The Biewer Terrier is an elegant, longhaired, tri-colored toy terrier whose only purpose in life is to love and be loved. They maintain a charming, whimsical attitude well into adulthood. Carrying around a toy or two is not surprising.
Biewer Terriers are a toy breed with a personality ten times larger then their tiny bodies might suggest. They love to be the center of attention and will do whatever it takes to be the star of the show. Biewers may look fragile and aloof, with their long shiny coats (often held out of their faces by bows or clips), but as with most terrier breeds, Biewers are fearless creatures, quick to posture against dogs of any size. They are good with children, make good companions for the elderly, and love to accompany people on trips outside the home, whether strutting their stuff on a leash, or being carried around like an Egyptian Queen. Because they often have no idea just how tiny they are, Biewers tend to enjoy the company of larger dogs.
The Biewer Terrier may have a sensitive GI system and should be fed a low-protein, well-balanced diet. Kibble is recommended as canned food increases plaque build-up. If you notice your dog chewing on his feet and scratching a lot, change his food to a lamb or fish base. For the most part, you can free feed your Biewer, but if you notice weight gain, pick up that food and feed them 2 to 3 times per day. Clean, fresh water should be available at all times.
The Biewer Terrier has a long coat that requires daily brushing. There is minimal matting with the silkier coat, but the soft coats may get some mats. If you choose to keep your Biewer in a short coat, minimal grooming is needed. Good-quality products are recommended to keep the coat in its soft, silky condition.
Grooming can be a wonderful bonding experience for you and your dog. Beyond regular brushing, the occasional bath will keep them clean and looking their best, again using good quality products. Their nails should be trimmed regularly with a nail clipper or grinder to avoid overgrowth, splitting and cracking. Their ears should be checked regularly to avoid a buildup of wax and debris, which can result in an infection. Teeth should be brushed regularly.
The Biewer Terrier is a rather mellow, easy-going dog. Their playful attitudes provide them with a natural means of self-exercising, along with the time spent playing with their human families. Indoor activities could include hide-and-seek, chasing a ball rolled along the floor, or teaching them new tricks. Biewers are also excellent on walks, quite agile and love to go on outings. If you live in an apartment, even short walks in the hallways can give your dog some exercise, especially during inclement weather.
Like all breeds, there may be some health issues. Some dogs may be faced with these health challenges in their lives, but the majority of Biewer Terriers are healthy dogs. Sensitive GI systems are common in the Biewer Terrier, so they may have an occasional soft or discolored stool. Although not life-threatening, if your dog has persistent problems with diarrhea or discolored stools, you should take him/her to the vet immediately.
Recommended Health Test From Parent Club:
The Biewer Terrier is a relatively healthy dog, with no known excessive issues. That being said, we recommend the following tests for dogs before breeding.
The heritage of the Biewer Terrier has been an interesting and much discussed topic over the years. It started with Mr. and Mrs. Biewer, who instead of having children, bred, raised, sold, and showed Yorkshire Terriers. They had a very large and successful breeding program throughout the 1970s and into the ’80s. By 1981, their enthusiasm for showing the standard Yorkshire Terriers tapered off.
The first documented black, white and tan puppy born was Schneeflockchen von Friedheck on January 20, 1984. Three months later, another black, white and tan puppy was born named Schneeman. These puppies were unique and rare, as they possessed the recessive piebald gene, a gene not usually found in Yorkies. During a visit one day, their vet and friend, Dr. Bardeleben, suggested they name the dogs after Mrs. Biewer. They chuckled as they contemplated the name, “Gertrud Biewer Yorkshire Terrier.” After much consideration, they found the “Biewer Yorkshire Terrier” to be a more suitable name. Documentation shows that both of these puppies were sold to the famous German singer, Margot Eskens, who suggested adding “a la Pom Pon” to their name. The Biewer Yorkshire Terrier a la Pom Pon made its actual public debut in 1986.
The demand was hard to meet for these exclusive dogs, as the Biewer family did not produce many Biewer-type dogs and they were very selective where their dogs were placed. Many breeders tried to replicate the “Biewer Dog” by mixing other breeds together. It wasn’t long before Mr. Biewer became ill and was unable to help Mrs. Biewer carry on the dream they had set out to accomplish for the Biewer breed. Sadly, Mrs. Biewer soon phased out their breeding program in order to better care for her husband during his illness.
The Biewer Terrier was introduced into mainstream America in 2003, at which time there were only a handful of breeders, both in Germany and the US alike. Noticing the development story of the Biewer did not match the dogs coming in from Germany, Myrna Torres and Gayle Pruett, now the BTCA president and director, respectively, contacted Mars Veterinary to see if they could help them determine if the Biewer was a Yorkshire Terrier or a purebred due to the introduction of other breeds. Mars Veterinary accepted the challenge and so began the process proving the Biewer Terrier a purebred dog and establishing it as such.
This is the first time in the history of dog breeding that a dog has been proven to be a purebred using the tools science has to offer. The Biewer Terrier was now established as a purebred dog through the collection of genetic data rather than through pedigree documentation as is customary.