The difference between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Biewer Terrier is the docked tail, the coat color, and the temperament. In the USA, Yorkshire Terriers have docked tails, while Biewer Terriers have a long tail. Pure-bred Yorkies are usually Black & Tan colored while Biewer Terriers are always Tri-colored.
Another difference between a Yorkshire Terrier and a Biewer Terrier is their disposition. Biewer Terriers are not very terrier-like. They are sweeter and more patient, and not as hyper or demanding as some Yorkshire Terriers can be. Biewer Terriers do not bark a lot and get along with kids of all ages and other pets. They love all people, even strangers.
Several of our Biewer pups perform therapy work in schools, nursing homes, and hospitals. Biewer Terriers don’t growl or nip at people like other toy breeds tend to do.
The first Biewer Terrier was born in Germany in 1984 from 2 blue & tan-colored Yorkshire Terriers. Both parents carried a piebald (white) gene, which caused the puppy to be tri-colored like a Parti Yorkie. Mr. & Mrs. Biewer repeated those breedings and had many more tri-colored Yorkshire Terrier puppies in their litters. The Breed was then called Biewer Yorkshire Terrier in Germany.
In the beginning, other breeders picked up the breed and started creating their own lines. DNA testing has shown that breeds like Maltese, Bichon Frise, Havanese, and other toy breeds were introduced in the early stages of the Biewer Yorkshire Terrier which is the reason for the difference in their disposition. Biewer Terriers are less yappy and less terrier-like.
In order to create a new pure toy breed in the US, only Biewer to Biewer breedings were eligible to register with the new breed name “Biewer Terrier” in the US. Mars veterinarian established a DNA test to evaluate how purebred the Biewer Terrier is nowadays and only purebred dogs have been accepted to register with the American Kennel Club.