- What kind of personality do they have ?
- Where did the Miniature Schnauzer come from ?
- Aren't there different sizes ?
- Do they Shed? Do they cause allergies?
- Do they require a lot of grooming?
- What size and weight are they?
The standard says it all: "The typical Miniature Schnauzer is alert and
spirited, yet obedient to command. He is friendly, intelligent and willing to
please. He should never be overaggressive or timid." The Miniature Schnauzer is
generally sweet, loving and loyal. They often have a favorite person, even
though they will love the whole family. They will bark when someone comes to the
door. Properly trained, though, they will stop when the owner indicates that the
person at the door is welcome and not a threat. Schnauzers are generally
intelligent and learn quickly. Many have excelled in formal obedience trials.
They are seen more and more in agility competitions also. Though the breed was
not originally bred to 'go-to-ground' for prey, he will gladly chase rodents
wherever they go, including under ground. Miniature Schnauzers are eligible to
participate in Earth dog Trials and some excel at them.
The breed originated in the late 1800's in Germany as a smaller version of
the Standard Schnauzer that could live more easily as a house pet but still hunt
vermin.
The Miniature, Standard, and Giant Schnauzers are distinct breeds though
their conformation is very similar. The Standard Schnauzer was bred to keep the
vermin population down on the farm, herd and guard the farm. The Giant Schnauzer
was bred to do all those things plus pull carts and also has been used for
police work. The Miniature, Standard, and Giant Schnauzers have similar but
distinct personalities. For more information on the Standard and Giant
Schnauzers please visit the
Giant Schnauzer Club of
America and the Standard
Schnauzer Club of America web sites. By the way, there is no recognized
breed named the Toy Schnauzer.
Schnauzers shed very little. They tend to cause fewer and less severe
reactions in people allergic to dogs than breeds that shed more. Of course,
anyone allergic to dogs should spend time around the breed before buying a
Schnauzer because individual reactions vary widely.
Miniature Schnauzers should be groomed every five to eight weeks to look
their best. This is something most people choose to let a professional do, but
some choose to learn to do it themselves (see the AMSC's
Pet Grooming section). The equipment
needed - clippers and scissors - will pay for itself after just a few groomings.
They do need to have at least a weekly brushing out of the beard and leg
furnishings and may be bathed as often as weekly. Most people choose to machine
clipper pets as this is the most convenient way to keep them looking sharp. The
breed is double coated with a wiry top coat so for the show ring, the dog needs
to be hand stripped or plucked. A usual pattern can be found in the AMSC award
winning grooming chart - see Publications.
Most pet groomers are not knowledgeable of the stripping process or, if
knowledgeable, might be reluctant to take the time to properly complete the
task.
The Breed Standard calls for the
height at the withers or shoulder blades to be at least 12" and no more than
14". It does not specify any particular weight for the breed. That will depend
on size and bone structure but a dog measuring 12" to 14" will be 11 to 20 lbs.
Some breeders are producing Miniature Schnauzers that are under 10" tall. This
is a disqualification according to the breed standard. Sometimes the term 'Toy'
is used to describe them. The 'Toy' Schnauzer is not a separate breed, it is
simply an undersized Miniature Schnauzer.
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