Miniature Schnauzers: Is This the Right Breed of Dog for You?

The Miniature Schnauzer is a relatively small breed of dog. The American Kennel Association (AKC) groups the Miniature Schnauzer with the Terrier breeds because of its similar appearance, character and purpose. Their upper coat on the head, ears, neck, back and tail are generally trimmed short and has a wiry texture. The under coat on their chin, snout, legs, foot pads, chest and stomach area are left longer and have a fine, soft texture. Foot pad hair, while soft, will still need to be kept shaved and short. Keeping the Mini Schnauzer trimmed in this manner makes them ideal indoor pets because they do not shed. Another variation to their trim is their brow hair stays longer but trimmed and with some of the female breed you may see a tuft of soft, wavy hair on the crown of their head.

Originally from Germany in the 1800's, the Mini Schnauzer (or the Zwergschnauzer) was bred to be a farm dog to help keep vermin from the barns. They were bred from the Standard Schnauzer but were preferred because of their smaller stature for their ability to get into tighter places and general desire for a smaller schnauzer.

Their temperament is alert, active, loyal, loving, intelligent and playful. When bringing home a Miniature Schnauzer, keep in mind, they are social dogs but if left without filling their social need with other animals tend to behave like a "pack leader" and can sometimes be aggressive with other dogs. Their barks are a series of short, quick barks followed by a longer howl type bark. They are wonderful protectors and will alert you when they feel there is danger.

FAQ's : Things you may be wondering and Frequently Asked Questions revealed

Q: I'm thinking about getting a Miniature Schnauzer, but how do I know it will be right for me?

A: That depends on what YOU want in an animal. The Mini Schnauzer is a loving, dependable animal. They can be kept indoor or outdoors. If kept indoors they make terrific guard dogs that will alert you the moment they hear someone is outside. If kept well groomed, trained and healthy they make great show dogs. As mentioned above they hardly shed. You would still need to keep their under coat brushed to minimize knots. The Mini Schnauzer is very good with children and very friendly.

Q: Should I crop the ears and tail? What does that even mean?

A: Tail docking is the cutting off of the tail, leaving a small "nub" and is done when the puppy is 3-5 days old. This is prior to the nerves in their tail generating any pain. It is by no means necessary. Long ago the tail was docked because it was though the animal would not get rabies, would run faster or wouldn't be so easily bitten by the vermin it chased. Now it's more of a tradition. You may still show a Miniature Schnauzer with a natural tail but it will be penalized for not having a docked tail, making chances of winning less. If intended to breed or as a family pet it's not necessary and carries no health issues if it stays natural.

Ear cropping is the cutting of the dog's naturally long ears to make them short and pointed. The cropping is done between seven and ten weeks of age. Be sure you tell the breeder, which you prefer in both the tail docking and ear cropping cases. Ear cropping is also not necessary. The dog can be shown without cropped ears without penalty. Cropping will usually be done before you pick up your schnauzer and by a vet who knows what they are doing. The earlier they are cropped the better it is for the pup as it gives them time to heal, but if you decide later in the animal's life to get the ears cropped it's important to know they'll have to undergo anesthesia and you will have to learn to care for the ears and stitching until your pet heals. Some vets will refuse to crop the ears as it is purely cosmetic and not necessary. Be very careful with those that you leave uncropped, as they are more susceptible to ear infections. Keep their ears cleaned.

Q: How big will the Miniature Schnauzer get?

A: The males are about 12-14 inches tall, as are the females. The males tend to weigh a little more, between 12-15 lbs where the females are 11-13 lbs. This varies by breeding and food proportions, of course. The dogs are very active and remain fit if properly exercised. If you prefer a larger schnauzer, there is Giant Schnauzer which is 25 1/2 inches to 27 1/2 inches for males and the female is 23 1/2 to 25-1/2 inches tall. Standard Schnauzer which varies but are between 18-20 inches for males and 17-19 inches tall for females. Or for a smaller of the breed they are introducing the Toy Schnauzer more and they are 7-10 inches tall. The Giant and Standard can be registered but I've found nothing on the AKC website that states the Toy version can be shown.

Q: Coloring. What colors are there and which can be in shows?

A: Salt and Pepper, Solid Black and Black and Silver are the only colors recognized by AKC. However, CKC or Continental Kennel Club recognizes Salt and Pepper, Solid Black and Black and Tan. Solid white, brown (also called chocolate or liver), chocolate phantom, tan and pepper, liver pepper and silver (or variations of) are considered "rares" but are not recognized by any kennel clubs.

Q: What's all this "kennel club" hooey about?

A: American Kennel Club (AKC) and Continental Kennel Club (CKC) are two recognized in the US that I generally talk about.

When you decide you want a dog there are important things to decide. One is, do you want to show your animal at Dog Shows or is it going to be strictly a home pet? If you keep your pet at home, you will not need to worry about sizes, tail lengths, type of grooming, colors, etc. You will still need to care for the animal with the respect it deserves, such as vet treatments, shots, de-worming and grooming of their ear hair and foot pads for their well-being. If you decide you want to show the dog or there is even a possibility there are things you MUST do. You MUST decide where you will get your animal. Find places in your area that have/breed Miniature Schnauzers. Visit each one to see where they are kept and how they are treated. See the father and mother of the mini you will be bringing home and ask to see their papers. The papers will determine a couple of things. 1)That they are registered with a kennel club. If the father and mother are registered then you can easily get your pet registered as well. This is important if you decide to show or if you are trying to breed and/or later sell your pet. 2)It will determine who you can register with. If both parents are AKC then you'll likely register with them, or CKC, which ever the case may be. I am honestly unsure, if you have on parent of AKC and one of CKC, which you could or would register your pup as. Be sure to ask your breeder or someone from a kennel club.

There are fees for applications, you must know the mother and father's names as well as their #, would you like a pedigree or color photo ID, microchip ID or any other membership options. Again, be sure to ask you breeder.

Other Kennel Clubs:

CKC = Continental Kennel Club

FCI = Fédération Cynologique Internationale

AKC = American Kennel Club

UKC = United Kennel Club

KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain

CKC = Canadian Kennel Club

ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club

NKC = National Kennel Club

NZKC = New Zealand Kennel Club

APRI = American Pet Registry Inc.

ACR = American Canine Registry

Q: How much does a Miniature Schnauzer cost?

A: This varies somewhat. Be certain you ask what the costs are for everything when speaking to a breeder. Take a notebook if you like, with questions you would like to ask and write the answers you receive. Males are nearly always more expensive. Males are less trouble to breed, you can stud them out to other breeders if you have him registered and after all, they can procreate and not have to wait for pups to be born before doing it again. Prices range by the breeder and the area you are in. Males generally go for $350 but can be as high as $500. Females are less expensive because they are more work. If registered though, once pregnant she can have a litter of up to 5 pups. Not usually with her first litter. You might have 1-3, but this will vary. Not all purebreds are necessarily breeding quality. Be certain you read up on breeding if you decide to do this for financial gain and personal. Females generally go for $300 but can go up to the $450 range. It's almost always seen that the male will be $50 more than the female.

Q: Are there any health issues with this breed?

A: Every breed has issues of some sort or another. You'll never find a breed of animal that's invincible. Ask your breeder if the parents have had any health issues. Always keep shot records up to date and keep your vet appointments. That being said, the Mini is generally a very healthy breed. They have been known to get pancreatitis and/or hyperlipidemia in direct relation to high fat levels. Other problems are diabetes and kidney or bladder stones, von Willebrand's disease and hereditary eye problems. If taken care of, your pet could live as long as 12-15+ years.

Q: Ok, you've blabbed long enough. Can you sum all this up and tell me why I should get this dog?

A: Certainly! These are wonderful dogs. I've had three in my lifetime and intend to have more as soon as I can. They are absolutely wonderful with everyone from children to the elderly. They're more expensive but they are worth it with the immense amount of love they bring into your life. They are easily trained, a very few schnauzers have even been trained to sniff out cancer. Work with the pet breeder and they will work with you. They'll likely ask you many questions to fit you with the pup with just the right temperament. You may choose one they have on site, recently born, or await another litter. You may even choose one who is older and needs more care. The choice is up to you but I certainly hope this helps you in your decision.