Find out more information on this cute, cuddly, and affectionate little dog! Learn about their character traits, health issues, and grooming needs in this guide.
Height: 7-11 inches
Weight: 2-4 kilos
Biewer Terrier Lifespan: Around 16 years
Pedigree (Recognized by the KC?): No, this breed is not Kennel Club registered.
Positives and Negatives
Pros
- Small in size so they don’t require a large living space
- This breed is playful and makes a lovely family pet.
- Great for first-time owners, they also make fantastic travel companions
- Highly intelligent
Cons
- You must be careful with a Biewer, their small size makes them fragile
- Regular grooming is needed
- Not a breed you can take out for a jog or run
- Doesn’t like to be left alone for long periods of time
Overview
The Biewer Terrier ‘Biewer Yorkie’ is closely linked to the Yorkshire Terrier even though they both recognized as completely different breeds. Although small, these dogs have a mighty personality and a strong love for their owner.
These small dogs are perfect for those living in reduced living spaces who would like to have the company of a dog. They shouldn’t be left alone for regular long periods of time as they grow deeply attached to their owners, but they will be fine for a few hours.
Biewer Terriers have a long, soft, and silky coat that can reach the ground if it isn’t trimmed. Due to this, owners will need to groom their pooch multiple times a week. The breed’s coat is generally white with black and part tan, they don’t come in other colors.
This dog is considered to be a Toy breed, so you must be careful as they are more susceptible to injuries. If you have younger children they need to be supervised at all times as they could accidentally hurt the dog.
History
The Biewer Terrier originated in Germany and was created by Mrs & Mrs Biewer, pronounced ‘Beeva’. They loved to breed and raise Yorkies and one day their litter produced a blue, gold, and white puppy.
They decided to name it ‘Schneeflockchen von Friedheck, its signature coat becoming the noticeable feature of the Biewer terrier we see today. By using the surname of the Biewers along with the famous German singer Margot Esken’s suggestion of a La Pom Pon, the Biewer Yorkshire Terrier a la Pom Pon was introduced to the public in 1986.
Over the years Mr & Mrs Biewer began developing the breed. The dog quickly became popular across Germany, but the Biewers couldn’t meet the high demand, they also wouldn’t just hand out their puppies to anybody.
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Sadly, Mr Biewer’s health took a turn for the worst and Mrs Biewer scaled back the breeding programme so she could take care of him. This allowed the breed to then be properly introduced into America in 2003.
Not long after this, vets conducted ten different tests on this new pooch to determine whether it was purebred. To everyone’s surprise, the tests came back as positive, this was in fact a purebred pooch. It was the first time a dog has ever been determined to be purebred through science.
The breed began flourishing in America leading to the opening of the Biewer Terrier Club of America. This dog isn’t used for any other purpose apart from being one’s loyal companion.
The Yorkshire Terrier is around 100 years old and was developed in England. They were used to catch vermin and could also hunt badgers and foxes underground. This explains a lot about why the Biewer’s personality is so bold and fearless. They are also the smallest breed of Terrier.
Personality
Just like the Yorkshire Terrier, Biewers are alert and bold. They make fantastic house pets. They are however much calmer than their cousins.
This breed is very affectionate, loyal, and loves to be taken anywhere their owners go. High in energy and always alert, this pooch may also have the tendency to bark…a lot! They are also highly intelligent, a trait that has definitely been passed on from the Yorkie.
Are Biewer Terriers Good Around Strangers?
Although this breed has a larger than life personality, especially for a pooch this size, they do tend to feel nervous around strangers. They won’t be aggressive by nature, but they may not be too comfortable, so try to reassure your pooch and be sure to socialize them well with other humans as a puppy.
Are Biewer Terriers Good With Children?
Yes, this breed makes a fantastic family pet. They are extremely playful, high in energy, and will be a valuable and loving friend to your children.
You should always supervise younger children when your pooch is around them as their small size makes them more susceptible to injuries. Older children are generally more aware, but you should always have a conversation with your kids to make them understand the possibility of an accident when playing with the dog.
Are Biewer Terriers Ok With Other Dogs?
Biewer Terriers tend to be nervous and wary of other dogs, especially larger ones. Once they get past that first introduction they usually get along quite well. They may bark upon the first introduction but a little reassurance should hopefully settle them.
Although the Yorkshire Terrier was bred to hunt vermin and other small animals, they don’t always hold the instinct to chase. This lets them get along much better with other household pets than other hunting breed types.
Health
Some dogs have health conditions that are more commonly seen amongst their breed type. Before purchasing or rehoming a dog you should always check on any related health issues.
The Biewer Terrier is generally healthy but that being said there are a few issues that some owners may come across:
- Luxating Patellas- Where the knee caps temporarily fall out of place.
- Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca– Also known as Dry Eye this is when tear production is reduced, the dryness could eventually damage the cornea.
- Lens Luxation- Dislocation of the lens in the eye.
- Atopy- This is when the dogs skin is sensitive and more susceptible to allergies.
- Bladder Stones- Minerals collect and form in the bladder, it can be painful and will require veterinary treatment.
- Tracheal Collapse– Weakness in the windpipe which could lead it to collapse.
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Exercise
As a Toy breed, the Biewer Terrier won’t need too much exercise, in fact, 45 minutes daily should be enough when they are puppies. This can be reduced to around 30 minutes once they are older. Biewer Terriers are not the type of dog you can take along on a jog, they just won’t be able to keep up.
This pooch can easily live in an apartment and doesn’t need direct access to a garden, as long as their exercise needs are being met. You need to keep their brain stimulated, so playing games and keeping them in a routine would be best.
This breed is fragile so you should always have them on a leash especially when interacting around other larger dogs. It is best to let them off in an enclosed area where they can let out their energy by chasing balls and just having a good run around!
Intelligence & Trainability
The Biewer Terrier is known for its intelligence which makes training this breed much easier than others. Intelligence however does bring stubbornness, but luckily the Biewer isn’t as stubborn as other intelligent breeds.
Training is generally pretty easy they pick up well on your commands. Some Biewers may take longer to potty train than others, especially if they don’t have access to a garden, so perseverance is key. Consistent, firm training is needed for a Biewer. They will pick up quickly on the dos and don’ts of your house rules.
Grooming
Biewer Terriers can be groomed easily by their owners, so you won’t need to source a professional for help. Their fur is soft and silky so you should be brushing your pooch around 3-4 times per week, maybe even daily depending on the tangles.
You should generally bathe your pooch once you notice them getting dirty which could be weekly or fortnightly. Some males can become rather smelly around their urinal section, so this area may need a quick wash with a cloth daily, depending on the smell of course.
When trying to remove tangles uses some warm water, doggy conditioner, and a metal comb. Once you feel you have finished brushing your dog, go back through their fur again just to confirm. If you miss a mat it could become even more tangled the next day, which could be painful for your pooch when trying to remove.
If you would like to blow dry your dog you need to be careful of the heat. You should always trim around your dog’s ears, rectum, and paw pads. Trim your dog’s fur once every month or two especially if you need to prevent it from dragging along the ground!
