Biewer Terriers

Description

The Biewer Terrier has also been called the Biewer Yorkshire Terrier a la Pom Pon, the Biewer Yorkie and the Biewer. An elegant longhaired, tri-colored toy terrier, the Biewer Terrier's most luxurious feature is its coat, which is parted down the middle, and hangs straight and evenly on both sides of the dog. Its back is level, with height at its shoulders equal to the height of the rump. The Biewer Terrier's body length can be a bit longer than its height, even though the dog's outline has a square appearance.
Sporting a slightly rounded head, the Biewer Terrier's muzzle is about one-third the length of the head. Its nose is completely black and its round- or almond-shaped eyes are medium sized. This dog's cute, furry little ears are V-shaped and sit upright (the tips of the ears should be shaved).
With a fine- to medium-boned body, the Biewer Terrier's chest comes to the elbows and its rib cage is moderately sprung. Its front legs must be straight, muscular and covered with hair, and its hind legs are straight when viewed from behind. Finishing off the look is a tail that is carried high over the body, giving it a teacup handle look, and covered with a long flowing plume.

Biewer Terrier Puppies

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Coat Description

One of the most distinguishing characteristics of the Biewer Terrier is its long, flowing coat that has a soft, silky texture. Its hair is straight, there's no undercoat, and it should hang at least three-quarters to the ground. On top of its head, you'll often see a single ponytail or a topknot.
The coloring on a Biewer Terrier's head can either be blue/black, white, gold/tan; blue/black, gold/tan; or gold/tan, white. On its back, the hair is blue or black and white. On the Biewer Terrier's chest, stomach, legs and on the tip of the tail, the hair is white. There is no preferred frequency or pattern when it comes to color.

History

The first Biewer Terrier was the product of the Yorkshire Terrier, born in Germany on January 20, 1984 to Werner and Gertrud Biewer. The couple had been breeding Yorkshire Terriers for 20 years, but this was the first blue, white and gold pup that was born to them. They named the pup Schneeflocken von Friedheck, and began to investigate what caused this unique coloring.
The Biewer's believed that one of their Yorkshire Terriers carried a recessive piebald gene, which would explain the unusual coloring. Over the course of several years, the Biewer's bred for the piebald gene, and the result was the Biewer Terrier, a blue, white and gold dog. In 1988, the Biewers showed these dogs as "black and white Yorkies" and the breed gained popularity. The breed came to America in 2003, and the Biewer Terrier Club of American was established in 2007. Since it is such a new breed, it has not been recognized by the American Kennel Club, but the Biewer Terrier is recognized by the American Rare Breen Association.

Temperament

It's no wonder that the Biewer Terrier is quickly gaining popularity. It boasts a lighthearted, frisky, child-like attitude, which makes it a great fit for families of any size. A loyal and fast friend to all it considers to be a part of its family, the Biewer Terrier is confident, happy, fun loving and even tempered.
The Biewer loves to play with children and other animals, and it will bond closely with its family, making it a wonderful companion and lap dog. Playful and mischievous, it can be pushy - it's a big dog trapped in a small dog's body. You could say that its personality is 10 times the size of its body! Even though it looks small and fragile, looks can be deceiving. The Biewer is fearless and will stand up to dogs much larger than itself. You'll notice how this breed likes to be the center of attention, so expect your dog to do whatever it takes to get your attention.
Sturdy, alert and active, the Biewer Terrier is a good watchdog - its bark is shrill and will let you know of any strangers approaching the homestead. If you have an apartment, make sure the walls are thick, otherwise you may have some upset neighbors on your hands.

Health Problems

As a breed, the Biewer Terrier is generally healthy, but it is susceptible to a few issues. These problems include eye irritations, tracheal collapse, premature dental disease and patellar luxation. Paralysis in the hindquarters caused by herniated disks and other problems of the spine have been noted in some puppies. As well, the Biewer is prone to bronchitis and early tooth decay, it has a poor tolerance of anesthetic and its digestion can be finicky. You'll need to feed your Biewer Terrier dry food to ensure that its teeth stay strong.
Since this breed has a problem with its teeth, it's a good idea to take your Biewer to the vet for proper teeth cleaning. This keeps the teeth from falling out and prevents infections.

Grooming

The Biewer Terrier may have long hair, but it is easy to care for. As it is a single-coated breed, this dog doesn't have an undercoat that needs to be brushed.
Just because its coat is similar to human hair, you shouldn't use the same shampoo and conditioner you use on your own hair. Because dogs have a different ph than humans, it can cause dry, itchy, flaking skin. Make sure to rinse the hair after shampooing and conditioning, and brush your Biewer by spraying with light mixture of conditioner and water first - never brush a Biewer Terrier when it is completely dry, as it will damage the coat. To keep the coat in top condition, your Biewer needs a weekly bath. In between, use bath wipes or a damp cloth to keep your dog's underside as clean as possible.
If you are using a dryer after a bath, keep the heat setting on low, as a Biewer's skin is delicate. Use a fine tooth comb with long teeth when brushing your dog out. Don't let tangles and mats accumulate, as they can be painful to remove.
You may choose to trim your Biewer's hair. You can trim the hair all over its body, but the only places that need special attention are around its ears, its rear end and its foot pads. Finally, tooth brushing and ear cleaning should be a part of your grooming routine.

Exercise

Like any kind of breed, the Biewer Terrier needs exercise. Don't let its small size fool you - the Biewer needs to release its energy, whether it lives in an apartment or a house. To combat laziness and weight problems, be sure to take your dog for a daily walk. Most of the time, this frisky little dog will take care of exercise all on its own, but it still needs a daily walk to supplement its activity. An added benefit of exercise is that it is less likely to display behavioral problems.
You'll know that your Biewer Terrier isn't getting enough exercise if it is racing around your house. If that's the case, you'd better start taking your pooch out for longer or more frequent walks. When walking your Biewer, be sure that it is always at your heel beside or behind you. You need to be the leader, even on something as simple as a walk.
If you have a yard or an off-leash dog-park near you, Biewer Terriers will enjoy some free running time on its own.

Training

Even though this breed is small and cute, Biewers are still terriers, which make them willful and high strung. It is an intelligent dog, so it won't have problems understanding what you want it to do, but keep in mind that the Biewer Terrier will learn lessons at its own pace. As soon as it figures out that tricks will get it attention, your dog will be eager to learn. Use positive reinforcement, such as praise and treats, to train, as harsh methods often cause the opposite reaction.
It is important that you become the master and pack leader of the Biewer Terrier. If it doesn't have a pack leader, this dog will become suspicious of strangers and aggressive to dogs and small animals. If this dog takes charge, it will announce its leadership by yapping constantly - it's the Biewer's way of telling you what it wants you to do.
The Biewer's need for attention can cause jealous behaviors, and it can snap if it is surprised, frightened or over-teased. If you are not instinctually meeting the Biewer Terrier's needs, it can become over-protective and neurotic. Don't let your dog's small size sway you - it will take over your house.
If you establish your role as pack leader, your Biewer will be easier to train, as long as it works within proper boundaries. As well, it is excellent with children, as long as it knows its place within the pack's dynamics. The Biewer can be difficult to housebreak, but this breed makes a great watchdog.