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Pronunciation

Description

Temperament

Biewers seem oblivious of their small size. They are very eager for adventure. This little dog is highly energetic, brave, loyal and clever. With owners who take the time to understand how to treat a small dog, the Biewer is a wonderful companion! Affectionate with their master, but if humans are not this dog's pack leader, they can become suspicious of strangers and aggressive to strange dogs and small animals. They can also become yappy, as the dog does their best to tell you what THEY want YOU to do. They have a true terrier heritage and need someone who understands how to be their leader. They are often only recommended for older, considerate children, simply because they are so small, most people allow them to get away with behaviors no dog should display. This changes the dogs temperament, as the dog starts to take over the house (Small Dog Syndrome). Biewers who become demanding and dependant appearing to need a lot of human attention and/or developing jealous behaviors, snapping if surprised, frightened or over-teased, have owners who need to rethink how they are treating the dog. Owners who do not instinctually meet the dogs needs can also find them to become over-protective, and become neurotic. Biewers are easy to train, although they can sometimes be stubborn if owners do not give the dog proper boundaries. They can be difficult to housebreak. The Biewer is an excellent watchdog. When owners display pack leadership to the Biewer, they are very sweet and loving and can be trusted with children. The problems only arise when owners, because of the dogs cute little size, allow them to take over the house. The human will not even realize it, however know, if you have any of the negative behaviors listed above, it's time to look into your pack leader skills. These are truly sweet little dogs who need owners who understand how to give them gentle leadership. If you own a Biewer who does not display any of the negative behaviors, high five for being a good pack leader!

Height, Weight

Height -  Up to 8.5 inches (22 cm.)
Weight - 7 pounds (3.1 kg.)
Note: According to the BCTA the Biewer does not have a height limit in the standard. It has a weight and proportion requirement.

Health Problems

Living Conditions

Exercise

Life Expectancy

About 12-15 years

Grooming

As a companion most owners prefer to have this breed in a "perpetual puppy cut". A bath at home about every two to three weeks will maintain a healthy coat, if it is combed out with a wire comb once a week. Show Coat: The Biewer will develop a coat that reaches the ground. Some breeders rap the coat to produce a very impressive elegant floor length coat for the show ring. Their coat is very similar to human hair but, it is not suggested to use people shampoo as dogs have a different ph than humans. Using people shampoo can result in dry, itchy, flaking and sometimes allergic reactions in their skin. It is best to always brush the Biewer that has been sprayed with a light mixture of conditioner and water. Never brush a Biewer Terrier when it is completely as it may damage the coat. Ears should stand erect as young puppies. To keep them erect they must be trimmed every few weeks. By beginning about 1/3 of the way down from the top of the ear, carefully snip or shave, with a Trimmer Finisher, the hair from the inner and outer ear surfaces.

Origin

Today Yorkshire Terriers and Biewers are considered two different breeds. Against the wishes of some of the Biewer clubs, some American breeders are importing Biewers and crossing them with the Yorkshire Terriers and calling them Biewer Yorkies. The clubs state, "Breeding back to the Yorkie is a big no no, as purebred is NOT achieved by breeding with another breed."

A hybrid breeder, who mixes the Biewer and the Yorkie states, "There can be Biewer and Yorkshire color puppies in a single litter, but only in the F2 Generation. In the F1 generation; if you breed a Biewer and a Yorkshire , you get only Yorkshire color puppies (black and tan). If you keep a puppy and breed this again to a true Biewer (3 generation Biewer) you will get Biewer and Yorkshire puppies. If you keep again a puppy no matter if Yorkie color or Biewer; and breed this again to a Biewer you get only Biewer puppies." Find out more about multi-generation crosses.

The BTCA states they were involved in a 2 year study with the geneticists at Mars Veterinary and were able to determine that the Biewer Terrier is now a distinct breed of its own and not a Tri colored Yorkshire Terrier.

The BTCA has changed the Biewer's written standard and also it's original name to the Biewer Terrier. The BTCA, Inc. has the only accepted revised standard signed by Mrs. Biewer. The revised standard allows for undocked tails and black in the coats. Any other standard being used was not developed with the aide of Mrs. Biewer. It is said that Mrs. Biewer agrees with the Biewer Terrier name and not the Biewer a la Pom Pon. She said the dog is a Terrier and Terrier has to stay in the name. The a la Pom Pon was added for fun and means nothing.

Some breeders disagree with these changes, stating that is not the breed's name. The Biewer Yorkshire ala Pom Pon is also called the Biewer or Biewer Yorkie.

Group

Recognition