Breed Information

Miniature Schnazuer Breed Information

Miniature Schnauzer

The Miniature Schnauzer is a robust, and active dog! They are in the terrier group and resemble Standard and Giant Schnauzers, in general appearance. They are an alert, active breed and are the smallest variety of the three Schnauzer sizes: Miniature, Standard, and Giant. Miniature Schnauzers range in size from 12 to 20lbs and stand between 12 and 14 inches at the shoulders and make excellent companions for families in both rural and urban areas!

To learn more about AKC Breed Standards for Miniature Schnauzers...

AKC Breed Standard Information

Is a Miniature Schnauzer right for you?

Miniature Schnazuer Colors

The Miniature Schnauzer breed has a selection of different colors to choose from and no two dogs are alike! Here at Schaible Family Schnauzers we raise predominantly the Black & Silver variety of Miniature Schnauzer, but on occasion we do have other colors available. A Miniature Schnauzer's color does not effect their energy level, personality, or health! If you have a specific color in mind please don't hesitate to reach out!

Salt & Pepper

The typical salt and pepper color of the topcoat results from the combination of black and white banded hairs and solid black and white un-banded hairs, with the banded hairs predominating. Acceptable are all shades of salt and pepper, from the light to dark mixtures with tan shadings permissible in the banded or unbanded hair of the topcoat. In salt and pepper dogs, the salt and pepper mixture fades out to light gray or silver white in the eyebrows, whiskers, cheeks, under throat, inside ears, across chest, under tail, leg furnishings, and inside hind legs. It may or may not also fade out on the underbody.

Black & Silver

The black and silver generally follows the same pattern as the salt and pepper. The entire salt and pepper section must be black. The black color in the topcoat of the black and silver is a true rich color with black undercoat.

Solid Black

Black is the only solid color allowed. Ideally, the black color in the topcoat is a true rich glossy color with the undercoat being less intense, a soft matting shade of black. This is natural and should not be penalized in any way. The stripped portion is free from any fading or brown tinge. The scissored and clipped areas have lighter shades of black. A small white spot on the chest is permitted, as is an occasional single white hair elsewhere on the body.

Solid White

White is a non-breed standard color that still occurs even when two breed standard colors are allowed to produce a litter because white is recessive. We do not have any white Miniature Schnauzers in our breeding program but on occasion we do have solid white puppies from our litters! Our puppies will have black noses and pigment with white fur.

Grooming Your Miniature Schnauzer

Grooming is an important part of caring for any dog and Miniature Schnauzers are no exception! This breed has a corse outer coat and soft under coat that should be brushed daily to keep it tangle free!

Miniature Schnauzers have a versatile coat that is more like human hair that dog fur and thus they shed little to no hair when cared for properly. This breed is an excellent choice for families who suffer from asthma of allergies. Regular clipping or hand-stripping of the coat should be done every 6 weeks to keep your Schnauzer's coat healthy.

Because many Schnauzers have ears that stand up, even if their ears are not clipped it is easier for dirt and debris to get trapped in their ears. Regular cleaning of the ears should be done weekly and the owner should moniter their dog's ears daily for oders, redness, or irritation as this could indicate an early ear infection. To prevent ear infections, clean your Schnauzer's ears regularly with a mild wash and take care to dry your Schnauzer's ears after bathing or swimming!

How to Groom a Miniature Schnauzer

If you do not choose to have your dog professionally groomed, learning to groom your own dog can be rewarding for both you and your dog. It is a great time to bond and it allows you to take special notice of your dog's body. Home grooming allows you to have the freedom to be creative, but it can also be a challenge for a novice groomer and young puppy. Below is a video that demonstrates how to keep your Miniature Schnauzer's coat well groomed!

Cropping & Docking

Tail docking and ear cropping are two of the most controversial subjects among Miniature Schnauzer enthusiasts. Pet owners who favor an unaltered dog, sometimes claim that tail docking and ear cropping are cruel practices that no longer have a purpose in the world of pet Schnauzers. Individuals who have a passion for preserving the breed and competing in AKC Events know that failing to dock a Miniature Schnauzer's tail nearly guarantees their exclusion from competing and is considered the mark of a sloppy breeder. While the majority of our puppies do go to pet-only homes, we would hate to limit our puppies only to families who don't show, meanwhile depriving a professional or aspiring dog handler from adopting a potential winner because we failed to follow breed standards. Because our Miniature Schnauzers are show quality we consider it our obligation to comply with AKC Breed Standards and have their tails docked shortly after they are born. If you would like your Miniature Schnauzer to have a natural tail, we will gladly exclude them from the docking process if you have reserved your puppy within three days of their birth.

When it comes to ears AKC accepts both natural and cropped ears as acceptable standards within the breed. It is our personal preference as the breeder to leave our puppies' ears natural, however because our puppies go home at 8 weeks of age you still have time to schedule an appointment with your vet to have your puppy's ears cropped if you desire to do so. Cropping your Schnauzer's ears is a decision that should be made by the forever family after an informed conversation with their vet.

Schnauzer with Natural Ears

Miniature Schnauzers are born with ears that have soft flaps that fall forward over the opening of their ears. Above is a photo of a Mini Schnauzer with natural ears! All of our puppies come with natural ears, as ear cropping is not an option that we offer with our puppies.

Schnauzer with Cropped Ears

Above is a Miniature Schnauzer with ears that have been cropped. Originally the practice of ear cropping was done to protect the dog from having their ears injured in confrontations with vermin, but today ear cropping is often only a preference of the owner.

The American Kennel Club accepts both natural and cropped ears as a standard for the breed and neither will be considered a flaw or grounds to penalize a dog during a competition. Ear Cropping should be done only by a licensed veterinarian between the ages of 7 and 12 weeks! If you are interested in having your puppy's ears cropped please contact your vet to discuss the procedure so you can make an informed decision with enough time to schedule an appointment during this age bracket. While all of our puppies come with natural ears once your puppy is in your home decisions about their health and veterinary care are exclusively between you and your vet unless otherwise noted prior to adoption.

To learn more about ear cropping you may view this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRaGc7MgujI

Tail Docking

Docked Tail

Above is a Black & Silver Miniature Schnauzer with natural ears and a docked tail. According to AKC Breed Standards, "It is docked only long enough to be clearly visible over the backline of the body when the dog is in proper length of coat. A properly presented Miniature Schnauzer will have a docked tail as described; all others should be severely penalized."

Natural Tail

Above is a Salt & Pepper Miniature Schnauzer with natural ears and a natural tail. As you can see it arches high above the back. Leaving a Miniature Schnauzer's tail natural is severely frowned upon in the world of Schnauzers, but is sometimes the preferred choice among pet owners today.

The American Kennel Club is very clear on where they stand in regards to the topic of tail docking. Though AKC is more lenient when it comes to ear cropping they will strictly penalize a Miniature Schnauzer who enters the show ring with a natural tail making it nearly impossible for a natural-tailed Miniature Schnauzer to be a candidate for a home who wishes to express their passion for the breed by competing in dog shows.

To learn more about tail docking you may view this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6t2Ac3UHws

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