The Biewer Terrier, also known as the Biewer Yorkshire Terrier a la Pom Pom, the Biewer Yorkie or just the Biewer, is a fairly new toy terrier breed. It has not yet been recognized by the American Kennel Club, but is recognized by the American Rare Breed Association (ARBA) and of course by their own American breed club, the Biewer Terrier Club of America (BTCA).

History

The Biewer Terrier came to be its own breed as a result of a Yorkshire Terrier puppy born in Germany in January of 1984 that had an extreme amount of white patterning throughout his coat. This unusual puppy, named Scheefloeckchen von Friedheck, caused his breeders, Werner and Gertrud Biewer, to wonder whether their Yorkies carried a recessive piebald gene, which apparently they did. Over the next several years, the Biewers bred for the piebald gene and produced blue, white and gold Yorkshire Terriers that bred true to their color. Biewer Terriers were first officially recognized by the Allgemeiner Club der Hundefreunde Deutschland e. V., one of Germany’s dog clubs. The Biewer Terrier Club of America was established in 2007. Today, this is still considered to be a rare breed.

Health

The average life span of the Biewer Terrier is 12 to 15 years.

Personality

Biewer Terriers are a toy breed with a personality ten times larger then their tiny bodies might suggest. They love to be the center of attention and will do whatever it takes to be the star of the show. They are good with children, make good companions for the elderly, and love to accompany people on trips outside the home, whether strutting their stuff on a leash, or being carried around like an Egyptian Queen.

Appearance

Biewer Terriers are tiny, elegant tricolored terriers with a whimsical attitude toward life. They have long, silky, flowing hair that parts naturally and evenly down the middle of the back. They are either square, or slightly longer than they are tall. They carry their plumed tails in “teacup” fashion, meaning it is carried high. The ears are pointed and erect with silky fringes of hair that trails off the sides. Biewers have round, sparkling eyes that often give an air of mischievousness.

Size and Weight

Biewers are tiny toy dogs who stand no more than 9 inches at the shoulder and only weigh between 4 and 12 pounds at maturity.

Coat and Color

The Biewer Terrier's coat is long, straight and silky to the touch. They do not have an undercoat. The long hair around the face is sometimes trimmed or tied into a topknot to keep it out of the dog's face. Biewers are tricolored dogs with the body being blue or black and white. There is no preferred pattern or frequency of color. The coloring of the head can be blue, black, white, gold, tan, or any combination thereof. Pattern is not as important as symmetry of color.

Grooming Needs

The long, silky coat may appear to be intimidating to groom, but it is easy to care for. Daily brushing is required to keep the coat free from dirt and tangles. Biewers should not be brushed when they are completely dry, as it will damage the hair. A spray bottle with water or a mix of water and dog conditioner will do the trick. Weekly baths are necessary to keep the coat in good condition, and some keep bath wipes on hand to clean the underside of the dog on a daily basis. While some owners elect to trim the dog all over, the only trimming that is absolutely necessary is around the ears (so they don't get weighed down), the rectum (for hygienic reasons) and under the pads of the feet.

Regular tooth brushing and ear cleaning sessions should also be part of the grooming routine, as these practices promote good health and keep harmful bacteria from growing in the mouth or ear.