Biewer
- Origin
- Germany
- Type
- Toy and companion
- Size
- Toy
- Height
- 18–28 cm (7–11 in)
- Weight
- 1.8–3.6 kg (4–8 lb)
- Coat
- Long, fine, straight and silky
- Colors
- White, blue and black, or white, black and gold or tan
- Status
- Recognised by the AKC and the VDH
The Biewer, or Biewer Terrier, is a toy dog from Germany. It came about when two Yorkshire Terriers carrying a recessive piebald gene were bred together, producing puppies in three colors. It is kept as a companion and as a show dog.
History
The breed dates from 1984, when two tricolor puppies were born in the kennel of the German breeders Werner and Gertrude Biewer. A veterinarian friend suggested calling the new dogs Biewer Yorkshire Terriers. Two of the puppies were sold to the singer Margot Eskens, who proposed adding “a la Pom Pon” to the name.
American enthusiasts started importing the dogs from Germany in 2002, and the Biewer Terrier Club of America was founded in 2006 to promote them. Club members asked a veterinary laboratory to test whether the Biewer was distinct from the Yorkshire Terrier. After ten blood samples were analyzed, the conclusion was that it is a separate breed.
The Biewer entered the American Kennel Club’s Foundation Stock Service in 2014 and gained full recognition in 2021, as the club’s 197th breed. Since May 2024 it has also been accepted by the German kennel club, the Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen.
Appearance
The Biewer is a small dog that looks much like the Yorkshire Terrier it came from, with a fine, straight, silky coat. Most weigh 1.8–3.6 kg (4–8 lb) and stand 18–28 cm (7–11 in) tall. Unlike the Yorkshire Terrier, its tail is traditionally left undocked.
The coat comes in two three-color combinations: white, blue and black, or white, black and gold or tan. The piebald gene is what gives the breed its white.
Temperament
Biewers are affectionate, lively companions. They are sociable dogs that bond closely with their owners and are friendly with strangers. They are playful and energetic, and they do best with plenty of contact and involvement with their people.
Care and health
Health problems seen in the breed include tracheal collapse, bladder stones, patellar luxation, congenital portosystemic shunt and hypoglycemia.
Facts on this page were checked against Wikipedia and may have changed since.