Origin
Hutten, Germany, 1984. Werner and Gertrud Biewer noticed a piebald (tri-color) puppy in a Yorkie litter and selectively bred toward the trait. AKC recognized the breed in 2021.
Biewer Terriers
The Biewer Terrier — explained by a breeder
A complete guide to the breed, from a breeder who raises Biewers and Yorkies side-by-side in Utah.
The Biewer Terrier (pronounced "BEE-vair") is a small, elegant tri-color terrier — black, white, and tan/gold — originally bred in Germany in the 1980s. AKC-recognized since 2021, the Biewer descended from Yorkshire Terriers but has been genetically distinct for over eighteen years. They're gentle, affectionate, and built for life as a family companion.
The Biewer Terrier in 60 seconds
Coat
Silky, hypoallergenic single-coat hair (not fur). Always tri-color: black, white, and a tan or golden patch on the face/legs. Plush feeling. Long if grown out, easily trimmed for a "teddy bear" look.
Adult size
Typically 4 to 8 lbs full-grown. Our Designer Yorkies Biewers run a little smaller on average — some charting around 3.5 lbs. See specific puppies on the Puppies page.
Temperament
Gentle, playful, social, intelligent. Less yappy than a traditional Yorkie. Bonds strongly with the whole family rather than picking one person. Excellent first-dog for gentle households.
Good for
Apartments, condos, retirees, families with respectful children, second-dog homes. Travels beautifully (carry-on size). Loves a warm lap.
Hypoallergenic?
As close as it gets. Biewer hair grows like human hair — they don't shed seasonally, and the single coat releases far fewer allergens than a double-coated dog. Always meet one first if you have known allergies.
Biewer Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier
We raise both, side-by-side, in our home. After eighteen years, here's what we actually see — beyond the breed-standard paperwork.
Biewer Terrier
- Coat: Always tri-color (black + white + tan)
- Size: Typically 4–8 lbs
- Personality: Calmer, more social with strangers
- Bond style: Whole-family bonder
- Energy: Moderate — playful then snuggly
- Vocal level: Quieter
- Registry: AKC (since 2021), BTCA
Yorkshire Terrier
- Coat: Steel-blue and tan (classic)
- Size: Typically 4–7 lbs
- Personality: Bolder, more confident
- Bond style: Often picks one favorite person
- Energy: Higher — terrier spunk shows
- Vocal level: More alert-barking
- Registry: AKC (since 1885)
Both breeds thrive in the same kind of home — gentle, attentive, indoor-focused. The "right" one for you usually comes down to energy level (Biewers are calmer) and look(Yorkie steel-and-tan vs Biewer tri-color). We can talk through the choice with you — just reach out on the Contact page.
Biewer Terrier vs Parti Yorkie
People often mistake a Biewer for a "parti Yorkie." They look similar at a glance — both are tri-color little dogs. But they're not the same thing.
A Parti Yorkie is a Yorkshire Terrier that carries the recessive piebald gene — same breed as a steel-and-tan Yorkie, just with white markings. A Biewer Terrier is a separate breed that descended from a particular Yorkie line in Germany and has been bred true to its own standard for over eighteen years.
Genetically, a properly-pedigreed Biewer should test as a distinct breed on Embark, not as a Yorkshire Terrier with piebald markings. We breed both — our Parti Yorkies are listed under our Yorkie program, and our Biewers under the Biewer program.
From Us
Why we added Biewers to the program
We added Biewer Terriers to Designer Yorkies because we kept meeting families who wanted everything a Yorkie brings — the size, the silky coat, the lap-buddy heart — but in a softer, slightly calmer package. The Biewer delivers exactly that.
They're also a perfect breed for families with a Yorkie already at home. The two get along beautifully — they're cousins, after all. About a third of our Biewer placements go to families with an older Yorkie from us already in the house.
Every Biewer parent in our program is AKC-registered (since 2021 recognition), Embark health-tested, and lives in our home — never a kennel. They sleep on the couch, play in the yard, and raise their litters underfoot.
— The Designer Yorkies family
Health-first standards
Embark genetic testing
Every Biewer parent is tested for 250+ heritable conditions before being bred. Results available on request.
1-year health guarantee
Every Biewer goes home with a written 1-year health guarantee covering life-threatening congenital and hereditary defects. Read it.
AKC registration available
AKC registration available for show prospects and future breeding programs.
Ready to meet a Biewer of your own?
See who's currently available, or join the wait list to be first in line for our next Biewer litter.