Biewer Terrier

A rare purebred dog, the Biewer Terrier, owes its breeding to the occurrence of a recessive piebald gene. Terriers are known to be energetic, friendly, and playful — making them one of the most desired dog breeds. While they can range in size, this pup is relatively small, typically weighing between 4 and 8 lbs.

Puppy terriers are extraordinarily playful. However, these dogs also maintain their beauty and charm while transitioning into adulthood.

Interestingly, the name Biewer is not phonetic. Instead of using a strong “w” sound, you say it in the same way as the word “beaver” is pronounced. As a plus for pet owners, the Biewer terrier is hypoallergenic, making it easy for owners to eliminate shedding and other allergens.

3 Pros and Cons of Owning a Biewer Terrier

Here are a few pros and cons of owning a Biewer Terrier:

Origin

The Biewer Terrier first emerged in Germany in 1984 when Yorkie breeders Werner and Gertrud Biewer noticed a striking anomaly amongst some of the pups in one of their litters: vibrant white fur interspersed with more traditional colors for the Yorkshire Terrier. The two sought to further develop this unique and beautiful trait over successive generations until the Biewer Terrier was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2021 as its own distinct breed. Prior genetic testing done in 2007 comparing Biewer Terriers and regular Yorkies had proven beyond a doubt that these dogs had become genetically diverse enough to no longer be purebred Yorkies but instead possessed enough traits of their own to be acknowledged as a new breed entirely.

Size and Weight

These dogs are usually very small, and most of them are about seven to eleven inches long. Meanwhile, most of them weigh around four to eight pounds. Small bodies are relatively common amongst terriers, which is part of their appeal to owners.

Common Health Issues

Like all the other pets, the Biewer Terrier is also prone to a number of health issues, including Distichiae. This condition naturally occurs as a result of the extra eyelash along the eyelid. Rather than lining up with the rest of the eyelashes, it sprouts from the meibomian gland, causing severe irritation.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Syndrome is another common issue, which happens when bone death begins to occur as a result of issues with blood flow. Eventually, the bone can lose its natural shape and break down painfully.

That’s hardly the only joint-related problem. In the knee, Biewer terriers are prone to a luxating patella, which is just an upscale way to describe a trick knee, causing the kneecap to move where it ought not to. It commonly occurs in terrier breeds, and the Biewer Terrier is no exception.

The blood and veins are also prone to problems in Biewer terriers. They may suffer from a portosystemic shunt (an abnormal vein that transports the blood supply from the intestines to the heart) or malocclusions (improper teeth alignment while the mouth is closed). They are also at risk for hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Temperament

The temperament of these dogs is easygoing, and they do not bark much, though they tend to yip and become excited around new people. They are friendly, playful, and very energetic, which is part of the immense appeal.

They are great family as well as companion dogs and love to spend time with the owner’s family. Meanwhile, they are also great with children, though it is best to teach children the best way to handle a dog this small, as they are more delicate than larger dogs.

Biewer Terriers are attention seekers and love being the center of attention. Even though they are small in size, they can guard themselves against large dogs. They tolerate other animals well, making it easy to add them to a home that already has animals.

How to Take Care of a Biewer Terrier

Considering how small and prone to health concerns the Biewer terrier can be, it is important to properly prepare the home for this sweet dog. Here are some things that you should keep in mind before adopting a Biewer Terrier as a pet dog:

The Best Dog Food

A Biewer terrier should be given enough protein, fats, and carbohydrates as part of their diet, as they thrive on these. Meanwhile, adult terriers should be fed about three times a day, while puppies should be fed about four times a day, as they have small stomachs that are not able to digest a lot of food in one go.

Biewer terriers tend to have a rather sensitive gastrointestinal tract, so they will not need much protein in their diet. Make sure to avoid gluten and soy, which can irritate their stomach lining.

To avoid hypoglycemia, make sure your Biewer Terrier eats a square meal ninety minutes before exercise. Because of this breed’s range of bone, joint, and jaw worries, owners should look for dog food with adequate calcium.

Maintenance and Grooming

The Biewer Terrier requires regular grooming. Grooming includes brushing their coat and fur, and regularly bathing them. They will need regular cleaning and brushing of their single coat that would look shiny and would reflect in the sunshine once cleaned.

Training

These dogs are smart and easy to train, but sometimes they can also be stubborn, creating training problems for the owner. Still, these dogs enjoy learning, so they listen well during these sessions.

With terriers, “small dog syndrome” can become common, making them feel inadequate so that they have to overcompensate with other behaviors.

Exercise

These dogs are active and need regular daily exercise. A routine walk or some playtime at home should be enough to fulfill the exercise requirements of these dogs.

Lack of exercise could cause negative and destructive behaviors to come up in the Biewer Terriers, and they could indulge in digging and chewing instead.

Puppies

The Biewer Terrier puppies are to be taken care of the same way, except that they need to be fed more times a day in comparison to adults, as they have small stomachs and can’t take a lot of food in one go.
If you start training with puppies themselves, the results come out great, as the dog would then develop habits from a very young age.

Biewer Terriers and Children

Biewer Terriers make great family and companion dogs. They are active and playful and are especially great with children. They are known to be very friendly and playful with the children of the family.

As with any dog, parents need to teach their children proper behavior to avoid detrimental damage. Since this dog only weighs 4 lbs. when it reaches its maximum weight, its compact body needs as much care as possible.

Similar Breeds

As wonderful as the Biewer terrier is, it may not be for everyone. Here are a few dogs that are similar to Biewer Terriers:

• Poodles: These are elegant and clever dogs with beautiful hairdos. They are just as loyal as the Biewer terrier, though they need much more social time and can be fairly vocal.
• Maltese: These dogs are great family pets and are very cute to look at. They are small in size, much like the Biewer terrier. While they may nip while chasing (like the Biewer terrier), they are also perfect for owners who live in apartments.
• Yorkshire Terrier: These dogs have similar hair and are clever and elegant. They are known to be great family dogs, but they may not be the best choice for a first-time owner, due to the amount of care needed.