Description

The Miniature Schnauzer is a small robust dog, nearly square in proportion. This dog is literally made up of rectangles. The head is rectangular in shape, which is accentuated by the long, thick beard, and heavy eyebrows. The muzzle is parallel to, and as long as, the topskull and ending in a blunt wedge. His teeth should meet in a scissors bite, with no signs of an overbite. The eyes should be deep-set, small, dark brown, and oval shaped.

Ears can either be cropped, or left natural. If cropped, they should be identical in appearance, set high up on the skull. When left natural, they should be small, v-shaped and folded close to the skull. In the UK, it is illegal to crop ears and dock tails, making for a complete opposite appearance than what is normally found in the US.

The body should be sturdily built, with a strong arched neck that blends seamlessly into the shoulders. The shoulders themselves should be well muscled, yet well laid back to make a vertical line from the tip of the shoulder to the elbows. The ribs are well sprung, extending well back to the loin; the belly should not be tucked up. The backline is straight, slighting declining from the withers to the tail. The tail is usually docked around the third vertebrae. It must be tall enough to be seen over the backline; it is to be carried high and erect. Height at the withers should equal in length from chest to buttocks. Any suggestion of toyishness will be disqualified in the ring; this breed is meant to be small and compact, not frail.

The front legs should be straight, long, and muscular, with elbows held close to the body; there should also be long heavy feathering on the legs. The hindquarters are also well-muscular. There should be enough angulation for the hocks to extend well beyond the tail. The feet are small and round, with arched toes. Dewclaws are removed at 2-3 days of age.

Coat Description

The Miniature Schnauzer\'s coat is made up of two layers: a hard wiry outer coat, and a soft undercoat. The undercoat ranges between light gray and black. The muzzle (or beard), legs, and eyebrows are kept longer than the rest of the coat, giving him the characteristic markings of a Schnauzer.

History

Believed to have been derived from breeding the Standard Schnauzer with a small Affenpinscher or possibly Poodle, the intention was to retain the same hunting skills as the Standard that could also be a house pet.

Originating in the early 1800s in Germany as a farm dog and ratter, it wasn\'t until 1899 that Germany recognized it as being a separate breed from the Standard Schnauzer. It wasn\'t until 1933 that the AKC separated the Miniature and Standard Schnauzer into two different breeds. They are also the only Schnauzer remaining in the Terrier Group.

Following World War II, they gained popularity in the United States, becoming one of the most popular breeds in America.

Temperament

Many people are unaware of the two different sides of a Miniature Schnauzer. They can go from being energetic and out-of-control, to snuggling up in your lap on the couch. It is a breed much loved by the older generation, as they can be very gentle. Without being told, they recognize when to be gentle and calm around children, and when it\'s okay to run around and play with an older crowd.

They are known to be hard-headed, and stubborn, but deep down they are mischievous little goofballs. They are a very energetic and playful dog that can play for hours on end. If they are unable to get enough exercise, they can become a very difficult breed to handle.

It is also known for Miniature Schnauzers to seek a dominant role when meeting other dogs, even those larger than themselves. This may often start a fight, without necessarily intending to do so. Though they usually get along with most dogs, the key is socialization at a young age; he must be exposed to many breeds and sizes of dogs.

Miniature Schnauzers are very vocal dogs, known to bark at even the slightest of noises; In this sense, they make wonderful watchdogs. They are highly loyal to their family, and keep very protective of them. It is common for the Miniature Schnauzer to be a talker; they will growl and carry on as if carrying on a conversation with themselves. A personal favorite is when they let out a deep, long "roo-roo", usually in defiance when they have been told to do something that they do not want to do.

Overall, the Miniature Schnauzer is friendly, loving, and eager to please. They make excellent companions and even better family pets.

Thyroid Disease - Low Risk

The Miniature Schnauzer ranks #133 among all breeds for autoimmune thyroiditis prevalence. This is considered a low risk breed so your chances of obtaining a dog with the disease is small. It is still suggested that dogs meant for breeding still be tested to help bring the incidence of disease even lower (or even eliminate it). 

You can download the full report (on all breeds) by the Michigan State University Diagnostic Center for Population and Animal Health. Here

Other Health Problems

Major health concerns for the Miniature Schnauzer include Congenital Cataracts, a genetic disorder affecting both eyes resulting in blindness over a period of time; Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), another genetic eye disorder in which a retina deteriorates resulting in blindness; liver diseases; bladder stones; anaphylactic reactions to vaccinations; diabetes; pancreatitis; skin disorders; and von Willebrands disease.

They are also at high risk for heart murmurs, urinary infections, allergies, obesity, anemia, Cushings disease, and Schnauzer Comedone Syndrome, also known as Schnauzer bumps.