How long does a Norwich Terrier live?

The listed lifespan for a Norwich Terrier is 12–15 years.

How tall is a Norwich Terrier?

The listed height for a Norwich Terrier is 10 in.

Is a Norwich Terrier good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Norwich Terrier is 5 out of 5.

When is a Norwich Terrier full grown?

The growth size band for a Norwich Terrier is 8–12 months.

Terrier Group

Norwich Terrier

Norwich Terrier is a toy dog in the Terrier Group. Adult weight is 12 lb, height is 10 in, and the listed lifespan is 12–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Alert, Curious, Loyal, Affectionate, Gregarious.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Norwich Terrier dog — Photo: Pleple2000 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–15 years

Weight12 lb

SizeToy GroupTerrier Group

Height

10 in

Energy

4 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

3 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 21 single-size toy breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13.5 years is about 0.6 years shorter than the 14.1-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 12 lb is about 3.6 lb heavier than the 8.4 lb average for those toy breeds.

The listed origin is England. The coat is described as double, wiry, short. The AKC energy score is 4 out of 5, 0.4 points above the group average of 3.6 for the Terrier Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 3 out of 5. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 109 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Hip Evaluation, and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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