Miniature Schnauzer Breed Guide

Dog Breed:

Miniature Schnauzer

Breed Group:

The terrier group (in the US)

Characteristics:

Playful, bright, friendly, trainable. A small, sturdy dog with an outgoing personality!

Height:

12 – 14 inches

Weight:

11-20 pounds

Life Span:

12 – 15 years

Coat Colors:

Salt and pepper, silver and black, plain black

Area of Origin:

Germany in the mid to late 19th century

Best For:

A variety of families who want a playful companion dog

Friendliness

Intelligence

Good for First-Time Owners

Good with Children

Easy to Train

Exercise Requirements

Ease of Grooming

Amount of Shedding

Amount of Drooling

Tendency to Bark

The Miniature Schnauzer is a small to medium-sized dog, who is sturdy and lively. They are square-shaped with a strong rectangular head and classic beard, mustache, and eyebrow combination. This makes them quite an expressive-looking breed. Their ears are usually floppy though ear cropping is something seen in this breed on occasion (an illegal practice in many countries such as the UK or Australia). They have a tough wiry grey topcoat and the majority are salt and pepper in colour.

This breed is intelligent and usually charming, though they can be a bit standoffish with people they don’t yet know. They will enjoy play and exercise with enthusiasm, but also make good loyal, companions.

This breed is friendly with people it knows, and their good temperament will mean they will suit many different family situations. They will be just as happy living in the city centre as they will in the countryside, provided they receive enough daily exercise.

The Miniature Schnauzer was first recorded in 1888, having been bred from the larger Standard Schnauzer breed. The name is derived from the which German word for muzzle is ‘Schnauze’, alluding to the beard on the muzzle of this dog (which has been retained in its miniature version). The Schnauzer is a much older breed, thought to have originated from as far back as the 15th century. This larger dog was a versatile working farm dog. They were used for pulling carts of produce, herding sheep and cattle, and acted as a guard dog too. They provided pest control too, keeping rat populations down on farms, something that was passed on to its smaller descendants.

It is thought that the Standard Schnauzer was bred with the Affenpinscher and/or miniature poodles, both much smaller dogs, which brought the size of the breed down. It’s unclear whether this was an intentional or chance mating. Either way, this created a dog with similar characteristics to its larger relative, but in a more compact size – making them perfect for ratting and keeping pest numbers down.

The Miniature Schnauzer’s past as a rat-catching dog means it has been placed in the terrier group of dogs in the US, alongside many other small breeds that were once used for pest control. However, unlike the rest of its group, the Miniature Schnauzer contains no British blood. Most terriers originate from the British Isles, so this makes this breed of dog unusual. They are also different in terms of personality from many others within the terrier group. Having inherited many traits from his larger ancestors the Miniature Terrier is less likely to have the feisty temperament that terriers are renowned for.

The American Kennel Club first registered the Miniature Schnauzer in 1926, a couple of years after the breed was first introduced to the US. This breed rose to popularity over the years and has become a familiar face in the show ring. The Miniature Schnauzer has become the most favoured of the three schnauzer breeds (miniature, standard, and giant), securing its place as a much-loved pet in many homes.

The Miniature Schnauzer is considered a small breed of dog, with most weighing no more than 23lb (10kg) at a healthy adult weight. They’re sturdy, and often described as ‘square’, with their hips at a similar width and height to their shoulders.

Miniature Schnauzers usually have much more level temperaments than many of the other dogs in their terrier group (which are known for being a bit feisty or unpredictable). This is due to their breeding, originating from the larger Standard Schnauzer.

Their friendly personality makes them an ideal family pet for many people. They tend to be good with children and will enjoy lots of play and interaction. Care may need to be taken around other pets though, particularly small furry ones. Due to their rat-catcher past, they may still have that high prey drive. This could also mean they are more likely to chase on walks too, so ensure they have good recall training.

This breed can be suspicious or standoffish with people that they don’t know very well, in part due to their guard dog ancestry. For this same reason they may be more prone to barking than other breeds of dog, but they are rarely aggressive. Working on socialization from an early age will help to counteract these behaviours. Once they get to know people, they are usually very friendly and eager to please.

They are intelligent dogs and so mental stimulation will be important to stop them from becoming frustrated or destructive. They will benefit from things like training and obedience classes to help keep them busy. Their intelligence should help make training easier, but they can be known for being a bit stubborn at times, so keep things interesting. Engage them with plenty of consistent positive reward-based training and exciting toys.

The Miniature Schnauzer has a very tough and wiry topcoat and a much softer undercoat. This topcoat provides protection against the elements for this breed, which would have helped in its working past. Having a double coat, which doesn’t readily shed, means regular grooming is required to keep it in order. Part of the attraction of this breed to some people is their classic groomed appearance, but this does take effort to maintain.

Routine brushing of your Miniature Schnauzer will be required at home to shift dead hairs, but also trips to the groomers every 5-8 weeks for clipping, to keep his coat trimmed. It is important to get him familiar with grooming from a young age so that he tolerates it well.

This breed is prone to several health conditions including bladder stones, which can affect urination and create cystitis symptoms. Pancreatitis, inflammation of the pancreas, is also common in Miniature Schnauzers which can cause abdominal pain, vomiting, and lethargy.

Other conditions that this breed is susceptible to include cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy (eye conditions affecting vision), follicular dermatitis (infected hair follicles in the skin), myotonia congenita (an inherited muscle disorder), hip dysplasia (abnormal development of the hip joints, causing pain and arthritis) and hypothyroidism (low levels of thyroid hormone which controls metabolism).

This breed is known for being intelligent and quick to learn. They should be relatively easy to train, as long as things are kept interesting and positive.

You should take your Miniature Schnauzer to dog training classes from an early age to make sure they are introduced to a variety of people and animals. Socializing them in this way may help overcome their tendency to be wary and standoffish with strangers.

As part of their training, it will be important to work on their recall. Their rat-catching ancestry means this breed has a high prey drive and may chase after small animals, so you will want to make sure your dog is under good control when off the leash.

Miniature Schnauzers may enjoy dog agility classes too, which will be a good way of keeping them mentally and physically stimulated. Having a tired and content dog will help counteract frustration and help improve negative behaviours like excessive barking or being destructive.

Miniature Schnauzers need moderate levels of exercise and are usually happy with up to an hour a day. As with most dogs, they will benefit from a garden to play in, but their size means they will be happy in a modest one.

This dog is suitable for life in both the city and the countryside as long as they get out and about every day. Plenty of positive interaction and games with their family will keep them happy. Dog training classes and interesting toys, such as puzzle feeders, will also keep them suitably stimulated.

There are fewer Miniature Schnauzers in rescue centres than many other breeds, probably due to their endearing nature. If you are looking for a rescue dog though you could try the following UK Miniature Schnauzer organizations –

The Schnauzer Club of Great Britain

Terrier S.O.S

UK Schnauzer rescue