Biewer Terrier

The Biewer Terrier is a small companion dog that descends from the Yorkshire Terrier. It is distinguished by a long, silky coat carried in three colors: blue or black, white, and gold or tan. Adults usually weigh between 4 and 8 pounds and stand about 7 to 11 inches at the shoulder, which places the breed firmly in the toy category.

The disposition is the main reason people keep this dog. Biewer Terriers are friendly and curious, and they form close bonds with the people they live with. They are playful into adulthood and tend to stay engaged with household activity rather than retreating to a corner. The breed is intelligent and pays attention to its owners, which makes day-to-day handling straightforward.

Because of its size, the Biewer Terrier fits well in apartments and smaller homes. It does not need a large yard, and short daily walks plus indoor play meet most of its exercise needs. The long coat does require regular grooming, so the breed suits owners who are willing to brush several times a week or maintain a shorter trim.

Who this breed suits

The Biewer Terrier works for people who want a small, affectionate dog and who can give it company through much of the day. It fits apartment living and households without large outdoor space. The breed is a reasonable choice for first-time owners, provided they commit to coat care and consistent house-training, which can take patience in toy breeds. Homes with very young, boisterous children should supervise closely, since a 5-pound dog is easily injured by rough handling.

The Biewer Terrier traces to Germany and to the breeding program of Werner and Gertrud Biewer, who kept Yorkshire Terriers. In 1984 their breeding produced a puppy with an unusual tricolor, piebald coat pattern of blue, white, and gold. The dog, named Schneeflöckchen von Friedheck, became the starting point for the new line.

The Biewers continued to breed for the tricolor pattern through the 1980s. The dogs were shown in Germany under names that referenced their parti-colored coats. The breed remained small in number and was tied closely to the founding kennel during this early period.

The Biewer Terrier reached the United States in the 2000s, where breeders organized to establish records and a written standard. A breed club was formed to maintain pedigrees and to separate the Biewer Terrier from the Yorkshire Terrier as a distinct type. DNA studies were later used to support the case for recognition as its own breed.

The American Kennel Club granted the Biewer Terrier full recognition in the Toy Group, with the breed eligible to compete in conformation events. The breed remains relatively uncommon compared with the Yorkshire Terrier from which it descends, but it has a steady following among toy-dog owners.

The Biewer Terrier is a compact toy dog with a square, balanced outline and a level topline. The head is small with a moderate muzzle, dark eyes, and small V-shaped ears that are carried erect. The body is light but not fragile in appearance, and the dog moves with a free, even gait. The most recognizable feature is the coat, which is long, straight, and silky and falls down each side of the body.

Coat and colors

The defining trait is the tricolor coat. The head carries a blend of blue or black with gold or tan, while the body shows blue or black broken with white, and the chest, legs, and underside are predominantly white. The hair is fine and silky in texture, similar to human hair, and it grows continuously. Owners who show the dog keep the coat at full length; pet owners often clip it shorter for easier upkeep. The breed sheds very little, but the silky single coat tangles without regular brushing.

The Biewer Terrier is a people-oriented companion. It is affectionate with its family and likes to stay near its owners, often following them from room to room. The breed keeps a playful streak well past puppyhood and enjoys games and toys. It is curious and alert, and it will notice and announce visitors, though it is not a heavy barker by nature when its needs are met.

With strangers the breed is usually friendly rather than shy or aggressive, and early socialization helps it stay confident. Biewer Terriers generally get along with other dogs and with cats, especially when raised alongside them. Because the dog is small, interactions with larger animals should be supervised. The breed adapts to households of different sizes and to single owners as readily as to families, provided it gets regular company.

Grooming

• Brush the silky coat three to four times a week, or daily if kept at full length, to prevent mats.
• Bathe every two to four weeks with a gentle dog shampoo, then comb the coat while drying.
• Trim the hair around the eyes and paws to keep it tidy and clear of vision.
• Clean ears weekly and check for wax buildup or odor.
• Brush teeth several times a week, since toy breeds are prone to dental disease.
• Clip nails every two to three weeks.

Exercise

• Provide one or two short walks per day totaling about 20 to 30 minutes.
• Offer indoor play sessions with toys to use up energy.
• Use puzzle feeders or simple training games for mental stimulation.
• Avoid long, strenuous outings; the breed has modest stamina.

Environment

The Biewer Terrier is well suited to apartments and homes without a yard. It is sensitive to cold because of its single coat, so a sweater helps in low temperatures. The breed does best as an indoor dog with regular human contact and does not tolerate being left alone for long stretches.

The Biewer Terrier does well on a complete, balanced dog food formulated for small or toy breeds. Small-breed kibble has smaller pieces that are easier to chew and is usually more calorie-dense, which suits a dog with a small stomach and a fast metabolism. Choose a food appropriate to the dog's life stage, and measure portions rather than free-feeding, since toy breeds gain weight quickly on small surpluses. Fresh water should always be available.

Treats and supplements

Keep treats to no more than about 10 percent of daily calories to protect against weight gain. Small, soft treats work well for training. Toy-breed puppies can be prone to low blood sugar, so do not let young dogs go long stretches without eating, and watch for weakness or wobbliness. Most Biewer Terriers on a complete diet need no extra supplements; ask a veterinarian before adding any.

The Biewer Terrier is generally a healthy breed and typically lives 12 to 15 years. As a toy dog it carries some predictable risks, most of which are manageable with routine veterinary care, good dental hygiene, and weight control. Responsible breeders screen breeding stock to reduce inherited problems.

Preventive care

• Schedule annual veterinary exams, with twice-yearly visits for senior dogs.
• Keep vaccinations and parasite prevention current.
• Brush teeth regularly and arrange professional dental cleanings as advised.
• Walk the dog on a harness rather than a collar to protect the windpipe.
• Maintain a lean body weight to reduce joint strain.

The Biewer Terrier is intelligent and attentive, and it generally enjoys learning when sessions are short and rewarding. It responds well to praise and food rewards and tends to cooperate with owners it is bonded to. House-training is the main area that requires patience: small breeds have small bladders and can be slower to fully house-train, so a consistent schedule and a crate or pen help. Early socialization with people, other dogs, and everyday sights builds a confident adult.

Basics

1. Start with name recognition and eye contact using small rewards.
2. Teach sit, then down and stay, in short five to ten minute sessions.
3. Establish a fixed potty schedule and reward outdoor elimination right away.
4. Introduce leash and harness walking gradually, beginning indoors.
5. Socialize the puppy to varied people, sounds, and surfaces during the first months.
6. Practice gentle handling for grooming so coat care stays stress-free.

Breeding Biewer Terriers calls for care because of the breed's small size. Females reach sexual maturity within the first year, but responsible breeders wait until a bitch is physically mature and has passed health screening before any mating. Both parents should be evaluated for patellar luxation, dental health, and other inherited concerns, and the tricolor coat pattern is a defining trait that breeders select to preserve.

Gestation lasts about 63 days. Litters are small, often two to four puppies, in keeping with the breed's toy stature. Because toy-breed deliveries carry a higher risk of complications, including the need for a cesarean section, whelping should be done with veterinary support on hand. Newborn puppies are tiny and need to be kept warm and fed frequently, with close watch for low blood sugar in the first weeks.

Puppies stay with the dam and littermates until at least eight weeks of age, and many breeders keep toy puppies a little longer to ensure they are eating well and stable before going to new homes. Early gentle handling and socialization during this period set the foundation for the breed's friendly adult temperament.

How to register a Biewer Terrier in Ireland

Irish law has required every dog to be chipped and registered since the 2015 Regulations came in, and it expects the details behind the chip to stay current, not gather dust. A free United Pet Club profile does that for your Biewer Terrier, for life. Registering your dog is a few minutes' work and costs nothing at all.

The implant is the vet's job; the record is down to you, and the 2015 rules assume you'll keep it current. Register the microchip free on the lifetime plan: whatever brand the vet reached for is grand, a house move costs nothing to record, and the number stays searchable day and night. Create your free account and have the pair of jobs done before the tea goes cold.