Miniature Schnauzer

What is a Miniature Schnauzer?

A compact, square, wiry-coated dog of 5.4-9.1kg with a pronounced beard and eyebrows. Despite the Utility classification the temperament is terrier: alert, busy, opinionated, and convinced it is in charge of the perimeter.

They are one of the few small breeds that combine a low-shedding coat with genuine robustness, which is why they turn up in so many "which dog should I get" conversations and usually deserve to.

History and origins

Developed in Germany in the late nineteenth century by breeding down the Standard Schnauzer, probably with Affenpinscher and Poodle, to produce a ratter small enough for a farmyard. The Kennel Club recognised the breed in 1935. The ratting job explains the prey drive and the noise.

Appearance and size

30-36cm, square in outline. A harsh wiry topcoat over a soft undercoat, with furnished legs, beard and eyebrows. Colours: salt and pepper, black and silver, solid black, and white. "Liver", "chocolate" and merle are not recognised, and merle in particular does not occur naturally in the breed - a merle Schnauzer has something else in it.

Temperament and personality

Bold, funny and constantly involved. They are watchful without being nervous and they bond hard to the household. They are also genuinely noisy: barking at arrivals is a feature of the breed, not a training failure, and it needs managing early rather than eliminating.

Intelligence and trainability

Very trainable and they enjoy it. They excel at scentwork, which suits the nose and the busy brain, and they take well to trick training. Being terriers, they will test a rule that has ever been applied inconsistently.

Children and other pets

Good with children who are past the grabbing stage. Fine with other dogs, though they are not always diplomatic. Not to be trusted loose with rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs or birds: the breed was made to kill vermin and it is very good at it.

Health problems

A comparatively healthy breed, with a few specific things to test for.

• Type A progressive retinal atrophy - DNA test, both parents.
• Myotonia congenita - a muscle disorder; DNA test.
• Congenital cataracts - eye examination.
• Urolithiasis - bladder stones, particularly calcium oxalate, are notably common in the breed. Encourage drinking, feed wet food, and see a vet promptly about any straining.
• Pancreatitis. The big everyday one. Miniature Schnauzers are prone to hyperlipidaemia and to pancreatitis, which is painful and can be fatal. No fatty scraps, ever - this is the single most important thing an owner can do.
• Also: Cushing's disease and, in older dogs, mitral valve disease.

Daily care routine

An hour of exercise plus a scent game or a training session. Beard washed after meals - a wet beard smells, and a Schnauzer beard collects everything. Teeth brushed.

Grooming and coat care

The real commitment. The coat is hand-stripped for show and clipped for pets, every six to eight weeks at £40-£65. Clipping softens the harsh topcoat permanently, which is fine for a pet but changes the texture and the colour. Between grooms, comb the legs and beard two or three times a week or they mat.

Exercise needs

An hour a day, with variety. They are not endurance athletes but they are tireless in short bursts and they love having something to find.

Feeding and diet

Two measured meals of a low-fat food, £20-£35 a month. Treats count, and cheese, sausage and leftover roast fat are exactly the things that trigger pancreatitis. Be strict; everyone in the house needs to be strict.

Price

£900-£1,700 from a breeder with the DNA results and eye certificates. Setup £280-£480; ongoing £75-£130 a month including grooming. Insurance is reasonable for the size.

Buying advice

Ask for the Type A PRA and myotonia DNA certificates and a current eye certificate. Ask whether there is any history of pancreatitis or bladder stones in the line - a straight answer here tells you a lot about the breeder. Avoid anyone selling unrecognised colours, especially merle.