Miniature Schnauzer Information
In the top 20 of popular dog breeds, the Miniature Schnauzer is a friendly, smart and loyal dog. Minis were bred from their larger cousins, the Standard Schnauzer. Muscular and strong, this breed is rugged and scrappy with distinctive bushy eyebrows and a beard. His fur comes in salt and pepper, black and silver, and solid black.
With an adaptable attitude and obedient demeanor, the Miniature Schnauzer makes an ideal family pet. He gets along well with children and other pets and loves to be close to his human companions!
This breed also has two other size variations: the Standard Schnauzer & the Giant Schnauzer.
Miniature Schnauzer History
The Miniature Schnauzer has its roots in the Standard Schnauzer breed which comes from late 19th century Germany. The breed originated as a herding and guarding dog that worked on German farms.
Eventually, the miniature version was bred for ratting. It’s either from breeding the smallest Standard Schnauzers together or with some combination with other smaller breeds like the Pomeranian, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Poodle or Affenpinscher.
Miniature Schnauzer Training & Temperament
Miniature Schnauzers are an intelligent breed that is friendly and happy to please their owner. This makes for a very trainable breed, but they need some unique aspects to their training regimen to keep them from getting bored. They also do well with various canine sports. They are a playful breed that is alert & barks at strangers, but will generally relax around them afterward if they have been socialized.
Miniature Schnauzer Exercise
Miniature Schnauzers have a medium energy level and require some form of daily exercise to keep healthy. They do well with a fenced yard and playtime or walking. They do have a drive to chase small animals so it’s best to be careful if they are off-leash.
Miniature Schnauzer Grooming
The Miniature Schnauzer doesn’t shed much but does require some grooming to look good. This typically means having its coat trimmed by a professional groomer and frequently brushing its coat. It requires bathing about once a month. Be sure to check the ears for build up and clean them and trim nails as needed. As with all breeds their teeth should be brushed.
Miniature Schnauzer Health
The Miniature Schnauzer is a healthy breed. They can have issues with high fat diets and it’s best to not feed them too many high-fat foods or treats.
Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miniature_Schnauzer, https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/miniature-schnauzer/
