We frequently receive emails enquiring about the size and prices of Biewer Terriers. We would like to respond to these inquiries as accurately as possible.
Size:
Please keep in mind that the Biewer Terrier is a relatively new breed.
Foundation dogs were imported from Europe and the USA into South Africa.
The breeders have not been able to build linage profiles as of yet.
The BTCsa is extremely appreciative of the time and effort Dr. Cindy Harper of Onderstepoort is devoting to the capture of scientific data and statistics which greatly contributes to the development of the Biewer Terriers.
It is not possible to give any guarantees at this point in time. Establishing the Biewer breed in South Africa will take at least 10 years before breeders can be more accurate in estimating size, health, characteristics and ultimately price.
In our breeding program we have Biewers ranging from 1,8kg up to 3,6kg.
The Biewer Terrier Standard calls for a weight of up to 3,6kg.
To answer the question - how big do they get? The objective is to breed a general size between 1, 6 kg - 2, 8 kg. Classification; A toy terrier.
We do sporadically have smaller Biewer terriers; approximately 1,2kg in adult weight. However there are no connotations to the Biewer terriers like with the Yorkshire terrier i.e. Teacups, pockets, etc. The Biewer terriers should also not be confused with the Yorkies. They are an exclusive breed in their own right.
Price:
All prices quoted by Biewer terrier breeders, (please only contact a Biewer terrier breeder listed on the BTCsa Club website) will only be for pets. Breeders have the right to neuter all biewers before placing them out as pets. Breeding restrictions will apply. It will be considered a criminal offense to breed a Biewer terrier without the permission of the breeder, unless you have purchased the right to breeding a specific animal. All Breeders are obligated to sign a breeders code of conduct, which must be adhered to.
As the Biewer terrier is still a developing breed, and will be for a few more years, breeders cannot give any guarantees regarding how puppies or breeding dogs will turn out. It is therefore at the risk and the responsibility of the new breeder to evaluate the Biewer as an adult to determine conformation, coat, correct occlusion, testicle descent, colouring etc.
Many breeders have older puppies available, that has been excluded from a breeding program; these older pups/Biewers are made available for adoption at minimal cost.
Several factors influence the price of a puppy:
• Show quality. Good symmetrical colouring. Markings.
• Best in Show on champion bloodlines.
• Breeding or non breeding.
• There is no difference in price for a 1,4kg or a 3,00kg Biewer terrier.
• Female pets are more expensive due to the fact that more males are born than females. Additional fact is that males do have more zesty personalities.
Therefore the price of a puppy is usually determined after birth by each individual South African breeder, who in turn determines the final asking price for their pet Biewers.
Guidelines for pricing;
• Male R6000 – R12000
• Females R10000 – R16000
• Breeding male or female R25 000 - R30 000 plus. Studs are not necessarily cheaper than females, stud fees R15 000 amongst breeders or a puppy of their choice.
It is not unusual for a Biewer terrier puppy to only leave the breeder at the age of 10/12 weeks.
It is not as easy as it looks.
Breeding Biewer Terriers or Yorkies or any other pure bred dog with excellent breed traits can be very challenging.
Breeding is a skill which takes up an enormous amount of time, energy and experience to get it right, not even mentioning the financial aspect. Copulation does not always just happen. You might have to try 4 different males to a female before you are objectively satisfied with the outcome, still no guarantee of a Best in Show. Now you are only in your 4th year of breeding. Putting two dogs together does not give you the best of a breed. If you are breeding just to produce more unwanted pups, please stop.
Veterinarians have been performing pediatric spay/neuters for animal shelters since the 1980s. "What is not commonly known is that in the 1900s it was recommended to neuter animals before puberty, and in some cases, soon after weaning," "Texts from the 1950s also recommended doing it at five months of age or before puberty, using Nembutal or ether anesthesia. Pediatric neutering is not a new concept!"
Cheryl Nims states: "I strongly recommend early neutering to my customers but some are hard to sell on it as their vets are so misinformed. I think the time is coming soon that I will not let them make the decision and just neuter all the males. If they do not like it that is just tough. You can't beat a neutered male for a pet."
The BTCsa recommends neutering and spaying for
your loving pet's own well-being.
May 01, 2011
Dear All
Have any of you wondered why the BTCSA have a Breeders Code of Conduct? No, it is not because I have nothing else to do or because I feel the need to control what you do with your dogs! We are fortunate to be part of a historical group of people who are pionering the development of a new breed. And it is not just our little group in South Africa, it is part of the world wide effort to produce a unique new breed of dog. What a wonderful opportunity!!!
It is because we have these set of rules that we were able to convince KUSA to have a look at the Biewer Terrier. In discussions with members of the Federal Council of KUSA, I was asked how we can prove that these dogs are different from other terriers, especially the Yorkshire Terrier, and not just a colour varient of a Yorkshire terrier. Just saying that I know they are different because I know, definitely does not work any more! Thanks to genetic work done by Gayle Pruett and Myrna Torres in the USA, I could on a scientific base prove that they are a seperate breed. The fact that we do DNA testing not only to determine parentage, but also to have definitive identification of the individual dog helped us to prove to KUSA not only that our dogs are a new developing breed, but that we have checks and balances in place to protect our breed.
Most of us invested heavily financially in our dogs and need to protect our breed and market. I have been informed of people wanting to buy Biewer puppies to breed with and to cross breed with Yorkies and to flood the market with "white" or "parti" Yorkies. Backyard breeders are buying Biewers, signing contracts to sterilize them, but then ending up breeding with them anyway, never doing DNA's or chipping them, and selling them as Biewers at Biewer prices. These "breeders" are breeding unscupiously, with no control over them and we give them the genetic material to hang us with.
In our Breeders Code of Conduct, we have rules to ensure the development of a healthy dog, including size limitations. Again, this is not to "nail" the BTCSA members, but because the idea is to establish a breed that consists of healthy strong dogs that require very little or any intervention as far as health and breeding is concerned. We are trying to develop a breed that has as few as possible medical problems as possible. If you look at other breeds with genetic based problems such as hip, knee and elbow dysplasias, liver shunts, heart problems, mega oesophagus, dental problems, skin and gastro-intestinal problems, hydrocephalus and many more, do you not feel that is worth our while to be careful and avoid breeding with dogs that will give us these problems. Do we really want to encourage irresponsible breeding where it again is more about selling lots + lots of puppies, irrespective of genetic problems that will plague the breed forever? If we are going to encourage this type of breeding, why don't we just breed cute, colourful, bat eared tea cup sized mongrels? To quote : "do we really need more mixed breed dogs in South Africa?"
As a veterinarian I constantly hear that people (non-breeders) only wanting 1 or 2 litters so that the kids can see, so that they can earn their extravagant price back, or because their little dog is so cute and they want to give 1 to their family and friends. And then their family and friends also just want 1 or 2 litters each and soon the SPCA is full of unsterilized Biewers and then we need to start a Biewer Rescue Group. We as breeders should actively discourage this and not encourage it by organising matings (and thereby giving your genetic material to them) and encourage further diluting your own market place.These dogs usually do not conform to breed standards, the owners are not bound by any code of conduct and foul up our chances of getting full recognition by KUSA!
We are currently busy with an investigation into above transgressions. Other breeders have been expelled from the BTCSA because of similar transgressions, as it brings the club and all of us as Biewer Breeders in disrepute. If you are not serious about your chosen breed, don't spoil the Biewer Experience for the rest of us.
Marianne
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