Biewer terrier
The Biewer Terrier began in Germany in 1984, when a piebald puppy appeared in a litter of Yorkshire Terriers bred by Werner and Gertrud Biewer.
The piebald gene produced a tricolour dog — blue, white and gold — and a separate breed was developed from it.
It stands 20 to 28 centimetres, weighs 1.8 to 3.6 kilograms and lives twelve to fifteen years, with a long silky coat that hangs straight and needs daily attention. Temperament is described as more relaxed and less sharp than the Yorkshire Terrier it came from, though it is still a terrier — lively, alert and inclined to bark. It is a genuinely tiny dog and needs handling accordingly.
- Origin
- Germany, 1984, from a Yorkshire Terrier litter
- Size
- 20–28 cm; 1.8–3.6 kg
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Long, silky and straight; daily grooming
- Temperament
- Lively and alert; softer than a Yorkshire Terrier
- Health
- Patellar luxation, portosystemic shunt, dental disease
Related: Airedale terrier · American hairless terrier · American pit bull terrier · American Staffordshire terrier · Australian terrier
3 biewer terrier photos, newest first
Living with a biewer terrier
The coat needs daily combing if kept long, and many owners keep it in a puppy clip instead, which is entirely reasonable.
Toy breeds get dental disease early and severely, because the teeth are crowded in a tiny jaw. Brush the dog's teeth from puppyhood and expect professional cleanings — this is the single biggest health issue in dogs this size.
Patellar luxation is common; ask for evaluations. So is portosystemic shunt, a liver blood-vessel abnormality that shows as poor growth and neurological signs in a young puppy.
A dog under four kilograms is easily injured by being trodden on or jumped on. Supervise around children and larger dogs.
They bark. Train a quiet cue early.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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