The Norwich Terrier Price and Costs of Ownership

Look at that cute little face! How can you deny the Norwich Terrier the chance to be your next pet?

You may be thinking, “quite easily, depending on the Norwich Terrier dog price.”

The purebred Norwich Terrier price varies from $1,500 to $4,000.

You may be able to save literally thousands of dollars by adopting or rescuing a dog.

However, before you plan to do any of these things, check out the Norwich Terrier temperament first.

The Norwich Terrier, Up Close

Initially, breeders created the Norwich Terrier to work as a ratter on a farm.

Over time, they also learned how to run foxes out of their dens too.

Even today, most, if not all Terrier breeds, still have the blood of a hunter running through their veins.

This is good to know because if you have or want any pets they may view as prey, then the Norwich Terrier might not be the best choice.

Norwich Terrier Temperament and Personality

Here are some things that are important for you to know about the Norwich Terrier personality before you bring one home.

They’re Good with All People

From the oldest to the youngest, Norwich Terriers do well with everyone in the family.

You just want to watch over your younger children with this breed, as they may accidentally hurt this fragile, smaller dog during innocent play.

Otherwise, the Norwich Terrier is an outgoing little dog who loves to meet new people.

After all – they’re more people who can give him attention!

They’re Good with Other Animals

Norwich Terriers don’t typically have problems with other dogs.

They don’t mind cats either, though they tend to get along better with cats if you socialize them together at an early age.

Some Norwich Terriers can become jealous and/or possessive of their owners. If so, they’ll try to boss other animals in the proximity around, as many smaller breeds tend to do.

They’re Have a Strong Prey Drive

You probably figured this, since he’s a hunter at heart, but the Norwich Terrier has a strong prey drive.

Always keep him on a leash while on a walk or at the dog park. If he catches sight of a squirrel or chipmunk, don’t doubt that he will chase after it.

You should also have a securely fenced-in yard to ensure the fence holds him back from any chasing he might want to do.

“Secure” means patch those holes! Don’t think he won’t notice them – he will!

Also important to note: this breed learns to tolerate and eventually ignore electric fences.

And, of course, you probably don’t want to have smaller animals, like gerbils or hamsters, around this guy.

They’re Adaptable

Norwich Terriers are adaptable little dogs and, as such, they don’t mind apartment living if you have a smaller living space.

So long as you give him the exercise and companionship he requires, then he’ll feel perfectly content, no matter the living arrangements.

And he’s perfectly happy to join you on walks, car rides, whatever – so long as he’s with his person.

They Make Great Watchdogs

Norwich Terriers are brave little dogs with a heightened sense of awareness.

As such, they make for great watchdogs.

But that’s where it ends. He won’t do anything to guard the property; he’ll just alert you of a possible threat.

In fact, despite his stature as a little dog, the Norwich Terrier is not a barker.

If he is, then this is a sign that he feels either bored or sees something worth pointing out.

They Love to Dig

Remember before about how a Norwich will spot – and almost certainly use – any holes you may have in your fence? This includes digging.

In other words, the Norwich Terrier loves to dig. So, if he sees a hole near the bottom of the fence, he’ll keep on digging at it to get under the fence and out of your yard.

Find a spot in the yard that you wouldn’t mind him going to town on, and train him to only use that spot.

Norwich Terrier Size

A Norwich Terrier grows to a maximum height of 10 inches tall, and weighs between 11 and 12 lbs.

If this sounds like an ideal size to you, then by all means, sally forth!

If this may be too small for what you’re looking for, then it’s good to know now before you buy.

Norwich Terrier Price – How Much Do Norwich Terriers Cost?

As mentioned earlier, the Norwich Terrier price range runs from $1,500 to $4,000.

The price of a Norwich Terrier up for rescue or adoption, however, costs significantly less.

Plus, you get the added benefit of helping a dog in need, which is always a good thing.

Demand

A dog this cute and amiable has to be super popular, right?

Actually, not really. The Norwich Terrier is actually a rare breed, with only a few hundred of these dogs born every year.

This may explain why the price for such a small dog is so high.

It also may cause a problem if you’re looking for one to adopt at your shelter, as you are less likely to find one there – but hey, you never know!

Norwich Terrier Rescue and Adoption

If you’re interested in rescuing a Norwich Terrier, check out the website for the

Norwich Terrier Club of America.

This organization can provide with additional information about their rescues, including how to bring one home!

The rescue Norwich Terrier puppy price usually hovers around $450.

This is a donation that the organization then uses to help other Norwich Terriers who need a home.

You can also try to find a Norwich Terrier at your local shelter, but because this breed is rare, you may not have a lot of luck.

Still, you can put your name on a list and/or let the shelter know you’re interested in a mixed breed to try to get a dog sooner.

The Norwich Terrier average price at a shelter will run you around $150 for shots and neutering.

Norwich Terrier Cost of Ownership

The best way to plan out whether you can afford a dog is to calculate the cost of ownership over the course of the dog’s lifespan.

For the Norwich Terrier, that’s about 12 to 14 years.

So…can you afford these additional elements of the Norwich Terrier’s cost of ownership?

Keep in mind that some costs, such as obedience training, will only be a factor for a little while.

Once your dog has completed his training, for example, then you can remove training costs from your budget.

Cost of Food

Because the Norwich Terrier is so tiny, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about spending a lot on food.

One of those smaller dog food bags each week should suffice. These cost around $7 or so.

Just make sure to check in with your vet on the brand and amount you should feed your dog to keep him happy and healthy.

Health Care Expenses

You always want to consider potential health care costs when deciding on a particular breed.

Issues you may have to contend with for the Norwich Terrier include:

• Elongated Soft Palate 
• Epilepsy
• Tracheal Collapse 

Of course, there’s no guarantee that the dog you adopt is going to get sick.

However, these conditions tend to affect the Norwich Terrier as a whole, so it’s good to have a heads-up beforehand.

Especially when, as you can see, some of these conditions are rather serious and require immediate (and expensive) medical intervention.

And don’t forget any medications or supplements the vet may prescribe to help you manage his care.

Training Programs

Because the Norwich Terrier is so eager to please you, training him should not cause too much of a headache.

However, you never know if you might end up with that one dog who acts more stubborn than most.

If so, then you may need to consider hiring a trainer or enrolling him in an obedience class to help him work out the kinks.

In fact, an obedience class is a good idea if you have no other way to socialize him.

Grooming Costs

Grooming is another fact of ownership that many people fail to consider beforehand.

You need to brush him weekly to free his coat of any dead hair that, if left hanging around, could cause dry skin and other types of skin issues.

You don’t need to bathe him unless he smells or is obviously dirty, though he will need you to strip his coat twice a year.

If you can’t keep up with these grooming requirements, then you may need to consider hiring a groomer to help.

You can opt for a mobile groomer, who comes to your home, or you can take him to a local groomer in your area.

Do a little shopping around before you settle on a groomer, as the closest groomer to your home may not necessarily be the best choice.

Kailyn C.

Kailyn has worked as a professional freelance writer since 2012, and during that time she has written about nearly every dog breed imaginable. Her mother loved Collies, and so Kailyn grew up with three of them throughout her childhood – including a blonde one who was half-blind! Now her home belongs to her first official dog, Macho, a Dogo Argentino rescue.