BREED DEVELOPMENT OF THE BIEWER TERRIER
By Gayle Pruett, President of the Biewer Terrier Club of America (BTCA)
The BTCA, Inc. did not rely on the testing of the wisdom panel to ascertain that the Biewer was a separate breed from the Yorkie. First of all, many of the breeders in the club are long time Yorkie breeders. After acquiring their Biewers they saw the huge differences between the breeds that could not be attributed to one little color gene. This prompted them to start researching pedigrees where they found discrepancies and dates that were not matching up. At the time they had also visited many of the Kennels in Germany, whether personally or through family.
Members then sent in 10 blood samples to the Wisdom Panel and the head geneticist for Mars research contacted Us. They were fascinated with the fact that what they thought were a bunch of mutts being submitted for testing, were actually all clumping together in there own little group away from any other group. Thus the beginning of a research program that has nothing to do with the Wisdom Panel.
We spoke with J.P. about our breed, the given history and our thoughts. He told us the Wisdom Panel did not do what we wanted but he would love to work with us on another level. He would then take in over 100 blood samples, some of which were coming in from non members and do a haplotype analysis on the breed for us. These men whether they work for Mars, Purina, Royal Canin, Johnson $Johnson, or whoever are canine geneticists that specialize in one field or another.
Two years of research and the bottom line is, the Biewer Terrier is a breed distinctly its own, not a Yorkshire Terrier. Their expertise and equipment cannot tell us exactly what breeds make up the Biewer Terrier, but they were able to give us the 7 closest related genetically. We are now in contact with a geneticist that can and is not affiliated with any company. Thus we can knock out the malediction of the uneducated morons that want to argue with everything the BTCA, Inc. does. So the lengthy explanation posted on another site, of what the Wisdom Panel can do has nothing to do with the research we were involved in with Mars.
No matter what is said and done, at the end of the day there is only one club in the world that has the backing and support of the co-originator of the breed and that is the BTCA, Inc. There is only one club that is testing, researching, and breeding for the betterment of the breed and that is the BTCA, Inc.
The other club has the guidance of 2 MiKi breeders, that have nothing to do with Biewers. One of which has ripped many people off and has been known to mix a few breeds herself. They have a made up standard that was never approved of by anyone other than the MiKi breeders themselves. They continue to register and breed all the mix breeds that a person can think of that look like a Biewer. There is only one true purebred registry and that is BTRA. Until the other registries quit accepting foreign registrations on American born Biewers, you will not stop the BYB, and the Puppy Mill Greeders.
HISTORY OF THE BIEWER
The Biewer Terrier is quickly working its way into the hearts of Americans everywhere. With its lighthearted, whimsical; child like attitude, this tri-colored toy terrier is gaining popularity with dog lovers everywhere. Equally as good with children as he is with other dogs of all sizes, the Biewer Terrier is a loyal and fast friend to all he considers part of his family. Although every dog has his own unique and special personality, as a breed, the Biewer Terrier is confident, happy, fun loving and even tempered. Generally speaking, Biewers are not noisy or especially difficult in any particular way.
With the introduction of the Biewer to America in 2003, there has been much speculation about its heritage. Mr. and Mrs. Biewer had been raising and showing Yorkies for 20 years, when on January 20th, 1984 the first blue, white and gold Biewer named Schneeflocken von Friedheck was born. This was the start of what is known as the Biewer Terrier Breed.
Mr. Biewer spent 5 years selectively breeding his dogs until he was able to establish and breed true to a standard uniquely the Biewer Breed. The dogs were then registered as Biewer Yorkshire Terrier a la Pom Pon. In 1989 when Mr. Biewer signed the standard for this wonderful new breed, it was that of the Yorkshire Terrier with the coloring being White-Blue-Gold. Mr. Biewer was not a man of many words, so the standard was short and brief.
Mr. and Mrs. Biewer kept a close reign on the Biewer breeding programs in Germany, so their quality breeding dogs were hard to come by and quite costly. Mr. Biewer died in 1997, and his wife Gertrud Biewer discontinued her breeding program shortly thereafter.
The BTCA, Inc. contacted the Mars Veterinary in Feb of 2007 to see if they could help them with the genetic make up of the Biewer Terrier. It wasn’t until later in the year that they released the tests and we began submitting blood samples. After testing over 30 different lineages (100 plus dogs) to date, we have been able to show that we have a new and distinct breed, which is the Biewer Terrier. The Biewer Terrier is the result of the constructive breeding of 3 or more breeds.
In Nov. of 2007 Mrs. Biewer agreed to a meeting with representatives of the Biewer Terrier Club of America, Inc. at which time she shared important information about the early development of the breed, and the trials and errors they had gone through to reach their goal. The BTCA shared what they were doing since the arrival of the Biewers in America and the trials and tribulations they were going through. Mrs. Biewer is in full support of what the BTCA is doing for the breed and became a club member in order to help with the development of the breed in America. We are in constant contact with her, keeping her abreast the advancements of the breed and have developed a close friendship through it all.
We are proud to be taking an active part in the development of this remarkable new breed, the Biewer Terrier and we welcome everybody to become involved in this exciting part of the its history. Aside from the mandatory DNA testing required on breeding dogs, we are encouraging everyone to also have their Biewers Mars tested so that we will be better able to pair our breeders and to ensure retention of maximum diversity.
ARBA, American Rare Breed Association, has accepted the Biewer Terrier as a rare breed and the BTCA, Inc. as the National breed club for the Biewer Terrier in America. We will be showing with ARBA under the standard that they have accepted for our breed and will also exhibit with the IABCA International shows.
General Appearance is that of an elegant long haired tri-colored toy terrier with the hair parting down the middle and hanging straight and evenly on both sides of the dog, as though a comb had been used to part the hair from the nose to the end of the body. The back is level, with height at shoulders being equal to height of the rump. Although the outline of the dog gives the appearance of a square, the body length can be slightly longer than the overall height. The tail is carried high over the body in a teacup handle fashion and covered with a long flowing plume. The Biewer Terrier has a lighthearted whimsical, child like attitude. Although mischievous at times, they are obedient and make a loyal companion.
Head is slightly rounded with a moderate stop. The muzzle is approximately one-third the length of the head. Bite can be level or scissor bite. Nose is to be completely black. Eyes are medium sized and either round or almond shaped, with an intelligent expression looking straight ahead. The rims are dark in color. Ears are small, V shaped, upright, moderately wide set and covered with hair. They are set to the back of the skull and their base is level with the eyes. Tips should be shaved.
Body is fine to medium boned with a good level top line. Height at the shoulders is the same as the height at the rump. Length of the body can be slightly longer than the height of the dog. The chest comes to the elbows with a good width. The rib cage is moderately sprung with the underline being slightly tucked up and a short but strong loin.
Front legs must be absolutely straight, muscular and covered with hair. Hind legs are straight when viewed from behind and stifles are slightly bent when viewed from the side. Feet are as round as possible, with white or black nails.
Tail is carried high over the body in a teacup handle fashion and covered with a long flowing plume. Length must go to the stifles or longer.
Coat is long and flowing with a soft silky texture. Hair is straight and without an undercoat and should be at least 3/4 to the ground. Head fall is tied up into a single ponytail on top of the head and may be left hanging freely or put into a topknot.
Head coloring is (Blue/Black, White, Gold/Tan); (Blue/Black, Gold/Tan); (Gold/Tan, White) in good symmetry.
Hair coloring on back is blue or black and white. Amounts of each color are of personal preference with no dominating patterns.
Chest, Stomach, Legs and Tip of the Tail is absolutely white. The white from the chest should come up the neck to cover the chin.
Temperament of the Biewer Terrier is intelligent, loyal and very devoted to their human family. They have a fun loving, child like attitude that makes them a great companion for all ages.
Weight is 4 to 8 pounds.
Faults are a roach or rounded back, brown, gold or tan anywhere on the body, legs, or talk; pale nostrils; floppy ears; over 8 lbs.
