Biewer Terrier – Ultimate Guide (History, Personality, and Training)

Written by: Bojana Radulovic
The Biewer Terrier is a rare purebred dog created through the occurrence of a recessive piebald gene in two Yorkshire Terriers. Read on to learn more about the dog's history and personality.
Dog Breed Group:
Terrier Dogs
Height:
7 to 11 inches
Weight:
4 to 8 pounds
Life Span:
12 to 15 years

Breed Characteristics:

Apartment Friendly

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How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?

Good For First-Time Owners

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Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?

Overall Sensitivity

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Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?

Tolerates Being Alone

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Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?

Affectionate With Family

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How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?

Kid-Friendly

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Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?

Friendly Toward Other Dogs

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Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?

Friendly Toward Strangers

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Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?

Drooling Level

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If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?

Easy To Groom

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Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?

Overall Health

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What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.

Prone To Obesity

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Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?

Trainability Level

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Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.

Intelligence Level

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Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?

Prey Drive

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Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?

Barking Level

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How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?

Energy Level

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Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?

Exercise Needs

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Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?

Playfulness Level

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Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?

The Biewer Terrier is an elegant, tri-colored, and longhaired toy terrier. Today, the main purpose of this dog is to be loved and to love.

They are charming, playful, and independent in their playtime since they can spend all day carrying around a toy or two.

The Biewer Terrier is a loyal family member and a true friend to everyone they meet. They are tiny, but they aren’t afraid to raise their voice when needed.

They have a childlike attitude, which is why it’s not uncommon to be met with a smile from this happy-go-lucky dog.

They are lighthearted, and they can keep you entertained for hours. Despite their small body size, they are athletic and hearty and can bear long walks, shorter hikes, and love competing in the agility ring.

Quick Facts

Real name: Biewer Terrier
Other names: Biewer Yorkie
Origin: Germany
Breed type: Terrier Group
Weight: 4-8 pounds (2–4kg)
Height: 7-11 inches (18–28cm)
Lifespan: 16 years
Litter Size: 2 to 5 puppies
Color: Tri-colored
Coat: Floor-length coat

Biewer Terrier History

The history of the Biewer TerrierThe Biewer Terrier originated in Hunstruck, Germany, on January 20th, 1984, after Gertrud and Werner Biewer bred two Yorkshire Terriers with recessive piebald genes.

At the time, Werner and Gertrud were passionate Yorkshire Terrier lovers who bred them for 20 years.

They first noticed the Brewer Terrier after seeing the recessive piebald gene their Yorkshire inherited.

The veterinarian suggested them to name the breed after Mrs. Biewer, and that’s how the world got to know Biewer Yorkshire Terrier.

The demand for these dogs was very high initially, that even celebrity-owned very first Biewer Terries.

In 1986 the Biewer Yorkshire Terrier a la Pom Pon made its actual public debut.

The Biewer couple was very selective where their dogs were placed, so the demand was hard to meet, which is why many breeders tried to replicate the “Biewer Dog” by mixing other breeds together.

In Germany, the Biewer Terrier breed fell in popularity by the year 2000, and the number of breeders dropped significantly. However, once they hit the American ground, their popularity was on the rise once again.

In 2014, the American Kennel Club recognized the Biewer Terrier as a breed.

If you are interested in this amazing breed, consider checking your local shelter first or breed-specific rescues because your Biewer might be waiting for you there.

Biewer Terrier Physical Appearance

The Biewer Terrier is an elegant, tri-colored, and longhaired terrier with a breed signature ponytail.

The coat in this breed is exceptionally soft, similar to human hair, handing straight on both sides – this means that you should be persistent and organized when it comes to grooming your Biewer Terrier.

The dog’s outline gives the appearance of a square; the body length is slightly longer than the overall height.

The tail is always et high and covered with a long luxurious plume. The body proportion is compact, and the body is sufficient to medium boned with a level topline.

Eyes are medium size, while the ears are small, upright, and V-shaped. Nose, lips, and eye rims are completely black, while teeth are straight and even.

The neck is moderate in length, while the forelegs are straight. Dewclaws for the show may be removed, but it’s not required.

The coat is long and unique, decorated with tricolors and a soft silky texture. The hair on the back is usually blue, black, or white. The chest is usually white.

Biewer Terrier Personality

The Biewer Terrier is a very energetic breed that loves to play as well as receive an endless amount of affection from their family members. These dogs love to cuddle and like to spend time in their owners’ laps.

They are constantly on the run, exploring or playing. These dogs are fairly intelligent, and they can be stubborn, which makes training them challenging than usual.

With that in mind, make sure to practice consistency and persistence when training your new furry friend.

This is a terrier breed, but interestingly they don’t have a strong prey drive or any digging behaviors. Again, each dog is individual, and some may demonstrate these behaviors.

All in all, these dogs are great for apartment living and in homes with or without backyards.

They can be “yappy” and do not warm to strangers quickly, although with proper socialization training they can be excellent watchdogs.

They can fit any household type, from singles to senior citizen and family with children of all ages.

Even if your dog is great with children, make sure that you educate your children on how to behave around dogs, because children need to know how to behave to other dogs they know and don’t know to know boundaries, and general dog-related rules, such as:

  • Not to touch the dog when eating or drinking water
  • Not to make extremely fast and sudden moves
  • Not to pull dog’s tail or try to put them items/food into the mouth

This way, you will prevent any bites, and your children will know how to behave around dogs of any size, type, or character.

Biewer Terrier Training

The Biewer’s loyalty and willingness to follow your every step makes them perfect house pets. They are great companions for families as well for senior citizens, and they get along with animals of any origin.

Since they are eager to please, it’s easy to train them. Make sure that you start training your Biewer from day one, as soon as he comes to you home.

Training is a mandatory step when it comes to having a well-behaved dog. Provide some toys, fun training sessions, and regular exercise time.

If you need help with training your Biewer, you can always think about hiring a professional dog trainer or taking puppy classes.

Biewer Terrier Exercise

The Biewer Terrier is an easy-going dog; they have playful attitudes and love spending time outdoors being active.

This breed has a natural means of self-exercising, but they love snuggling and only spending quiet hours with their family members.

Indoor activities are a must with this breed, especially durign long rainy days.

Anything works for them, from hide-and-seek, chasing a ball, or only learning a new trick.

Biewers are great on walks, but since they are tiny, leave the leash on all the time when outside – you don’t want to have your dog running into the unknown or meeting an aggressive dog. This is especially important if you are based in an area where fireworks are frequent.

Biewer Terrier Grooming

The Biewer Terrier has a long coat that requires daily brushing. Luckily, the coat is highly silky, so brushing will be a real satisfaction.

Brushing is a mandatory practice of grooming. You don’t want your Biewer to get some mats.

You can always, of course, choose to keep your Biewer in a short coat; just make sure that a groomer cut your Biewer’s coat properly.

Don’t look at brushing as something difficult, but look at it as a wonderful part of grooming practice, which helps your dog bond. If you have to bathe your Biewer, make sure that you use high-quality products.

You can always think bout homemade shampoo as well. Trim dog’s nails regularly, check gums, and provide regular veterinarian check-ups, vaccination, parasite control, and flea protection.

Ears can easily build-up of wax and debris, so check them regularly to see if they are infection-free.

Biewer Terrier Health

The fantastic Biewer Terrier is a relative of the Yorkshire Terrier, meaning that they might be predisposed to some of the same health conditions Yorkshire Terriers face.

Most of them are generally healthy, although there are exceptions, just like humans.

If you are getting a dog from an animal shelter or a rescue group, you are more likely to get a dog that’s healthy, microchipped, spay, or neutered, and if a dog has any medical issues, you will be informed about it.

If you are getting a dog from a responsible breeder you will get medical documentation saying that your puppy is a healthy one – this is why it’s important to deal with responsible breeders only because they care about dog’s healthy state and will do their best to provide puppies the right care and surrounding.

So, just like all breeds, there may be some health issues.

Some dogs may face health challenges including occasional soft or discolored stool and diarrhea problems.

Just like any dog, as soon as you notice any problems, you should contact your veterinarian.

Recommended Health Test for Biewer Terrier

Small Biewer Terries is a relatively healthy dog, with no known bigger health issues.

That being said, certain tests are still to follow before breeding, including:

  • Full Vet. Physical
  • Patella
  • Super Chem-cast Blood Test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpeU4G4M-SY

The Bottom Line

As with all dogs, proper care is mandatory to have a well-behaved and healthy dog.

The Biewer Terrier is a naturally active breed, and he will require daily walks and exercises to work off their excess energy.

Without enough exercise, this breed may develop serious behavioral problems, such as chewing and digging.

Plus, in some dogs, even separation anxiety may appear. These dogs love to be active, as they love to spend quiet moments with their family members.

If you want to reduce the need for brushing, you can choose to shorten his coat, which is better than having a neglected and matted dog. As a small breed, this dog is prone to dental issues, paying extra attention to dental care.

As long as you provide proper nutrition, regular exercise time and walks, and regular veterinarian checkups, your Biewer Terrier will be both healthy and happy with extra love and cuddles.

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