Biewer Terrier
Temperament:
The Biewer Terrier is similar in many ways to the Yorkshire Terrier. Like the latter, this little whirlwind should not be underestimated. With their silky coat, they look very elegant. However, their regal appearance should not tempt you to treat these cute four-legged friends like princesses or princes. There's a lot of dog in their little bodies! Treated like this, these furry friends are wonderful companions for young and old.
Characteristics
The Biewer Terrier is similar in character to the Yorkshire Terrier. It is a cheerful, intelligent and spirited breed. This friendly four-legged friend loves to be close to its humans and also gets on well with children. This makes it the ideal family dog. At home in a pack, the Biewer Terrier is very cuddly. However, he is suspicious of strangers and likes to bark at them. He sees himself as a guard dog - true to the motto "Small but mighty!
Don't be fooled by its size. This cuddly furry friend is full of energy! Biewer Terriers are active and sporty dogs. Daily walks are therefore a must. Only a well exercised four-legged friend is calm and cuddly at home!
Then there is the intelligence of this breed. A walk through the woods is not enough for this little whirlwind: he also wants to use his head! Tricks, brain games or sniffing work for the fine nose should also be part of life with a Biewer Terrier.
The small four-legged friend owes its graceful appearance to its long, silky coat. This can reach down to the ground. It falls smoothly down both sides and is parted in the middle on the back. The coat of these dogs has no undercoat. The trademark of this breed is the coat color: Biewer Terriers always have a tricolored coat in the colors black, white and golden brown.
This pretty furry friend has a compact build. Its good proportions make it appear petite, yet strong. The small head with the V-shaped ears is striking. The tail is carried curved over the back. The little fellow is about 18-22 cm tall and weighs only about 1.8-3.6 kg. It is therefore a really small breed - ideal to always have with you.
Coat care:
Shedding:
Energy level:
Trainability:
Children suitable:
The right food
The Biewer Terrier has no special dietary requirements. Like any other dog, it needs a protein-rich diet. A mixture of meat, vegetables and fruit is ideal. Some dogs tolerate grain, others cannot digest it properly. You can only find this out by trying it out with your four-legged friend and observing him.
A popular feeding method for our beloved furry friends is barfing. This involves feeding dogs fresh, raw ingredients. You can try out a lot and see what your dog likes best. But make sure that your little friend gets all the important nutrients.
Treats during training and the occasional tasty chew are of course a must!
Health & Care
The Biewer Terrier's beautiful, silky coat requires a certain amount of grooming to maintain its typical breed appearance. It needs to be brushed daily to loosen knots and prevent matting. Dirt from their beloved walks gets stuck in their long coat. This should be removed after every walk.
Your four-legged friend should not be bathed too often. This would destroy the natural protection of the skin and coat. However, this is important in order to avoid irritation or even skin diseases. If the dog still needs to be washed, it is important to use a special dog shampoo.
The coat of this breed grows almost continuously. It must therefore be shortened regularly so that it does not obstruct the nose when walking and the typical appearance of the small terrier is maintained. The eye area in particular must be constantly checked and trimmed to prevent ingrown hairs.
Like any dog, the Biewer Terrier needs to be accustomed from an early age to grooming, clipping its claws and checking and caring for its eyes, ears and teeth as part of its routine. Teeth can also be brushed with special dog toothpaste to keep them healthy for a long time. However, not many dogs like this, so it should be practiced slowly and carefully. Otherwise you are exposing your pet to unnecessary stress.
The Biewer Terrier loves to play. Therefore, extensive cuddling with the family is always part of its care. They can be kept both in the countryside and in the city. As long as this handsome four-legged friend is kept sufficiently busy, there is nothing to stop him enjoying his life as a city dog. Of course, he would also love a large garden where he can let off steam.
Suitable accessories
Of course, the basic equipment for every furry friend should not be missing with the Biewer Terrier. This includes a lead, collar and harness, bowls, sleeping area, toys, claw clippers and a high-quality dog shampoo.
A high-quality brush is required for daily grooming. It should not be too sharp. The Biewer Terrier has no undercoat, so bristles that are too sharp would quickly penetrate the skin. This would be very painful for your dog.
If you want to brush your little friend's teeth, use a special toothpaste for dogs. There are toothbrushes for the dog's mouth as well as small finger toothbrushes that you pull over your finger and then use instead of a toothbrush. Both are available from pet shops and, of course, online.
The clever four-legged friend is also happy about brain toys.
Origin & History
The Biewer Terrier was created suddenly and completely unexpectedly in 1984 through a random genetic mutation in a litter of purebred Yorkshire Terriers. In this litter there was a tricolored puppy in black, white and gold. This coloring is actually not intended for Yorkies. The litter came from the couple Werner and Gertrud Biewer, who have been successfully breeding Yorkshire Terriers for many years.
Although the breed standard was not achieved, the new coat color attracted a lot of attention and was liked by many. After some consideration, the couple initially named these dogs "Biewer Yorkshire Terriers". Breeding was difficult as it was a recessive gene. Nevertheless, they succeeded in breeding more and more tri-colored puppies, which soon became very popular abroad.
It was and still is a long way to official recognition. The Biewer Terrier is the first dog breed ever to be clearly defined as a separate breed through genetic testing. Nevertheless, these pretty four-legged friends are still not recognized by either the VDH or the FCI. Only the American Kennel Club (AKC) has accepted the cute dogs as an independent breed since January 2021. Previously, the breed had been part of the AKC's Foundation Stock Service since April 2014. Dog breeds are monitored there for possible future recognition.
