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The Biewer Terrier is a rare Toy breed which you perhaps know little about. Indeed, it was only in 2021 that they were officially recognised by the American Kennel Club. They are a close cousin of the Yorkshire Terrier and share a great number of similar characteristics. However, there are some notable differences between the two breeds.
Read this detailed guide to discover all about the Biewer Terrier; including their appearance and general care, what diseases they are prone to and which training methods they respond best to. This breed has a lot to offer and is one that many potential buyers will be considering in 2025.
Lifespan
16 years
Size
Small/Toy-Sized
Weight
4 - 8 pounds
Height
7 to 11 inches
Colors
White & Blue Tan, White & Chocolate Tan, Black Tan & White
Size of Home
They thrive in any home size, including apartments, with proper exercise, care, and attention.
Exercise
Biewer Terriers need moderate exercise: daily walks, playtime, and mental stimulation to stay healthy and happy.
Grooming
They need regular grooming: daily brushing, monthly baths, and trimming to prevent mats and maintain cleanliness.
This is a ‘new kid on the block’, with the first mention of the Biewer Terrier breed being in Germany in 1984. They were bred from Yorkshire Terriers. Interestingly, the breed was first called the ‘Yorkshire Terrier A La Pom Pon’.
Their very close relative, the Yorkie, was bred in England from a number of dog breeds including the Black and Tan Terrier and the Skye Terrier. They were developed to keep the rats down in places like farms and mills, which explains the Biewer Terrier’s high prey drive and speed.
There is no denying that this is a lively breed. They may be small, but they are energetic and they love to be involved with whatever is going on around them. They can run about all day, but will curl up and be affectionate with you in the evening.
They are friendly, curious and intelligent, meaning they are great fun to train. Most breed lovers will tell you that they are more docile and easy-going, when compared to the Yorkie.
Ever alert, they make excellent watch dogs, and many bark at the first sign of someone approaching the home. This generally means a lot of noise and standing tall, but they’re rather too small to make it as true guard dogs. Similarly, they have a high prey drive and will be the first out into the garden to chase a bird or a squirrel away.
Much like the Yorkshire Terrier, most breed members have a confident and self-assured personality, meaning they are less prone to anxiety driven behaviours (such as separation anxiety or noise phobias) when compared to other small breeds. Still, they do thrive in human company and should not be left alone for prolonged periods of time. They form close attachments to their family, and will remain loyal to them for life.
They are also happy to welcome other dogs and children into their home, as long as they are well socialised from a young age. When it comes to co-existing with cats, it can be hit or miss. If not raised with them, and taught to respect them from a young age, you may find there is a lot of chasing involved and the cat becomes quite unhappy.
This is a Toy breed that will not grow very large. Breed fanciers admire their silky coat, which is always tri-colour.
The Biewer Terrier is a small dog that will reach heights of about 7-11 inches at the withers, and weights of just four to eight pounds. The males tend to be a little taller and stockier than the females.
Their body is compact and wiry, reflective of their athletic ability. Their skull is small and their muzzle is not especially pronounced. They have dark brown eyes which are kind and expressive.
Their coat is long and straight with a silky texture. Importantly, they are tri-coloured, which distinctively separates them from the Yorkshire Terrier. Their white, brown (or golden) and black (or blue) fur sets them apart from the crowd.
If you’re not keen on grooming, this may not be the breed for you. The Biewer Terrier breed needs quite a lot of maintenance, particularly when it comes to coat care. Their fur should be brushed daily to prevent mats and tangles from forming. Many owners trim their fur into a ‘puppy cut’, especially in warmer months, to make it more manageable.
These dogs are prone to tear staining and eye crusting as their tear ducts are generally narrowed. This means daily bathing and drying of the eyes is helpful, using cotton swabs and warm water.
Their darker claws can be tricky to cut, so it is useful to have help from a professional groomer or vet. Claws can also be kept filed down by walking on pavements and tennis courts. Keep in mind they will have a dew (thumb) claw on each front leg, which needs regular trimming.
Owners should be brushing their teeth a few times a week, to prevent gingivitis and calculus build up. This should be started during puppyhood, so they become used to it and accept the toothbrush quickly. Doggy toothbrushes sweeten the deal as they come in tempting flavours like beef or chicken.
Thankfully the Biewer Terrier is a real joy to train. They take well to a positive reinforcement approach, and you’ll get the most out of them by rewarding desired behaviour with lots of praise and training treats.
They do well when it comes to basic training commands including ‘Sit’, ‘Stay’ and ‘Wait’. They are also excellent at learning new disciplines, like fetch, ‘find it’, puzzle games, and agility.
However, this breed can struggle when it comes to recall training, as their prey drive is keenly developed and they can find it hard to ignore scents and other distractions when outdoors.
The Biewer Terrier breed is notoriously quite tricky to house train due to their smaller bladder size. Still, work with them, and they should be dry inside by about six or seven months of age. Although you may become frustrated at them toileting indoors when you’ve only just been outside with them, they don’t do this out of spite- they just need a little more time to understand where their toilet is meant to be.
While small, you should not underestimate the exercise needs of this dog. They need at least a good 30-40 minutes of exercise each day, which should include a variety of activities in different locations. Some firm favourites include ‘sniffy’ walks and playing fetch. This is a playful dog, who will usually say ‘Yes, please!’ to any game of your desire. As they are also intelligent, you will want to focus plenty of time on their mental stimulation too.
This prevents boredom and is an important part of keeping them content and staving off behavioural issues such as excessive barking or destructive tendencies. Some good options for mental enrichment include snaffle mats, lick mats, Kongs, long-lasting chews (designed for smaller dogs), scenting games, and daily training sessions.
Biewer Terrier dogs can thrive on a range of diets. They are often classed as ‘fussy eaters’ but it is more the case that they have relatively low calorie requirements, due to their small size. So, if an owner feeds them a few training treats and a dental stick, they may well feel full and refuse their dinner that day!
They do best on complete dog food- whether wet or dry. It is not advised to feed them on human food, unless the diet has been signed off by a canine nutritionist.
This is because a diet consisting of things like meat, carbohydrates, and vegetables will often lack essential nutrients including fatty acids, iodine, and calcium.
Stick to whole food diets that list meat or fish as the first ingredient and do not contain additives such as artificial colours or preservatives. Ideally, choose a food which uses real meat or fish rather than by-products or meals.
Due to this Terrier’s propensity towards developing dental disease, some vets recommend offering dry food (kibble) rather than wet food. However, brushing their teeth daily should prevent dental disease, regardless of their diet.
While the Biewer Terrier is generally a hardy dog that lives into its teenage years, there are a number of medical issues that they are prone to. Given how genetically similar they are to the Yorkie, it is little surprise that they commonly develop the same medical issues.These include:
This is a heart disorder, affecting one of the heart valves. The dog will have a murmur that can be detected with a stethoscope by a vet. Early signs include a chronic cough, while later on in the disease, patients can develop weight loss, a belly full of fluid and difficulty exercising. Therapy usually consists of medications such as ACE inhibitors and diuretics (water tablets).
Studies have shown that treating this heart condition in the earlier stages can improve both quality of life and life expectancy. For this reason, owners should be sure to get any persistent cough assessed by a vet promptly.
Due to their small skull size, their teeth are often overcrowded. They are prone to retained deciduous teeth (baby teeth which do not fall out) and gingivitis. Deciduous teeth which have not fallen out after about 7-8 months of age should be surgically removed.
Most breed members need one or two dental cleanings (sometimes more!) in their lifetime, to help prevent their dental disease from advancing and to keep them comfortable.
Many of these Terriers suffer from food or environmental allergies and can develop itchy skin and secondary skin infections. Ideally, owners would determine the triggers, so they can be avoided.
Flare ups are usually managed with a combination of anti itch medicine, antibiotics, and medicated washes.
When the allergic trigger(s) cannot be identified, your vet may suggest a restricted diet and/or some allergy (IgE) blood tests. Allergy tests are not always accurate but can be helpful when it comes to guidance. They should only be performed on animals over the age of one, to ensure accurate results.
Some breed members will develop kneecaps which dislocate, which is also known as ‘patella luxation’. They can be affected in one or both back legs, and signs usually consist of a skipping lameness which comes and goes.
There are 4 grades of severity, with grades 3 and 4 being the most serious, and requiring surgery to address. For the less severe grades, patients can be managed with weight restriction, rest, and medication as needed.
For some Biewer Terrier dogs, they will experience a collapsing trachea as they get older. This can cause a chronic dry cough, as the windpipe narrows. Owners should manage signs by keeping their dog slim, using a body harness rather than neck collar, and ensuring they do not get overheated or exercise too much.
Many dogs will also need medication, such as bronchodilators and steroids. For very severe cases, surgery may be suggested, but this might not be the right choice for every patient.
Some of these puppies are born with liver shunts. The blood does not flow as it should through the liver, meaning nutrients are improperly absorbed and toxin levels can build up. Some patients require surgery, while others can be managed with daily medication and a restricted diet.
Signs of a shunt will vary depending on the severity, as well as its specific location. You may notice drooling, vomiting, a reduced appetite, stunted growth, and even seizures. Your vet can diagnose a shunt by performing some blood tests and abdominal imaging studies.
As the Biewer Terrier is such a small breed, it is more prone to developing low blood sugar levels. This is most true in puppies, seniors, and those who are unwell. Young puppies who are off their food and vomiting are at high risk,and signs can include weakness, glazed over eyes, and seizures.
If you suspect your Biewer Terrier puppy could have low blood sugar, offer them a meal right away. If refused, or they are too unwell to eat it, rub honey on their gums and contact your vet immediately.
Cushing’s Disease is a hormonal condition that typically affects middle-aged and older dogs. There can be a range of symptoms including panting, excessive thirst and hunger, skin infections, and a pot-belly. It is diagnosed via blood tests and imaging, and tends to be managed medically. Less commonly, when a tumour is the cause of the Cushing’s, surgery may be recommended.
Persistently elevated blood sugar can cause a dog to quickly lose weight and develop an insatiable thirst. Diabetes can be confirmed when elevated glucose (sugar) levels are found in the urine and blood.
Therapy typically consists of a prescription diet and daily insulin injections. As many patients also have urinary tract infections, they should be checked for and treated if required. Though diabetes is a lifelong condition, many patients cope well and live a relatively normal life.
The Biewer Terrier makes a wonderful companion for any owner willing and able to dedicate time to them. They can get along well with older children but may be a bit too boisterous for those under the age of about five or six.
As the Biewer Terrier breed does need a fair bit of exercise and training, they are perhaps not the ideal match for anyone with restricted mobility, or who will be spending a lot of time away from home.
Though quite trainable, they are not the easiest of dogs, as they can be yappy and they need plenty of mental enrichment and physical stimulation. For this reason, they are not the most obvious choice for a novice owner.
Make sure you do your research before jumping headfirst into picking your Biewer Terrier puppy. Buy from a reputable breeder who you have met in person.
You must see the pups with their mum, to ensure they have not come from a puppy farm. Look for a puppy that appears robust and healthy, not one that is skinny, stunted, or coughing. Temperament wise, it is sensible to choose a pup that is happy to approach you, rather than cowering away or hiding.
If unsure about picking a pup, you can always turn to your local vet to guide you. Most are happy to take a look at paperwork, photos and videos, to ensure you are buying a healthy and well-bred puppy.
These beautiful, and uncommon, puppies can set you back anything from $1,500 to $5,000. This high price tag is down to the fact that they are now AKC recognised, but that there are not many in existence just yet. We may find that as their population size grows, the price will drop a little.
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