If you’re looking for a breed with personality twice as big as their bodies, the Miniature Schnauzer dog breed has it all in one small package: playfulness, curious expressions, intelligence and energy in abundance.
Schnauzer ownership has been on the up in New Zealand in recent years; in fact Miniature Schnauzers have seen the largest increase in ownership by breed. Christchurch even holds an annual event (The Miniature Schnauzers of Christchurch's Christmas party) to celebrate both Christmas and this quirky breed.
Anyone familiar with the good-natured Miniature Schnauzer temperament would be surprised to hear they were originally bred in Germany as guard dogs! With their square-shaped build, their distinctive walrus moustache, unruly eyebrows and unstoppable enthusiasm, these friendly little dogs will make you smile every day.
Curious as to how the Miniature Schnauzer got its name? It’s derived from the German word ‘schnauze’ which translates to snout. Plus they’re a miniature version of their cousins, the Standard Schnauzer.
Miniature Schnauzer Facts
Stocky, robust little dogs standing 28-36 cm tall, Miniature Schnauzers were bred down from their larger cousins, Standard Schnauzers. The bushy beard and eyebrows give Minis a charming, human-like expression. The hard, wiry coat comes in three colours: salt and pepper, black and silver, and solid black. Created to be all-around farm dogs and rat catchers, they are tough, muscular, and fearless without being aggressive. An adult miniature schnauzer weighs between 5-8 kgs and stands at 28-33 cm for a female and 30-36 cm for aa male. The Miniature Schnauzers life span is between 12-15 years.
- Breed Group: Terrier
- Height: Female: 28-33 cm, Male: 30-36 cm
- Weight: Female: 5-7 kg, Male: 5-8 kg
- Life Span: 12-15 years
- Coat: Double coated: harsh, wiry outercoat with a soft undercoat.
- Colour: Black, Salt/Pepper and Black/
Silver.
What Does a Miniature Schnauzer Look Like?
Miniature Schnauzers have a very square-shaped build and are often recognised for their arched eyebrows and bushy whiskers and moustache. They have a double coat, with wiry exterior fur and a soft undercoat. In show trim, the coat is kept short on the body, but the fur on the ears, legs, belly, and face is retained.
Schnauzers are considered a hypoallergenic breed as their moulting is minimal and generally unnoticeable.
Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzer Temperament: A feisty extrovert
A Miniature Schnauzer is full of life. An extrovert, he loves to be in the thick of the family action. He’ll want to be alongside you all the time, and you can bet he'll want to sleep plastered to your side. He may even run up to you while you're sitting down and throw his paws around your neck.
A bit of a spitfire, the Miniature Schnauzer is a terrier — that means he's full of himself. He's a feisty type A and his work involves amusing himself. He is not aloof or independent but needs to be with people, and what's more, he wants to be in close physical contact. (Your lap is no longer your own.)
He's very intelligent, which makes training easy, but it also means he's a master of manipulation. That combined with his stubbornness will keep you on your toes. He's not as feisty as some terriers, however, nor as dog-aggressive.
As with every dog, the Miniature Schnauzer needs early socialisation — exposure to many different people, sights, sounds, and experiences — when they're young. Socialisation helps ensure that your Miniature Schnauzer puppy grows up to be a well-rounded dog.
Keeping Miniature Schnauzers Healthy: Issues to Watch Out For
Miniature Schnauzers are generally healthy, but like all breeds, they're prone to certain health conditions. Not all Miniature Schnauzers will get any or all of these diseases, but it's important to be aware of them if you're considering this breed.
Cataracts:
Cataracts cause opacity on the lens of the eye, resulting in poor vision. The dog's eye(s) will have a cloudy appearance. Cataracts usually occur in old age and sometimes can be surgically removed to improve vision.
Entropian:
Entropion, which is usually obvious by six months of age, causes the eyelid to roll inward, irritating or injuring the eyeball. One or both eyes can be affected. If your Schnauzer has entropion, you may notice him rubbing at his eyes. The condition can be corrected surgically.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA):
This is a family of eye diseases that involves the gradual deterioration of the retina. Early in the disease, affected dogs become night-blind; they lose sight during the day as the disease progresses. Many affected dogs adapt well to their limited or lost vision, as long as their surroundings remain the same.
Urinary Stones:
These can cause your Miniature Schnauzer to start straining to urinate, pass blood in the urine, need to urinate more often than normal, and have cloudy or foul-smelling urine. While small bladder stones may pass on their own, your vet should be consulted. Dietary changes can't get rid of existing stones, but they can prevent more stones from forming.
Caring for Your Miniature Schnauzer Dog
The Miniature Schnauzer can be very energetic, but can also be demanding for attention so it is important to develop a good routine for their care.
Grooming:
Miniature Schnauzers should be groomed every five to eight weeks to keep them looking their best. Most people take their Miniature Schnauzers to professional groomers to do this, because there are some tricks to getting that beautiful Schnauzer look. You can learn to do it yourself — just expect something less than perfection the first few times, (and maybe have a Schnauzer-sized sweater at the ready in case you need to cover up the flaws!)
Brush your Schnauzers coat two or three times a week so he doesn't get matted, especially the longer hair on his face and legs. Be sure to check his armpits, since this is a place where mats often form. Bathing every 4-6 weeks unless they find something unpleasant to roll in is ideal. It's also a good idea to wash his beard after he eats and trim nails regularly.
Brush their teeth at least two or three times a week to remove tartar buildup and the bacteria that lurk inside it. Daily brushing is even better if you want to prevent gum disease and bad breath. Good quality dental toys and healthy dental treats will also aid in keeping their teeth in tip top condition.
Nutrition:
Miniature Schnauzers are enthusiastic eaters and will usually gobble whatever is fed to them. Because of this, it is important to monitor their food intake to prevent obesity. Feeding twice a day is preferred.
As for the best dog food for Miniature Schnauzers, go for a balanced, medium breed dog food, like Royal Canin Mini Adult dry dog food or you can feed a Miniature Schnauzer breed specific food such as Royal Canin Miniature Schnazuer Breed Specific dry dog food.
It is crucial to not overfeed Miniature Schnauzer puppies because it can lead to weight issues. Roly-poly puppies aren’t healthy; they are overweight. Feed Miniature Schnauzer puppies appropriate amounts of food specifically formulated for puppies, like Royal Canin Mini Breed Puppy food or breed specific food such as Royal Canin Miniature Schnauzer dry puppy food. Use the feeding chart on the bag as a guide, or ask the PetDirect Customer Care Team how much to feed your particular puppy.
Exercise:
The Miniature Schnauzer's energy level is moderately high. Don't neglect daily exercise sessions for your dog, or his energy will turn to destructive behaviour and can even increase his tendency to bark. Daily walks for about 45 minutes should suffice. He is a hardy and healthy breed and is willing and able to participate in fun family activities. Invest in a good quality harness and lead such as these from the EzyDog range. Miniature Schnauzers have a strong prey drive, so they should never be allowed off leash when not in a fenced area, as they might not resist the urge to chase after small animals.
Their greatest joy is to be with their family and doing activities together. Invest in fun toys that you can enjoy together such as fetch and tug type toys.
Training Your Miniature Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzers are highly intelligent dogs that are generally easy to train, and their need for activity and mental stimulation will make them eager to use their minds. However, their stubborn and independent nature can mean they are initially resistant to dog training. Ensure you have plenty of patience at the start, and remain consistent with firm, consistent commands.
A calm, assertive manner is best for training, which should begin as soon as you bring your Miniature Schnauzer puppy home. They will respond well to positive reinforcement in short training sessions. Make sure you vary the activity as well because this breed can easily get bored with too much repetition. Have some healthy treats on hand to reward your pup.
They have short attention spans, which is why varied, short training sessions are best. But since they are eager to please and willing to learn, they should stick with it as long as you make things interesting for them.
As terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, are full of the classic terrier traits, such as chasing anything that catches their eye, barking, digging, being suspicious of strangers, and posturing toward large breed dogs.
Boundaries will need to be set to help curb some of these behaviours, although you may not be able to eliminate them completely. Don’t be discouraged, however, because they can’t help it! It’s in their nature. But extensive canine socialisation and responsive training can help them minimise their bad habits.
Once you establish leadership and your dog has mastered basic obedience, you can continue training your Miniature Schnauzer for more advanced tasks and tricks. This can include agility training, which Miniatures actually excel at.