Do Norfolk Terriers Bark a Lot? (And How to Fix It)

Norfolk terriers do bark a lot, primarily due to their terrier traits. Like many terriers, they were bred to hunt and chase off pests. Therefore, they’re naturally vigilant and noisy. They tend to bark at anything that moves, even with training.

All of these traits would be great for the average farmer. You could set a Norfolk terrier in your field and trust that it would chase off anything that tried to eat your crops.

In our homes, this isn’t necessarily the case, though. Excessive barking can quickly become annoying. If you have neighbors, they likely won’t appreciate it. (While these dogs are small, we don’t recommend them for apartments because they are very noisy!)

You can do a few things to lessen how much your dog barks. However, before you start correcting your dog’s barking, it’s important to consider why Norfolk terriers bark.

Why Do Norfolk Terriers Bark?

Norfolk terriers have a very yappy temperament. Despite being rather small, they’re fearless like most terriers. They’re also naturally protective and have a very high prey drive. Therefore, they will attempt to chase anything that moves (even things that aren’t really there).

If they see someone walk by your window or think they heard something outside, their first instinct is to bark. Considering their original purpose, this trait was great. Many owners find it troublesome in our modern world, though.

Norfolk terriers are also very lively. They need a lot of exercise and mental stimulation. Otherwise, they can easily become bored and jump up at the slightest hint of something to do. Many Norfolk terriers purposefully watch out the window for things to “chase” because they are bored. As you might imagine, this will lead to extra barking.

A tired, content dog is less likely to jump up and bark at every little thing.

In some cases, Norfolk terriers can also be prone to separation anxiety. In this case, they may bark and attempt to call you back because they are anxious. They aren’t necessarily barking at anything in particular, though.

Of course, individual temperaments vary. Some dogs are very yappy, while others may be more laid back. Norfolk terriers do not lose their exuberance as they age, so don’t expect them to grow out of their noisiness.

How to Make Your Norfolk Terrier Bark Less

Norfolk terriers need a moderate amount of exercise and mental stimulation. If they don’t get it, they will bark more. That means that your first step to reducing your dog’s barking is to ensure that they’re getting plenty of exercise opportunities.

For this breed, we recommend starting with two 30-minute walks twice a day. One in the morning and one at night works best. These walks should be at a brisk pace. Your dog should be walking constantly, not meandering along.

Next, add in at least one play session a day. Pay attention to your dog for how long this play session needs to be. Sometimes, they may only play fetch for ten minutes. Other times, they may run around your yard for an hour.

Be sure that your dog is getting enough mental stimulation, too. A daily training session can wear out your dog’s mind, just like a walk wears out their body. You can also provide mental exercises while on walks if you stop every now and then and allow them to sniff around. Playing games during playtime can also provide mental stimulation (like hide-and-seek).

You can also invest in puzzle toys if your dog seems particularly unsettled. If you’re gone for hours during the day, puzzle toys can provide your dog with something to do while you’re gone.

Training Your Norfolk Terrier Not to Bark

Training your Norfolk terrier not to bark can be challenging, as these dogs have the typical terrier independence. However, training these terriers to quiet on command is possible.

Generally, we don’t recommend teaching a specific quiet command, as this is more advanced than most terriers are willing to master. However, a general “leave it” or “no” command can be used to make your dog leave whatever they’re barking at alone. This command is also pretty easy to teach, though it can take a long time for your dog to master.

Start by showing your dog a treat and then closing your fist around it. Put your closed hand right next to your head. Wait for your dog to look from your hand to the treat. When they do so, tell them to “leave it” and reward them with a different treat. Once your dog has mastered this, you can move your hand further away from your eyes, increasing the distance they need to look to get the treat.

Eventually, your hand should be by your side.

Next, you can teach them to leave a treat that you place on the ground in the same manner. Kneel down and place a treat on the ground but do not remove your hand. Wait until your dog looks at your eyes, and then give them the reward and cue. Slowly continue building in difficulty until your dog can leave a treat that you “drop” on the ground.

Training “leave it” teaches your dog to look at you and stop whatever they’re doing. Once you teach it, you can use it to make your dog leave anything alone, including bicycles and children running by the window.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © mariakbell/iStock via Getty Images