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Biewer Terrier dogs are a small, energetic, smart and fun new breed. Ancestors of the Yorkshire Terrier, they have a rich working history, but today are lapdogs and apartment pets. They have calm and devoted personalities, but terrier behaviors and breed traits can cause them trouble. Digging, chewing, chasing or squabbling with other pets are characteristic of the breed, but they are generally good companions for active homes that enjoy grooming a long, silky haired toy dog. Their fur is mostly white spotted or piebald, with parti or tricolor patterns. They have cute faces, big eyes and a loving expression.

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Although Biewer Terriers do have some genetic health problems, they are healthy and live into their teen years. Today I’ll share tips for adopting, raising and caring for these affectionate, loyal and protective little dogs. They are good family pets and generally happy around kids, through their little bodies are fragile so they need careful handling.

Where Does the Biewer Terrier Come From?

The Biewer Terrier (pronounced “bee-vah”/“beaver”) is a toy-sized dog similar to the Yorkshire Terrier. This breed is also sometimes called the Biewer Yorkshire Terrier or Biewer a la Pom Pon. The Biewer Terrier is one of the most recent breeds to achieve AKC recognition. And they secured it an unprecedented and unique way!

The first Biewer Terriers were developed from Yorkshire terriers. Havanese and German Shorthaired Pointer dogs also have the recessive gene that causes large white areas. This sort of dog coat coloring is described variously as white spotting, piebald, parti-color, and tricolor. To breed tricolor puppies with lots of white on their coats, both parents must carry this gene.

Biewer Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier

The Biewer Terrier breed came from Yorkies. They were bred in the 1970s and 80s by a German couple called Werner and Gertrude Biewer. But ill health prevented them from ever fully creating a Biewer Terrier stud book.

So for the next three decades, many people simply regarded the Biewer breeding lines as nothing more than mismarked Yorkies. In fact, terrier enthusiasts had countless spirited arguments about what, if anything, distinguished a Biewer Terrier from a parti-colored Yorkshire Terrier.

The Biewer Terrier Breed

Nonetheless, in 2014 Biewer Terriers secured a place in the AKC’s Foundation Stock Service. Then in 2019 they accomplished something completely unprecedented.

Until then, new breeds vying for full recognition had to prove they were distinct from any other breed using detailed pedigree documentation. But the Biewer Terrier became the first breed proven to be distinct and unique using genetic testing. This secured them a place in the AKC’s Miscellaneous group.

Entry in the Miscellaneous class is still a step away from full recognition, but it does effectively recognize Biewers as being different from Yorkies. And go some way to settling that decades long argument.

But only time will tell if Biewers can achieve large enough numbers and consistent population growth to achieve complete recognition in the Toy group.

Appearances

Mr & Mrs Biewer developed the original breed standard, and a version of this is still in use. This standard describes the desired body shape and pattern of coloration, including symmetrical face markings and white legs.

They are a very petite terrier with a coat that will sweep the ground unless clipped. The coat is largely white with various amounts of black and smaller areas of tan.

The Biewer Terrier in Germany often had a docked tail until 1998 when docking was no longer permitted in that country. Having a natural tail is now standard world-wide.

Biewer Terrier Grooming

Yorkies are dark grey and brown in color (referred to in show standards as ‘blue and tan’ or ‘blue and gold’). In contrast, the Biewer Terrier is tricolor: white, black, and tan.

The Biewer Terrier has a long silky coat that reaches the floor. Long hair grows from the head requiring a “ponytail” to allow the animal to see and avoid eye irritation.

Regular grooming is essential. Some owners prefer to keep the hair clipped short in what groomers call a “puppy cut”.

Temperament and Training

Some describe Biewer Terriers as behaving more like a sedate toy breed. The Yorkshire Terrier on the other hand, retains more terrier pluck and boldness. But we don’t have any scientific studies to back this up. So there is probably a bit of a bias here. Biewers will tend to be alert, amiable and ideal household pets.

As with any dog, early socialization and positive training is required to promote good animal welfare. As a terrier breed, Biewer Terriers have a moderate tendency towards barking and may require persistence with house-training.

Average Lifespan

Biewer Terriers are robust for their size and have the typical long lifespan of toys breeds, of 10-16 years. They are not really numerous enough to be confident about health issues at this point, but it is sensible to assume they are prone to the same conditions as their Yorkie ancestors.

   

Biewer Terrier Breeders

Depending on where you are in the world, Biewer Terriers are either rare or potentially unavailable. As such you need to show caution in accepting claims from a seller that a puppy is a Biewer Terrier.

If you wish to ensure your puppy is from the Biewer breed, check that that both parents and the litter are on the list of a reputable registry.

When buying from a breeder ask to see parents, ask about testing for congenital disorders.

They should be familiar with risks for disorders including congenital blindness (progressive retinal atrophy) and dislocated kneecaps (patellar luxation).

Check for evidence of inbreeding such as the same animal appearing multiple times in a heritage chart. Follow our puppy raising guidelines for a toy-sized dog. Accustom your puppy to any activities you will want them to be comfortable with as an adult dog. These activities may include: handling, tooth brushing, and travelling in a carrier.