Is a Norwich Terrier right for you? This small dog is a bundle of energy and it won’t be satisfied sitting around on the couch. It definitely also needs a lot of training right from the day it comes into your home.
Furthermore, you must consider the question ‘ how much does a Norwich Terrier cost?’ before bringing home this puppy. This will help you determine whether you can afford this small dog. After all, there are various expenses to consider in addition to the puppy’s price including food costs, medical care, etc.
Let us find out exactly how much a Norwich Terrier can cost to keep.
Norwich Terrier Price
A purebred Norwich Terrier from a reputed breeder can cost from $1500 to $3500.
You could spend around $1800-$2000 in your Norwich Terrier puppy’s first year mainly for sterilization, vaccinations, etc.
After the first year, the cost of your Norwich terrier could be nearly $900-$1000 per year.
The lifetime cost of keeping this small dog can come to $13,150.
How Much Does a Norwich Terrier Puppy Cost in the USA?
Our team analyzed around 50 ads to bring you the cost of a Norwich Terrier in the United States.
- We found the minimum cost of a Norwich Terrier puppy from a top breeder to be around $1500 while the maximum cost was $3500.
- Some show-quality dogs were also being sold for almost $5000.
- You could save thousands of dollars by adopting a Norwich Terrier. We found the adoption cost of this dog breed to be $300. The best part is that the shelters also spay/neuter, vaccinate, and deworm the dog before rehoming.
The Cost of Basic Equipment for Norwich Terrier
According to the ASPCA, most dog parents spend an average of $800 to $1000 on basic supplies and equipment over their pet’s lifetime. This includes items like a bed, crate, leash and collars, grooming tools and related products, potty training equipment, etc.
Here are some cost estimates for basic supplies a Norwich Terrier may need:
- Food and water bowls – $10-$20. Always select glass/stainless steel/ceramic bowls that won’t skid or tip over.
- Leash, body harness, collar, ID tag – $20-$35.
- Dental/chew toys and play toys like balls, etc. – $10-$50.
- Comfortable bed – $40-$100.
- Crate and crate liner- $50-$200. Choose a sturdy, foldable crate made of wire or sturdy plastic. You might need two crates if you plan to keep one in the car.
- Baby gates ( to restrict your pet’s entry into certain areas of your home) – $10-$30
- Grooming supplies – $20-$50. These include shampoo, conditioner, brushes, combs, clippers for nails, hair trimmers, etc.
- Cleaning tools – urine spray, wipes, odor removers, etc. These can cost $10-$35.
- Potty training equipment – poop scooper/potty bags, pee pads, etc. These cost around $30.
The cost of basic equipment can be well over $400 in the first year. Many of these are one-time costs.
Dog Training Costs for Norwich Terrier
Norwich Terriers tend to have a strong prey drive thanks to their ‘Terrier’ genes. You will need to firmly train your pet if you don’t want it chasing small pets. There are different dog training options before you- each having different costs.
Here are some of their price estimates:
- Group training costs between $10-$50 per class
- Private training can cost between $45 to $200 per class.
- Board-and-train (also known as stay-and-train) tends to cost almost $500-$1250 per week.
- Training at home using YouTube videos or books from the library – $0.
Medical or Veterinary Costs for a Norwich Terrier
Norwich Terriers are generally healthy and hardy dogs and, with a good diet and exercise, you can minimize your veterinary bills considerably.
Having said that, your small dog will still need at least 2-3 vet visits per year for routine checks. In its first year, your Norwich Terrier puppy will also need various vaccinations to prevent diseases like distemper, hepatitis, and other viral/bacterial infections.
You might also want to spay/neuter your pet when the vet recommends it. All these procedures and preventive treatments can cost hundreds of dollars. Here are some veterinary cost estimates:
- First-year vaccinations – $150-$170
- Routine checkups – $45 to $100 per visit.
- De-sexing surgery – $500 for spaying, $150-$200 for neutering.
- Deworming – $50-$150 per year.
- Flea/tick prevention – $100-$150 per year.
- Microchipping – $20-$45 one-time cost.
- Emergency surgery – $1000 to $3000
- Bloodwork – $80-$150
- Allergy tests – $150 for a skin test
Norwich Terriers are prone to health issues like luxating patella, cataracts, deafness, and skin issues. Diagnosing and treating these conditions can cost between $500-$2000.
Pet insurance can help you cover some of these costs. Most dog owners pay between $20-$40 a month for pet insurance plans.
How Much Does Dog Food for Norwich Terrier Cost?
A good diet is essential to keep your Norwich Terrier disease-free and to thrive. There is no right or wrong food for this breed. After all; no two dogs are the same and what suits one, might not necessarily suit another. Your vet or breeder can be your best guide when selecting the right food for your Norwich.
Norwich Terriers grow up to 10 inches at the withers and weigh around 12 lb. For a dog this size, you need to feed at least 9.15 lb. of food each month.
Based on this, here are the basic cost estimates for dog food:
- Cheap/inexpensive dog food costs around $1.75 per lb. So, you’d spend $16 a month on dog food.
- Medium-range food costs $3. This comes to $27 a month.
- Higher-range of dog food costs almost $5 to $7 per lb. bringing your monthly costs to $45 to $60 a month.
- Dog treats for this little dog can cost between $5 to $50 a month depending on the quality.
Miscellaneous Costs of Owning a Norwich Terrier
In addition to food and medical expenses, there are some other costs to consider when you own a Norwich Terrier:
Grooming
Norwich Terriers need regular grooming along with hand-stripping to maintain their coat. Many Norwich owners choose to get a clipper cut for their pets from a professional groomer. This can cost $30-$45 along with other basic grooming like ear cleaning, nail trimming, etc.
Travel/Pet Boarding
When you travel, will you take your Norwich with you? Or would you rather board it at the pet hostel? Perhaps you can get a family member or a friend to keep it for a few days? This decision will decide your pet’s travel/ boarding costs.
Pet hostels charge almost $30-$50 a night. Pet sitters can charge $45 for a day or $25-$30 for dropping in. A kind friend might keep your pet for free until you return. Traveling with your pet by car won’t cost much but you’d pay for pet hotel/motel charges. Flight tickets tend to cost between $125 to $300 for a round trip.
Pet Deposits
Norwich Terriers make excellent apartment pets owing to their small size. However, your landlord will still want some deposit amount as a cover for potential damage to carpets and walls. This is almost $200 in most cities.
License
Dog license renewal is an annual expense – however, it is not much especially if your dog is neutered/spayed. Un-fixed dogs are charged higher – nearly $45.
Dog Walker
Dog walkers are necessary in case you’re too busy to walk your dog. After all; this feisty dog needs plenty of exercises. Without it, your Norwich can get depressed, destructive, or bored. Expect to pay between $300-$450 per month for dog walker services alone.
Key Takeaways – How Much Does a Norwich Terrier Cost?
Keeping a dog is not cheap, even if it is a small dog like the Norwich terrier.
The price of a Norwich Terrier puppy from a top-rated dog breeder itself comes to $1500-$3000.
The first-year expenses include vaccinations, training, basic supplies, and spay/neuter surgery. These costs can bring your first-year expenditure to almost $2000 (not including the puppy price).
Most Norwich Terrier owners spend $1000 per year on their pets (on dog food, vet bills, and insurance). Therefore, the lifetime cost of owning a Norwich Terrier (with a lifespan of about 12 years) comes to $13,150.