06/05/2024
Great information!!
Ear ye, ear ye! Let’s talk about the ears of Biewer Terriers!
The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) breed standard for the Biewer Terrier states: “Ears are small, upright, V-shaped, moderately wide set, and covered with hair except the tips being shaved.” Moderately wide set means the ears are not perched on the top of the head nor are they sticking out sideways from the head. The dog in the photo displays a correct ear set.
When Biewer Terriers are born, their ears lay a little flat and are covered with short hairs. The ears usually pop up in a few short weeks. However, as hair grows, it can weigh down the ears and cause them to flop. This is why it is so important to keep the tips shaved and the top edges scissored into a neat “V”. The ears may also get droopy during teething. If allowed to flop, the cartilage can weaken and that is why breeders sometimes give the ears a boost by shaving and taping them.
A breed standard describes how an ideal specimen of a breed looks, moves, and acts. When breeders adhere to breed standards, it ensures that when you see a Biewer Terrier walking down the street, you will instantly recognize it as a Biewer Terrier. A Biewer Terrier with floppy ears has a disqualifying fault that would prevent it from being shown in conformation.
For pet owners, it doesn’t make you love your Biewer Terriers with floppy ears any less and even the most reputable breeders can on occasion produce a Biewer Terrier whose ears don’t stay erect. However, it is important to remember that a breed standard preserves and protects the breed, and it is like a “blueprint” for ethical, reputable breeders to aim for when making breeding decisions. As such, ears would be one of a plethora of qualities for breeders to consider when choosing and pairing breeding stock.