Norfolk Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier

A Norfolk Terrier
Photo: tanakawho
A Yorkshire Terrier
Photo: Joselodos

Side by side

Norfolk Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
Adult weight
5–5.4 kg (11–12 lb)1
Males 4.1–7 kg (9.1–15 lb); females 3.6–5.9 kg (7.8–13 lb) (measured in UK vet records, n = 28,032, middle 50%)2
Height
Males 22.9–25.4 cm; females 22.9–25.4 cm1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 13.5 years3
Median 13.3 years3
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Terriers5
Terriers6
Coat
Wire or harsh coat5
Long coat6
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Sheds through the year
Grooming
A brush once a week
Daily brushing
Exercise
A moderate amount
Health
Melanoma of the eye or eyelid (much more likely); Mouth melanoma (more likely)7
Dry eye (much more likely); Kneecap slipping out of place (much more likely)8,9
Class
Family
Lap dog

Which suits you

Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Norfolk Terrier holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out, the Yorkshire Terrier sheds through the year.
Grooming
The Yorkshire Terrier needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Norfolk Terrier needs a brush once a week.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Norfolk Terrier: affectionate on its own terms; Yorkshire Terrier: a lap or leaning dog) and on independence (Norfolk Terrier: cooperative, with its own ideas; Yorkshire Terrier: decides for itself).
Alike
They are much the same size as adults, about 5.2 kg (11 lb) for the Norfolk Terrier and 5.1 kg (11 lb) for the Yorkshire Terrier.
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Norfolk Terrier
Terriers · Small

In temperament it is bold, alert and inquisitive but not quarrelsome, and generally sociable. It keeps a strong terrier urge to dig and to chase small animals.

Yorkshire Terrier
Terriers · Small

In temperament the breed keeps much of the terrier in a small frame: alert, bold and quick to bark at strangers, yet affectionate with its household.

The Norfolk Terrier page →The Yorkshire Terrier page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Norfolk Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Norfolk Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Decides for itself
Around the home
Norfolk Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
Sensitivity
Differs
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Average
Voice
Differs
Barks to alert, then settles
Very vocal
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour10. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home11,12.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
Both grow to much the same adult weight, about 5.2 kg.
Norfolk Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier
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More comparisons

Compare the Norfolk Terrier with
Australian Terrier vs Yorkshire TerrierWest Highland White Terrier vs Yorkshire TerrierBorder Terrier vs Norfolk TerrierCairn Terrier vs Norfolk TerrierMiniature Schnauzer vs Yorkshire TerrierNorwich Terrier vs Yorkshire TerrierAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·