A “demon” for their size: that is the word the FCI standard uses for the Norfolk Terrier, while also calling them lovable and not quarrelsome. Until 1964, they were still known as drop-eared Norwich Terriers; only then did they receive their own name.
| FCI | Group 3 (Terriers), Section 2 Small-sized Terriers, Standard No. 272, without working trial |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Great Britain |
| Size (height at the withers) | ideally 25 cm |
| Weight | not specified in the FCI standard |
| Life expectancy | median 13.5 years among 905 Norfolk Terriers in a UK analysis (McMillan et al. 2024) |
| Coat | harsh, wiry, straight and close-fitting; longer and rougher around neck and shoulders; short and smooth on head and ears; excessive trimming undesirable |
| Colours in the standard | all shades of red, wheaten, black and tan or grizzle; white markings undesirable but allowed |
The ears decided the name
Norfolk and Norwich Terriers share their history. Both descend from East Anglian farm dogs; the standard sees Glen of Imaal Terriers, red Cairns and Dandie Dinmonts in their ancestry. From 1932, the Kennel Club listed both ear types under one name. When they split in 1964, the dogs with V-shaped ears dropping forward became Norfolks.
Plenty of courage in 25 centimetres
Alert, fearless, hardy and not quarrelsome: that is the character described. They are attached to their people but take life into their own paws when something outdoors attracts them. Long walks, places to dig and scent work make them happy. Off-lead freedom comes only when recall works even around rabbits.
A coat that should stay natural
The standard expressly calls excessive trimming undesirable. Plucking dead hair twice a year and brushing in between is usually quite enough. Tail docking is no longer practised in Germany; the tail remains naturally long.
Less food than the formula suggests
A study measured how much 17 young Norfolk Terriers ate during their first year. To maintain ideal body condition, they needed considerably less energy at every stage than predicted by the standard requirement formula of the US National Research Council (Bradley et al. 2021). Weigh regularly and adjust portions according to body condition, rather than relying only on the packet.
A look at the heart
Norfolk Terriers lived a median of 13.5 years, compared with 12.0 for crossbreeds (McMillan et al. 2024). The mitral valve is often affected. Among 79 Swedish Norfolks without symptoms, 19 percent had a heart murmur, but ultrasound showed leakage through this valve in 44 percent, increasing with age (Bodegård-Westling et al. 2017). In a second study of 48 apparently healthy dogs aged six or older, 85 percent showed signs of degenerative valve disease, including 18 without a murmur (Trafny et al. 2012). Heart ultrasound from middle age is therefore worthwhile. In contrast, the Norwich’s airway disease was absent in twelve Norfolks examined, as was the risk variant (Marchant et al. 2019).
A good home with
People wanting a small, weatherproof companion with humour, who enjoy being outdoors. Families with children who treat dogs respectfully are a good fit.
Difficulties arise with
Owners expecting a dog without a mind of their own, allowing rabbits to roam freely in the garden or enjoying generous food portions.
To compare drop ears and prick ears directly, read on about the Norwich; another British earth dog is the Border Terrier. The breed quiz helps you assess whether a Norfolk fits your daily life; our book “Which Dog REALLY Suits You?” (book in German) offers more detail. If a puppy is arriving soon, try the free Puppy Starter Pack. For the wall, capture your Norfolk as a magazine cover on canvas or browse our dog portraits.
Further reading
- Calculating your dog’s food portions: how much your dog really needs
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: perfect character, ailing heart
- Puppy training: the 5 rules that really work
Sources, accessed on 20.10.2026: FCI Standard No. 272 Norfolk Terrier (fci.be, English version dated 06.10.2026; no German version published); McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports 2024; Bradley S et al., Energy Requirements for Growth in the Norfolk Terrier, Animals 2021; Bodegård-Westling A et al., Prevalence of mitral valve regurgitation in 79 asymptomatic Norfolk terriers, Journal of Veterinary Cardiology 2017; Trafny DJ et al., Characteristics of mitral valve disease in Norfolk terriers, Journal of Veterinary Cardiology 2012; Marchant TW et al., An ADAMTS3 missense variant is associated with Norwich Terrier upper airway syndrome, PLoS Genetics 2019.
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