Miniature Schnauzer

The Miniature Schnauzer is a small dog with a roughly square outline. Under the international breed standard, dogs and bitches stand 30 to 35 cm at the withers and weigh 4 to 8 kg, with most falling between 4.5 and 7 kg.

They have a double coat with a wiry outer layer and a soft undercoat. The head is rectangular with a bushy beard, moustache and eyebrows, and the eyes are oval and dark. The teeth meet in a scissor bite, the front legs are very straight, and the short round feet are often called cat feet, with thick black pads.

Four colours are recognised internationally: solid black, black and silver, salt and pepper, and white. They are among the most popular breeds worldwide, mainly for their temperament and fairly small size.

The Miniature Schnauzer is a German breed that originated in the late nineteenth century. It may have been developed from the smallest Standard Schnauzers, or from crosses between the Standard and smaller breeds such as the Affenpinscher, Miniature Pinscher and Poodles, as farmers wanted a small, efficient ratting dog.

The Schnauzer types come from southern Germany and share a history with the Pinscher. Dogs of this kind were kept as carriage and stable dogs and were capable ratters. Rough-haired and smooth-haired puppies could appear in the same litter. In 1917 the rough-haired breed was officially renamed Schnauzer. The word schnauze means snout in German.

The Fédération Cynologique Internationale definitively accepted the Miniature Schnauzer in 1955. A small number were exported to the United States in 1924, and the American Miniature Schnauzer Club came out of a split in 1933. In a 2013 census the breed ranked tenth among the most-registered breeds worldwide.

Miniature Schnauzers are described as spunky but aloof. The American Kennel Club standard calls them alert and spirited, yet obedient, friendly, intelligent and willing to please, and never overaggressive or timid.

They are usually easy to train and tend to be excellent watchdogs with a good territorial instinct, though more inclined to bark than bite. They are often aloof with strangers until the owners welcome the guest, and then are typically very friendly.

Although grouped with the terriers in North America because of their rat-catching background, they do not share ancestry with British terriers. They tend to be more laid back, obedient and friendly, and less aggressive to other dogs. Stanley Coren ranked them 12th out of 140 breeds for intelligence.

A UK study found a life expectancy of 13.3 years for the breed, higher than the 12-year average for crossbreeds. A Japanese pet cemetery study found 13.4 years.

The breed is known to be predisposed to several conditions: gall bladder mucoceles, congenital portosystemic shunts (about 1% of Miniature Schnauzers, against 0.05% of mixed-breed dogs in one North American study), von Willebrand disease (an inherited bleeding disorder) and atopic dermatitis.

Schnauzer comedo syndrome is found only in this breed. Small comedones develop along the back and are believed to come from an inherited defect in hair follicles.

This is general awareness only, not veterinary advice. Always consult a vet about your pet's health.

How big does a Miniature Schnauzer get?

They stand 30 to 35 cm at the withers and weigh 4 to 8 kg. Most weigh between 4.5 and 7 kg.

How long do Miniature Schnauzers live?

A UK study found an average life expectancy of 13.3 years. That is higher than the 12-year average found for crossbreeds.

Are Miniature Schnauzers good with strangers and other dogs?

They are often aloof with strangers until the owners welcome the guest, then typically very friendly. They tend to be less aggressive to other dogs than British terriers are.

Do Miniature Schnauzers bark a lot?

They tend to be excellent watchdogs, more inclined to bark than bite. Experts consulted by Coren ranked them fifth among the top 15 breeds for watchdog barking ability.

Are Miniature Schnauzers easy to train?

They are usually easy to train. They are described as intelligent and willing to please, and ranked 12th of 140 breeds in Coren's book.

The word schnauzer appears in print in 1842, though the origin of the breed name is not known; in German, schnauze means snout and schnauz means walrus moustache.

The rough-haired type was once known as the Rattler or Rattenfänger.

White Miniature Schnauzers are recognised internationally, but the American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club do not accept them for showing.

In 2013 the breed ranked tenth among the most-registered breeds worldwide.