Breed library

Biewer

Biewer photograph.
BiewerHündin.jpg - Detlef Breiting. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BiewerH%C3%BCndin.jpg. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/. License: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Breed overview

The Biewer Terrier is a toy dog of German descent that is the result of two Yorkshire Terriers with a recessive piebald gene breeding. It is usually kept as a companion animal or a show dog. The Biewer Terrier was recognized by the AKC in 2021. Since May 2024 the Biewer Terrier is also accepted by the (VDH) Verband für das Deutsche Hundewesen in Germany.

  • Breed type: dog breedBreed reference breed kind.

Breed facts

  • The Biewer Terrier was first bred in Germany in 1984 by breeders Werner and Gertrude Biewer after two tricolor puppies were born in their kennel.
  • American fanciers began importing the breed from Germany to the United States in 2002.
  • The Biewer Terrier grew in popularity and the Biewer Terrier Club of America (BTCA) was formed in 2006 to promote the breed.
  • Members of the BTCA contacted Mars Veterinary to verify that the Biewer Terrier was a separate breed from the Yorkshire Terrier, After analyzing ten blood samples from the Biewer Terrier, it was concluded that the breed was separate from the Yorkshire Terrier.
  • The breed was admitted into the AKC's Foundation Stock Service in 2014 and became the 197th breed recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2021.

Size and appearance

The Biewer terrier is a small dog that closely resembles its parent breed, the Yorkshire terrier, with a fine, straight, silky coat. Unlike the Yorkshire, the tail is not traditionally docked and Biewer terriers come in two combinations of three colors, either white, blue, and black, or white, black, and gold/tan. The coloration is a result of the pre-existing recessive piebald gene.

  • Body mass reference: 1.814 - 3.629 kgAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 4 - 8 lb. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Height reference: 17.78 - 27.94 cmAdult breed reference quantity from the article infobox. Original value 7 - 11 in. Unit conversion where applicable: 1 inch = 2.54 cm; 1 pound = 0.45359237 kg. Original field and references are retained in the revision-pinned article evidence.
  • Coat length: long
  • Coat texture: straight
  • Height category: short
  • Weight category: toy

Personality and behavior

Biewer Terriers make affectionate and lively companions. These dogs are social, forming strong bonds with their owners and displaying a friendly demeanor towards strangers. Their playful and energetic disposition makes them suitable for a variety of activities, and they thrive on interaction and engagement with their human counterparts.

Exercise and activities

Care planning: build a weekly routine with walks, play and time to explore. Enter the minutes and sessions that work for your dog, then compare the weekly total with your available time. Keep notes about the activities your dog enjoys and adjust the routine together.

Training and enrichment

Care planning: choose one everyday skill to practice and keep a record of each session. Note the cue, the reward your dog enjoys and what went well. Rotate familiar games and new activities, and use your notes to choose the next small step.

Coat and grooming

Care planning: use the coat details above to discuss a grooming routine with your groomer. Record brushing sessions, baths and appointments in the app. Add the tools you use and your preferred schedule so the whole household can follow the same routine.

  • Coat length: long
  • Coat texture: straight

Health and lifespan

Care planning: keep your dog's veterinary records, health-check dates and agreed care plan together. Add reminders for appointments and record changes you want to discuss at the next visit. Use the linked breed organizations and original references to explore their current health resources.

Living with this breed

Care planning: compare this profile's adult dimensions, coat care and available activity information with your household's routine. Make a shortlist, plan who will handle daily care and save the questions you want to ask a breed club, rescue or breeder.

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Compare supported adult height and weight ranges, matching research measures and sourced coat and care categories.

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Breed history

The Biewer Terrier was first bred in Germany in 1984 by breeders Werner and Gertrude Biewer after two tricolor puppies were born in their kennel. American fanciers began importing the breed from Germany to the United States in 2002. The Biewer Terrier grew in popularity and the Biewer Terrier Club of America (BTCA) was formed in 2006 to promote the breed. Members of the BTCA contacted Mars Veterinary to verify that the Biewer Terrier was a separate breed from the Yorkshire Terrier, After analyzing ten blood samples from the Biewer Terrier, it was concluded that the breed was separate from the Yorkshire Terrier. The breed was admitted into the AKC's Foundation Stock Service in 2014 and became the 197th breed recognized by the American Kennel Club in 2021.

Clubs and further reading

Sources

  1. Biewer Terrier - WikipediaWikipedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Adapted excerpts from Wikipedia contributors, Biewer Terrier, revision 1337614618. CC BY-SA 4.0. Formatting, citations and selection changed. Source history: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biewer_Terrier&action=history
  2. Wikidata structured breed dataWikimedia contributors Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC0 1.0. Wikidata contributors (CC0).
  3. National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.PLOS ONE / Figshare Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY 4.0. Bohland, Kyle R.; Lilly, Meghan Leanne; Herron, Meghan E.; Arruda, Andréia G.; O’Quin, Jeanette M. (2023). National C-BARQ breed and all-breed means from USA.. PLOS ONE. Dataset. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356.s003 CC BY 4.0. Selected rows and field names adapted; values unchanged.
  4. File:BiewerHündin.jpgWikimedia Commons Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: CC BY-SA 3.0. BiewerHündin.jpg - Detlef Breiting. CC BY-SA 3.0. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BiewerH%C3%BCndin.jpg. License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
  5. Palipaws everyday care planningPalipaws Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Palipaws original factual summaries. Palipaws. Original care-planning text, separate from breed measurements and licensed article summaries.
  6. AKC national parent club directoryAmerican Kennel Club Retrieved 2026-10-14.License: Factual reference only. Names and verified external links only. No source descriptions, logos or endorsement reused.