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Miniature Schnauzer Dog Breed Introduction
Miniature Schnauzer ( also known as Mini Schnauzer) is the smallest breed of the Schnauzer type that originated in Germany in the mid to late 1800. Other Schnauzer breeds include Standard Schnauzer and Giant Schnauzer. Of the three types, a Miniature Schnauzer is the most popular breed due to its small size and temperament. These dogs are regarded as non-shedding dogs which is not entirely true. They shed at minimal levels. However, the shed hair is trapped by the wiry outer coat. For this reason, they are considered hypoallergenic. In North America, Mini Schnauzer is categorized in the Terrier Group due its ratting background. Although, it doesn’t share common ancestry with Terriers from Great Britain. When compared to Terriers, Mini Schnauzers have a more laid back personality and less aggressive to other dogs.
Miniature Schnauzer History | Origin
Mini Schnauzer were developed in the 19th century by German farmers by breeding the Standard Schnauzers into a smaller and more compact size for ratting. According to the theorization of cynologist , Standard Schnauzers were crossed with one or more breeds such as Miniature Poodle and Affenpinscher, Pomeranian, or Miniature Pinscher. There is also a possibility that Mini Schnauzers were developed by crossing the smallest specimens of the Standard Schnauzer. In 1888, the first recorded Miniature Schnauzer appeared, Findel, that had a black color. Mini Schnauzer were accepted as a breed in 1926 by the American Kennel Club.
Miniature Schnauzer Lifespan
According to the AKC, Miniature Schnauzers have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
Miniature Schnauzer Lifespan Female | Male
Both male and Female Miniature Schnauzers have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. Although a female Mini Schnauzer is prone to heart murmur, obesity, and dental disease while its male counterpart is prone to claw injury and diarrhea.
Miniature Schnauzer Grooming
For a positive grooming experience, get your Miniature Schnauzer accustomed to touch on the body, ears, paws, feet, underbelly, and tail. Mini Schnauzers have a double-layered coat with a wiry outer coat that traps shed fur and a soft undercoat. These dogs shed at minimal levels all-year round. Therefore, weekly brushing and combining is recommended to prevent the trapped shed hair from forming mats or tangles using a pin brush followed by a comb.
A Mini Schnauzer requires regular grooming either by stripping or clipping. The former removes the loose dead hair by hand referred to as finger stripping or hand plucking with a stripping knife. However, pet dogs are clipped using mechanical clippers every 5 to 8 weeks. Before plucking or clipping the coat, brush it first to remove mats which can result to pain and disruption in the fur line.
Miniature Schnauzers need an occasional bath every 4 to 6 weeks depending on its lifestyle and surroundings. Ensure you brush the coat first before bathing your pet. Use a hypoallergenic dog shampoo and conditioner. After a bath, thoroughly rinse off the grooming products from the coat using lukewarm water to avoid skin irritation. Remember to wipe the face using a canine friendly wipe or a damp clean washcloth instead of using soapy water that irritates the eyes.
Clip the nails twice a month or every two weeks using nail clippers or grinders. Overly grown nails are painful for your Miniature Schnauzer while running or walking. Brush the teeth twice a week if not daily using a dog-formulated toothpaste and finger toothbrush. These dogs should have their ears cleaned every week and after swimming due to ear infection. Use cotton balls dampened in an ear cleanser solution to remove excess wax, or debris.
Dry the ears after swimming using cotton balls. While cleaning the ears, check out for signs of ear infections such as redness, dark discharge, and odor. Remember to wipe the beard every time a Miniature Schnauzer drinks water since it dribbles into his beard. Prevent the fur on the beard from mats and tangles by wiping it down and drying it.
Miniature Schnauzer Haircut | Grooming Styles
Fur trimming or plucking is required regularly to keep the coat looking its best. If the coat is left unstripped or unclipped, the hair on the body grows into a length of 2 to 4 inches, and will often tangle into mats and curls. Some of the haircut or grooming styles that owners prefer for the Mini Schnauzers include:
Puppy Cut – For this look the fur on the body is clipped to a length of about 1 or 1/8 inch while leaving the hair on the head and tail a bit longer.
Teddy bear cut – to achieve the teddy bear look, the fur on the face is trimmed in a circular manner while the hair on the body is clipped to about 2 inches.
Traditional Schnauzer Cut – For this grooming style, the hair tips are cut off leaving short fur on the belly, neck, and body. The fur on the legs is left a little longer while the hair on the head is cut short on the top. One of the characteristics of the Miniature schnauzer is the hair on their snout that resembles the beard. It is left long only tidying it up by trimming the tips.
Poodle Cut – To attain this haircut, the hair on the body is cut short while the fur on the body is left longer trimming it to have a puffy look.
Miniature Schnauzer Shedding
A Mini Schnauzer sheds all-year round at low levels. The shed hair is generally unnoticeable unless when the coat is brushed and combed.
Miniature Schnauzer Coat Type | Coat
Miniature Schnauzers have a double-layered coat made up of a top coat and an undercoat. The top coat is wiry and hard while the undercoat is soft and close.
Miniature Schnauzer Hypoallergenic
This is a hypoallergenic that sheds at low levels all-year round. Miniature Schnauzers also have a wiry outer coat that tends to trap the shed hair reducing the amount of fur and dander released into the environment. However, dog’s saliva, urine, and mucus have a protein allergen that aggravates allergic reactions in people who suffer from dog allergies.
Miniature Schnauzer Training | How To Train A Miniature Schnauzer
A Mini Schnauzer is an intelligent and willing to please pet which eases training. However, due to their high level of intelligence, they can easily get bored with repetition if the training sessions are not fun and interesting. Keep the training sessions short for a span of 5 to 10 minutes distributed throughout the day. Use positive reinforcements methods such as use of treats, verbal praise, toys, and petting to reinforce good behavior. Reward the dog immediately it does a good deed so that it may understand the reason behind the reward. Correct bad behaviors by uttering a simple NO. However, this may always not work. Remove the dog from the situation or withhold attention and affection. Avoid use of harsh correction methods such as yelling, punching, shoving, kicking, use of choke or prong collars and or beating.
To raise an outgoing, friendly, adaptable, well-adjusted, and well-mannered Miniature Schnauzer, start socialization training immediately the pup comes home from the age of 8 weeks. This training starts from the age of 3 weeks while the pup is with the dam and his litter mates until the age of 16 weeks when the puppy is in its new home. However, socialization may continue for the rest of the Mini Schnauzer’s life to ensure it grows into a dog that has a well-rounded personality and temperament.
To socialize Miniature Schnauzers, expose them to a wide variety of people, animals, places, surfaces, situations, smell, sights, and sounds such as lawn mowers, sirens, washing machines, vacuum cleaners, baby crying sounds, and whistles. Enrolling a Mini Schnauzer in a puppy class from the age of 8 weeks will also serve as a form of socialization. It provides a controlled environment where dogs can interact. Puppy classes also helps pet owners not only identify and correct bad habits but also have access to training information and assistance.
Socializing a Mini Schnauzer helps it to bolster the confidence of your pet in the world around it. A poorly socialized Miniature Schnauzer can become overly protective. Remember to teach basic commands words such as sit, come, down, stay, leave it, heel, etc. one at a time until the dog’s understand before proceeding to the next command word. Avoid uttering the command words while too exciting or frustrated since the command words won’t sound the same for your dog.
Avoid interchangeably using synonyms for a command word to avoid confusing your dog. For effective housebreaking, pet parents should not only create a feeding schedule but also start crate and potty training. Crate enables the pet parent to monitor the dog for signs that it wants to eliminate. Patience, consistency, and being firm is key when housebreaking.
How To Potty Train A Miniature Schnauzer
Prior to bringing a Mini Schnauzer home, choose a designated area where it will be doing its business. It is also recommended to decide whether the pup will eliminate inside or outside. Indoor potty training is convenient for apartment dwellers who have a hard time accessing the street or yard. This training utilizes puppy pads or litter boxes which are available for retail from pet stores. Consistency is key when training. Owners should not start indoor training if they will eventually want the dog to eliminate outside and vice versa.
It is also recommended to understand that the bladder and bowel muscles of a pup strengthens as the puppy matures. An-8 -week -old Mini Schnauzer will be able to hold for a period of 2 hours before eliminating while a 12-week-old puppy holds for 3-hours before eliminating. The designated toilet spot should be far from the patio deck or BBQ spot. A crate is an invaluable device during this training. It helps the owner to monitor the dog for signs that it wants to eliminate such as whining, restlessness, sniffing, circling, squatting, and trying to lift a leg against the crate door.
Using a crate during potty training is an added advantage since dogs avoid soiling where they sleep. However, owners should avoid holding the puppy for a period of more than 4 hours at a time. Pet parents that are not comfortable with crates may use the umbilical cord method. This is where the pup is attached to a leash. The end of the leash is tethered to the belt or pocket of the owner hence the Mini Schnauzer is not 6 feet away from you. Before a pup is fully housebroken, it should not be allowed to freely roam around the house to minimize accidents.
For effective potty training, take Mini Schnauzers to the designated toilet spot immediately they wake up, 20 minutes after meals and drinks, following a nap, every 2 to 3 hours, following an exciting activity such as playtime and car ride, and before bedtime. The potty breaks may increase to a span of every 6 to 8 hours when a Miniature Schnauzer is 8 months old. Once you get to the elimination area, utter the command word ” potty” or “toilet” to give the dog the cue to eliminate. Avoid interchangeably using the two command words even if they mean the same to avoid confusing your dog. Stay in the elimination spot for a period of 15 minutes to allow the bladder and bowel muscles to relax for a pee or poo.
If the dog fails to eliminate, take it back outside to the toilet spot after a period of 15 minutes. Before Miniature Schnauzers are fully housebroken, they may experience accidents in the house. When this happens, avoid yelling or putting the nose of the dog against the mess. If you get the dog in the act, utter a firm No and immediately scoop the dog to the potty area. If it eliminates where it is supposed to, give it a treat and a lot of praise. Remember to clean the mess using an enzymatic detergent or an iodine solution to completely get rid of the odor. Use of the regular detergents will retain the odor which will encourage future accidents if the dog sniffs the spot. Before the age of 16 weeks, set an alarm to take the dog outside at least once a night.
Miniature Schnauzer Temperament | Traits
- Outgoing.
- Fearless.
- Friendly.
- Intelligent.
- Trainable.
- Vocal.
- Eager to please.
- Aloof with strangers.
- Obedient.
- Playful.
- Alert.
- Adaptable.
- Sociable.
- Hardy.
Miniature Schnauzer Exercise
A Mini Schnauzer requires daily exercise to maintain its physical and mental health. These dogs have moderate energy levels and may easily adapt to country or city living. Miniature Schnauzers can benefit from having a fenced yard where they can chase a ball safely, run, and play with the owner. These dogs also have a strong prey drive and should not go for walks off leash or exercise in a yard that is not secured since they may not resist the urge to chase after small games.
Miniature Schnauzer Barking
A Mini Schnauzer is a vocal, alert, and excellent watchdog with a good territorial instinct. Therefore, it is inclined to barking than biting. This breed is also aloof with strangers and will bark at them until the pet parent welcomes the guest, upon which they will display a friendly temperament.
Miniature Schnauzer Height
A female Mini Schnauzer has a height of 11 to 13 inches ( approx. 28 to 33 cm ) while its male counterpart has a height of 12 to 14 inches ( approx. 30 to 36 cm).
Miniature Schnauzer Weight
Both male and female Miniature schnauzers have a weight of 11 to 20 pounds ( approx. 5 to 9.1 kg ).
Miniature Schnauzer Size
A Mini Schnauzer is a small-sized dog that has a weight range of 11 to 20 pounds ( approx. 5 to 9.1 kg ). However, male Miniature Schnauzers are slightly taller with a height of 12 to 14 inches ( approx. 30 to 36 cm) as compared to their female counterparts that have a height of 11 to 13 inches ( approx. 28 to 33 cm ).
Miniature Schnauzer Aggressive
A Miniature Schnauzer is neither timid nor aggressive. However, it has a territorial instinct and ought to be socialized to avoid having an overly protective dog around other dogs and new surroundings.
Miniature Schnauzer Behavior Problems
A Miniature Schnauzer is a highly playful dog that requires daily exercise to release the pent up energy. If they are not properly stimulated, they can become bored and invent their own fun which will result in behavior problems such as shredding toilet paper and wrapping paper. Miniature Schnauzers are friendly and sociable dogs that like to spend time with their families.
If left alone for long periods of time, they will experience separation anxiety which leads to behavior issues such as destructive chewing, scratching the walls, relapse in toilet training, and excessive biting. Due to the terrier in them, Miniature Schnauzers have small dog syndrome and will tend to challenge large-sized dogs which may get the dog in trouble if it is not closely supervised.
Miniature Schnauzer Bite Force
Reportedly, a Miniature Schnauzer has a bite force of between 100 to 200 PSI.
Miniature Schnauzer Eye Problems
Some of the eye problems that affect Miniature Schnauzers include:
Cataracts – This is an eye issue that results in formation of cloudy and whitish eye lenses that eventually lead to blindness.
Progressive Retinal Atrophy – This is a group of degenerative eye problems that affect the photoreceptors of Mini Schnauzers.
Entropion – This eye condition results to the inward rolling of the eyelid that in turns scratches the cornea resulting to corneal ulcers and chronic pain.
Miniature Schnauzer Health Problems |Health Issues
Although Miniature Schnauzers are generally a healthy breed, they may suffer from various health problems that are associated with high fat level such as hyperlipidemia. Other health issues that Mini Schnauzers suffer from include pancreatitis, eye problems such as entropion, progressive retinal atrophy, etc., bladder stones, diabetes, comedone syndrome, ear infection, von Willebrand disease, and Myotonia Congenita.
Miniature Schnauzer Old Age Problems
- Cataracts.
- Progressive retinal atrophy.
- Kidney stones.
- Loss of bladder and or bowel control.
- Increased urination.
- Lethargy.
- Canine Cognitive Dysfunction is similar to dementia.
- Weight loss due to the normal aspect of aging or illness.
Schnauzer Names
Pet parents may decide to find a name for the Mini Schnauzer before it comes home from the breeder or a few days after joining their home to understand better the personality of the particular dog. Owners may get inspirations from the Germany origin of the breed, coat color, personality, celebrity Mini Schnauzers, food, music, books, nature, and historical figures.
Regardless of where you get your name inspiration, ensure the name chosen won’t make you embarrassed when uttered out loud in the public places. The name should also freely roll off your tongue. Mini Schnauzers and other dog breeds better understand names that have vowels. If a pet has a long name, owners should find a cute nickname for the pooch.
Avoid giving your pup a name that rhymes with the command words to avoid confusion. If a Mini Schnauzer shares a name with a family member or guests who frequent your home, it may result in confusion.
Mini Schnauzer Names Female
- Daisy.
- Lily.
- Bella.
- Luna.
- Penny.
- Winnie.
- Marley.
- Ava.
- Lola.
- Sadie.
- Sophie.
- Maggie.
- Abby, etc.
Miniature Schnauzer Seizures
A Miniature Schnauzer may suffer from seizures(fits or convulsions). This refers to the disturbance of the normal functioning of the brain that is normally accompanied with uncontrollable muscle activity. Causes of seizures are categorized into three: primary, reactive, and secondary seizures. The cause of primary seizures is unknown even though they are hereditary. For this reason, they are referred to as idiopathic epilepsy.
Secondary seizures are caused by injury to the brain, brain tumor, or stroke while reactive seizures manifest after the brain detects a problem with metabolism due to low blood sugar, toxins, and organ failure. The intensity of seizures is also categorized into focal and grand mal seizures. When a Miniature Schnauzer is experiencing focal seizures, it is conscious and randomly gasping at the air since it only affects one part of the brain,
Grand mal seizures results in loss of consciousness, stiffening of the muscles, foaming mouth, and urination and defecation. When a pet is experiencing seizure, ensure it is safe from safety hazards such as stairs. Put nothing in the mouth of the dog since it will pose as a risk to the owner and the dog. Monitor the duration of the seizure in order to contact your vet.
Male Miniature Schnauzer Names
- Simon.
- Leo.
- Gus.
- Cleo.
- Rocky.
- Oliver.
- Max.
- Beau.
- Oscar.
- Lucas.
- Otis.
- Prince, etc.
Miniature Schnauzer Heat Cycle | Mating
A female Mini Schnauzer goes into a heat cycle every every 6 to 8 months. The heat season lasts for a period of 2 to 3 weeks. This breed will experience the first heat cycle between the age of 6 to 12 months. If intact, a Mini Schnauzer may get pregnant in its teen years since dogs experience the estrus cycle throughout their lives.
Some of the signs exhibited by a Miniature Schnauzer that is on a heat cycle includes increased urination, tail flagging, bloody discharge, swollen vulva, mood swings, nesting behavior, and changes in eating habits. Before breeding a potential dam and sire, ensure they are screened for progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts, urinary stones, hyperlipidemia, and pancreatitis.
Avoid breeding a Mini Schnauzer before the age of 2 years to prevent dystocia and the risk of the dam rejecting the puppies. Aggressive dams should not be bred since the puppies will likely be aggressive or fearful.
Miniature Schnauzer Litter Size
After conception, Miniature Schnauzer dams will have a gestation period of 63 days before whelping a litter size of 3 to 8 puppies.
Miniature Schnauzer Food | Dog Food | Feeding Guide
The amount of food that a Miniature Schnauzer feeds on depends on its age, body build, size, activity level, and metabolism. Puppies tend to have a high metabolism as compared to adults and senior dogs. Therefore, Mini Schnauzer puppies should feed 3 or 4 times a day from when they start weaning until the age of 6 months. From the age of 6 months, a Miniature Schnauzer should feed a total of two meals a day for the rest of its life with snacks and treats in between. However, owners should watch out for calorie consumption and weight level to avoid overfeeding their pets.
Mini Schnauzers may feed on dry food, wet food, home made, or a raw diet depending on the budget and time of the pet parent. Regardless of the food type, owners should ensure that the pooch feeds on a balanced diet to maintain a good health and to allow it to develop cognitively and physically. If the Mini Schnauzer parent decide to feed a pet the commercial dry or wet food, he or she should ensure the first three ingredients are proteins from a known source.
The commercial pet food should neither contain preservatives, chemicals, additives, meat by-products, generic meat products, nor fillers. The same goes to the snacks. Dry or wet food should also be formulated for small-sized puppies, adults, and seniors depending on the age of your Miniature Schnauzer. Check the physique of a Mini Schnauzer to know whether it is overweight or underweight.
If you can see the ribs, chances are the pet is underweight. Although, if the ribs are not visible but can be felt without pressing hard, the Mini Schnauzer has an ideal weight. If the ribs can’t be felt, the dog is overweight and should be exercised. After getting a puppy from a breeder, the owner is likely to switch to another quality food. They should gradually do this over a period of one month by mixing both new food and old food. As the weeks progresses, the amount of old food reduces as the new food increases until the Mini Schnauzer is only feeding on new food during the fourth week.
Apart from Miniature Schnauzers, other breeds of dogs include:
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Miniature Schnauzer Neck Size | Collar Size
A Mini Schnauzer has a neck size | collar size of 10 to 16 inches ( approx. 25 to 41 cm ).
Miniature Schnauzer Colors
The permissible coat colors of Mini Schnauzer according to Canadian Kennel Club and American Kennel Club are solid black, black and silver, and salt and pepper. However, some Mini Schnauzers may have a solid white color that is only accepted by FCI ( Fédération Cynologique Internationale).
Miniature Schnauzer Allergies
A Mini Schnauzer is predisposed to various forms of allergies as discussed below:
Skin allergies – Miniature Schnauzers are prone to skin allergies due to food, environmental, and contact allergies that manifest on the skin. Food allergies cause an immune response that is accompanied with various symptoms such as flaky skin, crusting lesion, hot spots, hives, oily skin, dermatitis, etc. which manifests on the skin. Environmental allergies also cause atopic dermatitis, a skin inflammation condition that results in rashes, redness, sores, etc.
Food allergies – Although rare, Miniature Schnauzer may suffer from food allergies. A true food allergy causes an immune response that is accompanied with a wide range of symptoms varying from skin issues such as pruritus, hives, and dermatitis to gastrointestinal stress such as acute vomiting and diarrhea, weight loss, and bloating.
Contact Allergies – This allergy causes inflammation once the skin comes in contact with the allergen. Some of the contact allergens that affect Mini Schnauzers include plastics, bed linens, grooming products such as shampoo and conditioner, latex, carpet cleaning detergents, and medications. This allergy causes excessive scratching and biting on the paws, feet, and around the muzzle.
Environmental allergies – Some of the environmental allergens that affect Mini Schnauzers include pollen, grass, fleas, mites, ragweed, dust and dust mites, trees, and house molds. Flea’s saliva causes flea allergy dermatitis that affect the back legs and underneath the tail resulting to excessive scratching and biting until the skin around the bite area is raw. If left unattended, the sores may cause secondary skin infections. Signs of environmental allergies include nasal discharge, sneezing, congestion, and itchiness on various body parts including paws, feet, ears, around the eyes, groin, underarms, muzzle, and between the paws.
Miniature Schnauzer Eyes
A Mini Schnauzer has oval shaped dark colored eyes.
Miniature Schnauzer Ears
A Miniature Schnauzer may either have natural v-shaped floppy ears or erect cropped ears with pointed tips in countries that permit ear cropping.
Are Miniature Schnauzer Hypoallergenic
Yes. Miniature Schnauzer are considered hypoallergenic dogs since they shed at minimal levels all-year round releasing less dander and hair into the environment. This dog also has a wiry top coat that traps the shed hair. However, dog’s saliva, urine, and mucus contain a protein allergen that triggers an allergic reaction.
Are Miniature Schnauzers Smart
Yes. Miniature Schnauzers are intelligent dogs that are willing to please. However, if the training sessions are not interesting, these dogs easily get bored with repetition due to their high intelligence.
Are Miniature Schnauzers Protective
Yes. Miniature Schnauzers have a good territorial instinct since they are more inclined to barking rather than biting which makes them excellent watchdogs.
Are Miniature Schnauzers Easy To Train
Yes. Miniature Schnauzers are intelligent and dogs that are willing to please which makes them trainable especially if the training sessions are short and fun.
Are Miniature Schnauzers Aggressive
No. Although a Miniature Schnauzer has a good territorial instinct, it is neither aggressive nor timid.
Are Miniature Schnauzers Good Pets
Yes. Miniature Schnauzers are loving, sociable, intelligent, playful, and adaptable dogs which makes them suitable as family pets.
Miniature Schnauzers Quick Facts
- Miniature Schnauzers were the 19th most popular breed in the United States as of 2020.
- They are vocal breeds that have been ranked as the fifth among top 15 breeds at watchdog barking ability by experts.
- Among the three types of Schnauzer breeds, Miniature schnauzers are the most popular.
