Biewer Terrier

In 1984, German breeders Werner and Gertrud Biewer bred a pair of Yorkshire Terriers that produced puppies with an unusual piebald, white-marked pattern rather than the standard solid tan and steel-blue colouring. Recognising the mutation as distinctive and worth preserving, the Biewers developed a separate breeding programme around it, naming the resulting dogs after themselves. It remained a rare, largely German phenomenon for its first two decades before spreading to the United States and wider Europe in the 2000s, where fanciers established it as a distinct breed rather than a Yorkshire Terrier colour variant.

Living with a Biewer Terrier means living with a lively, affectionate, attention-seeking small dog that behaves much like its Yorkshire Terrier ancestor: confident, curious and often unaware of its own small size. It generally gets on well with familiar children and other pets when raised with them, though like many toy breeds it can be nervy around boisterous handling and benefits from gentle, consistent socialisation. The long silky coat, when grown out for showing, needs daily brushing to prevent matting, though many pet owners keep it in a shorter, more manageable trim.

Today it remains a relatively rare breed outside Germany and a growing circle of enthusiasts elsewhere, valued for its striking tricolour markings and compact, portable size. It suits owners drawn to Yorkshire Terrier temperament who want a dog with a distinctive coat pattern rather than the traditional colouring.