Did you know?
Dogs’ vocal cords are quite a bit thicker and less sensitive than ours which means that they can bark longer than we can before getting a hoarse throat.
Dogs can only make about 10 sounds.
Miniature Schnauzer
A dog starv’d at his master’s gate
Predicts the ruin of the state. – William Blake
Texaxcano Daddy’s Katie
“Katie”
The Miniature Schnauzer hails from Germany where he is known as the Zwergschnauzer. He may have been created by crossing the Standard Schnauzer with smaller breeds such as the Affenpinscher and Miniature Pinscher, or he may have been bred down from the smaller specimens of the Standard Schnauzer.
The three Schnauzer breeds are the Giant Schnauzer, the Standard Schnauzer, and the Miniature Schnauzer. The Mini is the smallest of them. All the Schnauzers take their name from the German word “schnauze” which means “snout” or from the word “schnauzbart” meaning “an obvious mustache”.
Originally used for herding, protecting the flocks, and as a watchdog and barnyard ratter, the Miniature Schnauzer relies on his amazing hearing ability to locate vermin.
Today, the Miniature Schnauzer is the most popular of the three Schnauzer breeds and a treasured family pet.
Photos displayed courtesy of Beverley Boyce, Island Miniature Schnauzers, British Columbia
The Mini is a sturdy dog standing between 12 and 14 inches (30 to 36 cm) tall at the shoulder.
His coat is harsh and wiry and can be solid black, black and silver, or salt and pepper. It requires some specialized grooming as the head, neck, and body coat must be plucked. Daily brushing is required to keep the coat mat-free.
This dog can be a wonderful companion for allergy sufferers as he is naturally clean and his coat is classified as hypo-allergenic. Allergy sufferers are generally allergic to either the dander or the oils on a dog’s coat so be sure to spend time at the breeders to ensure you do not experience any symptoms.
Although he is the smallest of the Schnauzers, the Mini is the only one of the three to be classified as a terrier and he is as spirited and active as any terrier.
The Miniature Schnauzer’s engaging personality and devotion to his family make him an excellent family pet and children’s playmate. He is energetic, active, charming, and attractive. He has a naturally eager-to-please personality.
Cash Daddy’s LadyBelle
“LadyBelle”
Brujo Daddy’s Joey
“Joey”
The Miniature Schnauzer’s size makes him at home in almost any environment from urban apartment to rural farm. True to his terrier nature, he is full of energy and needs long, daily walks and time and space to play off leash. These are very playful dogs, who must have an outlet for their energy, otherwise they are smart enough to invent their own fun. You might not like the results!
Good activities for these dogs include competing in dog agility trials, obedience, conformation shows, flyball, and tracking. Schnauzers have a high prey drive, as befits a dog bred for ratting and vermin control. This means they may attack other small pets such as birds, snakes, and rodents. If raised with cats or properly trained, they should be fine with cats in the household.
The Miniature Schnauzer is intelligent and due to his eager-to-please nature, he is obedient and easily trained but requires a confident handler who is fair and consistent. Schnauzers have minds of their own and need variety in training to keep their interest.
As they are excellent watchdogs and territorial, they are natural barkers and will bark when happy, sad, bored, or notifying you of strangers. Training is required to curb this tendency and keep your neighbours happy! They are often aloof with strangers until the owners of the home welcome the guest, upon which they are typically very friendly to them.
CKC Breed Standard
Rescue Organizations