Biewer Terrier

Most English speakers say it like the animal, beaver, and that is close enough to the German surname of the founders that nobody in the breed will correct you. In German the w sounds more like an English v, so a native speaker says something nearer to bee-ver. Either way, the name honors Werner and Gertrud Biewer, who produced the first litters.

Biewers descend from Yorkshire Terriers but have a distinct tricolor coat with large white areas, caused by a recessive piebald gene. Yorkshire Terriers are usually steel blue and tan without white. Biewers are recognized as a separate breed by the AKC and many clubs, with their own standard and breeding programs.

They can be with older, gentle children who understand how to handle a small dog. Young children may accidentally drop or step on a Biewer, causing serious injury. Supervision is important, and children should be taught to sit on the floor when holding the dog and to avoid rough play.

Very little. The coat is a single layer of fine hair that keeps growing, much like human hair, and the few loose strands tend to catch in the coat rather than land on the sofa. Some people with mild allergies find them easier to live with, though no dog is completely allergen-free. The cost is grooming: daily brushing for a long coat, or a trim every six to eight weeks.

Yes, if the larger dog is calm and the introduction is slow. Even a friendly 30 kg dog can break a Biewer's leg with one careless paw during play, so supervise closely and interrupt rough games early. Separate them when you are out, feed them apart, and give the small dog a bed or crate the big one cannot reach, so it always has a safe retreat.