The Biewer Yorkie is one of the most interesting new terrier breeds. These small, attractive dogs have a friendly and cheerful nature. They appeared in Russia relatively recently, but have already gained popularity.
Biewer Yorkies learn fairly quickly. But they often only do what they enjoy. This is where owners need to be persistent and patient. These dogs love to run, chasing cats and pigeons. But owners will have to break them of this habit, as it can lead to injury.
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Description and breed standard
A description of the breed should begin with a brief history. It all began in the mid-1980s, when Yorkshire Terrier puppies with white spots were born in a kennel owned by Werner Biewer and his wife. It's worth noting that the parents were standard Yorkie colors.
It turned out that these dogs carried a rare recessive gene. Nevertheless, Mr. Biewer decided to develop a new breed with this color. As early as 1988, he presented these very dogs to the public in Wiesbaden. But back then, they were still called black-and-white Yorkies.
The breed was registered in Germany in 1989, and the first standard was signed by its creator. However, it wasn't until 2007, when it was signed by Gertrud Biewer, that the standard was finalized. These dogs are now bred not only in Germany, but also in the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, Ukraine, and North and South America.
The Biewer Yorkie is a small dog, short in stature but quite strong for its size. The breed's distinctive features include a flat forehead and well-developed, strong jaws. The muzzle may be dark, but white markings are optional. The body is broad and muscular, with strong limbs. White markings are mandatory on the chest, neck, and chin.
Several color variations are possible—blue (i.e., steel gray), black, and gold—but white spots are always present in all. This breed's coat is silky and rarely tangles. According to the standard, it should be straight, falling from the parting on the back down.
The long hair above the dog's forehead forms a kind of "bangs", which it is recommended to tie with a ribbon so as not to obstruct the pet's vision.
Character
Biewer Yorkies are active and cheerful. Their temperament can be described as friendly and even-tempered.
These are intelligent and cheerful dogs, sociable and affectionate. They get along well with all family members, including children. Many Biewer Yorkie owners describe their dogs as intelligent and self-confident. They inherited many traits from Yorkshire Terriers, including activity, passion, courage, and stubbornness. They also possess an open and spontaneous nature, which they retain well into old age.
But it's important to remember that all dogs require training, and Biewer Yorkies are no exception. And owners will have to exercise a certain amount of firmness, despite the puppy's incredibly funny and adorable appearance.
Pros and cons of the breed
Biewer Yorkies should not be given:
- fatty meats, especially pork;
- any fatty dairy products, including butter and hard cheeses;
- sausages and hot dogs;
- bakery products;
- sweets.
Puppies are fed four times a day. From six months of age, puppies can be transitioned to three meals a day. Once they reach nine months, they can be fed twice a day.
If owners decide to feed a Biewer Yorkie a natural diet, they will need to calculate the nutrient ratios themselves. It's important to remember that 50% of the diet should come from protein, 25% from complex carbohydrates (grains), and the rest from fiber and vitamins found in vegetables. Vitamins are also given as supplements with this diet.
You'll have to cook every day; you can't feed your puppy meat or porridge cooked the day before. So, natural feeding has its drawbacks.
If you feed your dog ready-made dry food, you don't need to calculate anything; manufacturers produce balanced products containing the necessary amount of vitamins and minerals.
Grooming
Grooming a Biewer Yorkie's coat is not much different from similar procedures for a Yorkshire Terrier. It is essential to brush your dog once a day.
To do this you will need:
- a metal comb with fine teeth (they should be rounded);
- a massage brush with a comfortable wooden handle (preferably with an antistatic effect);
- a massage brush with natural bristles (needed to make the coat shine);
- special hair care products - they are available in spray form.
Puppies should be accustomed to being brushed from a very young age. This can be started by placing the dog on the owner's lap and gently stroking it with a massage brush to avoid discomfort. Just be careful not to let the puppy chew on the brush, as this will become a habit.
Many owners are interested in how to trim a Biewer Yorkie. It's best to entrust the job to a professional. But you can learn to do it yourself. Then you'll need to acquire all the necessary tools.
For trimming the hair on the sides and tail, you'll need scissors with long blades, either straight or curved. You'll also need small, rounded-edged scissors (used for trimming the hair around the eyes, paws, and ears), as well as thinning scissors. It's also recommended to purchase special dog clippers. Regular clippers aren't suitable for this purpose, as the coat's texture is different from human hair, and the clippers can easily break.
The dog should be placed on a rubberized, non-slip mat. It is recommended that the groomer wear cotton clothing, as synthetic fibers can cause static buildup. The animal should be bathed before and again after the procedure.
Most often, a hygienic haircut is performed at home. The main rule is to trim in the direction of hair growth. Hair should be removed from the groin area, the tops of the ears, the paws, around the eyes, and so on. Hair should also be removed from the ear canal. This is done with a trimmer. Adding an edge with thinning scissors will give a standard cut for this breed, suitable for showing. However, it's best to take your pet to a professional groomer before such an important event.
It's essential to buy a nail clipper with comfortable handles. Biewer Yorkies' nails should be trimmed approximately every two weeks (for puppies) or once a month (for adult dogs).
Bathe your pet twice a month using a special shampoo for white fur. The water should be warm, but not hot. Afterward, apply a conditioner, rinsing thoroughly. Then, dry the dog with towels and a hairdryer.
From time to time, you need to clean the Biewer Yorkie's ears with cotton swabs. But if there is no unpleasant odor or dark-colored discharge, it is better not to touch them again.
Education and training
In principle, Biewer Yorkies are easy to train, but the owners need to pay enough attention to this and show persistence.
Dog trainers recommend not so much punishing the dog, as this is a stubborn breed, and excessive severity will only lead to the animal doing everything out of spite, but rather replacing a bad habit with a desired one.
For example, to stop a Biewer Yorkie from chewing shoes, you need to redirect their attention from the slipper to a special toy. If they obey, you can reward them with a dog treat. Additionally, until the puppy is one year old, it's important to keep an eye on them so they don't get to their shoes and don't leave them where they can easily reach them.
Jumping on the dining table is strictly prohibited. Walking the animal is strictly prohibited on a leash to prevent it from chasing pigeons. And from the very first day it arrives in the house, it should be taught the simplest commands.
Diseases and treatment
Disease prevention plays an important role. When purchasing a puppy, make sure it's up-to-date on all vaccinations. The next vaccination is given at 10 months. After that, a two-week quarantine period begins, during which the puppy must not be taken for walks and must avoid contact with other dogs.
Adult animals also need vaccinations once a year, with deworming tablets administered beforehand. However, deworming is also performed outside of the scheduled time, preferably twice a year. Dogs are regularly treated for fleas and ticks.
Not all health problems can be resolved with vaccinations. Biewer Yorkies are a healthy breed. However, they are prone to early tooth decay, gum disease, eye irritation, and a tendency toward bronchitis. This requires regular veterinary visits and careful grooming.
Breeding
Breeding Biewer Yorkies professionally is a challenging endeavor. Most owners are simply looking for purebred offspring, and therefore seek a suitable mate for their pet, perhaps through a club.
Knitting
In this regard, the owner of a female Biewer Yorkie has more concerns. They must monitor when the dog goes into heat. It is generally accepted that she will be ready to mate no sooner than 10 days after it begins. Although there are many external signs that an animal is in heat, it is best to have tests performed at a veterinary clinic to avoid missing the ovulation period. This is especially true since heat in such a small breed is often virtually unnoticeable.
Next, you need to contact the owner of the chosen male and arrange a meeting. Animals are often brought to a kennel for this purpose. The owners have little control over this, but if the bitch is ready for mating, she still needs assistance—hold her from the front to prevent her from being afraid or making any sudden movements. Afterward, you need to ensure the bitch doesn't go to the toilet for an hour. Two matings are performed, with the second serving as a check.
Make sure both dogs are vaccinated and treated for fleas, ticks, and worms in advance. Feeding a Biewer Yorkie immediately before mating is not recommended.
Caring for offspring
The gestation period typically lasts up to 58 days from the first mating. It's best to have a veterinarian assist with the birth. If the offspring are healthy, there won't be any particular difficulties in caring for them.
Puppies are born blind, deaf, and toothless, but with a good sucking reflex. Care must be taken to ensure they don't wander too far from their mother and find a nipple. Like any other newborn, they don't yet have the same thermoregulation as adults, so it's crucial to prevent them from becoming too cold or too hot. Create a nest for them by shaping a clean sheet into a cushion.
By the fifth or sixth day, the puppies will be strong enough to find their mother's nipples on their own. However, at this age, their sharp claws should be trimmed for the first time to prevent them from injuring themselves or others.
What to call it
You can choose a wide variety of names for your dog, suiting its appearance and personality. And it's not necessary to give it an aristocratic name, although some owners successfully choose names from ancient or Scandinavian mythology. However, it's important not to overdo it: names like Athena or Zeus are likely to elicit laughter from others.
Names for boys
Almost all Biewer Yorkies are cheerful, courageous, and active dogs. Therefore, breeders recommend naming them after mythological, film, or animated characters.
For a boy, nicknames such as Loki, Robin, Ricci, Barney, Kevin, etc. sound good. Some owners prefer to name their dogs based on historical events and political figures (Nixon or Reagan).
Names for girls
For Biewer Yorkies, you can choose nicknames that match their appearance (Zlata, Malinka) or character - Belka, Yula, Vyuga, etc. Nicknames are given in the form of a female version of a male name - Nika, Lexa (from Alexander).
Biewer Yorkies are wonderful companions, very active and cheerful dogs. They require a high level of care, including feeding, grooming, and training. But the joy of interacting with these charming creatures fully compensates for all the effort.
