PuppyBase

Giant Schnauzer vs Norfolk Terrier

Side-by-side comparison across all 14 AKC trait ratings, with a clear verdict on which breed fits which kind of household.

Perfect Puppy Quiz · 5 questions · 90 seconds

Not sure which breed fits your life?

Answer five questions about your home, your schedule, and your tolerance for shedding. We’ll match you to your top three breeds from over 200.

The bottom line

Giant Schnauzer vs Norfolk Terrier

You’re probably not comparing a Giant Schnauzer and a Norfolk Terrier because they look alike. One’s a towering, bearded German powerhouse built like a draft horse with opinions. The other’s a pint-sized British firecracker that fits in a tote bag and barks at pigeons like they’ve wronged him personally. But people do pit them against each other. usually when they’re torn between wanting a loyal protector and a fearless little companion, both with big personalities and zero interest in being lap dogs. Here’s the real divide: the Giant Schnauzer isn’t just a dog, it’s a full-time project. You’ll need space, time, and experience. This dog thrives when it has a job. obedience, protection work, hiking 10 miles. but without direction, it’ll decide to “guard” your neighbor’s kid on the trampoline. It’s deeply affectionate with its people, but kids under 10 might get knocked over by sheer enthusiasm. The Norfolk? Total charmer. It’s fearless to a fault, barks at everything, and will dig a hole through your floor if bored. But it fits in apartments, adores older kids, and packs a terrier’s stubborn streak. you’ll need patience, not a workout routine, to train it. Pick the Giant Schnauzer if you’ve owned dogs before, live actively, and want a dog that turns heads and protects your property. Choose the Norfolk if you want a bold, portable buddy who’ll snuggle after a game of backyard chase. Here’s what the data doesn’t say: the Norfolk might be small, but it has no idea. It’ll challenge dogs ten times its size. And the Giant Schnauzer? It’s not just alert. it reads your mood like a therapist. Both are loyal to a fault. But one could literally carry the other in its mouth. Think about that.

Giant Schnauzer
Norfolk Terrier
23.5–27.5 in
Height
9–10 in
55–85 lb
Weight
11–12 lb
12–15 yr
Lifespan
12–16 yr
$2.0–5.0k
Puppy price
$2.0–4.5k
#78
AKC popularity
#126

Trait-by-trait

Higher bar = more of that trait. Shedding, barking, drooling, grooming flipped for readability.
Affectionate w/ Family
Good with Young Children
Good with Other Dogs
Shedding Level
Coat Grooming
Drooling Level
Good with Strangers
Playfulness
Watchdog / Protective
Adaptability
Trainability
Energy Level
Barking Level
Mental Stimulation Needs
AffectionGood w/ KidsGood w/ DogsShedding LevelGroomingDrooling LevelGood w/ StrangersPlayfulnessProtectiveAdaptabilityTrainabilityEnergy LevelBarking LevelMental Stim.
Giant Schnauzer Norfolk Terrier
Overlay

Where they diverge

Good with Young Children
Norfolk Terrier is better with kids (2-point difference)
Norfolk
Coat Grooming
Norfolk Terrier needs less grooming (2-point difference)
Norfolk
Good with Strangers
Norfolk Terrier is friendlier with strangers (2-point difference)
Norfolk
Trainability
Giant Schnauzer is easier to train (2-point difference)
Giant
Drooling Level
Norfolk Terrier drools less (1-point difference)
Norfolk
The verdict

Choose the Giant Schnauzer if…

  • Experienced dog owners
  • Active families
  • Working roles (police, military)
  • You value coat groomingGiant Schnauzer scores noticeably higher.

Choose the Norfolk Terrier if…

  • Active families
  • Apartment or small home living
  • Families with older children
  • You value good with young childrenNorfolk Terrier scores higher here.
Giant Schnauzer Owner’s Guide
Everything you need before bringing your Giant Schnauzer home.
Breed variants, breeder red flags, and what to ask
First-week checklist and daily schedules by age
Training timeline from 8 weeks to adulthood
Health screenings, emergency card, and feeding portions
Grooming schedule, first-year costs, and what nobody tells you
Get Your Guide
Norfolk Terrier Owner’s Guide
Everything you need before bringing your Norfolk Terrier home.
Breed variants, breeder red flags, and what to ask
First-week checklist and daily schedules by age
Training timeline from 8 weeks to adulthood
Health screenings, emergency card, and feeding portions
Grooming schedule, first-year costs, and what nobody tells you
Get Your Guide

Other comparisons people run