Description

The Standard Schnauzer is a distinctive looking dog with its beard and whiskers, bushy eyebrows and overall impression of power and dignity. The Standard is the actual original size of all Schnauzer\'s and is actually a medium size breed that gives of an impression of a much larger and more powerful dog. Usually described as a square shape in both body and head, the Standard Schnauzer is very muscular and athletic looking without appearing heavy or cobby.

The head of the Standard Schnauzer is highly recognizable. With the long beard and whiskers and very erect ears the shape is rectangular. The beard tends to give a scholarly or intellectual appearance to the breed, and the bushy eyebrows are constantly moving, providing an ever-changing expression to the face. The breed has a very noticeable stop between the muzzle and the forehead that accentuates the very dark, round eyes. The ears may be cropped or left natural and are erect either way. Uncropped ears will be slightly longer and less pointed than cropped ears.

The neck of the Standard Schnauzer is slightly arched and is carried straight up from the shoulders, not to the front as some breeds. The gradual arch makes a very strong profile and gives the impression of power and grace as the dog moves. The front shoulders are powerful but not overly muscular or heavy and move very smoothly when the Schnauzer is running or moving. The front legs are very straight from all directions and the feet are slightly arched, closely resembling the shape and arch found in a cat\'s foot.

The body is square in shape and the topline slopes gently from the front shoulders to the hips. The back legs are muscular and carried well under the hips to give a stable and balanced appearance. The tail is traditionally docked at the fourth vertebra but in some countries tail docking is banned and the tails are left long and natural. The coat is dense and thick with a rough texture and is either gray, black or salt and pepper. It cannot be curly or wavy and should be tight to the body with longer hair on the legs that add to the appearance of strength and sturdiness.

Coat Description

The coat of the Standard Schnauzer is harsh to the touch and wiry in texture. The undercoat is very soft and fine and should uniformly cover the dog\'s body but should not be visible under the thick outer coat. The coat should be straight and not wavy, curly or shaggy looking. The hair on the legs, known as furnishings, should be noticeably longer than the hair on the body but not exceedingly long.

History

As the original of the three Schnauzer sizes, the Standard Schnauzer was first developed in Germany in the fourteenth century. Named for the German word "Schnauze" or muzzle, they were likely developed by crossing black German poodles, spitz breeds and large terriers. The breed was a companion dog as well as a working animal and is depicted in both family portraits and hunting scenes from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. In the late 1800\'s the breed became popular as a farm and watchdog, used to protect farmer\'s carts as public markets. In many households in German this dog was considered a "kinder watcher" or watchdog for children.

The first recorded showing of a Standard Schnauzer was in 1879 at the Third German International Show held in Hanover, Germany. At this time the breed was shown as a wirehaired pinscher. The Standard Schnauzer was used as a military dog in World War I and II and continues to be used as a watchdog, police dog and hunting and tracking dog. They are often seen in obedience training competitions as well as agility events.

The breed has since evolved into two other categories, the Miniature Schnauzer and the Giant Schnauzer, both which resemble the Standard in everything except size.

Temperament

The Standard Schnauzer is a very well tempered breed and is not prone to extremely active or disruptive behaviors provided they have lots of attention, training and proper, regular exercise. They are very steadfast and loyal dogs that will protect their families and territories even in the face of much larger dogs or even strange people. They are excellent watch and guard dogs but with proper socialization and training can also be wonderful companion dogs even with other non-canine pets. They do have natural hunting instincts and will need training to interact properly with cats. They are not recommended for homes with smaller rodent pets. Intact males tend to be rather dog aggressive but socialization from and early age and neutering will prevent a lot of this type of aggression. Schnauzers often do best with other Schnauzers and are not recommended for homes that have another dog that is a dominant breed.

A true family dog the Standard Schnauzer is excellent with older children and loves to travel and go for long walks and romps. Smaller and younger children are often intimidated by the breed as they tend to be somewhat dominant dogs that can be highly protective of their food, toys and space. Older kids tend to be able to work with this breed better than many younger children. They are very hardy dogs that can tolerate both hot and cold climates and love to be outdoors as much as possible. They can tolerate being left alone for moderate amounts of time provided they have regular attention and time with the family on a daily basis. The more attention the Standard Schnauzer puppy gets with proper socialization and training the more of a family dog he or she will be as it matures. A Standard Schnauzer is not recommended as a good match for a family that wants a dog that requires minimum attention and companionship. Many breeders of Standard Schnauzers believe that this breed has a very long memory and will keenly remember people that have been negative towards it in the past. They are also not tolerant of teasing and will let people know when they have had enough.

The Standard Schnauzer is a very intelligent dog that will learn commands extremely quickly and does best with positive reinforcement and praise. They do not respond well to negative training methods and will become aloof and more independent when trained with negative methods. Naturally dominant, the breed does require a firm hand in training and consistent commands. It is important for the owner to establish with the Schnauzer that they are in command or the dog is likely to be very non-compliant. An obedience class is a wonderful way to both socialize and train these dogs.

The Standard Schnauzer is very similar in temperament to a terrier. They love to play and to entertain their owners, but dislike repetitive or monotonous routines and practices. They can be prone to chasing so should be kept either on a leash or within a fence until fully trained. Since they are somewhat dog aggressive it may be necessary to on a leash when in public places where there may be other dog\'s present.

Thyroid Disease - Medium Risk

The Standard Schnauzer ranks #62 among all breeds for autoimmune thyroiditis prevalence. While this is not a high risk breed, there is still a good chance of disease transmission through breeding. Therefore, all dogs intended for breeding should be tested first. 

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

A very healthy breed overall, the Standard Schnauzer has no major genetic or health conditions inherent in the breed. Like all larger dog breeds they can be prone to canine hip dysplasia so test on the hip should be performed if this is a concern. Ask if either the of the breeding lines have a history of canine hip dysplasia before choosing a puppy. The breed occasionally will develop follicular dermatitis, which is a skin condition that can be treated by a vet.