Biewer Terrier

Biewer Terrier is a relatively new breed originating in Germany, where they were bred as companion animals. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the breed is its long tri-colored coat, along with its shaggy curved tail. Dogs of this breed are small, energetic and cheerful.

General details

Biewer Terriers are small in size and elegant in appearance. The weight ranges between 2 and 4 kilograms, while the height varies between 18 and 28 centimeters. It is a long-lived breed, with a life expectancy of 16 years. It is not recognized by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI).

Breed history in brief

The Biewer Terrier breed is relatively new, originating in Germany in the 1980s. The breed owes its name to its creators, Werner and Gertrud Biewer. This couple of breeders of Yorkshire Terriers obtained, for the first time, a tricolor dog with white, black and brown markings. The dog's unique appearance fascinated the Biewer family, who decided to start selectively breeding dogs with this tricolor coat. In 1984, they produced the first litter. The Biewer Terrier has been proven to be a pure breed based on genetic data rather than using pedigree documentation, which is the usual method. In fact, this is the first time a pure breed has been detected using a genetic tool. Currently, the dogs are recognized as a separate breed from Yorkshire Terriers, and continue to gain popularity as companion dogs.

Breed characteristics

Biewer Terrier is an elegant breed, square in appearance, although the body is slightly longer than tall. The skull is slightly rounded and the eyes can be round or almond-shaped, medium-sized and dark. The ears are small, V-shaped and erect. The tail is high set, carried arched over the body in the shape of a sickle, and is covered with a dense coat. The coat is long, smooth, without undercoat and soft in texture. The pattern is tricolor and results from the combination of black or blue, white and gold or tan. The proportion of each color does not follow any dominant pattern. The breed's long coat requires more regular care, such as daily brushing. The Biewer Terrier an excellent family companion for any age, as they are characterized by a childlike, playful and affectionate attitude. Despite being somewhat mischievous dogs, they are also obedient, loyal and very devoted to their family. It is a sociable breed, which is easy to get along with animals of any origin.

Common health problems

As with all breeds, the Biewer Terrier can be prone to certain health problems, although most are healthy dogs. Among the most common diseases or disorders are ciliary dyskinesia, epilepsy, cataracts, corneal dystrophy, entropion, hemophilia B, patellar luxation and White Shaker syndrome. In addition to the disorders listed above, the OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) recommends screening for the following diseases: progressive retinal atrophy, primary lens luxation, Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease, degenerative myelopathy, hyperuricosuria and patellar luxation.