Schnauzer Sizes and Colors

Miniature Schnauzer Sizes

What Sizes Do Miniature Schnauzers Come In?

A Miniature Schnauzer can come in Miniature, Toy and TeaCup Sizes.

Miniature Schnauzers must weigh between 12 – 24 pounds full grown and stand 12 – 15 inches tall to be qualified to enter the show ring. If a Miniature Schnauzer is smaller or larger then this requirement then it is considered a fault by the American Miniature Schnauzer Club. Which just means they can not enter the show ring for competition.

Toy and Teacup size Miniature Schnauzers should weigh between 2 – 11 pounds and stand 6-11 inches tall from shoulders to the floor. Evidently, they can not be “show dogs.” However, they can still enter other competitions such as agility, flyball and so on. Also, they can still have “champion bloodlines” in their pedigree if any of their past relatives met the requirements and completed the show competition with a championship title.

Keep in mind that teacup schnauzers and toy schnauzers are miniature schnauzers. There is no separate classification for the toy and teacup sizes as of yet. This means when you register a “teacup or toy schnauzer” their registration papers will show as a purebred miniature schnauzer. The word “teacup” and “toy” is just referring to their smaller estimated adult size.

The Miniature Schnauzer

Hight: 13-15 inches

Weight: (12-24 Lbs)

The Toy Sized Miniature Schnauzer

Hight: 09-11 inches

Weight: (06-11 Lbs)

The TeaCup Sized Miniature Schnauzer

Hight: 06-08 inches

Weight: (02-05 Lbs)

These are the average estimates on height and weight. Everyone seems to have there own opinion on this matter.

Miniature Schnauzer Colors

Where Do All these Colors Come From? Are They Purebred, & Can You Register Them With AKC?

The answer is YES, AKC does recognize and register all these different colors as purebred Schnauzers. You’re welcome to contact AKC for more information at (919) 233-9767 regarding these colors and their registration color codes are. Educate yourself and learn all about the history of schnauzers. As you choose a puppy, keep in mind that a lot of schnauzers fade over time. So black & Silver could end up looking like a Salt & Pepper, Liver could end up looking like a Liver Pepper, and so on. So we encourage you to do your research, this way you can be comfortable with all the colors and what to expect. Then you can have a blast picking out your favorite one!

Black

AKC Registration Color Code: 007

Born with solid black bodies. It is common for black schnauzers to have some white on their chin, chest, and/or tips of their toes. They usually have brown eyes, black pads, and a black nose.

Blue

This is an extremely rare color.

AKC Registration Color Code: 007

(Diluted Black) Born with solid blue bodies. It is common for blue schnauzers to have some white on their chin, chest, and/or tips of their toes. They usually have brown eyes, blue pads, and a blue nose.

Black & Silver

AKC Registration Color Code: 016

Born with black bodies and white on their eyebrows, muzzle, inside the ears, across the chest, down the legs on the feet, and underneath the tail. They usually have dark brown eyes, black pads, and a black nose.

Blue & Tan

This is an extremely rare color.

AKC Registration Color Code: 016

(Diluted Black & Silver) Born with blue bodies and tan on their eyebrows, muzzle, inside the ears, across the chest, down the legs on the feet, and underneath the tail. They usually have dark brown or hazel-looking eyes, blu pads, and a blue nose.

Black & Tan

This is a rare color.

AKC Registration Color Code: 016

Black & Rusts are born with a Black base coat and have orange or rust-colored eyebrows, beard, chest, and, patch under the tail. Black & Rusts are born in many different shades of orange/rust, the darker the orange/rust, the more expensive this color is. This color is one of the rarest color schnauzers out there. They are registered as a Black & Silver through AKC and typically have brown eyes; black pads and a black nose.

Why is Phantom Used In Different Colors? What Does it Mean? Is It Also A Purebred?

Phantom is just a term used to describe how bright the markings are. So a phantom Black & Silver is the same as a Black & Silver. Only it has much more vivid markings.

They are NOT two separate colors, and yes they are still purebred Miniature Schnauzers. We also use this term in Liver & Tans and sometimes others as well.

Liver

AKC Registration Color Code: 123

Liver (brown) schnauzers are born with solid brown bodies. Some white on their chin, chest, and/or tips of their toes are common. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, chocolate pads a chocolate nose.

Lilac

This is an extremely rare color.

AKC Registration Color Code: 123

Lilac (diluted brown) schnauzers are born with solid lilac bodies. Some white on their chin, chest, and/or tips of their toes are common. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, lilac pads a lilac nose.

Liver & Tan

Liver & Tan Phantom

AKC Registration Color Code: 124

Born with solid chocolate bodies and tan, cream, or white markings on their eyebrows, muzzle, inside the ears, across the chest, down the legs on the feet, and underneath the tail. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, chocolate pads & a chocolate nose.

Lilac & Tan

This is an extremely rare color.

AKC Registration Color Code: 124

Born with solid lilac bodies and tan, cream, or white markings on their eyebrows, muzzle, inside the ears, across the chest, down the legs on the feet, and underneath the tail. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, lilac pads & a lilac nose.

Liver & Rust

This is an extremely rare color.

AKC Registration Color Code: 124

Liver & Rust's are born with a liver base coat and have orange or rust-colored eyebrows, beard, chest, and, patch under the tail. Liver & Rusts are born in many different shades of orange/rust, the darker the orange/rust, the more expensive this color is. This color is one of the rarest color schnauzers out there. They are registered as a Liver & Tan through AKC and typically have brown, hazel, OR green eyes; brown pads, and a brown nose.

Are White Schnauzers Considered a “defect” or an “albino?”

No, they are not. Albino is a term that many people find confusing. A true albino has an absence of color throughout its entire body meaning it will have pink/red eyes, pink skin, pink pads pink eyelids & pink lips. Some think it is a synonym for white, and refer to any dogs that are white as an “albino” which is entirely incorrect.

So just to be clear White Schnauzers are NOT a defect, and they are NOT albino’s.

White Schnauzers are extremely popular, healthy & live long lives. The colors white, Cream, and Red are created by what's called ee on the dog's e locus of the dog's genetic coat color pannel.

White

AKC Registration Color Code: 199

White Schnauzers are born with solid white fur. Their skin has a gray/black tint to it. They usually have brown eyes, black pads, and a black nose.

White Chocolate

AKC Registration Color Code: 199

A true White Chocolate Schnauzer is born solid white. The skin underneath their hair is usually pink. They typically have brown, hazel, OR green eyes; brown pads, and a brown nose.

Red

This is an extremely rare color.

AKC Registration Color Code: 224

Reds are born in many different shades of orange/red, the darker the color, the more expensive this color is. This color is one of the rarest color schnauzers out there. They are registered as Wheaten through AKC and typically have brown, hazel OR green eyes; brown or black pads, and a brown or black nose.

Rust

This is an extremely rare color.

AKC Registration Color Code: 224

Cream

AKC Registration Color Code: 224

Creams are born in many different shades. They are registered as Wheaten through AKC and typically have brown, hazel OR green eyes; brown or black pads, and a brown or black nose.

Red Parti

This is an extremely rare color.

AKC Registration Color Code: 224

Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038

Sable/Fawn

This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.

AKC Registration Color Code: 224 or 167

This is another rare colored schnauzer as well. They are registered as a Salt & Pepper or wheaten through AKC and typically have brown, hazel, or green eyes; brown or black pads, and a brown or black nose. Sable is on the same "a" locus as salt and pepper is and can very from deep red to light cream tone.

Sable/Fawn Parti

This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.

AKC Registration Color Code: 224 or 167

Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038

Salt & Peppers

AKC Registration Color Code: 167

Born in a variety of shades from very dark to very light. No matter how dark or light the puppy is, Salt & Peppers usually always have a tan shade on the sides of their body at birth. Salt and peppers have banded hairs of gray that almost always turn silver/gray as adults. If you aren’t familiar with “banded hairs” that just means each strain of their hair has three shades of color on it instead of only one solid color. They usually have brown eyes, black pads, and, a black nose.

Platinum Silver / Silver

Sorry, I don't have an example of a true platinum silver at this time.

This is what a lot of people are calling Platinum Silver, but this is still considered a Sable Schnauzer

AKC Registration Color Code: 167

Platinum silvers are the lightest shade of salt & pepper schnauzers you can find. They are born a very light gray color and may have banded hairs that turn into an extremely light silver, and some can even appear almost white. AKC registers Platinums as Salt & Pepper. They usually have Brown eyes, black pads, and, a black nose.

Liver Peppers

AKC Registration Color Code: 498

Born in a variety of shades from very dark to very light just like the Salt & Pepper. Liver Peppers are the recessive are recessive to salt and pepper and have banded hairs of brown/chocolate that usually always fade out into a lighter brown/chocolate as adults. They usually have brown, hazel, OR green eyes, brown pads, and a brown nose.

Salt & Pepper Parti

This photo is not mine I got permission from another breeder to use it as an example for this page.

AKC Registration Color Code: 167

Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038

Salt & Pepper Parti's possess a Salt & Pepper base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. Every parti has different markings; Some have their Entire back one color and the underside white, some breeders call those "Blanket Parti's." This term has nothing to do with genetics it is just a term used because it looks like someone covered their backs with a blanket. Hints the name "Blanket Parti," they are still registered as a Salt & Pepper Parti. Born in a variety of shades from very dark to very light just like the Salt & Pepper. Salt & Pepper Partis have banded hairs of gray & white on the gray patches that usually always fade out into a lighter gray as they age. They typically have brown eyes, black pads, and, a black nose.

Black Parti

Black Parti "Blanket Parti"

This photo is from another breeder whose I was granted permission to use.

AKC Registration Color Code: 007

Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038

Black Parti's possess a Black base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. The patches on a Black Parti sometimes fade out into a gray color as they age. Some Partis have a solid color on their backs, that is why some breeders call them blanket partis. This term has nothing to do with genetics it is just a term used because it looks like someone covered their backs with a blanket. Hints the name "Blanket Parti," they are still registered as a Black Parti. Their markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown eyes, black pads, and a black nose.

Black & Silver Parti

AKC Registration Color Code: 016

Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038

Black & Silver Parti's possess a Black base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. Black & Silver Parti's are just the same as a black parti but have white eyebrows, white chest and white beard just like a Black & Silver would have. The spots on a Black & Silver Parti sometimes fade out into a gray color as they age. Their Markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown eyes, black pads, and a black nose.

Liver Parti

Liver Parti "Blanket Parti"

AKC Registration Color Code: 123

Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038

Liver Parti's possess a Liver base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. The spots on a Liver Parti sometimes fade out into a liver pepper color as adults. Some Partis have a solid color on their backs, that is why some breeders call them blanket partis. This term has nothing to do with genetics it is just a term used because it looks like someone covered their backs with a blanket. Hints the name "Blanket Parti," they are still registered as a Liver Parti. Their Markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, brown pads, and a brown nose.

Liver & Tan Parti

AKC Registration Color Code: 124

Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038

Liver & Tan Parti's possess a Liver base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. They are just the same as a Liver parti but have white eyebrows, a white chest and a white beard just like al Liver & Tan would have. The spots on a Liver & Tan Parti sometimes fade out into a liver pepper color as they age. The Markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, brown pads, and a brown nose

Liver Pepper Parti

AKC Registration Color Code: 498

Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038

Liver Pepper Parti's possess a Liver Pepper base coat and have patches of white all over their body which resembles a cow. The spots on a Liver Pepper Parti sometimes fade out into a light liver pepper color as they age. The Markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, brown pads, and a brown nose.

Roan Parti

Liver Roan Parti

Black Roan Parti

This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.

AKC Registration Color Code: Black (007), Liver (123)

and so on depending on the color.

Three-Digit AKC Marking Code: 038

Born in many different colors just like a regular parti does except where the white is, whatever color the dog's spots are will start growing in with white hair making it look smoky. It's gorgeous; this is also a more rare marking. One thing you need to know is that Ticked Parti markings change drastically over time. The Markings are always different on every puppy. They usually have brown, hazel, or green eyes, brown or black pads, and a brown or black nose depending on the color of the dog.

Parti Merle's

Blue Parti Merle

Liver Parti Merle

This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.

Parti Merles are just the same as Blue, Black & Silver, Liver, Liver & Tan, Liver Pepper, Salt & Pepper, Platinum silver, and Wheaten Merles except they have patches/spots of the merle marking on their body. Merle Parti can be a combination of any color above with White that goes over the top line of the dog. Usually, they will have mostly White legs too. Eye and nose color will follow suit of the dog's base color. If they are Blue, Salt& Pepper, Black & Silver, or Silver Parti Merle they usually will have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose. If they are Liver, Liver Pepper, or Liver & Tan Parti Merles, then they will have brown pads, brown, hazel, green, or blue eyes, and a brown nose.

Blue Merle

This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.

My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.

A Blue Merles base coat color is black with diluted colored areas all over their body. Blue Merles usually have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose. They come in many shades. But you will never see banded shades together if it is pure. The Black spots will not have peppered hair in them at all.

Black & Silver Merle

This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.

This Photo is From Another Breeder, This Is Not My Dog.

My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.

A Black & Silver Merles base coat color is black with diluted colored areas on the body. It is the same as the blue merle, but it has white eyebrows, a white chest, and white under the tail just like a black and silver Schnauzer. Black & Silver Merles usually have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose. The Black spots will not have peppered hair in them at all.

Black & Red Merle

This is a rare color.

My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.

A Black & Red Merles base coat color is black with diluted colored areas on the body. It is the same as the blue merle, but it has red eyebrows, a red chest, and red under the tail just like a black and red Schnauzer. Black & Red Merles usually have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose. The Black spots will not have peppered hair in them at all.

Salt & Pepper Merle

This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.

This Photo is From Another Breeder, This Is Not My Dog.

My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.

This color Merles base coat is Salt & Pepper with diluted gray colored areas all over their body. Salt N Pepper Merle is the same as a true Salt N Pepper Schnauzer, banded shades of gray with Black Spots. As in original Schnauzers, the shades of your peppering can vary. Some Salt N Pepper's can have smuttiness in the eyebrows and beards. Some breeders are calling their dogs Salt N Pepper Merles when in fact they are Blue Merle. To know the difference, look for the banded hair. They usually will have black pads, brown, or blue eyes, and a black nose.

Silver Merle

This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.

This Photo is From Another Breeder, This Is Not My Dog.

My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.

Liver Pepper Merle

This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.

My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.

A Liver Pepper Merles base coat color is Liver with a Peppering gene on top, they have diluted colored areas all over the body. Just like in original Schnauzers, the shades of your peppering can vary. Some Liver Pepper can have smuttiness in the eyebrows and beards. Your dark spots can also be peppered. Some breeders are calling their dogs (Liver, Chocolate, or Brown) Merles when in fact they are Liver Pepper Merles. To know the difference look for the banded hair. They usually have brown pads, brown, hazel, green, or blue eyes, and a brown nose.

Liver Merle

This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.

My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.

A Liver Merles base color is Liver (brown) with diluted colored areas all over their body. Liver Merles are the primary color of a brown cream color with true Liver (Brown) spots. The Liver spots will not have peppered hair in them at all. They usually have brown pads, brown, hazel, green, or blue eyes, and a brown nose.

Liver & Tan Merle

This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.

My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.

A Liver & Tan Merle base coat color is Liver & Tan with diluted colored areas on the body. It is the same same as a Liver Merle except it has tan eyebrows, tan beard, and, tan under the tail just like a regular Liver & Tan Schnauzer. Some Liver & Tans can have smuttiness in the eyebrows and beards. The Liver spots will not have peppered hair in them at all. They usually have brown pads, brown, hazel, green, or blue eyes, and a brown nose.

Sable Merle

This is a rare color, but not a super rare one.

These Photos Are From Another Breeder, These Are Not My Dogs.

My merles are registered through APRI as their color, they are also registered through AKC but they register them as a parti.

Sable Merle is the hardest color for people to understand. Most breeders will mistake them at birth as another color. They come in Cream, Peach, or Apricot looking colors. Their birth spots are not true and not jet Black. Sables will most likely fade out to the Cream color by six months old due to the sable gene working like the slat and pepper since they are both on the "a" locus You will not see their Merle markings at all for the rest of their life. This is a proven fact about color. Most will call them Blue Merle at birth, but they are not Blue at all. For this color, I have posted each line with the same dog so you can see some of the significant color changes in this color. True Wheaten Merles will have black noses, black pads, and brown, or blue eyes

Merle Schnauzers

Are Merles Pure Bred Dogs?

I cannot attest to everyone else's dogs but mine in fact are. I have Daisy, Rose & Duke as well who are all purebred and I have breed certificates on them all to prove this through embark vet. If you would like to see them please ask I would be more than happy to send them to you. They test over 200,000 different genetic markers that can go back as far as 5-6 generations.

Are Merles Healthy? / Do They Shed?

Please look up Cora, Rose, Duke, Davie & Daisy's full DNA genetic vet reportdone on both of my merles. They have been tested for over 168 different hereditary issues that can be passed down to puppies and not a single one is affected by any issue, not even a carrier. So all this bad talk on merles is not even true, it's all made up. Words are words but evidence or proof is far more valuable!! Merles ARE healthy and are just the SAME as any other Schnauzer. I own a few, and I see nothing different about them at all, and NO they DO NOT shed.

Are Merles AKC Registered?

Yes, some are registered with AKC but the majority are MSCA, APRI, or CKC registered. Registration is just a piece of paper stating the dog is purebred. It does not matter with what registry it comes from as long as the dog is in fact registerable.

Is It True That They Have Problems with Blindness & Deafness?

No, absolutely not or we would not keep breeding them neither would any other responsible breeder. What had happened was, when merle Schnauzers first came about some breeders bred Merles to Merles, and that is bad. If people did a little research, they would find out that in just about every breed of dog that has merle coat colors, breeding Merle to Merle is a MAJOR no-no. If you breed Merle to Merle 1 in every four puppies is born with blindness or deafness. So it's simple, we NEVER breed Merle to Merle. So, therefore, there are NEVER any health issues. If you would like to see it for yourself, you are more than welcome to come here. Just give us a call, and we can schedule a day for you to come.

What Colors Do Merles Come In?

Merles come in many different colors. There are Blue, Blue & Tan, Black & Silver, Lilac, Lilac & Tan, Liver, Liver & Tan, Liver Pepper, Salt & Pepper, Silver, Sable, and Red Merles. They come in parti markings as well in the same colors. Whatever the merles base coat color is, the merle gene dilutes the coat color in different areas, that is how the Merle pattern is created.

Miniature Schnauzer Coat Types

What Types of Coats Can a Miniature Schnauzer Have?

Nowadays there are three types of coats a Miniature Schnauzer can have.

There is the Traditional Coat, which comes in a soft (smooth texture) or wiry (coarse texture).

The Super Coat has a little more volume than the Traditional and is normally soft.

Then there is the Mega Coat; this one is the thickest with the most volume and is also usually soft.

Are They All Still Purebred Schnauzers?

YES, they are still Purebreds.

There is also a lot of nonsense on this topic going around on the web as well. Some people are trying to say that these different coat types are not purebreds, that they shed and this and so on but it's not true. I own every kind of coat there is, they DONT shed, and they ARE still purebreds. I have certified paperwork from AKC and breed certificates through embark vet proving they are 100% schnauzer on every one. If you would like to see for yourself, you are more than welcome to come here. Just give us a call, and we can schedule a day for you to come.

Are Miniature Schnauzers Hypoallergenic?

Miniature, Toy & Teacup Schnauzers do not shed. They are considered to be hypoallergenic, making them an excellent choice for people with allergies.

About 10% of the population is allergic to animals, but is there a breed that does not trigger an allergic reaction to occur? Honestly, there no such a thing as an actual hypoallergenic dog.

What triggers allergy flare-ups are: dander (flakes of the dog's skin), saliva and urine.

And no matter what you do, EVERY dog produces these. To find the right dog breed, an allergy sufferer should consider a kind that has the least amount of dander and does not shed, slobber or drool a great deal.

Every person will have their own allergic severity to particular dogs, their saliva and dander they produce. Schnauzers, don’t shed a lot plus they get groomed frequently. This frequent grooming washes away some of the loose dander allergens from their skin, they also do not drool and slobber a lot. This is why this breed is considered to be hypoallergenic, and therefore would be a much better choice for allergy sufferers than other dog breeds.

Miniature Schnauzers are on the top 10 best dog breeds list for allergy sufferers.

Luckily, Schnauzers are less likely to cause an allergy reaction. So there is no reason why allergy sufferers have to live a life without a loving companion as a friend.

Traditional Coat

The traditional coat it is found on any size schnauzer, it is very thin and does not grow very long. Some of these coats have a softer feel and others can have a wirier texture to them. This is the most common coat type in the larger miniature sized schnauzers that grow to be 12-24lbs..

SuperCoat

The Super Coat has a thicker more fluffy appearance to it compared to the traditional coats. The Super Coat is in between the traditional and megs coats.

Mega Coat

The Mega Coat is the thickest most luxurious coat Schnzuers can come in. The coat is thick yet soft and can sometimes grow out to the floor all the way around if you let it grow out. It's absolutely stunning.

Miniature Schnauzer Eye Colors

What Color Eyes Can a Miniature Schnauzer Have?

Miniature Schanuzers can have Brown, Hazel, Green, or Blue Eyes

Are There Eyes Still Healthy Even Tho They Are Different Colors?

YES. I have seen people express some concern on this topic, but I can assure you all my dogs have been to the vet they are all healthy and have no issues with there eyes. If you would like to speak to my vet and ask them about my blue-eyed Schnauzers, please feel free to contact Companion Animal Clinic in Yucca Valley California.

Are all of These Schnauzers Still Purebred, Even If They Have Different Color Eyes?

YES, all of my Schnauzers have AKC paperwork that states they are purebred Miniature Schnauzers no matter their eye color.

Brown Eyes

This is what brown eyes look like. A lot of times they will be so dark they almost look black. But if you shine a flashlight into there eyes you will be able to tell that in fact, they are brown.

Brown eyes can be in every color Schnauzer, it is the most common eye color.

Hazel Eyes

Hazel eyes are usually found on Liver (brown) colored Schnauzers that have a brown nose only.

Green Eyes

You usually see green eyes on any schnauzer that is liver (brown) colored or that has a brown nose only.

Blue Eyes

Here is what one Blue and one Brown eye looks like

This is what blue eyes look like. Blue eyes are rarer this is why they cost more, not only to puppy buyers but breeders as well. Blue eyes can be in any color Schnauzer as long as one of the parents have blue eyes, then the litter has a 50/50% chance of getting blue eyes. This color is stunning and different. That is why I love them so much.

Health Issues In Schnauzers

All of our dogs have been tested for over 200+ different genetic issues and all tested non affected.

We still offer an extended health guarantee that covers any genetic, hereditary, or congenital birth defects for the lifetime of your pet.

WE STRIVE TO BREED THE HEALTHIEST PUPPIES AVAILABLE!!!!

Like all breeds, there may be some health issues, like eye diseases. Some dogs face some of these health challenges in their lives, but the majority of Miniature Schnauzers are incredibly healthy dogs compared to most breeds.

Working with a responsible breeder, those wishing to own a Miniature Schnauzer can gain the education they need to know about specific health concerns within the breed.

Not all Minis will develop all of these conditions, and those who do will experience them to varying degrees of severity, but it is not uncommon for them to form at least one health condition.

Hyperlipidemia

In a word, Miniatures are predisposed to getting fat. High cholesterol means high levels of fat are in the bloodstream. Left untreated, this can lead to secondary conditions such as eye problems, pancreatitis, or even seizures. Feeding a healthy diet that does not contain high amounts of fat is essential.

Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a fairly common disease in dogs. Any breed can be affected. Dogs with diabetes are unable to regulate the metabolism of sugars and require daily insulin injections. It is a severe condition and one that is important to diagnose and treat as early as possible. Symptoms include increased eating, drinking, and urination, along with weight loss. Well regulated diabetic dogs today have the same life expectancy as other canines.

Pancreatitis

This condition develops when the body loses its ability to process fat. An overly fatty meal may induce an attack as indicated by vomiting, diarrhea, or a tender tummy. A lot of breeders swear that a healthy diet can prevent this.

Bladder & Kidney Stones

These can form anywhere in the urinary system. Stones are treated either medically or through surgical removal. Some people give bottled water or filtered water only because some tap water is terrible and filled with a substantial amount of minerals

Dermatitis

Minis tend to have allergic dermatitis, in which the skin develops an itchy rash after coming into contact with any variety of substances. It's also thought that their food is the number one source of skin allergies. So feeding a grain free healthy diet is very important. This allergic reaction can cause discomfort and appear unsightly we call this (Schnauzer Bumps), but this otherwise does not interfere with health or life expectancy.

Retinal Dysplasia

This is a genetic condition that is covered by our lifetime health guarantee. It remains constant once it has presented. Severity can range from small disturbances in the field of vision, caused by folds in the tissue of the retina, to cataract or ultimately blindness.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy

(PRA) is a genetic disease covered in your health guarantee. It is characterized by the bilateral degeneration of the retina, causing progressive vision loss culminating in blindness. All of our adults are tested for this and passed clear.

Liver Problems

This is not the most common health issue a Mini can have, but it is one of the worst ones that can happen. That is why we cover for this health issue in our lifetime health guarantee as well.

Mini Schnauzers can have a liver disorder called portosystemic shunt (PSS). Some of the blood supply that should go to the liver goes around it instead, depriving the organ of the blood flow it needs to grow and function properly. If your friend has PSS, his liver cannot remove toxins from his bloodstream efficiently. If he develops symptoms such as stunted growth or seizures, your vet can test his blood and possibly conduct an ultrasound scan of his liver. Surgery may be needed, but in some cases, it can be treated with medication.

Heart Disease

We cover any heart diseases that are hereditary/congenital or due to a birth defect in our lifetime health guarantee. Miniature Schnauzers are prone to multiple types of heart disease, which can occur both early and later in life. Early detection of heart disease often allows us to treat with a medication that usually prolongs your pet’s life for many years. Veterinary dental care and weight control go a long way in preventing heart disease.