Most important facts
- Group
- Toy
- Size
- Toy
- Weight
- 1.8–3.6 kg
- Lifespan
- 12–15 years
- Coat
- Long, straight
- Energy
- Moderate
- Height
- 18–28 cm
- Colours
- Blue, white and gold tricolour
- Shedding
- Light
- Est. feeding cost
- ~£11/mo
- Gear to consider
- Soft-sided or step-in harness for a fine-boned frame, detangling brush and comb for the long coat, toy-breed slow feeder bowl
Typical dry food, adult
About the Biewer Terrier
The Biewer Terrier began with a single surprise in 1984, when a piebald puppy appeared in a litter of pedigree Yorkshire Terriers owned by Werner and Gertrud Biewer in Germany. The couple bred selectively for the striking tricolour coat, and a new companion breed grew from that one happy accident. It remains one of the youngest recognised breeds, and carries its novelty with complete self-assurance.
Biewers are lively, playful and highly affectionate, bonding strongly with their families and happiest close to their people. They are clever and quick to learn, with just enough terrier stubbornness that patience and consistency beat force every time. Expect a dog that assumes every lap in the room was arranged for its benefit.
The small size and fine bones suit calmer households, and early socialisation helps manage a real prey drive and any wariness of strangers. A structured day with regular mealtimes also steadies a breed prone to blood-sugar dips, particularly in puppyhood.
Common health conditions
Things Biewer Terrier owners commonly watch for. Guidance, not veterinary advice.
Hypoglycaemia
Puppies under four months are especially prone to low blood sugar if meals are missed. Regular, small, energy-dense feeds through the day prevent crashes.
Luxating patella
A hereditary slipping kneecap common in small terriers. A lean weight reduces the strain and the chance of it worsening.
Dental disease and malocclusion
Small jaws crowd the teeth and often retain milk teeth, so plaque builds fast. Dental-friendly kibble and regular brushing protect the gums.
Tracheal collapse
A weakening of the windpipe causing a harsh, honking cough. A harness rather than a collar and a trim weight ease the pressure.
Portosystemic (liver) shunt
An inherited vessel abnormality that lets blood bypass the liver. Affected dogs need a vet-guided diet.
Feeding a Biewer Terrier
Because Biewers are so small and prone to hypoglycaemia as puppies, meals are split into several small, energy-dense feeds a day, tapering to two as an adult once blood sugar steadies. A toy-breed complete food with tiny kibble suits the mouth and reduces gulping. Fresh water always, and meals at the same times each day.
Crowded teeth make dental-friendly kibble and suitable chews genuinely useful alongside regular brushing. Slipping kneecaps and a delicate windpipe are both aggravated by spare weight, and on a frame this small a few hundred grams is a big deal. Weigh the portions and check the waist by hand.
Every dog is different — weight, age and activity all shift what a Biewer Terrier needs. The turns these breed tendencies into a shortlist matched to your dog’s age, size, budget and needs.
Typical adult weight
1.8–3.6 kg
Est. daily calories
130–290 kcal
A broad guide for an average-activity adult in good body condition — not veterinary advice. Real needs vary with age, neutering, activity, health and body condition, so no two Biewer Terriers eat exactly the same. Get a personalised estimate or estimate feeding costs.
- Per day
- ~£0.37
- Per month
- ~£11
- Per year
- ~£136
A broad typical monthly budget guide, not a live price quote. Food format, calorie density, pack size and retailer pricing all change the real cost.
Find the right food for your Biewer Terrier
Foods ranked to your dog
Answer a few quick questions and the Food Finder ranks foods to your Biewer Terrier by score, price, life stage and fit.
Breed at a glance
- Exercise needs3/10
- Appetite5/10
- Trainability6/10
- Good with children5/10
- Shedding1/10
- Tolerates being alone3/10
The good & the worth-knowing
The good
- An affectionate companion that bonds closely
- A minimally shedding silky coat
- Perfectly suited to flats and small homes
Worth knowing
- Daily brushing plus regular professional grooming
- Feeding routines need real consistency
- Too fine-boned for rough handling or toddlers
Best matched accessories
All accessories →The collections that suit the breed, judged by the same independent standard.
Common owner questions
How much should I feed my Biewer Terrier?
In the early months, small frequent meals matter more than exact grams because of the hypoglycaemia risk. As an adult, feed to a lean waistline rather than a fixed amount, and the Food Finder can suggest suitably sized, energy-appropriate foods. Little dogs run out of fuel fast.
Are Biewer Terriers easy to house-train?
They are clever and keen to please with a stubborn streak, so short, consistent, reward-based sessions work best. A predictable feeding schedule also makes toilet timing far more predictable.
Do Biewer Terriers need a lot of exercise?
No. Modest daily walks plus play and mental stimulation are usually enough. Balance the food against that reality, because extra weight strains small joints fast. A short sniffy walk means more to them than a long march.
What should I feed to help protect their teeth?
A complete food with kibble sized and textured for small, crowded jaws, alongside vet-approved dental chews and regular brushing, because crowding and plaque are the breed's standing dental problems.