Frequently asked questions
This section contains some of the most common questions we get asked. We will keep adding more questions as time goes on. If you have a question that is not answered in this section, please do not hesitate to ask!
We chose to go into the dog breeding business because of our love for the Biewer Terrier and the Yorkshire Terrier. We want to offer to others the joy of having these little dogs as companions.
After much research, we have chosen to feed our dogs a raw diet of the brand Legacy Pet Foods. It fits our expectations and lifestyle the best. Although there are amazing benefits to raw feeding, please note that it is not for everyone. Chose a diet that best fits your abilities and health desires for your family (furry or not). Click here for a list of benefits to raw feeding. Click here for a list of benefits and concerns regarding raw feeding. These links are merely skimming the surface of the information that is available. Please research and consider all options before making your decision. Your decision will affect your dog for his or her whole life.
Rainbow Amour breeds their dams on every heat cycle, also known as “back-to-back” breeding. We have chosen this breeding style as research shows it is the healthiest way to breed dogs. After following dams bred in different ways (back-to-back, skipping, or breeding a predetermined amount of times), veterinarians and scientists discovered that dams bred back-to-back not only had larger and healthier litters, but the delivery was easier and the uterus was in better health (studied once dams were spayed) than dams bred in different ways. In May 2020, Dr Robert Hutchison, DMV, explains in detail the reasons why breeding dams this way is healthier.
Some of the Rainbow Amour dogs have tested positive for being carriers of one copy of different genetic conditions. We evaluated each result carefully and have determined that, in order to increase the genetic diversity in the Biewer Terriers, these dogs can be bred, but only after confirming that their mate is not also a carrier of the same genetic condition. Dr Adam Boyko, PhD, who works for Embark, explains why breeding carrier dogs is not a bad choice, as many believe.
Although there are many conflicting research findings and points of views in this area, at Rainbow Amour, we believe that our Biewer Terrier puppies are simply too young and fragile to go home at 8 or 9 weeks old. Larger breed puppies develop in a different way than toy breeds. In toy breeds, many puppies only start to eat solids around 5-6 weeks old, and only start to play and interact with their littermates and other dogs around 7-8 weeks old. Toy breed puppies tend to mature slower during the first three months, and therefore are not mentally ready to leave their moms and littermates at 8-9 weeks. With toy breeds maturing slower, going home at 8-9 weeks does not leave enough time for the puppies to learn all that they can from their mother, their littermates and from other dogs in the breeder’s home. These extra weeks also allow us to give each puppy three sets of vaccines and a vet visit at a time when the puppies are more developed (this gives a better look at the overall physical health). We also use this time to ensure the puppies are adequately socialized in a variety of situations.