work in packs and must get along with other dogs. As companions, they love people and children and do make good pets. Their activity level is generally reflective of the pace of their environment. This breed should not be kept or live outside since they thrive on human contact. Generally, Norfolks are not given to digging but, like any dog, will dig out of boredom when left alone for too long a period. Norfolks are not yappers and are not particularly vocal; however, they will bark when appropriate given their watch-dog tendencies. They generally cohabit well with other household pets when introduced as a puppy. Outdoors, they are natural hunters with a strong prey drive for small vermin.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

These breeds have a double coat: a harsh, wiry topcoat and a soft, warm undercoat. As a minimum, the coat is hand stripped once in the Autumn and once in the Spring. Clipping or cutting ruins the coat's colours and harsh texture. A Norfolk Terrier can be washed with a dog shampoo when it is dirty.

  • Coat layers: double
  • Coat texture: straight
  • Coat texture: wiry

Health and lifespan

A 2024 UK study found a life expectancy of 13.5 years for the breed compared to an average of 12.7 for purebreeds and 12 for crossbreeds.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

Compare breeds

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Breed history

In the 1880s, British sportsmen developed a working terrier of East Anglia in eastern England. The Norwich Terrier and later the drop-eared variety now known as the Norfolk Terrier, were believed to have been developed by crossing local terrier-like dogs, small, short-legged Irish Terrier breeds and the small red terriers used by the Romani ratters of Norfolk (the county of which Norwich is the county town). They were first called the Cantab Terrier when they became fashionable for students to keep in their rooms at Cambridge University in England. Later, they were called the Trumpington Terrier, after Trumpington Street where the breed was further developed at a livery stable. Then, just prior to World War I, a prominent Irish horse rider Frank Jones sold quantities of the short-legged terriers to the United States, so there they were called Jones Terriers. It was Jones who designated the terriers were from Norwich.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Norfolk Terrier - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Norfolk Terrier, revision 1368886076. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Norfolk_Terrier&action=history
  2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  4. File:Norfolk terrier CAC.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0. Norfolk terrier CAC.jpg - Nutak at Dutch Wikipedia ( Original text: NTCN, mw.G. Hajnova ). CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Norfolk_terrier_CAC.jpg. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.