This article will tell you all you need to know about the Norfolk Terrier mix—delightfully known as the Norfipoo. The goal is to help you make an informed decision when considering them for your household.
What Is A Norfipoo?
A Norfipoo is a cross between a Norfolk Terrier and a Poodle. As with other Doodle breeds, these two are brought together to combine the traits from both breeds. The Poodle parent can be a Toy Poodle or a Miniature Poodle.
The Norfolk Terrier-Poodle cross can be called the Norpoo, Norfidoodle, Nordoodle, or Norfypoo.
History Of The Parent Breeds
In this section, an overview of the history of each breed will be given. Let’s sniff out the background of each cuddly canine.
Norfolk Terrier
It is said that the Norfolk Terrier is the true representative of what a terrier is to be: “Full of fire and stubborn assertiveness,” but “is more agreeable and companionable than other terrier breeds.” [1]youtube.com/watch?v=lfDySCHqIe8.
The Norwalk originated in England as a general working dog to hunt rodents and vermin in barns. It is believed that the Norfolk was developed by crossing its cousin, the Norwich, with Border Terriers and Irish Terriers.
The breed was introduced to the United States in 1914 and officially recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) in 1936.
The dogs are known for their overall strength, especially in their hindquarters. They possess great balance and are quite nimble.
Owners of these pets have confirmed that they make excellent companions. Fiercely loyal to their masters, they alert to any noise or signs of trouble. Loving and affectionate, they love being loved.
Though they no longer need to work for their supper, instinctively, they are not above grabbing a bird, bunny, or other small animals, so maybe keep them away from those guys.
Poodle
Poodles are often assumed to have originated in France. The breed came about in Germany in the 1600s. In fact, the word “Poodle” comes from the German word “pudel,” which means to splash in the water [2]youtube.com/watch?v=_Pw-39u9344. The Poodle was originally bred as a hunting companion with excellent water skills.
The Poodle comes in 3 sizes: toy (the smallest), miniature, and standard (the largest). They are considered the second most intelligent breed after the Border Collie.
Appearance
This section will go in-depth about what physical characteristics the parent breeds possess. Based on that, we will estimate the overall appearance of their offspring, the Norfipoo.
Coat Type
The Norfolk Terrier has a course, medium-length coat. They also have a hard undercoat that keeps them from the elements. The terrier is prone to shedding.
The Poodle has wiry hair and a thick undercoat softer than the terriers. Their hair grows and will technically shed, but it tends to get caught up in the undercoat. Thus, making it the most hypoallergenic dog you can have. Proper grooming is a must, as they tend to get matted.
Based on the parents, we can say that the Norfipoo will have a thick undercoat to help keep warmth in and water out. They will also have coarse, medium-length hair that needs to be groomed regularly to prevent matting.
Coat Color
The Norfolk Terrier-Poodle mix has an extensive array of possible coat colors. Thanks to the parents, the Norfipoo can have the following colors:
- Red
- Wheat
- Blue
- Tan
- Grizzle (different shades of grey)
- White
- Black
- Cafe au lait
- Apricot
- Grey
- Golden
- Brown (chocolate)
The Norfipoo can be any of these colors but is usually seen in wheat, red and tan shades. They may also have unique coat patterns such as merle, phantom, tuxedo, brindle, tricolor, bicolor, or parti.
Size
The size of the breed’s parents is fairly standard, so their offspring will not differ much. This section will use the dimensions of the Miniature Poodle.
Height
Poodle – both the female and male Poodle will reach heights of between 10 to 15 inches.
The Norfolk Terrier – the female terrier, will reach 9 inches by adulthood, and the male will be about 10 inches.
Based on these dimensions for the parent breed, the Norfipoo breed will be 9 to 15 inches. The male will be only slightly larger.
Weight
The average Norfipoo will end up weighing between 10 to 15 pounds in adulthood. Males will average a pound or two more than females.
Toy Poodle
The average weight of the female Toy Poodle is 10 to 12 pounds. At the same time, the male is slightly larger at 12 to 15 pounds
Norfolk Terrier
There is no difference in weight between the male and female Norfolk Terriers. They both weigh an average of 11 to 12 pounds.
Traits & Characteristics
Temperament and Personality
Aside from being downright dripping in cuteness, the Norfolk Terrier-Poodle mix inherits some excellent qualities from its parent breeds. Consider considering some qualities before welcoming one of these pups into your home.
According to the American Kennel Club, the Norfolk Terrier and the Poodle share many of the same qualities. So the Norfipoo is sure to be similar:
- They are fearless and alert (making them excellent watchdogs)
- Affectionate and cuddly (curling up on a lap at night is one of their favorite activities)
- Good with small children
- Lots of energy (so they need a lot of exercise – plan for at least a 1-hour walk each day)
- They are usually good with other dogs (though proper introductions are always in order)
- Extremely intelligent (so they need lots of stimulation and love adventure)
- Great travel companions
- They tend to be forceful in their stubbornness (puppy training classes will help with this)
Common Health Issues
Though both parent breeds are generally healthy, Norfolk and Poodle share a few medical predispositions. These are conditions that the Norfipoo can inherit. The two most serious are:
1. Patellar Luxation
This is where the “kneecap” moves from its original location. It will cause the dog to limp or have an unusual gait.
2. Progressive Retinal Atrophy
PRA is the deterioration of the retina. If left untreated, it will lead to blindness.
The AKC recommends getting your Norfolk Terrier-Poodle mix tested for these disorders as soon as possible.
Lifespan
The average life expectancy of the Norfolk Terrier is 12 to 16 years. Meanwhile, the lifespan of a Poodle is anywhere from 10 to 18 years. It is not uncommon for Poodles to live into their 20s.
So, given the genetics handed down to the Norfipoo, the average lifespan would be around 10 to 18 years.
Yearly health screenings are recommended for all pets to ensure they live long and healthy lives.
Final Thoughts
The Norfipoo is an intelligent, energetic, loving watchdog. They are fiercely loyal to their family and will have no problem getting rid of tiny home invaders. If you’re looking for a small dog with a huge personality, the Norfolk Terrier-Poodle mix is definitely worth looking at.
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