Differences and Similarities between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier.

Last Updated: Apr 09, 2022

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Yorkshire Terrier Versus Biewer Terrier: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Yorkshire Terrier and for the Biewer Terrier. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Yorkshire Terrier or the Biewer Terrier.

Yorkshire Terrier versus Biewer Terrier

Yorkshire Terrier versus Biewer Terrier: Overview

Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier are similar in size. The Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier are both tiny-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Yorkshire Terrier belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

On the other hand, the Biewer Terrier belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Yorkshire Terrier versus Biewer Terrier: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Yorkshire Terrier to the Biewer Terrier based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier

FactorYorkshire TerrierBiewer Terrier
Does NOT Drool5/55/5
Life Span12 to 15 years12 to 15 years
Tolerates Being Alone2/53/5
Tolerates Cold Weather2/52/5
Tolerates Hot Weather2/53/5
Kid-Friendly2/54/5
Friendly Toward Strangers2/53/5
Does NOT Shed4/55/5
Easy To Groom2/54/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight4/53/5
Does NOT chew on things4/53/5
Low Prey Drive4/55/5
Dog Friendly3/53/5
Easy To Train3/53/5
Intelligence3/54/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/55/5
Good For Novice Owners4/53/5
Affectionate With Family4/55/5
General Health4/54/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor2/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs2/53/5
Weight4 to 6 pounds4 to 8 pounds
Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/55/5
Easygoing1/53/5
NOT Rambunctious1/51/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Height8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder7 to 11 inches
Average Lifespan13.5 years13.5 years
Average Price$2420$2530
Price Range$1600 – $2950$2000 – $3000
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Eye Examination prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • HYPERURICOSURIA
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Primary Lens Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Serum Bile Acid Test
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds982

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Yorkshire Terrier in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Biewer Terrier. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Yorkshire Terrier is 76 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Biewer Terrier is 89 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Biewer Terrier, we still believe that the Yorkshire Terrier is a better pet than the Biewer Terrier.

    This is because Yorkshire Terriers are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Yorkshire Terrier will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the Yorkshire Terrier :-). We are for the Yorkshire Terrier. So get a Yorkshire Terrier!

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Biewer Terrier

    The Similarities Between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier

    The Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier are most similar:

  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier are good for new dog owners.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Yorkshire Terrier versus Biewer Terrier

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier.

    The Yorkshire Terrier weighs 4 to 6 pounds when fully grown. The Yorkshire Terrier is 8 to 9 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Biewer Terrier weighs 4 to 8 pounds when fully grown. The Biewer Terrier is 7 to 11 inches when fully grown.

    Size of Yorkshire Terrier versus Size of Biewer Terrier

    Lifespan of Yorkshire Terrier versus Biewer Terrier

    The lifespan of the Yorkshire Terrier is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Yorkshire Terrier is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of the Biewer Terrier is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Biewer Terrier is 13.5 years.

    The Biewer Terrier live as long as the Yorkshire Terrier.

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Biewer Terrier

    Price of Yorkshire Terrier versus Price of Biewer Terrier

    The average price of the Yorkshire Terrier puppy is $2420. The price of the Yorkshire Terrier typically ranges from $1600 – $2950. However, the price of a Yorkshire Terrier can be as low as $300 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 957 Yorkshire Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Biewer Terrier puppy is $2530. The price of the Biewer Terrier typically ranges from $2000 – $3000. However, the price of the Biewer Terrier can be as low as $650 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 188 Biewer Terrier puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Biewer Terrier is more expensive than the Yorkshire Terrier.

    `
    Yorkshire Terrier Biewer Terrier
    Average Price $2420 $2530
    Price Range $1600 to $2950 $2000 to $3000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Yorkshire Terrier and Biewer Terrier. For different price points, the charts show how many Yorkshire Terrier puppies or how many Biewer Terrier puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Yorkshire Terriers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Yorkshire Terriers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Biewer Terriers

    A breakdown of the prices of Biewer Terriers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Yorkshire Terrier puppy or the Biewer Terrier puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Biewer Terrier

    The Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier versus Popularity of Biewer Terrier

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Yorkshire Terrier is more popular with dog owners than the Biewer Terrier. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Yorkshire Terrier is 9 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Biewer Terrier is 82 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    Popularity of Yorkshire Terrier

    Popularity of Biewer Terrier

    Popularity of Biewer Terrier

    `
    Year Yorkshire Terrier Popularity Rank Biewer Terrier Popularity Rank
    2013 6 no data
    2014 6 no data
    2015 7 no data
    2016 9 no data
    2017 9 no data
    2018 10 no data
    2019 12 no data
    2020 13 no data
    2021 13 82.0

    Health Problems of Yorkshire Terrier versus Health Problems of Biewer Terrier

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Biewer Terrier is prone to more genetic health problems than the Yorkshire Terrier.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Biewer Terrier than for the Yorkshire Terrier.

    7 health tests are recommended for Yorkshire Terrier while 8 tests are recommended for the Biewer Terrier.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Yorkshire Terriers and in Biewer Terriers.

    Yorkshire Terrier Health Problems

    Yorkshire Terriers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Yorkshire Terrier puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Yorkshire Terrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Yorkshire Terrier breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Yorkshire Terriers for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cornell DNA Bank
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- Prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Yorkshire Terriers here.

    Biewer Terrier Health Problems

    Biewer Terriers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Biewer Terrier puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Biewer Terrier puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Biewer Terrier breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Biewer Terriers for:

  • Degenerative Myelopathy
  • Eye Examination prior to the onset of breeding, recommend evaluations at 1, 3, and 6 Years of Age.
  • HYPERURICOSURIA
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Primary Lens Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Serum Bile Acid Test

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Biewer Terriers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Yorkshire Terriers and Biewer Terriers

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Yorkshire Terrier Breed is Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

    This is because the Yorkshire Terrier ranks 1 out of 40 dog breeds for Legg-Calve-Perthes problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 321 Yorkshire Terriers, 9 of them had Legg-Calve-Perthes problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Yorkshire Terriers, and how common these diseases are in Yorkshire Terriers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 1 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 3 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 23 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 88 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 159 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Biewer Terrier Breed is Patella problems.

    This is because the Biewer Terrier ranks 10 out of 145 dog breeds for Patella problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 298 Biewer Terriers, 25 of them had Patella problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Biewer Terriers, and how common these diseases are in Biewer Terriers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Patella problems: Rank 10 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 41 out of 182 Dog Breeds

  • The table below lists the common health problems in Yorkshire Terrier and in Biewer Terrier and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier:

    `
    Disease Yorkshire Terrier Rank Biewer Terrier Rank
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems 1 out of 40 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 3 out of 145 dog breeds 10 out of 145 dog breeds
    Dentition Database problems 23 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Eyes problems 88 out of 182 dog breeds 41 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 159 out of 198 dog breeds Not Common

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Yorkshire Terrier versus Biewer Terrier

    Yorkshire Terriers do not like to be left alone.

    Biewer Terriers can be left alone only for a short time.

    Do Yorkshire Terriers shed more than Biewer Terriers?

    Yorkshire Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Biewer Terriers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Yorkshire Terrier or the Biewer Terrier?

    Yorkshire Terriers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Biewer Terriers are very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Yorkshire Terrier or the Biewer Terrier?

    Yorkshire Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Biewer Terriers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Yorkshire Terriers good family dogs? What about Biewer Terriers?

    Yorkshire Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Biewer Terriers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Yorkshire Terrier Easier to Train than the Biewer Terrier?

    Yorkshire Terriers are fairly easy to train.

    Biewer Terriers are fairly easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Yorkshire Terrier or the Biewer Terrier

    Yorkshire Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Biewer Terriers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Yorkshire Terriers and Biewer Terriers?

    Yorkshire Terriers do not get along well with kids. They are not kid-friendly.

    Biewer Terriers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Yorkshire Terrier Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Biewer Terrier?

    Yorkshire Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Biewer Terriers have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Do Yorkshire Terriers Bark and Howl? What about Biewer Terriers?

    Yorkshire Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Biewer Terriers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Yorkshire Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Biewer Terriers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Biewer Terriers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Wanderlust Potential: Yorkshire Terrier vs. Biewer Terrier

    Yorkshire Terriers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Biewer Terriers do not have the potential to wander after things that capture their attention. They tend to stay around where you leave them.

    Can Yorkshire Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Biewer Terriers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Yorkshire Terriers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Biewer Terriers can tolerate hot weather as long as the weather is not too hot.

    Is the Yorkshire Terrier Better for Apartment Owners than the Biewer Terrier?

    Yorkshire Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Biewer Terriers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Yorkshire Terrier or the Biewer Terrier?

    Yorkshire Terriers are very good for new dog owners.

    Biewer Terriers are OK for new dog owners.

    Yorkshire Terrier Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Yorkshire Terrier compares to other breeds aside from the Biewer Terrier. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Yorkshire Terrier to other breeds:

    Yorkshire Terrier versus Giant Schnauzer     Yorkshire Terrier versus Azawakh     Yorkshire Terrier versus Border Collie     Yorkshire Terrier versus Catahoula Bulldog     Yorkshire Terrier versus Great Dane     Yorkshire Terrier versus Karelian Bear Dog     Yorkshire Terrier versus Chihuahua     Yorkshire Terrier versus Schipperke     Yorkshire Terrier versus Boxer     Yorkshire Terrier versus Sealyham Terrier     Yorkshire Terrier versus German Wirehaired Pointer     Yorkshire Terrier versus Briard     Yorkshire Terrier versus Sussex Spaniel     Yorkshire Terrier versus Vizsla     Yorkshire Terrier versus Bedlington Terrier     

    Conclusion: Yorkshire Terrier versus Biewer Terrier. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Yorkshire Terrier and the Biewer Terrier better suits you and your family.