Miniature Schnauzer Dog Breed

The Schnauzer is a Terrier and special kind of Terrier at that. While this breed was originally produced to exterminate vermin, these ratters had to be small. They had to be easy transport and for getting after rats in small spaces. Today, these dogs are excellent companion animals. They are not exactly recommended for first-time dog owners, but if you're willing to learn patience, to endure the problems, and to maintain an active lifestyle, then you should be fine with a Mini Schnauzer.

Here are some interesting facts, good and bad, about Miniature Schnauzers:

This is a small-size breed. Height ranges from 12-14 inches at the shoulder; weight, 11-20 pounds.

Behavior in a Mini Schnauzer can be hard to predict: the breed is spunky, intelligent, loyal, and extremely easy to train, but can also be stubborn, selfish, incredibly noisy, and territorial. These dogs make great family pets, but are best with older children; the Mini has known to snap at younger children who invade its space. The breed handles other pets fairly well, but does not tolerate rodents such as gerbils or hamsters at all, since it was originally bred to hunt and kill them.

A fairly high-maintenance breed, a Mini Schnauzer will require a good bit of care. Though it sheds very little, the breed needs a good deal of grooming; since most people prefer a “tailored” look for their Mini, most either have their dog professionally groomed or do it themselves. A Mini has only moderate needs with respect to other maintenance issues like baths and vet visits.

Miniature Schnauzers originated in Germany in the mid- to late 19th century, when farmers sought to create an adequate "ratting dog" (used for catching rats) that was smaller than a Standard Schnauzer. This they did by breeding smaller Standards with other small breeds like Affenpinschers, Pomeranians, and Toy Poodles. Eventually the Miniature Schnauzer came to be recognized as a purebred all its own; records indicate Mini Schnauzers competing in dog shows around Europe as early as the 1890's.

The breed slowly made its way to the United States, and in 1926 it was officially recognized by the AKC. Interestingly, the Mini Schnauzer is in the AKC's Terrier class, while its larger Standard cousin is a member of the Working group.

Undoubtedly the most well-known Mini Schnauzer of all time was a dog named Dorem Display, who won Best in Show in the Terrier Group at the 1947 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Dorem Display went on to sire scores of prize-winning dogs; according to popular legend, every Mini Schnauzer currently in existence can be genetically traced to this one animal.

Today, the Mini Schnauzer is one of the most popular of all dog breeds. At one time, these dogs existed in colors such as yellow, red, and tan; but the black, silver, and black/silver combination varieties have been in such demand that through the years, other colors in this breed have virtually disappeared.

A small-sized dog (but by no means a toy), the Mini Schnauzer has a square build, and is usually about equal in height proportionate to length. Perhaps its most distinctive feature is its “beard” (long hair around its mouth) and more hair over its eyes. (Depending on how it is groomed, a Mini will usually have thick fur on its front and rear legs as well.) The eyes are oval and deep-set, and the ears are fairly large, set high on the head, and forward facing; a Mini Schnauzer’s ears are often cropped, which points the ears upward in a sharp point.

The breed has a double coat, with a wiry, crisp outer coat and a soft undercoat. It has straight, rigid front legs, small, rounded feet (often referred to as “cat feet”), and a streamlined body that declines a bit from front to back. The tail is short and high-set, and is often docked.

There are two types of variations of the Miniature Schnauzer breed. One is the formal variety, coat color, and the other is an informal varietal: coat hair.

The American Kennel Club (AKC) recognizes only three colors: black; black and silver; and salt and pepper. The Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) recognizes four color variations including white. The white variation is a matter of hot debate with the AKC and in the USA.

The white variety is not found in the other two Schnauzer breeds, the Standard and the Giant. It's unknown if the white gene in the Miniature Schnauzer was in the original breed or if it came later in unrecorded modifications. In Germany, where the original Schnauzer standard was developed and published, the white coat is not mentioned in that standard. It should be noted that white Minis are not albinos, as this is a congenital condition and is something altogether different.

There are also parti-colored Mini Schnauzers, but those are not really recognized by any of the big dog kennel clubs.

As all Schnauzers have wiry hair, there is not really a variety called the wire haired miniature schnauzer. They are advertised online with backyard breeders (BYB) often as a way to merely sell dogs. Schnauzers, prior to being labeled as such in the late 19th century, were originally called the Wire-Haired Pinscher. You might also find BYBs selling a "long hair Mini Schnauzer," and this is just a dog whose coat has been trimmed to be long or has simply not been groomed.

Finally, there are Teacup Schnauzers, which are neither a variation nor a breed. They should be avoided as they are rife with health problems and tend to come from mating dogs that have dwarfism or worse.

Spunky, intelligent, loyal, and extremely personable, the Mini Schnauzer is considered by many to be the ideal family pet. This breed is normally alert, courageous, and at times territorial and rambunctious, but it is also obedient and extremely easy to train.

Some Mini Schnauzers are known for their selfishness, sensitivity, and stubbornness, and because it was bred to chase vermin, the breed may be feisty with smaller animals; but with a bit of training, experts say, a Mini will quickly learn manners. These dogs are also very noisy, and will give howl-like barks to express themselves quite often. Trainers recommend setting firm boundaries and practicing consistent punishment/reward methods to control this barking tendency. One advantage of a Mini Schnauzer’s vocal nature, though, is that it makes an excellent watchdog; it is intensely curious but not aggressive. This breed gives true meaning to the phrase “His bark is worse than his bite”!

Because of their breeding as ratting dogs, Mini Schnauzers often do quite well in agility and obedience competitions, and they are excellent a learning tricks, especially those that involve jumping. But because of their instinctive curiosity, this breed will often “run off” to chase other animals, so using a leash when the dog is outside is recommended, as is a fenced yard. Many experts recommend crate training a Mini Schnauzer, especially as a puppy, to help the dog learn a proper sense of place.

Life expectancy is 12-14 years. Mini Schnauzers are healthy dogs overall, but may suffer from eyes issues such as cataracts or progressive retinal atrophy, especially older dogs. Another issue found in older animals is a condition called Mycobacterium Avium Infection, also known as ATB, which is a genetically inherited disease of the immune system; ATB is usually diagnosed in dogs age 11 and older, and is often mistakenly diagnosed as lymphatic cancer. A veterinarian can examine a Mini to determine whether the dog carries the genetic material for ATB, and the vet can also check the dog for potential eye issues.

It's apparently rare to find an ugly Miniature Schnauzer. While they are popular on ugly Christmas sweaters and T-shirts, they tend to not be adorably ugly — just adorable!

Some people don't consider the dog cute, however, because of the beard. While most people agree that the unique beard is a sight to behold, it once served a purpose other than to distinguish the dog's appearance. As a ratter, these dogs used it as a shield against vermin attacks. When chasing down rodents, the hair can become wet, matted, and somewhat hardened..

Another odd and interesting fact about these little dogs is that they were often paired with German Shepherd Dogs. Together, this team was remarkably vigilant and extremely protective when on the farm, in the field, and protecting livestock.

According to American Kennel Club (AKC) data, the Miniature Schnauzer is in the top 20 of the most popular dogs in the USA. Some of the celebrities who have (or had) Mini Schnauzers are Mary Tyler Moore, Simon Pegg, Bruce Lee, and Bob and Elizabeth Dole.