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.
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