Miniature Schnauzers

During the 1800's, German breeders set about breeding their beloved Standard Schnauzers down to a more manageable size for house pets, and so Miniature Schnauzers came to be. The original purpose of any Schnauzer was to chase down vermin, keeping home and hearth pest free.

Miniature Schnauzers may look small, but pick one up once and you will quickly see that these are rock solid little animals with a robust disposition. The breed stands 12-14 inches high on average and American Kennel Club recognized colors are salt and pepper, black and silver and solid black.

Miniature Schnauzers are a whole lot of dog in a small package. The breed is blessed with a playful, yet obedient personality, and their affection is freely given to their human companions. Mini Schnauzers also have a lot of spunk, so unless you want to see one take off after a squirrel or some other vermin, be sure to keep them on leash when you take them from the yard.

This breed is also known to become somewhat possessive of their special human, so if you consider adding a new pet to the mix, be prepared to take the time for a proper introduction, lest your Mini becomes sulky or agressive. In these cases you will be required to pay much homage to his little self before he will recover from your offence!

Miniature Schnauzers have a keen intelligence that makes them wonderful candidates for all sorts of training. Their high energy level and powers of concentration make them great candidates for obedience trials and agility competitions.

Miniature Schnauzers are also personable little fellows when used as therapy dogs in a nursing home visitation, but be careful about setting them in a resident's lap, because they are a lot heavier than they look.

Miniature Schnauzers have a double coat, wiry on the top with a softer under coat beneath. These dogs are usually kept in the standard Schnauzer type trim. For best results, take your dog to a professional groomer about every six weeks for a full trim and bath. It is then very easy to bathe them in between grooming appointments as needed. You should also brush out the beard and head fall every couple of days to prevent matting.

Miniature Schnauzer are a hardy breed, but as with all breeds they have their share of health problems including:

• Myotonia Congenita
• Cataracts
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy
• Kidney Stones
• Liver Shunt Disease
• Diabetes
• Various Skin Disorders

Dedicated breeders screen all their breeding stock in the hope of eliminating these disorders from future generations. The cost of this testing is why you can expect to pay upwards of $700 for a well bred pet. Be sure that you also receive a health guarantee against these problems because they will not all be apparent during puppyhood. Most breeders will agree to provide one replacement for an afflicted animal, and let you keep or euthanize your pet as the situation may warrant.

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