The AKC Miniature Schnauzer breed standard recognizes three colors: Salt and Pepper, Solid Black, and Black and Silver. Salt and Pepper, Black and Silver are bi-color patterns. No other colors are allowed under the breed standard.
White, parti-color, liver, and merle are specifically disqualified and are typically mixed with another breed to achieve those colors.
In the Salt and Pepper, the eyebrows, beard and legs will be light gray or silver white. When stripped for the show ring, the body hair is banded in various shades of black, white, gray. The hairs of the harsh topcoat are banded, alternating black and white and then back to black. Salt and Peppers come in various shades of gray, from almost silver white to almost black.
Black and Silvers follow essentially the same pattern as the Salt and Peppers except the body coat color is solid black. The beard and legs tend to be silver white and the dark hair may extend farther down the legs.
Solid Blacks are entirely black with a black undercoat, except they may have a small white patch on the chest.
