Miniature Schnauzer, by Janice Jones, Updated 04-8-2024
Once used to patrol stables from intruders and vermin, the
Miniature Schnauzer is now a very popular companion dog. This is a breed with
much variety of temperament.
You might
hear words such as active, calm, quarrelsome, timid, high-strung, gentle and
stubborn when describing this breed.
Sometimes the dichotomy is striking—friendly and
reversed; suspicious and accepting; great with kids, poor with kids, are all
characteristics of the breed placed on it by schnauzer owners.
Much of the problems of the breed are its
popularity.
When a breed gains fame, it
tends to be over-bred especially by puppy mill breeders who do not make wise
mating decision. You end up with puppies
that have some of the worse temperaments and dogs with health problems.
Buyer beware—
the only way to adopt a
schnauzer puppy is from a
reputable breeder and not a pet store.
The breed was named for its distinctive muzzle; schnauzer
means snout or small beard in German. It
is an intelligent, confident dog and responds well to training.
They are eager to please and loyal to his family;
they make great watch dogs but not guard dogs.
Being smart, active, and athletic helps this breed do extremely well in
obedience and agility trials.
They are active and do appreciate a daily walk
and romp in the yard. Since they are so versatile,
they make great pets for people in apartments, city living, or suburban and
rural locations. Best of all, this breed
screams Personality!
They are eager to be
a part of everyday life of their favorite family but if you are looking for a
lap dog, the schnauzer may not be your best choice.
These dogs usually do well with other dogs,
but not with small pocket pets such as mice, gerbils or hamsters.
Their prey instinct is just too great for
them to distinguish other pet family members from vermin.
Appearance wise, the schnauzer is
a sturdy dog with tail docked and often ears cropped.
Ear cropping is controversial lately. The AKC standard calls for either cropped or
natural, but almost all winners at conformation shows have cropped ears. Many people view this practice as cruel and
painful with no other purpose than for cosmetic appeal.
In the UK, it is
illegal to crop dog’s ears and in the most of continental Europe, the Miniature
Schnauzer retains their naturally long tail and floppy ears. In the
U.S., Cropping usually is done around 8 weeks of age.
Their coat is a typical terrier
one with harsh, wiry outer coat and thick under coat. They do not shed much which make them a good
choice for people with allergies.
Quick Facts
Other Names Used: Mini Schnauzer
Affiliation: AKC: Terrier UK: Utility
Size
Weight 14-18 pounds
Height: 12-14 inches
Coat Type: Rough, wiry; thick undercoat
Colors: Black, White,
Salt and Pepper, Black and Silver
Country of Origin: Germany
Activity Level: Moderate
Life Expectancy: 14 years
Good with Children: Yes
Good with other pets: Yes, but not with small pocket pets
History
The Miniature Schnauzer’s history dates back to the late nineteenth
century where it developed from the Standard Schnauzer with the help of a
little mixing of the Affenpinscher and the black poodle.
German farmers need a
good assistant around the farm, but the standard schnauzers
took up too much space and were costly to feed.
A smaller version was perfect.
Its
main purpose was to guard the farm and take care of any vermin problems
although it was never breed to dig underground as most other terrier breeds.
It was first shown as a separate breed in 1899.
Breeding programs were nearly halted during
World War I and II, but the Schnauzer was brought to the United States soon
after the First World War.
It was recognized by the AKC in 1926 in the Terrier
group, and it became very popular as a companion dog.
In the UK, the breed is classified under the
Utility Group. The breed’s popularity
still remains high even today.
In 2012, the miniature schnauzer ranked 13 in
the list of AKC popular dog breeds.
By 2014, the breed was listed as being 16th in popularity.
Personality
The Miniature Schnauzer’s charm and personality is hard to
resist. He is intelligent, hardy, and
relatively healthy making him an easy dog to own.
They do well around children if properly socialized and make a good choice for people who live in the city, suburbs or
country. (Basically anywhere).
He is not only a great family dog, but is
very popular with singles and seniors as well.
He is a self-confident, devoted family member although; he is just as
likely to choose one member of the family to be his special person. This is a
very social breed and individual members don’t like being left alone for very
long.
Many schnauzer owners will have
more than one as they tend to do well with each other. But small pets, beware. He is not likely to be so friendly to your
favorite guinea pig.
He is alert and quick
to announce visitors, but due to his size, he could not be used as a guard
dog. Some are a little wary of
strangers, but others are quite friendly and outgoing.
His favorite activities are following his
favorite people around, playing, and taking walks. If you want a devoted
friend, someone who will keep you laughing, and a companion who will keep you
active throughout your life, then you may have found your perfect breed.
Grooming the Miniature Schnauzer
If you are not willing to groom
yourself or have your dog professionally groomed, this is not the breed for
you. Anyone can learn how to clip their
Schnauzer but most choose to visit the groomers every couple of months.
Miniature Schnauzers have a double coat that
consists of a soft undercoat and a top coat that is hard and wiry. Grooming usually consists of clipping with an
electric clipper or plucking or hand stripping which can be very time-consuming.
Show dogs are usually plucked where
companions are shaved. Shaving the coat
will leave it softer, whereas the hand stripping method retains the wiry
feel.
Schnauzers have a typical look or
clip which is not too difficult to learn to do it yourself. There is an excellent article on how to groom
the schnauzer on the National Breed Club’s internet site.
It is well worth the read if you think you’d
like to learn how to clip the schnauzer.
The link is given at the bottom of this page.
Nails will need to be clipped and
filed, teeth cleaned regularly, and the dog bathed whenever he is dirty.
Before bathing a dog, whether it is a
schnauzer or any other breed, it is always advisable to brush them out
completely. If brushing is not done, the
bath will set in any mats and tangles making them much harder to remove
afterwards.
Health
Well-bred miniature schnauzers are healthy, but like all
dogs they are prone to certain inherited diseases.
Just because the disease is listed below does
not mean your dog will get them. There
are many tests that breeders can do that will point out problems in their
breeding stock.
If you are interested in
a schnauzer, ask the breed which genetic tests have been done on the parents.
Allergies
Diabetes
Cataracts
Entropion
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)
Melanoma
Urinary Stones (Urolithiasis)
Congenital megaesophagus
Von Willebrand’s disease
Comedone Syndrome is so common among
Miniature Schnauzers that it’s referred to as Schnauzer bumps. Dogs with this
condition develop blackheads and scabs, usually involving the hair follicles on
the back.
Pros
- Relatively healthy breed
- Easy to train
- Good around children
- Does well in practically any setting
- Does not shed much—good for allergy sufferers
Cons
- Can be yappy
- Beware of questionable breeders
- Needs extensive grooming
Miniature Schnauzers: Pin for Future Reference
Did You Know?
The Miniature Schnauzer and the Australian terrier are the
only Terriers not to come from the British Isles?
The Miniature Schnauzer is the most
popular of the three Schnauzer breeds. (Giant, Standard & Miniature)
Resources
Breed Club:
The American
Miniature Schnauzer Club
Breed Rescue:
Visit
the national club to get a listing of local rescue organizations in your area
About Janice (author and voice behind this site)
Having lived with dogs and cats most of her life, Janice served as a veterinary technician for ten years in Maryland and twelve years as a Shih Tzu dog breeder in Ohio.
Her education includes undergraduate degrees in Psychology with a minor in biology, Early Childhood Education, and Nursing, and a master’s in Mental Health Counseling.
She is a lifelong learner, a dog lover, and passionate about the welfare of animals. Her favorite breed for over 50 years has been the Shih Tzu, but she has also lived with Poodles, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, Beagles, English Bulldogs, Carin Terriers, and a Cocker Spaniel.
When not writing, reading, and researching dog-related topics, she likes to spend time with her eight Shih Tzu dogs, husband, and family, as well as knitting and crocheting. She is also the voice behind Miracle Shih Tzu and Smart-Knit-Crocheting
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