Biewer History

 Have you found yourself asking questions about where this breed came from and why you've never heard of them before? Or maybe you've seen one and wondered why they are so rare and expensive? Believe me... we've shared the same questions. Let me introduce you to the wonderful world of Biewers!!! 

 For more than 30 years, the Biewer has enchanted many with their elegant coloring and sweet disposition.  The Biewer has a whimsical, light hearted personality and is very playful.  They are unique, confident, happy little dogs who have individual personality traits that make them extra-special.  Biewers are good with children, other family pets, and are neither yappy nor frail. They are non-shedding, hypo-allergenic, and make wonderful companions whether you live in a large home or a small apartment. They are content to love and be loved by all who own them.

The Biewer, pronounced (Beeva) originated in Hunsruck, Germany in 1984.  After raising and showing Yorkshire Terriers for 20 years, Werner & Gertrude Biewer created the first Biewer through the occurrence of a recessive piebald gene in their Yorkshire Terriers.  "Darling von Friedheck" and Fru Fru von Friedheck" were the original pair used to begin the Biewer foundation stock.

Both dogs were blue and tan world youth winners in 1981 at Dortmund. Their mating produced the first blue, white, and gold Biewer, "Schneeflocken von Friedheck", born in January of 1984. Through selective breeding, the couple continued to reproduce the signature head piece with all three colors, blue/black, white, and gold in good symmetry. The belly, chest, legs, and tip of the tail were characteristically white and silky, not curly. The tail meant to be full. The back colored blue/black with white in it. The Yorkshire Terriers that produced the Biewer originated from the Streamglen Kennel.

There is some speculation, although not substantiated, that an accidental crossbreeding may have occurred in this kennel that did not show up until many generations later through Mr. Biewer’s dogs. Mr. and Mrs. Biewer had 4 Yorkies from Steamglen, two of which produced the tri-colored dog. 

Mr. Biewer first introduced his tri-colored dogs to the show ring in March of 1988 at Wiesbaden, Germany. He presented two dogs and called them Black and White Yorkshire Terriers. The VDH denied the acceptance of the dogs being a breed of their own. Instead, they were designated as being “the wrong color, not for breeding”. Mr. Biewer was unhappy with this decision and began his search for a registry that would accept his beloved dogs as a separate breed. The ACH (Allgemeiner Club der Hundefreunde Deutschland e.V.) was the first club to accept them as a distinct and separate breed. The dogs were then registered as Biewer Yorkshire a’ la Pom Pon.

The name “a’ la Pom Pon” came from a unique story. While dining one evening, the husband of singer Margot Eskens presented his wife with a Biewer Yorkshire puppy on a platter as a gift. The phrase “a’ la Pom Pon” is French and translates “a tassel or colorful ball of yarn”, which described the puppy’s hair perfectly.

In 1989 the Biewer was accepted as its own breed with the ACH German e.V. When Mr. Biewer signed the standard for the Biewer Yorkshire a’ la Pom Pon, it was that of a Yorkshire Terrier with the coloring being white-blue-gold. The standard was short and brief at the time.

Other breeders were intrigued with the little dogs and began breeding them as well. Among the first breeders were the “Agridesheim” and “Sonnenhof” Kennels. 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 were quiet costly. Mr. Biewer passed away in 1997, but his legacy lives on through his exquisite breed. After Mr. Biewer’s death, many breeders took short cuts in their attempts to create the perfect Biewer. We will never know the complete truth about the beginnings of this exquisite breed, but we will protect their legacy until the end.

By the year 2000, the Biewer had lost its popularitiy in Germany and the number of breeders had dwindled significantly. It wasn’t until the breed was introduced in America that its popularity revitalized. Because the Breed Standard had not been perfected during that time, it has been the cause of many debates among today’s breeders.  Early pictures primarily show only two colors in the head piece and the body was predominantly more black than blue.

North America's Biewer History

We have Donna Hall to thank for introducing the Biewer to North American soil in 2003. Her work prior to the Biewer is quite impressive. Donna has been active in the Canine Fancy since 1975 and her contributions and commitment to the Canine Rare Breed community have not gone unnoticed. Donna participated abroad in many international dog shows and was actively involved with the Ibizan Hound and Shar-Pei breeds prior to their recognition by AKC. Donna's fascination with the Rare Breeds came early in her show career when she acquired her first Ibizan Hound.  She was also very active with the rare breed Basenji, performing well in the show ring.  Donna was active in her local club, holding the office of President, and was involved in the very first Basenji Lure coursing Club; however, it was while showing her Shar-Pei that Donna was introduced to the United Kennel Club.  The UKC fascinated Donna and gave her another venue in which to show her breed. Donna's Shar-Pei Flyers became the first Champions of their breed in UKC history.  Although the Shar-Pei was lovely, it was not what Donna was looking for in a new breed.  Donna's love for the toy breed's came to the forefront in 1992 when she was introduced to the Mi-Ki.  She soon started training and showing this little breed everywhere she could.  There were no stud books, so Donna became the founder of the first Stud books on the breed.  A UKC judge informed Donna that under their rules and regulations, a breed of dog that was not yet recognized by UKC could be shown in the miscellaneous class.  So Donna helped co-found the first Miki Club, held shows, and obtained the first Miki Club championship and the first Miki Club grand championship. 

It was during Donna's trip to Germany, while showing at a European exhibition, that she was first introduced to the tiny, animated little breed we know today as the Biewer.  Donna was intrigued with the tri-colored little dogs and made arrangements to visit a kennel while in Germany.  Ultimately, she met a breeder and placed a reserve on a future breeding.  When Donna returned to America she founded the first American Mother Club, The American Biewer Club (ABC or sometimes known as Biewer Club of America).  Donna began contacting several American Rare Breed Clubs and requested consideration for the Biewer Breed to be exhibited in conformation events.  She was successful in gaining recognition for the Biewer to be shown with the International All Breed Canine Association, as well as the North American Rarities. 

The International All Breed Canine Association, also known as the IABCA, was the first show venue to allow entry to the Biewer in June of 2003.  The first two Biewers to enter the show ring in the US were a little male called Decoration and a female called Delux, both imported at the same time. Decoration was the first German Biewer to receive his Championship and the first of his breed to win Best in Show.  During the early years, a beautiful male named Quigi held the most Best in Show titles.  Since those historic shows, numerous Biewers have been shown at sanctioned IABCA shows in the United States and Canada. 

Following acceptance by IABCA, the Biewer was allowed to be shown in Rarities, better known as NAKC or the North American Kennel Club.  In 2004, The American Biewer Club held its first National Specialty, with Diana taking Best of Breed.  She was a beautiful predominately white female with nice bone structure and a perfectly level top line. 

The American Biewer Club, also known as the Biewer Club of America, and its membership stayed true to the original Biewer Breed Standard set forth in Germany under UCI/RVD (reference number of 00/490).  They were partners with the original German Biewer Club.  The North American Kennel Club also chose to follow the Standard submitted by Donna Hall and the American Biewer Club.  Today, the Biewer Breed Club of America (BBCA) continues to show under the same original Standard and with the same venues. 

The BBCA has been an integral part of the Biewer's history in the United States. Our members have won numerous awards in the show ring. Top Dog, Top Bitch, Best in Show, Best Bred By... are just a few. The majority of our breeding pairs hold one or multiple titles before becoming parents to future litters. Our members have had their dogs featured in pet store ads (such as Pets Mart), magazines (such as Martha Stuart and dog magazines), and have even appeared on popular dog food bags. Some of our dogs are trained in agility and some have been very effective therapy dogs. The BBCA has been active in the fight against liver shunt as well as many other health related issues that affect our breed. Our commitment to research concerning their future is of the utmost importance to us.