Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzer an appealing, good-natured breed that loves children, is easy to train and does well in obedience tests.

The Miniature Schnauzer is an attractive little dog with appealing bushy eyebrows. It is good-natured, adores children and is happiest living with the family indoors, rather than being relegated to an outside kennel. It is long-lived and easy to train and often does well in obedience competitions.

Origin and history

The Miniature Schnauzer is a replica in miniature of its bigger brother, the Standard Schnauzer, there being some 4in (10cm) difference in height between them. There is strong support for the suggestion that the Miniature Schnauzer evolved through, crossing the Standard Schnauzer with the little monkey-faced Affenpinscher, although a Pomeranian or even a Fox Terrier may have been used.

This miniature variety was bred in Germany for at least a century before finding its way to the United Kingdom in 1928, when a black bitch was imported. She was followed in 1930 by two pepper­and-salt champions. About this time the breed also began to gain popularity in the United States, where the breed is extremely popular nowadays. Its spread among British fanciers has been somewhat slower, but the breed has been awarded challenge certificates since 1935.

Miniature Schnauzer Puppies

Good points

• Intelligent
• Obedient
• Long-lived
• Good with children
• Fine watchdog

Take heed

• No drawbacks known

Size

The ideal height for bitches shall be 13in (33cm) and for dogs 14in (35.5cm).

Exercise

The Miniature Schnauzer can be kept in town or country and does not require a great deal of space, although it does enjoy a garden to romp in and looks forward to good walks and off-the-Iead runs.

Miniature Schnauzer Information

General appearance
The Miniature Schnauzer is a powerfully built, robust, sinewy, nearly square dog (length of body is equal to height at shoulder). Its temperament combines high spirits, reliability, strength, endurance and vigour. Expression keen and attitude alert. Correct conformation is of more importance than colour or other purely aesthetic points.

Colour
All pepper-and-salt colours in even proportions, or pure black.

Head and skull
Head strong and elongated, gradually narrowing from the ears to the eyes and thence toward the tip of the nose. Upper part of the head (occiput to base of forehead) moderately broad between the ears with flat, creaseless forehead and well­muscled but not too strongly developed cheeks. Medium stop to accentuate prominent eyebrows. The powerful muzzle formed by the upper and lower jaws (base of forehead to tip of nose) should end in a moderately blunt line with bristly, stubby moustache and chin whiskers. Ridge of nose straight and running almost parallel to the extension of the forehead. The nose is black and full. Lips should be tight and not overlapping.

Tail
Set on and carried high; cut down to three joints.

Feet
Short, round and extremely compact with close-arched toes (eat's paws); deep or thickly padded, pointing forward. Dark nails and hard soles.

Miniature Schnauzer Feeding & Grooming

Grooming

This breed needs to be hand stripped in spring and summer ­more often if a show career is envisaged. Have this professionally done, or get instructions from the breeder - the breed club is sure to have an instruction leaflet. Clumsy, inexperienced hands can ruin a good temperament. A good weekly brushing is essential and so is the removal of any dead hair in the under-coat.

Feeding

Recommended would be 6-130z (170-369g) of a branded, meaty product with biscuit added in equal part by volume, or 3/4-1V2 cupfuls of a dry food, complete diet, mixed in the proportion of 1 cup of feed to 1/2 cup of hot or cold water.

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