Miniature Schnauzers are hardy dogs, originally bred to be ratters on German farms. They are alert, feisty animals of a suitable size to be good companions and eager to share your couch. They do not shed, so they often can be enjoyed by people who are allergic to other breeds of dogs. They are good watch dogs, alerting to intruders, but are not given to mindless barking if properly trained.

The Breed Standard calls for the animal to stand not more than 14 inches tall , nor less than 12 inches, when measured at the withers. While generally exhibited with cropped ears, the standard does not require cropping. There are three accepted coat colors, "Salt and Pepper" which is characterized by banded hair, and may be any shade of gray, "Solid Black", and "Black and Silver". The Black and Silver color pattern generally follows the same pattern as the Salt and Pepper, however the entire Salt and Pepper section must be black. Solid White is a disqualifying color in the Breed Standard; it cannot be shown and should not be bred.

The Miniature Schnauzer is not a "wash and wear" dog. Since he does not shed, he must be groomed on a regular basis. This includes frequent brushing, nail trimming, and ear cleaning as well as periodic clippering or stripping. In return, you get an animal that is generally odorless and does not leave hair all over your clothes and premises. For a household pet, periodic machine clippering is all that is necessary. If clippered, the characteristic hard, outer coat will eventually disappear and only the softer undercoat will remain which sometimes becomes lighter in color the more it is clippered. The banded hairs of the Salt and Pepper will disappear leading to the "gray" or "silver" color most commonly seen. To enter the show ring, the Miniature Schnauzer needs to be hand stripped or plucked.

The most reliable source for any pure-bred puppy is a responsible breeder. Responsible Breeders are knowledgeable about their breed, screen for genetic diseases, should offer a written guarantee, information and assistance. They usually belong to a local or national breed club where they can network with other knowledgeable breeders. They breed for temperament, good health and soundness.

Close to every good breeder's heart is a sincere, honest and untiring effort to improve the breed. The male and female selected as parents of the litter represent years of knowledge and study. Usually not all the puppies in each breeding will meet the rigid show requirements. These puppies possess all the same essential inherited qualities of the puppy who is to be shown. This, then, represents a sound genetic resource for a pet puppy. Your pet will have had the best in a well-balanced diet, proper medical attention, exercise and immunizations. Like his littermates and all your breeder's dogs, your puppy will have had proper veterinary care. This should include an eye examination by a veterinary opthamologist as there are a few inherited eye conditions present in the breed.

Most breeder's puppies are part of the family. They are raised in homes where socialization is part of each day's normal routine. Adjustment to a family and to a home is essential at an early age for the puppy to develop into a well adjusted adult dog. Early socialization will enhance house-breaking as well as general acclimation to a new home.

A word about "older" miniature schnauzers: usually the most promising puppy is kept by a breeder, hoping that the promising puppy will become a treasured "show dog". At a young age, it is impossible to accurately forecast the show potential since puppies change so much as they grow. But at 5, 6, 7 months, even a year old a breeder may decide that this particular pup is not for the show ring. This is the dog that you can see exactly what he is. No guessing or maybe's. His size, conformation, disposition are all there, the finished product. Also, a breeder might have an older dog looking for a "retirement" home after its show and/or breeding career is over. This way the dog can get the love and attention it deserves and not be just "one of the crowd". Many times an older dog is the best choice if you don't have the time or inclination to deal with housebreaking and such.

When you contact a breeder about the potential purchase of a puppy, he may ask you many questions about you and your family, the type of home you live in, previous dogs you have owned, etc. He will probably want to meet the whole family and see how you interact with the puppy. He might even want to visit your home. Please, don't take offense at these seemingly personal questions. Reputable breeders want to be sure that the care and diligence they have invested in their animals is not wasted upon inconsiderate owners. As a result, you should expect an adoption process to assure that you and your pet are well suited for each other in age, temperament, and the environment you must share. You are also justified in asking him questions. He will not be offended in the least. He expects it. This helps to prove your commitment to being a responsible owner.

A responsible breeder will be available to you to answer any questions you might have concerning housebreaking, training, or general care of dogs and our breed specifically. He will be a good reference to recommend a training class, a veterinarian, or a groomer in your area. He is very concerned that the dogs from his breeding are well cared for and feels a responsibility to them throughout their whole life. He will also be interested in any possible health problems that come up during the life of the dog. A responsible breeder does his best to screen for any problems, but would also like to know of any that surface he might not be aware.

In this day and age of pet overpopulation, a responsible breeder feels that only the dogs that conform closest to the breed standard should be bred. He might require you to agree to spay or neuter your new pet before the AKC registration papers are passed on to you. An alternative is a "limited registration". A dog with a "limited registration" can not be shown in conformation competition and his or her offspring can not be registered with the AKC. The dog is eligible to compete in obedience competition and other performance events, and makes a wonderful pet, but is not considered to be show/breeding quality.

RISKY SOURCES:

The Backyard Breeder - These breeders often are not knowledgeable about the breed standard and they do not mate to improve the breed. Often, they are totally unaware of genetic or health risks involved. The results of these casual matings of pet-quality dogs with no knowledge of genetic considerations inherent to the breed pose a risk to the gene pool and the general health of the puppy. Lacking anyone to recommend his puppies for sale, the backyard breeder often advertises his pups in the newspaper. Since a pure-bred dog is an investment in your heart as well as your money, the probability of success is far greater with animals bred by concerned, knowledgeable and dedicated people.

Pet Shops - Pet stores buy their pups by the lot from puppy mills, often as young as five weeks of age. For proper animal socialization, puppies should be with their littermates through seven weeks. Some states have laws prohibiting the sale of puppies younger than eight weeks of age. Do not be misled by assurances that these pups come from "private breeders". The term "breeder" refers to the owner of the dam at the time of whelping. Besides, reputable breeders would not allow their pups to be sold by and to strangers, as part of being a responsible breeder is matching the puppy to the proper family. Remember, AKC registration or USDA licensing is not an endorsement of the quality of the breeding stock or puppies.

Puppy Mills - These are commercial operations where the dogs are raised in quantity, not quality. Many have multiple breeds and keep the dogs in poor conditions. These puppies do not receive the proper early socialization so necessary for proper temperament. Puppy mills generally do not consider temperament or health when breeding.

A well-bred Miniature Schnauzer will be a beloved family member and companion for many years. Choose wisely.

Compiled by the Public Education and Public Awareness Committees, American Miniature Schnauzer Club.

For more information and breeder referrals see:

AMSC Breeder Referral list

June Shanklin
Chairman, Public Awareness Committee
American Miniature Schnauzer Club
e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
9760 West Pauling Road
Monee, IL 60449-9316
(815) 464-1174

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