Norfolk terriers are moderately proportioned dogs. A too heavy dog would not be agile. A too refined dog would make it a toy breed. Norfolks generally have more reach and drive and a stronger rear angulation, hence cover more ground than their Norwich cousins. Norfolk have good side gait owed to their balanced angulation front and rear and their slightly longer length of back.
The ideal height is 10 to 12 inches (25-30 cm) at the withers and weight is about 11 pounds (5 kg).
Norfolks are described as fearless, but should not be aggressive despite being capable of defending themselves if need be. 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 can be barkers and are very vocal. They generally cohabit well with other household pets when introduced as a puppy. Though, in the outdoors they are natural hunters with a strong prey drive for small vermin.
Norfolks are self confident and carry themselves with presence and importance, holding their heads and tails erect. A Norfolk that is shy, or carries its tail between its legs is atypical, as is a dog that is hot tempered and aggressive with other dogs; these traits are not the standard. A Norfolk's typical temperament is happy, spirited and self confident. The greatest punishment to a dog is for his owner to ignore him.
The life expectancy of a Norfolk Terrier is 12-15 years, with some growing as old as 19 years. They are generally considered as a healthy breed but there are incidences of health issues that Responsible Breeders consider worthy to do preventative testing. Norfolks have incidences of mitral valve disease, luxating patellas, and incorrect bites (where the teeth do not align with the breed standard, i.e. overshot or undershot). Norfolks most often have shallow hip sockets so breed lines should be tested for hip dysplasia. offa.org is an open registry in North America where responsible breeders post the health records of their individual dogs. Beware of North American parentage that has no published testing.
Norfolks generally have small litters. Responsible Breeders only breed healthy dogs who are of good temperament, good pedigree lineage and best reflect the breed standard. The demand for Norfolk is far greater than the supply. The environment in which they are raised directly impacts the temperament of the puppy for its lifetime.
