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Biewer Yorkie
Biewer yorkies are a variation of the breed. Unlike regular Yorkshire Terriers, biewer yorkies have patches of white fur along with the standard black and tan coloring. These white patches represent areas which lack pigmentation. Although biewer yorkies are growing in popularity in the United States, they are still not recognized as an official breed in the country except by the American Canine Registry.
The first biewer yorkies occurred completely by accident. Gertrude and Werner Biewer were breeding their two yorkies, Darling of Friedheck and Frufru of Friedheck, in Germany in 1984. What the Biewers didn't realize was that both of their dogs carried a recessive piebald gene. Piebald refers to patches of skin which have no pigment so they appear white. Since the gene is recessive, it usually has no impact on the appearance of yorkie puppies. When the two versions of the gene combined, however, they produced a yorkie with the distinct appearance which characterizes biewer yorkies today.
The Biewers loved this new variation and called their puppies Biewer Yorkshire a la Pom Pon. They also began engaging in selective breeding in an attempt to create more of the adorable biewer yorkies. By 2003, the first club associated with this type of yorkie was formed which is a testament to its quickly spreading popularity.
If you are interested adding biewer yorkies to your home, you must be careful. Not all biewer yorkies earn that label legitimately. Some breeders have found it easier to breed ordinary yorkies with Shih-Tzu dogs, instead of doing the kind of selective breeding the Biewers were conducting in Germany. After two generations, this combination will result in puppies who have the markings of biewer yorkies, but who will not be true biewer yorkies. Every year, unsuspecting dog buyers spend hundreds of dollars for biewer yorkies only to later learn they actually bought what most would classify as a mutt.
To protect yourself, you should closely examine the biewer yorkies before you buy them. If their coat is wavy or coarse or their face resembles that of a Shih-Tzu, you should be wary. You should also ask to look at both parents or to view their registration papers. Breeders who can't or won't provide you with evidence of the dog's lineage, then you should keep shopping. Reputable breeders of biewer yorkies won't have any trouble producing such documentation.
Eventually, biewer yorkies will probably receive the same notoriety as traditional yorkies. As more people become interested in this breed and its distinctive coloration, it will be only a matter of time before they begin making appearances at dog shows and other canine exhibitions. Until then, if you have a fondness for yorkies buy want a pet which is also unique you may want to consider biewer yorkies.
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