Biewer Terrier Breed Guide

What is the history & origin of the Biewer Terrier?

The story of the Biewer Terrier dog breed starts in 1984 in Hunsrück, a mountainous region in western Germany. Here, two passionate Yorkshire Terrier breeders, Gertrud and Werner Biewer, noticed something odd about one of the dogs in their regular litters. This dog featured recessive piebald genes and, because of this, had 3 colours instead of the standard 2.

They decided to name this special pup Schneeflockchen von Friedheck, kickstarting the Biewer Terrier dog breed. They began to breed more, and the breed made its public debut in 1986. For a long time, the Biewers remained the sole breeders of the terrier type, and demand for the dog became tough to meet.

For a while, the dog was seen as an exclusive canine only available to the rich. Many German celebrities promoted this idea, including singer Margot Eskens, who referred to the breed as Biewer Yorkshire Terrier a la Pom Pon.

Although several other kennels were established - under the close eye of Gertrud and Werner - popularity waned for the breed in the late 90s.

Luckily for the breed, the second wave of interest in the Biewer Terrier started in the 00s and continues today, thanks to it being introduced to America. The breed was finally recognized by American Kennel Club (AKC) as a full, purebred toy group dog.

Who are Biewer Terrier dogs best for?

Biewer Terriers are a good choice for those looking for a happy and easily-pleased companion as their first-time pup. Like a lot of dogs, they don't like being left alone for extended periods of time and prefer their homes to be as lively as possible for most of the day. They like young kids to play with and adults to attend to their grooming and petting needs.

By nature, they are exceptional hunters of vermin and enjoy guarding the house. Although initially stand-offish when new guests arrive, they are quick to get familiar with new faces and will generally show friendliness once recognition is developed. They can also get along well with other pets, once formal introductions have been made!

They're small dogs, so don't require an excessive amount of walking per day - two 15-minute walks around the block will suffice. Their size also means they don't need massive homes to thrive and are suitable for apartments.

How much grooming does a Biewer Terrier need?

Biewer Terriers require plenty of grooming, particularly if you let them grow out their coats to the max. The longer the coat, the more likely your Biewer Terrier will require daily brushing. For this reason, you have to be committed to a grooming routine to help keep their coats silky smooth, and comfortable for them.

In terms of other grooming commitments, you'll also have to brush a Biewer Terrier's teeth daily and trim their nails regularly.

Biewer Terriers do not shed in the same way as other dogs, but twice a year they outgrow their old coat to replace it with a new one. This gives them an unkempt look for about two weeks, which can easily be sorted through regular grooming and trimming.

Do Biewer Terrier bark much?

You may find your Biewer Terrier barking whenever they see another dog, cat, or person walking by their house whom they don't recognise. The territorial instinct in them triggers them to bark loudly, in the hope of alerting their owners of the strangers approaching their abode.

They may also bark when excited, such as near dinner time, during play, or when a family member arrives back home. It is very unlikely that your Biewer Terrier will bark unprompted or at random.

Do Biewer Terrier bite?

All terrier breeds are prone to biting from a young age and are in the habit of doing it to the other pups in their litter. It's important to stamp this habit out as soon as it becomes apparent in your Biewer Terrier.

If you try to physically act in pain whenever they bite you, this could signal the pup to stop biting. You could also establish a command word to say whenever they bite and reward them with affection whenever they don't bite.

What is the temperament & personality of a Biewer Terrier?

Biewer Terriers will be particularly attached to their master owner but will show eager friendliness to all members of the family. Their amiable personality permits them to be affable to all walks of life. Once they get to know a person, they will happily greet them whenever they return.

They thrive mostly on pleasing their owners and have an unlimited capacity for love and affection in return. Despite being small dogs, Biewer Terriers have plenty of energy to burn, and can happily play for extended periods with their family.

Although yappy, Biewer Terriers have generally more calming personalities than Yorkshire Terriers.

What is the weight & size of a Biewer Terrier?

Biewer Terriers are considered small dogs and weigh on average somewhere between 1.81 kg and 3.62 kg. They tend to be between 17 cm and 27 cm in height.

How much training does a Biewer Terrier need?

Biewer Terriers can grow stubborn, so it's important to get them properly trained while in puppyhood. Training should primarily involve teaching them to stay and sit on command. It should also integrate biting control and socialization with other pups so that they can grow up to be as friendly and as good-natured as possible.

Your Biewer Terrier may have a tendency to chew furniture and other household items, which is another trait inherited by all terriers. To prevent this, you'll need to supply them with plenty of chew toys to relieve their chew cravings. Despite their ancestry, Biewer Terriers seem to have less of a tendency for digging holes.

Biewer terriers respond particularly well to command words, which can be used to teach them to give you a paw and they also have been known to excel in dog sports.

What are some of the most common health issues for a Biewer Terrier?

Biewer Terriers are considered to be healthy dogs but may be predisposed to some of the health issues that Yorkshire Terriers face, such as retinal dysplasia and pancreatitis. There have also been some cases of Biewer Terriers suffering from necrotizing encephalitis as well as dental issues.

Like all dogs, Biewer Terriers need plenty of vet check-ups throughout their lives.

Biewer Terriers can also suffer from sensitive gastrointestinal (GI) systems. Because of this, Biewer Terriers may suffer from discoloured or uncomfortable stools as well as diarrhea. It's important to get a vet to examine a Biewer Terrier puppy who regularly suffers from stool issues.

What is the lifespan of a Biewer Terrier?

Biewer Terriers have an average lifespan of 16 years.

How much should you feed a Biewer Terrier?

Most Biewer Terriers have sensitive gastrointestinal (GI) systems, meaning they cannot be fed high-protein or many fatty foods. Each meal you give them should contain no more than 15% protein and 30% fat. A Biewer Terrier should be fed around 40-60g of food per day, dependent on their size.

What is the price of a Biewer Terrier in Australia?

Being a newly recognised dog breed, you can expect to pay a significant figure for Biewer Terrier puppies in Australia. Prices will likely be upwards of $4,000.