Biewer Terrier
About the Biewer Terrier
Temperament
Physical Characteristics
| Size Category | Toy (under 10 lbs) |
|---|---|
| Height | 7-11" |
| Weight | 4-8 lbs |
| Coat Type | Long |
| Coat Length | Long |
| Colors | |
| Hypoallergenic | Yes |
Care Requirements
Exercise Needs
Moderate (30-60 min/day)
30 minutes per day recommended
Grooming
High - Daily
Mental Stimulation
★★★★★Moderate mental stimulation needed
Drooling
★★★★★Living Conditions
Cost of Ownership
| Purchase Price | $1,500-$3,500 |
|---|---|
| Annual Cost | $1,100/year |
Costs vary based on location, breeder, and individual needs. Annual costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and supplies.
Health Considerations
Like all breeds, Biewer Terriers may be prone to certain health conditions:
Regular veterinary check-ups and proper care can help prevent or manage many health issues.
Best For
- Families with Children
- Apartment Living
- First-Time Owners
- Active Owners
May Not Be Ideal For
- Long Work Hours Away
- Sedentary Lifestyles
- Low-Maintenance Seekers
Guides for your Biewer Terrier
The story behind the Biewer Terrier
The Biewer traces to Germany in the 1980s, when a pair of Yorkshire Terrier breeders, Werner and Gertrud Biewer, produced a piebald puppy carrying a recessive colour pattern within their established Yorkshire lines. Struck by the tricolour and white markings, they began breeding selectively for the pattern, and the resulting dogs were named after the family. Development took place largely within Germany at first, and the breed reached the United States in the mid-2000s, where enthusiasts formed clubs, wrote a standard and pursued registry recognition, which arrived from the AKC in the 2010s with placement in the Toy group. Genetic study supported treating it as distinct from the parent breed. The Biewer Terrier remains uncommon, kept entirely as a companion and show dog with no working history.
Originally bred for: Companion, Lap dog. You can trace how working roles shaped today’s breeds across our dog guides.
Feeding a Biewer Terrier
Toy breeds carry very small energy reserves, so several small meals of a nutrient-dense small-breed food suit better than one large serving, particularly for puppies. Kibble sized for a tiny jaw, plus attention to dental-friendly texture, matters as much as the formula itself.
Watch for: Long-coated toy breeds often show food reactions as skin irritation and staining around the face and feet, and delicate digestion with a fussy appetite is commonly reported. No specific ingredient pattern is documented. Any change should be gradual and discussed with a veterinarian beforehand.
Not sure what to put in the bowl? See our picks for the best dog food for small breeds.
Mealtime extras: training treats worth keeping in your pocket. Everything else lives in our dog nutrition and feeding hub.
Living with a Biewer Terrier
Day to day, the basics matter most: how much exercise your dog needs, how often to get out for a walk, and how much sleep is normal.
For play and enrichment, browse our favorite dog toys and interactive toys for rainy days.
Gear that fits the breed makes life easier: a well-sized dog bed, a comfortable no-pull harness.
Raising a puppy? Work through crate training and the teething timeline — or see how old your dog is in human years with our dog age calculator.