Grooming
A distinctive trait of the Biewer Terrier is that luxurious, silky coat. Plan on brushing their hair every day with a pin brush without balls on the ends, like the Kenshii Oval Metal Pin Dog & Cat Brush. Those balls on the end can pull the hair and break it. To help prevent breakage, first, spray the coat with a conditioner. Follow with a metal comb to ensure you got all the tangles out. And good news on the shedding front—Biewer Terriers barely shed at all. Any flyaways can be taken care of with the brush and comb. While you’re brushing your pup, be sure to check their ears for any dirt, debris, redness or swelling. If you notice anything unusual, contact your vet, who may advise you to clean their ears.
Some pet parents keep their dog in a puppy cut (one length all over their body, about one to two inches) to keep their coat maintenance to a minimum. This will require more trips to the groomer to maintain than their traditional, longer haircut (maybe every four to six weeks), but who doesn’t love a day at the spa?
Dental care is just as important for dogs as it is for humans. Brush your pup’s teeth every day. Start when your Biewer Terrier is a puppy, so they’ll get used to the feeling. And once a year, have them professionally cleaned by your vet.
You can give a bath as frequently as once a week if your pup gets dirty, and be sure to use a shampoo made specifically for dogs. After a bath is the perfect time to trim their nails (the water makes the nails softer and easier to trim). You’ll know it’s time when you can hear your pup coming with the familiar tippity-tapping song they play on your hardwood floors.
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Training
Biewer Terriers are very intelligent and some can be strong-willed. They will try to push your boundaries. Be consistent and use lots of treats, praise and playtimes with special toys to reward them for their good work, and you’ll win them over.
Obedience training teaches your Biewer puppy the basics, like sit, stay and come and how to walk nicely on a leash. Leash skills are important; these dogs are descended from working dogs who were bred to hunt vermin, so they’ll want to chase all the things!
Like other small dogs, you may find potty training takes more time. Why? They have small bladders and need to go out more frequently, and their “must-potty-now” cues aren’t as obvious as, say, a Great Dane’s. Consistency is the key. Be sure to take your pup out about 20 minutes after every meal and reward them right after they potty outside; don’t wait to come in before you give them their reward. Use the same cue words, like “Let’s go potty,” so they start to learn what it means.
Crate training is a great way to help potty train your Biewer puppy. Dogs like to keep their “dens” clean, and a crate that’s just the right size mimics that den-like feel. Find a crate that fits the “goldilocks” zone: not too small and not too large. You want one with enough room in which they can turn around, but not one so large your puppy chooses to use one end as a bathroom.
Even though Biewers are the social type, they still need proper socialization. This means exposing them to the big, wide world and introducing them to new people, other dogs and situations. Leashed walks are one way to help. Another is enrolling your dog in puppy school. Puppy school is a fab opportunity for puppies to learn how to play nicely with each other and meet new people all in one environment.
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Diet
It’s important to feed your dog a complete, balanced diet, and Biewer Terriers do well on high-quality, commercial dog food. You might want to choose one specially formulated for toy-sized dogs. Be sure to use a formula for their age and stage in life (puppy, adult, senior) and make sure it meets the nutritional guidelines established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials.
Biewers tend to have sensitive stomachs, and though they may beg for a bite of your bacon, resist the urge to give them people food. If you notice your pup isn’t eating, drools or vomits a lot, talk with your vet to see if your pup needs to switch-up their chow.
Be careful of weight gain as even an extra pound (maybe less for this precious pooch) can lead to health problems like heart disease or joint issues. As you plan your pup’s mealtime portions, don’t forget to count the treats you give during training or just because you love your pup. Those calories count! If you notice your pup starting to look a little, um, Rubenesque? Chat with your vet. They’re in the best position to help you put together a plan to shed the weight and still maintain your pup’s optimal nutritional levels.
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Exercise
These energetic pups may love time on your lap, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need to play. These tiny dogs do well with about 30 minutes of exercise every day. Take your pup on a couple of walks around the neighborhood (always use a leash!), play fetch with them in the backyard and have a few puzzle toys for them to solve around the home.
Like other terriers, they are surprisingly speedy for their size, but they aren’t good jogging buddies. Games in the backyard (like fetch or hide-and-seek) give them the chance to stretch their legs and get in a good run. These dogs enjoy the outdoors, so take them on outings. (But you may want to have a backpack for your pooch if you’re walking too far. They have little legs.) And even though they’re tiny, they do really well at dog sports, like agility.
When you’re outside with your Biewer, always have them on a leash when you’re not in an enclosed area, like a fenced backyard. These pups were born to hunt vermin, so they’ll chase anything they think needs chasing. And they don’t understand the need to look both ways before crossing streets. A passing owl or falcon may mistake your pup for their dinner, so don’t leave them by themselves in your backyard.
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Environment
Biewer Terriers love their family—no matter if that’s just you or a home with a lot of kids and other animals, even cats! They love to be where the action is, especially if they’re at the center of it. And they’re quite willing to share the spotlight.
Even though they love helping to host your house parties and meeting new people, it’s important to keep an eye on this diminutive pup. They can be accidentally stepped on by people or larger dogs; tiny tots may not realize their strength and accidentally injure a Biewer.
These dogs are happy in any living space, and they’ll thrive in apartments—just be sure their daily exercise needs are met. They do best when someone is home with them for most of the day so make sure your lifestyle matches their needs. If you have to be gone for more than a few hours, check them into doggie daycare or arrange for a pet sitter or neighbor to come by and play with them for a while.
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