meet the...Biewer Terrier
Breed Summary
Breed Group Group 12: Companion and Toy Breeds
Sub-group 12-C: European and African Breeds
Origin Country Germany
Weight Males: 4-8 pounds. Females: 4-8 pounds.
Height Males: 6-9 inches. Females: 6-9 inches.
Breed Type Pure
click here for FULL BREED STANDARD
Origins
The Biewer Terrier (pronounced Beeva Terrier) shares a common history and ancestry with the Yorkshire Terrier, the breed it originated from. It is believed that the Yorkshire Terrier breed’s roots go back to Waterside Terriers that were brought from Scotland to England in the mid-nineteenth century, as well as the now-extinct Clydesdale Terriers and Leeds Terriers. As the ancestors of the modern-day Maltese, the Manchester Terrier, and Dandie Dinmont Terrier are also believed to have played a role in the development of the Yorkshire Terrier.
In 1984, German Yorkshire Terrier breeders Gertrud and Werner Biewer produced a Yorkshire Terrier puppy with a large amount of white. Working on a suspicion that their dogs carried recessive white, they began breeding to out the gene. They were successful in doing so and consistently produced white-patched dogs that they brought to the public’s eye in 1988 at a large dog show. The dogs were an immediate hit with a huge interest from the public. These dogs were called “Biewer Yorkshire Terrier a la Pom Pon” by the Allgemeiner Club der Hundefreunde Deutschland e.V. (ACH), the first native group to officially recognize them. Before long, several breeders were onboard to produce and refine them as their own breed, and they quickly made their way to neighboring countries and overseas. Today, in the United States, their popularity rivals that of the Yorkshire Terrier. Continental Kennel Club recognizes the Biewer Terrier as a variety of Yorkshire Terrier with offspring being registered as Biewers, even if they do not possess large amounts of white marking.Breed Characteristics
Head: A mesaticephalic skull type, moderate in size and in proportion to the rest of the body, never appearing wedge-shaped or long and narrow. The topskull is of a medium length, flat across the top when viewed from the front or felt across the top between the ears. When felt or viewed in profile, the topskull may be flat and parallel to the muzzle, or it may round slightly to the muzzle. The skull exhibits sufficient bone and brow. The head is clean-cut without excess skin or wrinkles.
Eyes: Moderate in size, oval to almond in shape, and dark brown in color. Nonstandard colors may exhibit amber to medium brown eye color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes.
Ears: Small to medium-small in size, set high on the skull (fairly close together), V-shaped, and firmly erect, or button, with slight lifts at the base and tips hanging close to the head. The ears are never long, overly large, or broken. Small button ears are permissible.
Muzzle: The muzzle is broad, full, and deep. The upper and lower jaws have good bone substance, appearing strong and well-developed, never appearing snipey or weak.
Nose: The nose is well-pigmented and black or self-colored according to the coat in nonstandard color varieties. The nostrils are well opened.
Neck: Moderate length allows for proud head carriage. It is strongly muscled with a slight arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.
Body: Compact, solid, and of good substance. The body is never racy or refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Feet: Oval to round, compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Tail: Set high on the croup, thick at the base, and tapering toward the tip. It is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, usually slightly higher than the level of the topline, but never tucked. The tail is left natural, never docked short. The tail is of a moderate length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight or gently curved.
Movement: The gait and movements of the Biewer Terrier breed are smooth, confident, and effortless. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. The width between the forefeet, when extended, should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament: The Biewer Terrier breed is known to be plucky, alert, active, bold, and inquisitive. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Breed Standard
BREED GROUP 12: Companion and Toy Breeds
Proportions: Somewhat off-square with the length of the body, measured from the point of the forechest to the point of the rump, being just slightly greater than the height at the withers. The ideal length-to-height ratio is between 5:4 and 10:9. Females may be slightly longer. The body is well put together, with sturdy substance and medium bone. Males should appear masculine, being more substantial in size and mass, while females should appear more feminine and slightly less substantial. Neither should lack overall type. The weight of a male or female is always in proportion to height.
Head
General Appearance: A mesaticephalic skull type, moderate in size and in proportion to the rest of the body, never appearing wedge-shaped or long and narrow. The topskull is of a medium length, flat across the top when viewed from the front or felt across the top between the ears. When felt or viewed in profile, the topskull may be flat and parallel to the muzzle, or it may round slightly to the muzzle. The skull exhibits sufficient bone and brow. The head is clean-cut without excess skin or wrinkles.
Expression: The expression is alert, inquisitive, and indicative of a perceived self-importance.
Stop: The stop is definite, preferably forming a 90-degree angle between the topskull and muzzle.
Skull: The ideal muzzle-to-skull ratio is 3:2 to 5:4, with the topskull being just longer than the muzzle.
The ideal muzzle-to-skull axis may be parallel or just slightly convergent.
Muzzle: The muzzle is broad, full, and deep. The upper and lower jaws have good bone substance, appearing strong and well-developed, never appearing snipey or weak.
Lips or Flews: The lips are clean and fit tightly over the teeth and jaws.
Nose: The nose is well-pigmented and black or self-colored according to the coat in nonstandard color varieties. The nostrils are well opened.
Cheeks: Smoothly muscled cheeks indicate good substance and powerful jaws. However, the cheeks should not appear chiseled or coarse.
Dentition and Bite: Forty-two strong, clean, and white teeth. The bite may be level, scissor, or reverse-scissor. Contact must be made between the top and bottom incisors. Missing or broken teeth due to routine work are not to be penalized.
Eyes: Moderate in size, oval to almond in shape, and dark brown in color. Nonstandard colors may exhibit amber to medium brown eye color. The eye rims are well-fitted and well-pigmented. The eyes are never bulging. There should be sufficient bone in the surrounding orbital sockets to protect the eyes.
Ears: Small to medium-small in size, set high on the skull (fairly close together), V-shaped, and firmly erect, or button, with slight lifts at the base and tips hanging close to the head. The ears are never long, overly large, or broken. Small button ears are permissible.
Body and Tail
General Description: Compact, solid, and of good substance. The body is never racy or refined. The width at the forequarters is approximately equal to the width at the hindquarters.
Neck: Moderate length allows for proud head carriage. It is strongly muscled with a slight arch. The neck tapers smoothly from the deeper and broader body toward the head. The neck is clean-cut and without excess skin, throatiness, or dewlap.
Chest: Deep and broad but never wider than deep. The brisket extends to the point of the elbows.
Topline: Level from slightly prominent withers to croup. The back is short, broad, strongly muscled, and straight, yet supple. The loin is short, taut, flat, and level. The back is never swayed or roached.
Croup: Flat and level with the back.
Underline: A slight tuck-up is present. The underline is taut and firm, without any indication of sagging or excess weight.
Ribs: Long, well-sprung, well-laid-back, and oval-shaped, never barrel-chested or slab-sided.
Tail: Set high on the croup, thick at the base, and tapering toward the tip. It is carried in accordance with the dog’s mood and energy level, usually slightly higher than the level of the topline, but never tucked. The tail is left natural, never docked short. The tail is of a moderate length, with the tip of the last vertebrae extending to the hock joints when held down. The tail may be straight or gently curved.
Forequarters and Hindquarters
Forequarters: The forequarters are always in balance with the hindquarters and well-angulated with well-laid-back shoulder blades. The shoulder blades are of a good length and approximately equal in length to the upper arm and forearm.
Elbows: The elbows are close to the body. The point of the elbows is approximately half the dog’s height at the withers.
Forelegs: Frontal View: Straight, of good muscle, of moderate bone, and parallel to one another.
Side View: The forelimbs appear straight with strong pasterns.
Pasterns: Never weak or broken.
Hindquarters: The upper and lower thighs are of a moderate and equal length, strong, sturdy, moderate bone, and well-muscled.
Rear View: When viewed from the rear, the rear pasterns are parallel to one another.
Side View: Good angulation will allow the rear toes to align with the point of the rump or within one to two paw-lengths behind the point of the rump, with the rear pasterns remaining perpendicular to the ground and parallel to one another.
Stifle Joint: Well-angulated with a good bend to well-let-down rear pasterns.
Angulations: The angulation of the hindquarters is always in balance with the angulation of the forequarters.
Feet: Oval to round, compact, with well-arched toes and tough pads.
Coat
Skin: Well-fitted, yet supple. The skin should never obstruct the outline of the dog.
Coat Type: The coat is long, straight, or with a slight (almost imperceptible) wave, silky, fine, and without curl, wooliness, roughness, or wire texture. It should never restrict movement. The coat on the body, head, ear base, and muzzle is abundant in length. Hair on ear tips may be trimmed to prevent ears from falling or to reveal the true size and outline of the ears.
Coat Color or Pattern: CKC recognizes two color varieties of the Biewer Terrier breed: the standard and nonstandard.
Standard coat color variety: the Biewer Terrier’s steely blue coat starts off as black with tan points, but over the next 18 months, the black recedes and turns to a steel blue saddle or creeping tan pattern, and the tan turns to a shimmery gold. The permissible standard colors include blue or steel with gold saddle or creeping tan markings.
Nonstandard coat color variety: black, silver, or liver, with saddle or creeping tan pattern, all with various shades of red or tan. All with or without varying degrees of white markings throughout the body, or primarily white with permissible color and pattern markings.
Movement
The gait and movements of the Biewer Terrier breed are smooth, confident, and effortless. The characteristics of a healthy structure are evident. When moving away, the forelegs and rear pasterns should remain parallel to one another. When viewing movement from the front, the forelegs should remain parallel, with elbows and paws moving neither in nor out. From the rear, the back pads should be visible when the rear legs are extended. As speed increases, the forelimbs and hindlimbs will converge to the centerline of gravity. From the side, the topline should remain firm and level. Good reach of movement in the front allows the forepaw to extend out in line with the nose. The width between the forefeet, when extended, should be approximately equal to the width between the hindfeet when extended, indicating balance, good reach, and good drive. Dogs that exhibit any sign of breathing or locomotive difficulty shall be disqualified from the show ring.
Temperament
The Biewer Terrier breed is known to be plucky, alert, active, bold, and inquisitive. Any unprovoked aggressive or fearful behavior toward people is incorrect for this breed.
Faults
All dogs should be in proper, healthy condition, free from disease or defect. Any departure from this description is considered a fault. Unless altered, all male dogs should have two fully descended testicles.
