Miniature Schnauzer

What You Need To Know About The Miniature Schnauzer

A Very Bright, Energetic, Wonderful Family Dog

Just like its name implies, the Miniature Schnauzer is the smallest of the three Schnauzer breeds. The other two are the Standard and the Giant Schnauzer. These robust, stocky dogs have an outgoing personality which makes them ideal pets for a large family. 

Their small stature gives them a bonus of portability. This makes them excellent companions for family field trips. A Mini Schnauzer puppy is easy to train thanks to its high intelligence. It will make an excellent watchdog once it grows up.

These dogs are tough but not aggressive and are known to be aloof with strangers. However, once they accept someone as a part of the family they will show nothing but affection towards them.

Fast Facts 

Group: Terrier 

Weight: 11-20 Pounds

Height: 12-14 Inches

Hair length: Medium

Shedding: Low shedding

Lifespan: 12-15 years

What does a Miniature Schnauzer look like?

Miniature Schnauzers are often called “little gentlemen”. This is due to their clean and elegant appearance. Their excessive whiskers, furry legs, and stocky build only add to that effect. Their looks fit their cheerful and friendly temperament. They truly are highly likeable pets that are a joy to be around.

They are considered small dogs but are not quite “miniature” as their name implies. Still, when comparing the Standard Schnauzer vs the Miniature Schnauzer, the latter is much smaller. The Standard breed can grow up to 20 inches in height. They can also weigh up to 45 pounds, so the term miniature makes sense. This is especially true if we were to compare them to the much larger Giant Schnauzers.

However, there is a specific type of Miniature Schnauzer that is even smaller. Enter the Teacup Miniature Schnauzer. This is not a separate breed, but simply purebred Miniature Schnauzers that were bred to remain very small. They stay this way even when fully grown.

The double coat of a Miniature Schnauzer barely sheds at all. It has a wiry and stiff outer coat, followed by a soft undercoat. The owners of these dogs usually trim the body hair to a shorter length. However, they keep the beard, eyebrows, and leggings longer. 

Miniature Schnauzers have thin tails that are normally docked. Their ears fold forward in a V shape when left natural, but are usually cropped. This way they look sharply pointed and stand upright.

What Colors do Miniature Schnauzers come in?

According to the breed standard, Miniature Schnauzers come in three different colors:

• Black 
• Black and silver
• Salt and pepper

All of these colors have completely uniform skin pigmentation. This means that there are no pink skin patches visible anywhere. Also, the nose of a Miniature Schnauzer is solid black.

What is the General Temperament for the Miniature Schnauzer?

The Mini Schnauzer often has a big personality, but summing them up isn’t easy.

The problem is they are individualistic. Miniature Schnauzers are playful. They can be either an introvert or an extrovert. At times, they act serious or can be goofy. Of course, you can have a blend of these characteristics to spice things up a bit.

Also, this breed can act much like a terrier at times. That means the possibility of high-energy and being feisty, but the correct training can iron out any problems. 

The one thing you can count on is they will always be loving to their owner. Mini Schnauzers tend to please their owner when taught something new, so letting them know when they are doing well is important.

Also, they are non-aggressive and will generally get on well with other dogs. With people, this dog can be suspicious of new individuals and will take time sussing them out. When they like someone, they will then quickly become a friend for life. 

However, it’s not all positive, as the breed can be stubborn at times. It’s not unusual for them to pretend they never heard you. Once again, this is partly a terrier trait found in the breed.

How Easy is it to Train a Miniature Schnauzer?

A fun and small breed of dog that is popular among many is the Mini Schnauzer. The Mini Schnauzer is smaller than the regular Schnauzer, but it still has the same fun-loving, energetic nature. This breed is also a great security system for your house.

A Mini Schnauzer puppy is fun-loving, obedient, and also easy to train. This breed makes for a great family dog, but it will be standoffish at first. Once the dog gets to know you, it will become the smartest and most loyal member of your family.

Training a Mini Schnauzer is easy thanks to their intelligence. They learn quickly and love to pick up new tricks. Also, this love of learning is apparent from an early age. House training a Miniature Schnauzer puppy should never be a problem. Early socialization and basic commands should be taught as early as possible.

You should focus on obedience training. They may be resistant when walking on a leash, so turn your attention to obedience before tackling the walking issue to make life easier.

However, training a Mini Schnauzer can be more challenging when their energy levels are too high. If they appear full of life, then wait for them to calm down before teaching them new tricks.

When energy levels are high, the breed will tend to lose focus and be easily distracted. To get them back on track, use positive reward-based training. This feeds into their desire to please you, and any dog loves a treat as a reward.

Miniature Schnauzer training is a joy, and even if you are new to dog training, it should not be difficult.

Is Grooming a Miniature Schnauzer Difficult?

With the Miniature Schnauzer, you won't have to worry about going to the groomer very often. This breed has a coat that you can manage with ease. The Miniature Schnauzer shedding is minor, so you don't have to worry about fur everywhere. It's the lack of any real shedding that makes the Miniature Schnauzer hypoallergenic.

The Miniature Schnauzer cut is also easy to achieve since it's cut short. You can trim up the fur between your regular grooming appointments to keep the short cut and look. The coat will have the traditional standard short haircut. Some areas of longer growth remain intact, including the eyebrows, leggings, and beard. Those are the furnishings, and you should brush them often so that there's no matted fur.

What are the Most Common Miniature Schnauzer Health Problems?

There are a few Miniature Schnauzer health problems that you should be aware of. This breed is more prone to developing hip dysplasia and also prone to developing pancreatitis, and cataracts. Cataracts are clouding the eye lens, and this happens when the dog is a senior.

Von Willebrand disease is also common, and that's a bleeding disorder comparable to hemophilia found in humans. Ear infections are problematic too, and they are more frequent if the dog has uncropped ears. These infections can occur in a Miniature Schnauzer puppy as well as an adult. You must dry the ears well if they get wet to help prevent the infections.

A Well-Balanced Diet Is Essential For the Miniature Schnauzer

You need to feed your Miniature Schnauzer a well-balanced diet for small dogs to maintain optimal health and weight. The diet must consist of protein, carbohydrates, and fiber. For an adult, 10 percent of daily caloric intake should be protein. This includes sources such as soy, eggs, meat, fish, poultry, and legumes.

The carbohydrates should account for about 50 percent of their diet and include up to 4.5 percent in fiber alone. Wheat, oat, barley, legumes, and plant food are carbohydrates. A Miniature Schnauzer puppy and adult will need fats and dairy in their diet.

Fats are a significant source of energy, but they also aid in cell functionality. Essential fats also help circulate vitamins needed throughout the body. About 5 percent of the diet needs to be fat, but do not overdo fat since it can trigger pancreatitis. You should avoid table scraps due to high-fat content. Instead of using dog treats as a dairy source, focus on providing small pieces of cheese.

History of the Miniature Schnauzer 

The Schnauzer originated in Bavaria, Germany in the late Middle Ages. The original Schnauzer was around the same size as the Standard of today. 

The Miniature variety came a little later, possibly in the late 1800s, through crossbreeding. The initial mix was believed to be the Standard Schnauzer with the Miniature Pinscher or Poodle.  

Like the Standard and the Giant variety, this breed was primarily popular with farmers and used as working dogs. They bred the Miniature version to be a more useful ‘ratter’ (a pest controller) than its bigger versions. 

They left their Bavarian home in the early 20th century and became very popular within Europe and the U.S, where it is now in the top 20 most popular breeds. 

Miniature Schnauzer Mixes you would like to know about*

Dog crossbreeds or mixes are sometimes called designer dogs. The name fits since you are “designing” a new dog by mating two purebred dogs. It has become popular in recent times, and more and more breeds have several noteworthy crosses we could write about.

The thing with mixed puppies is that it is hard to know which characteristics they will inherit from their parents. You should research as much info as possible on the parent breeds to understand what you can expect. This way, you will find a mix that has all of the characteristics you want and love.

Read on to see the most popular Miniature Schnauzer mixes:

• Border Schnollie - Border Collie & Schnauzer mix
• Bowzer - Basset Hound & Schnauzer mix
• Chonzer - Bichon Frise & Schnauzer mix
• Eskimo Schnauzer - American Eskimo Dog & Schnauzer mix
• Miniboz - Boston Terrier & Schnauzer mix

*Not all breed mixes are equal in quality! Pets4you.com neither condones nor endorses any example of unethical and unhealthy crossbreeding. We encourage everyone to research in detail before they choose to get a crossbreed.