Quick Facts
Origin: Germany
Height: 12”-14”
Weight: 11-20 lbs
Color: Black, Black & silver, Salt & pepper
Lifespan: 12-15 years
Temperament: Alert, Spirited, Friendly, Intelligent
Overview
Miniature Schnauzer started out as ratters and farm helpers in the 1800s in Germany. The breed gained popularity as a companion dog following WWI. The name Schnauzer means small beard. And these pups do have the temperament of a jolly, old, bearded man!
They do not shed and require a medium amount of grooming and exercise. They are obedient and quick to learn. Socializing your miniature schnauzer early and often is essential. They are known for being quite vocal. A bark for hello, a bark for is that bird, a bark for contentment.
Celebrity Owners
Bob Dole, Mary Tyler More, Bruce Lee
Fun Facts
No, miniature schnauzers were not the original hipsters. Their mustaches helped protect them from facial injuries when they hunted rats and other vermin.
Health
While mini schnauzers are typically quite healthy, there are some health concerns you should be aware of. These include:
- Cataracts: A dog develops a cataract when the lens in its eye clouds. The clouding is caused by changes in the water balance or proteins in the lens.
- Hyperlipidemia: This condition means that your blood has too many lipids (fats, such as cholesterol and triglycerides). This increases fatty deposits in arteries, which could lead to blockages.
- Liver shunts: The portal vein carrying blood bypasses the liver. While most commonly a birth defect, liver disease such as cirrhosis can also be a cause.
- Urolithiasis: More commonly thought of as kidney stones, this condition has stony concretions from anywhere in the urinary tract, including the kidneys.
- Pancreatitis: This potentially life threatening situation affects the pancreas, which helps aid in digestion.
Always have your breeder provide the health screenings from both parent pups.
While you always hope your pet will live a long and healthy life, it is always a good idea to invest in pet health insurance.
Keeping your dog’s mouth clean and problem free goes a long way to your pup’s overall health. Dental hygiene can be the cause or can be the byproduct of other serious health issues.
Visual inspections can be performed to keep track of the signs of potentially waning oral health. These signs can be anything from bad breath to abnormal chewing to loss of appetite.
Keeping ahead of these warning signs can pay dividends. A preventative approach can delay and stop many of the common dental problems from arising.
Oral health can be tackled in five basic steps:
- Brushing your dog’s teeth to prevent an undesirable buildup of plaque
- Feed your dog a diet where the high quality dog food has dental benefits
- Regularly give your dog dental toys and treats
- Use mouthwash, to help where brushing misses
- At the sign of any abnormalities, consult a vet. You can even do it virtually, from the convenience of your home.
Dogs are just like humans in that they can experience anxiety. The degree to which they are susceptible to anxiety and how they deal with anxiety is breed specific. Left unchecked, initial signs of anxiety could give way to an anxiety disorder. The symptoms of anxiety disorders can lead to a myriad of behavior issues.
Knowing the signs and symptoms will best equip you to keep ahead of it and to nip it in the bud at the earliest signs. There are options available to help with anxiety.
Grooming
Mini schnauzers have a wiry topcoat and soft undercoat. These pups shed minimally. Thoroughly brush your pup twice a week to prevent or remove any tangles or matts. Every two months or so, you will need to clip and reshape your pup’s coat. Many owners choose to have a groomer do this. Wash your pup once a month. Keep your pup’s nails trimmed. Clean your pup’s eyes and ears and make sure they are clear of debris. Brush their teeth several times per week.
Exercise
Mini schnauzers are an active breed. They will need around an hour of physical exercise per day. Always keep your pup on a leash or in a fenced in area as the instinct to pursue prey is deeply ingrained. Brisk walks or playing fetch will please your pup.
They are just as happy in city settings as in the countryside. These smart pups will also benefit from mental stimulation. Consider getting your mini schnauzer a puzzle toy.
Nutrition
Your mini schnauzer will eat around 1 cup of food per day, served in two meals. The exact requirements for your dog will vary with age and activity level. Be mindful that little dogs that receive lots of treats and or table scraps end up overweight. A little dog that is overweight is significantly more likely to develop other health issues.
We’ve taken a look at some premium dog foods, high in nutrition here.
Training
As with all dogs, early socialization with humans and other dogs is key. Note that no amount of training will squash this breed’s desire to hunt and kill small prey. This pup should not be in a home with small pets like hamsters. Mini schnauzers are affable and intelligent.
They take quickly to training. Keep your sessions dynamic and challenging. This breed can get bored easily from repetition. Also fill your training with positive reinforcement and treats. Focus some of your earliest training towards bark control or your house will be quite noisy.
Proper training is essential to ensuring the safety of your dog and those around you. Having your dog come when they should, and in general having them listen is something you want to address early in your pup’s life, as it will pay dividends down the line. There are many tried and true training programs to accomplish this training – faster and better than you might think!
Unless you’re living on a farm, or have the space, a yipping dog, or one that barks all day when you are gone could be an issue with the neighbors and/or landlord. Historically, dogs would bark to communicate with the rest of the pack when hunting and bark as a warning shot to predators eyeing up their flock. Barking is deep rooted in dogs and manifests itself in many ways and for a variety of reasons.
Just like any habit or instinct, there are effective ways you can train this issue away.
Supplements
As mentioned before, hip dysplasia is the most common ailment for Affenpinschers. A solid Glucosamine Supplement for hips and joints will go a long way to helping your furry friend.
Other helpful supplements include full-spectrum hemp oil or CBD oil. Fish oil skin and coat supplement.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
Ensuring a comprehensive preventative vitamin and mineral plan is essential to keeping your dog healthy. Truth is, there are vitamins and minerals that your dog needs, but doesn’t produce naturally. While many of these vitamins and minerals can be found in your dog’s current diet and dog food, the question becomes, are there enough vitamins to ensure they aren’t deficient.
Poor nutrition can lead to some of the most common health issues, such as weak joints, compromised immunity, increased allergies, and low energy.
Vitamins play a vital role in your pet’s health and overall life expectancy. Here are some multivitamin and joint relief options.
The Good
Family oriented
Great watchdogs
The "Ruff"
Prone to bark
Not good with smaller pets