How to Identify a Biewer Terrier

Last Updated: March 24, 2021

The Biewer Terrier is a toy breed known for their uniquely colored coats. ^{[1]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source} Derived from the Yorkshire Terrier, the Biewer is newly-recognized as a purebred dog. ^{[2]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source} Biewers share many similarities with other toy breeds, but they do have a few distinguishing traits. This wikiHow will help you identify a Biewer Terrier by recognizing the breed's key traits.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Checking the Structure

As members of the toy group, Biewer Terriers are very small dogs. They only weigh 4–8 pounds (1.8–3.6 kg) and stand at 7–11 inches (18–28 cm) in height. ^{[3]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
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The head of a Biewer is slightly rounded with a moderate stop. Overall, the elements of the head give the dog a human-like expression of intelligence and brightness. ^{[4]
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A Biewer Terrier's ears are set to the back of the head, on level with the eyes, and moderately wide. They are small and v-shaped, standing upright and being covered in hair. ^{[5]
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Biewers have either round or almond-shaped eyes of a medium size. The irises are dark, and the eyes have a clear and crisp countenance. The rims are black. ^{[6]
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The muzzle of a Biewer Terrier is approximately 1/3 of the length of the dog's head. The nose and lips are black, and the teeth are even and straight, meeting in either a level or scissors bite. ^{[7]
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A Biewer's front and back paws are round in shape. The toes are covered in hair that may be trimmed and well-arched, and the pads may be black and/or flesh colored, while the nails are black and/or white. Any dewclaws may be removed. ^{[8]
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Biewer Terriers have high-set, plumed tails. The tail is carried in a sickle curve arched well over the body and lies on either side, though it may be relaxed when the dog is in repose. Its length is typically enough to reach the stifles or lower. ^{[9]
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Biewers are of fine to medium bone and are slightly longer than they are tall. They have a moderately long neck, nicely laid-back shoulders, a chest of good width, moderately sprung ribs, a level topline, and straight, muscular legs. A Biewer's gait is smooth and graceful, moving straight forward and giving off an impression of pride and confidence. ^{[10]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Looking at the Coat

A Biewer Terrier's coat appears long, straight, and flowing. If not trimmed, it hangs close to or touches the ground. The hair is silky and soft to the touch without an undercoat and parts down the middle. ^{[11]
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Check the coat color. Biewers are tri-colored dogs. Their coats consist of blue or black, gold or tan, and white. The dog's back is blue/black and white, and the chest, stomach, legs, and tail tip are white. The tan markings don't typically appear on the back, stomach, chest, legs, or feet and are instead found elsewhere on the dog's body, such as the head. ^{[12]
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- Another Yorkshire Terrier-type breed called the Golddust Yorkshire Terrier has white and gold fur. Though some consider them to be a variety of Biewer Terrier, these dogs can be distinguished from a Biewer by their coat colors as they are two colors while Biewers are three. ^{[14]
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Did you know? Biewer Terriers originally came to be from Yorkshire Terriers containing rare recessive piebald genes, making them tri-color instead of the typical blue and tan. Because of their rarity and high demand, people tried replicating the Biewer by mixing other breeds. It is now recognized as a breed of its own, and it was the first breed to be deemed a purebred using advancements in science. ^{[13]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
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With their silky coats, Biewer Terriers need to be brushed daily, especially if their coat is kept long. If the coat is trimmed short, it may require less grooming, but the softer coats are more prone to matting. Other than regular brushing, Biewers should also occasionally be bathed. Their shedding is infrequent if at all. ^{[15]
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American Kennel Club
The American Kennel Club (AKC) is a purebred dog pedigree registry in the United States. The AKC advocates for the responsible ownership of dogs and promotes purebred dog events, such as the Westminster Dog Show.
Go to source}

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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Identifying Temperament

Biewer Terriers are childlike and fun-loving at heart. Because of this, they can be great companions to people of any age. ^{[16]
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See if the dog is loving. Making great family dogs, Biewer Terriers are very loyal and devoted to their family. In fact, this passes on to even other household animals as Biewers are quick to befriend animals of all kinds. ^{[17]
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- Though Biewers enjoy playing, they are just as happy settling in their owner's laps to show and receive affection. ^{[18]
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Some Biewers take longer to warm up to strangers, especially if not properly socialized. However, this can make them good watchdogs, though they may become excessive barkers or "yappers" if given the opportunity. ^{[19]
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Biewer Terriers are intelligent dogs, which has its benefits, though they are also stubborn. Persistence in training is key when it comes to this breed. ^{[20]
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Biewers are high-energy breeds despite their small size. They love playing and constantly exploring the areas they enter. ^{[21]
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Tips

Consider using a DNA test if you wish to know the breed of your own dog. DNA testing will confirm if your dog is a Biewer Terrier.

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How to Identify a Biewer Terrier

Steps

Checking the Structure

Looking at the Coat

Identifying Temperament

Expert Q&A

Tips

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