Formerly known as the German Yorkshire Terriers, the Biewer Terrier (pronounced “beaver”) are playful, little, tri-color dogs. Even though they were developed from Yorkshire terriers, it’s a separate breed, accepted by the AKC in 2021. They are a separate “gene strand” carrying the piebald gene which gives them the tri-color coat. However, they share some similarities with Yorkies. The Biewer Terriers are fun, playful, and with a big heart! Because of their small size and playful attitude, they make great family pets!
Size
These are breed standards according to the AKC:
- Height: 7 to 11 inches (17 to 28 cm)
- Weight: 4 to 8 pounds (1.8 to 3.5 kg)
As you can see, they are very small, often weighing less than an average adult cat! But even though they look fragile, these dogs are terriers so they come with a feisty attitude!
Color
The Biewer Terrier is a tri-color dog with these possible coat patterns:
- Black, Tan, and White
- Blue, Tan, and White
These are standard coat colors, but you can also register the Chocolate, Tan, and White coat color with the AKC. Bicolor or solid colors are not a breed color in any variation and are dismissible by Kennel Clubs.
Social Traits
Toy dogs and their social traits are what make them so popular with families around the world. Of course, it’s also their cuteness and small size. But often people love these dogs because they are loyal, cuddly, and playful!
This is the case with the Biewer Terrier. These dogs are said to have “childlike traits” well into their adulthood, which makes them perfect companions for all ages. Of course, no matter the dog size or traits, we have to make sure they go through proper socialization from an early age.
Main traits of the Biewer Terrier:
- Playful
- Loyal
- Cuddly
- Child-like traits
- Smart
Even though the Biewer Terrier goes well with other dogs and animals, and it goes well with children of all ages, we have to make sure everyone’s safe, especially tiny dogs! The Biewer Terrier is a small dog so we need to ensure they don’t get accidentally hurt during playtime!
Trainability
You shouldn’t have problems with basic obedience training if you start early. Just because the Biewer Terrier is cute and small doesn’t mean we can ignore misbehavior. We need to be clear on what is allowed or not allowed, and we need to be consistent!
Generally speaking, the Biewer Terrier is easy to train, but you have to start when the dog is just a puppy. That way, it’s easier to overcome their stubborn streaks, which is a very common thing in Terrier dogs.
Positive reinforcement, being consistent and clear, and starting early on are the key to successfully train your Biewer Terrier. Don’t ignore misbehavior just because they are so cute and tiny!
Activity Needs
Having a small dog like the Biewer Terrier comes with all kinds of perks. For all of you who like dogs but don’t have the time to go on long walks or hikes every day, a small dog is a great choice!
The Biewer Terrier needs up to 1 hour of daily activity, but combined with some indoor playtime as well. You can’t just give them short potty breaks every day and hope for the best. They are dogs, and just like all other dogs, they need their daily walks where they can explore and meet other dogs!
It’s important to give them enough mental and physical stimulation every day. A dog that has nothing to do will quickly become bored. That boredom can often turn into misbehavior, such as peeing inside the home, chewing on furniture, and so on.
Feeding
The Biewer Terrier is a tiny dog, so it doesn’t eat a lot. Generally speaking, an adult Biewer Terrier needs from ¼ to ½ cups of kibble food a day. It is best to divide this amount into two meals.
Give them one meal in the morning and the other one in the evening. You can also combine some healthy snacks in between the meals, but make sure they don’t eat too much. Also, if you are training your dog, it is recommended to feed them after the training.
Grooming
The only time the Biewer Terriers need special treatment is when it comes to their coats. But it’s not too complicated. It can simply be too tedious to some people, especially if you are not used to long-haired dog breeds.
The Biewer Terrier needs daily brushing to keep the coat healthy and beautiful. You can cut their coat short if you can’t tend to it appropriately. If you do that, then brushing a few times a week is all you need to do.
Of course, grooming a dog means you need to give them a bath when they get too dirty, and trim their nails regularly. Brushing your dog is a perfect opportunity to bond with your dog and to see if there are any changes on your dog’s body.
Possible Health Issues
The one health issue that often happens with the Biewer Terriers is their GI system sensitivity. This means they can occasionally have a soft or discolored stool. You will have to pay extra attention to what they eat and find the food that suits your dog best.
Vets often recommend Hill’s Science kibble food when a dog has a sensitive stomach or other GI system issues. But, you should always consult a professional (a vet) when changing your dog’s diet plan.
Other health issues could be:
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRS)
- Primary Lens Luxation (PLL)
There are tests that can be done to determine whether a dog has mentioned issues (PRS or PLL). Screen testing your dogs is the key to keeping a breed healthy. Responsible breeders test their dogs.
Life expectancy: around 16 years
Summary
If you are looking for a small, playful, and cuddly dog, a Biewer Terrier might just be the right choice for you! They get along with any animals, no matter the size or species. They also get along with children of all ages. However, we have to make sure they (the dogs!) don’t get hurt during playtime, especially with very young children who still don’t know how to play with a dog. Even though the Biewer Terriers go well with everyone, we still need to make sure they have proper socialization and habituation. That way, we ensure our dogs grow up to be healthy, confident, and calm adults.
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Cover photo by Detlef Breiting
