A Detailed Comparison of the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier.

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Norwich Terrier Versus Skye Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Norwich Terrier and for the Skye Terrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Norwich Terrier or the Skye Terrier.

Norwich Terrier versus Skye Terrier: Overview

A very important difference between the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Norwich Terrier is a tiny-sized dog while the Skye Terrier is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier are Terrier Dogs. This means both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Norwich Terrier versus Skye Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Norwich Terrier to the Skye Terrier based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier

Factor Norwich Terrier Skye Terrier
Does NOT Drool 5/5 5/5
Life Span 10 to 14 years 12 to 14 years
Tolerates Being Alone 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Shed 4/5 3/5
Easy To Groom 2/5 3/5
Good For Novice Owners 3/5 4/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 2/5
Easygoing 2/5 3/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
General Health 4/5 5/5
Easy To Train 4/5 2/5
Intelligence 4/5 4/5
Does NOT chew on things 2/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 2/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 2/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 2/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 2/5 3/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 5/5 4/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 2/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 1/5 3/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 3/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 4/5
Height Up to 10 inches tall at the shoulder 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder
Weight Up to 12 pounds 25 to 40 pounds
Average Lifespan 12.0 years 13.0 years
Average Price $2140 $2000
Price Range $1500 – $2650 $2000 – $2000
Temperament Score 73.3 percent 37.5 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • No Data
    Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 102 176
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 38 55

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Norwich Terrier in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Skye Terrier. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Norwich Terrier is 83 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Skye Terrier is 82 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Norwich Terrier is a better pet than the Skye Terrier. So, you should get the Norwich Terrier!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier

    Below is a list of where the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier are most different:

  • Norwich Terriers get along well with other dogs. However, Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.
  • The Similarities Between the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier

    The Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier are most similar:

  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Norwich Terrier versus Skye Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier.

    Norwich Terriers weigh Up to 12 pounds when fully grown. Norwich Terriers are Up to 10 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Skye Terriers weigh 25 to 40 pounds when fully grown. Skye Terriers are 9 to 10 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Lifespan of Norwich Terrier versus Skye Terrier

    The lifespan of Norwich Terriers is between 10 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Norwich Terriers is 12.0 years.

    The lifespan of Skye Terriers is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of Skye Terriers is 13.0 years.

    Skye Terriers live longer than Norwich Terriers.

    Temperament of the Norwich Terrier Versus the Skye Terrier

    The Norwich Terrier has a better temperament than the Skye Terrier.

    This is because the temperament score for the Norwich Terrier is 73.3 percent while the temperament score for the Skye Terrier is 37.5 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 73.3 percent, the Norwich Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 37.5 percent, the Skye Terrier has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier by measuring the temperaments of 15 Norwich Terriers and 8 Skye Terriers.

    Price of Norwich Terrier versus Price of Skye Terrier

    The average price of the Norwich Terrier puppy is $2140. The price of the Norwich Terrier typically ranges from $1500 – $2650. However, the price of a Norwich Terrier can be as low as $1200 and as high as $4500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 14 Norwich Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Skye Terrier puppy is $2000. The price of the Skye Terrier typically ranges from $2000 – $2000. However, the price of the Skye Terrier can be as low as $2000 and as high as $2000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 1 Skye Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Norwich Terrier is more expensive than the Skye Terrier.

    Norwich Terrier Skye Terrier
    Average Price $2140 $2000
    Price Range $1500 to $2650 $2000 to $2000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Norwich Terrier and Skye Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Norwich Terrier puppies or how many Skye Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Norwich Terriers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Norwich Terriers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Skye Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Skye Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Norwich Terrier puppy or the Skye Terrier puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    The Intelligence of the Norwich Terrier versus the Intelligence of the Skye Terrier

    Norwich Terrier Skye Terrier
    Intelligence Rank 38 out of 130 dog breeds 55 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 15 To 25 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 40 To 80 Repetitions!

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Norwich Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 38 out of 130 dog breeds. The Norwich Terrier belongs to the `Above Average Working Dogs` category. This means that Norwich Terriers tend to learn new commands after 15 to 25 repetitions.

    The Skye Terrier has an obedience intelligence rank of 55 out of 130 dog breeds. The Skye Terrier belongs to the `Fair Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Skye Terriers tend to learn new commands after 40 to 80 repetitions!.

    The Norwich Terrier is more intelligent than the Skye Terrier.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Norwich Terrier versus Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Norwich Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Skye Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Norwich Terrier is 102 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Skye Terrier is 176 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Norwich Terrier

    Popularity of Norwich Terrier

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Popularity of Skye Terrier

    Year Norwich Terrier Popularity Rank Skye Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 89 161
    2014 97 177
    2015 103 175
    2016 103 178
    2017 105 172
    2018 108 178
    2019 102 187
    2020 109 183

    Tolerates Being Alone: Norwich Terrier versus Skye Terrier

    Norwich Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Skye Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Norwich Terriers shed more than Skye Terriers?

    Norwich Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Skye Terriers shed moderately.

    Which one drools more, the Norwich Terrier or the Skye Terrier

    Norwich Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Skye Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Norwich Terrier or the Skye Terrier?

    Norwich Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Skye Terriers are moderately easy to groom.

    Does the Norwich Terrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Skye Terrier?

    Norwich Terriers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Skye Terriers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Norwich Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Skye Terriers?

    Norwich Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Skye Terriers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Can Norwich Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Skye Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Norwich Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Skye Terriers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Norwich Terrier vs. Skye Terrier

    Norwich Terriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Skye Terriers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Norwich Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Skye Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Norwich Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Skye Terriers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Norwich Terrier or the Skye Terrier?

    Norwich Terriers get along very well with other dogs.

    Skye Terriers do not get along well with other dogs.

    Are Norwich Terriers good family dogs? What about Skye Terriers?

    Norwich Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Skye Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Norwich Terriers and Skye Terriers?

    Norwich Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Skye Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Is the Norwich Terrier Easier to Train than the Skye Terrier?

    Norwich Terriers are very easy to train.

    Skye Terriers are not easy to train.

    Is the Norwich Terrier Better for Apartment Owners than the Skye Terrier?

    Norwich Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Skye Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Norwich Terrier or the Skye Terrier?

    Norwich Terriers are OK for new dog owners.

    Skye Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Norwich Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Norwich Terrier that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Norwich Terrier:

  • Cavachon (78 percent match with Norwich Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Cavachon.
  • English Cocker Spaniel (81 percent match with Norwich Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs English Cocker Spaniel.
  • Lowchen (78 percent match with Norwich Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Skye Terrier vs Lowchen.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Skye Terrier

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Skye Terrier that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Skye Terrier:

  • Lakeland Terrier (78 percent match with Skye Terrier). Here is our comparison of the Norwich Terrier vs Lakeland Terrier.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Norwich Terrier and how the Skye Terrier compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Norwich Terrier and of the Skye Terrier to other breeds:

    Norwich Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Norwich Terrier versus Rottweiler     Norwich Terrier versus English Springer Spaniel     Norwich Terrier versus Border Collie     Norwich Terrier versus Norwegian Buhund     Norwich Terrier versus Toy Fox Terrier     Norwich Terrier versus Collie     Norwich Terrier versus Jack Russell Terrier     Norwich Terrier versus Sealyham Terrier     Norwich Terrier versus Miniature Pinscher     Norwich Terrier versus Whippet     Norwich Terrier versus Black Russian Terrier     Norwich Terrier versus Basenji     Norwich Terrier versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Norwich Terrier versus Maremma Sheepdog     Norwich Terrier versus Korean Jindo Dog     Norwich Terrier versus Miniature Pinscher     Norwich Terrier versus Great Dane     Norwich Terrier versus Neapolitan Mastiff     Norwich Terrier versus Newfoundland     Norwich Terrier versus Labrador Retriever     Norwich Terrier versus Manchester Terrier     Norwich Terrier versus Welsh Springer Spaniel     Norwich Terrier versus Bernedoodle     Norwich Terrier versus Rottweiler     Norwich Terrier versus Xoloitzcuintli     

    Skye Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Skye Terrier versus Mastiff     Skye Terrier versus Whippet     Skye Terrier versus Chesapeake Bay Retriever     Skye Terrier versus Icelandic Sheepdog     Skye Terrier versus Treeing Tennessee Brindle     Skye Terrier versus American Pit Bull Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Lhasa Apso     Skye Terrier versus Appenzeller Sennenhunde     Skye Terrier versus Morkie     Skye Terrier versus Boerboel     Skye Terrier versus Bracco Italiano     Skye Terrier versus Canaan Dog     Skye Terrier versus Irish Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Komondor     Skye Terrier versus Dalmatian     Skye Terrier versus Saint Bernard     Skye Terrier versus German Shepherd Dog     Skye Terrier versus English Toy Spaniel     Skye Terrier versus Basset Fauve de Bretagne     Skye Terrier versus Lhasapoo     Skye Terrier versus Irish Terrier     Skye Terrier versus Cavachon     Skye Terrier versus English Setter     Skye Terrier versus Australian Kelpie     Skye Terrier versus Hovawart     

    Conclusion: Norwich Terrier versus Skye Terrier. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Norwich Terrier and the Skye Terrier better suits you and your family.