Biewer Terrier Dog Breed Guide: Info, Pictures, Care & More

The Biewer Yorkshire, also known as the Biewer Terrier, or Biewer Yorkie, is a tiny little pup and a member of the AKC’s toy breed category. Get the pronunciation right, though, as it is pronounced “beaver, as in bee vah.”

You may confuse this small pup with a Yorkshire Terrier, owing to how much alike they look. But since the first Biewer Terrier was a purebred, developed from two Yorkshires’ recessive piebald genes, that wouldn’t be your fault.

Breed Overview

However, the American Kennel Club recently recognized Biewer Yorkshire as a breed on its own. Biewer Terriers are joyful, spirited, and intelligent pooches with a happy-go-lucky temperament that charms children, novices, the elderlies, and adults alike.

These toy breeds might be small in stature but are massive in personalities. They’ll stay loyal to their owners although they can be somewhat hard to housetrain.

A Biewer Terrier is the kind of canine you’ll feel good carrying around when running errands or visiting friends. Plus, they are light-shedders, making them easy to keep around allergic people and tiny enough to tag along on your vacations!

You may want to keep reading for more insights on this toy pup!

Biewer Yorkshire Characteristics

Biewer Terrier

Biewer Yorkshires are rare-something that makes them valuable and expensive. They are not for budget-conscious people as you can spend a lot on a pup like these. Of course, this high price tag is if the breeder developed your Biewer Yorkshire dog from a prize-winning bloodline. These dogs are in high demand, which means you need to research and verify that you are getting your canine from a documented breeder. Ensure the breeder provides you a proof of lineage and certification documents before you adopt your pup

Biewer Yorkshires are known to be very energetic dogs that love to be with their owners and will likely ask for a lot of playtime with you. They are great pets for first-time dog owners because they’re generally low-maintenance dogs.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Biewer Terrier

For the most part, the Biewer Yorkshire is lightheaded and an easy-going pup that does not tend to bark a lot. Like many tiny dogs, these pups tend to have enormous personalities that don’t seem to fit in their toy bodies. They are friendly, playful, amiable, and love to be the star of the show.

The Biewer breed is adorable, but it doesn’t always behave adorably. Although these dogs are pretty intelligent, they have a whimsical personality that makes them stubborn and clownish at times.

They enjoy getting into a bit of mischief and may chew a slipper or two. Biewer Yorkies are also a bit “yappy” and do not always warm up to strangers at first, so owners should expect extended barking when a new face is in the home. But they can be excellent watchdogs after undergoing proper socialization training.

Are These Dogs Good for Families? 👪

Biewer Terriers may behave like typical toy dog breeds, but they are hearty and can be your hiking partner and accompany you on long walks. They pack lots of energy and love nothing more than to play and receive lots of affection from their owners.

These loving pooches tend to fit well with people who love snuggling and cuddling, as they would choose to settle on their owner’s laps at any time.

This exquisite pup gets along with children, although it tends to get timid and cautious around unpredictable and overly excited kids. For this reason, you may want to keep an eye on their interaction until the young children are of age to lead and play with the Biewers by themselves.

Biewers are active and love to explore, but they don’t require much exercise, only a few walks and occasional chase games. This trait makes them an excellent fit for busy households.

Another good thing about this breed is that they are teeny tiny, and you can tag them along on your trips if you are always traveling.

These dogs are an excellent option for any household setting, from seniors, singles, and homes with kids. Plus, you can keep them indoors most of the time, only that you should ensure these little charmers get enough space to run and play in the home.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

Biewer Yorkies should have no trouble blending in with other pets as long as you socialize them right from puppyhood. They can be the best fur sibling to other pets but tend to be shy and nervous if you introduce them to new pets without adequate socialization.

No doubt, Biewers are a terrier species. However, they don’t possess the terrier traits of digging behavior and high prey drive, making them pretty much harmless to other pets.

The only problem is that their sizes make them victims of birds and larger animals, so you may need to fence your yard and avoid to live them alone in the yard. Also, socialize it with your pet cat to eliminate too much chasing.

The Biewer may look small, but they are energetic and quick to stand up for themselves against larger threatening breeds.

Things to Know When Owning a Biewer Terrier:

Biewer Terriers are considered hypoallergenic breeds because they shed very little. However, you may still exhibit allergic reactions if you expose yourself to them. These pups can be small, but they demand as much attention, care, and commitment as other dog breeds.

Food & Diet Requirements 🦴

These dogs are small but energetic and active, which means that their ideal diets should be high quality and formulated for small breed dogs with high energy. Since they are smaller breeds, they can have a GI system that is sensitive than most canines, so providing them high fiber dog food might be a great idea.

The best food option should feature chicken, beef, fish, or lamb as the primary ingredients. Also, look for dog food that doesn’t contain fillers like corn and soy.

Biewers are small and don’t tend to overfeed, so you can free-feed them if you want. However, these pups tend to get overweight if overfed. Therefore, it would be best to stick to the regulated portion and feeding schedules of 2-3 feedings a day with only a few treats in between.

You can prevent plaque buildup, common in these breeds, by providing your canine friend dry food over wet food. Dry kibbles help scrape plaque off the teeth, while wet food tends to allow the plaque to build up.

A Biewers diet tends to change from their puppy years to adulthood just like other dogs and will continue right into old age. Therefore, it would be best to ask a vet to recommend the best feeding plan throughout your pup’s transitions.

Exercise 🐕

Biewer parents should ensure their pets get daily exercise to help work off the high energy levels. Regular playtimes will surely help cut off the energy and fulfill this pet’s needs for activities.

These little pets enjoy walks, trips to the park, and any activity there’s, even if it is just to the front porch or the mailbox. You can also offer them mental stimulation with regular outdoor activities like playing chase.

Denying these pets any form of exercise risks developing behavioral problems like hyperactivity, chewing, and digging.

Training 🎾

Biewer Terriers are pretty intelligent, which means that they are capable of learning quickly. However, they require obedience training to mold them into friendly and loyal companions.

You may want to keep their coats short if you intend to train your pet at agility, as long coats do not favor such kind of training.

The good thing about Biewer Yorkies is that they are eager, making them easy to work with. However, they may prolong the training process due to their independent, stubborn personalities.

Biewer Terriers can develop small dog syndrome just like most toy breeds if you don’t train them properly. They can be a little challenging to housebreak, and potty training can also take a little longer.

However, training won’t be hard if you started it early, remained consistent, and incorporated praise and rewards. It can work even better if you include kids in the training plan.

Grooming ✂️

These pooches have long, straight, shiny, human-like hair that requires daily brushing to prevent matting and tangling, as it can grow down to the ground.

You can shorten the coat to reduce the need for daily brushing or simply trim the hair’s ends to prevent it from dragging on the ground. Try using high-quality dog-designed conditioners to smoothen your canine’s fur and keep it silky.

An occasional bath will also leave the hair smelling fresh, and don’t forget to use a latex band or a bow to keep your Biewer Yorkie’s hair out of its eyes.

It will also help if you trim your pup’s nails regularly using a clipper to avoid overgrowth, chipping, and splitting. You can do it yourself or ask a vet to help if you fear cutting the “quick” and cause it to over bleed.

Also, check their ears regularly for debris and wax buildup that can cause ear infections. Brush their teeth regularly as Biewers are prone to dental issues.

You shouldn’t frown about grooming your pet, as it’s a bonding opportunity that helps create lasting relationships and memories.

Health and Conditions 🏥

Biewer Yorkshires aren’t prone to many severe health conditions, although vets tend to recommend regular checkups to ensure optimal well-being. Unfortunately, these pups share a bloodline with Yorkshire Terriers, which predisposes them to some conditions Yorkshire Terriers face.

Minor Conditions

Serious Conditions

Male vs. Female

Female Biewers are moodier than male Biewers, making them a little challenging for kids to handle. They also need a little more attention and affection and are more demanding than the boys, although both males and females require the same care.

Both Biewer sexes are adorable, tiny, and generally sweet, and you won’t discover a big difference in personalities basing on sexes alone. Their temperaments and behavior boil down to individual characters, training, and upbringing.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Biewer Yorkshire

1. They are not as meek as they look.

These dogs may be tiny, but they aren’t as resigned as they appear. They pack lots of pride, confidence, and love to show off.

You may want to be protective of this toy dog, though, as they are so lightweight that birds of prey like hawks can easily lift them off the ground and carry them off.

2. They got their names from their original breeders.

A couple, Gertrud and Werner Biewer bred the Biewer in Germany in 1984. They had been passionate lovers and breeders of the Yorkshire Terrier for twenty years and stumbled upon the Biewer after noticing the piebald coloration one of their Yorkshire inherited.

Their veterinarian suggested they name the new breed after themselves.

3. They look so much like the Yorkshire Terriers.

These Terriers look the same at first glance-they are both tiny, adorable, and even sport the same shiny coats. The only real difference is the piebald strain that affects their coat colors.

Final Thoughts

Biewer Yorkshires get along with everyone and make adorable cuddling buddies for anyone in need of furry hugs. You shouldn’t be afraid of a bit of grooming and extra attention because your pooch can look like the prize winner with just a little commitment.

How you want your pup to turn out comes down to the luck of the draw, sufficient socialization, and training.

Featured Image Credit: Svetlana Khoruzhaia, Shutterstock