MINIATURE SCHNAUZER Breed Standards
The Schnauzer hails from Germany, where it has been known since as early as the 15th century. For centuries, these dogs were kept as herders, guardians, ratters and companions, and eventually developed into three distinct sizes: Giant, Standard and Miniature. The Miniature Schnauzer is the youngest of the three, having just come on the scene during the late 19th century. The breed was created by crossing the Standard Schnauzer with the Affenpinscher, and possibly the Miniature Pinscher and Poodle, and was initially bred for the purpose of ratting. However, the dog’s smart looks and high quality immediately caught the attention of show breeders, and the Miniature Schnauzer began to appear in the ring virtually from the moment it was born.
The Miniature Schnauzer was first bred in the United States in 1925, and was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1926. The breed was initially grouped with the Standard Schnauzer, and would not receive separate AKC recognition until 1933. In the years following World War II, the Miniature Schnauzer’s popularity skyrocketed, elevating the dog at one time to the coveted position of third most popular breed in America. Even today, the Miniature Pinscher is among the top ten most registered breeds with the AKC, and is also a common fixture in the show ring.
Incidentally, the Schnauzer breed name comes from an individual show dog named Schnauzer exhibited in Germany 1879. Translated from German, the word Schnauzer means “small beard.”
SKILLS: The Miniature Schnauzer, is a small, square dog with a long head, bushy beard, moustache and eyebrows. The thick, prominent eyebrows and long moustache are often trimmed to accentuate the dog's square shape. The front legs are very straight. The oval eyes are dark and the v-shaped ears fold forward. It has a strong muzzle, and a well-developed black nose.
SIZE: Size - From 12 to 14 inches. He is sturdily built, nearly square in proportion of body length to height with plenty of bone, and without any suggestion of toyishness. Disqualifications - dogs or bitches under 12 inches or over 14 inches.
COAT: Double, with hard, wiry, outer coat and close undercoat. The head, neck, ears, chest, tail, and body coat must be plucked. When in show condition, the body coat should be of sufficient length to determine texture. Close covering on neck, ears, and skull. Furnishings are fairly thick but not silky. Faults - Coat too soft or too smooth and slick in appearance. COLOR - The recognized colors are salt and pepper, black and silver and solid black. All colors have uniform skin pigmentation, i.e. no white or pink skin patches shall appear anywhere on the dog. Salt and 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 unbanded 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. However, if so, the lighter underbody hair is not to rise higher on the sides of the body than the front elbows. Black and 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. The stripped portion is free from any fading or brown tinge and the underbody should be dark. 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 clippered 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. Disqualifications - Color solid white or white striping, patching, or spotting on the colored areas of the dog, except for the small white spot permitted on the chest of the black. The body coat color in salt and pepper and black and silver dogs fades out to light gray or silver white under the throat and across the chest. Between them there exists a natural body coat color. Any irregular or connecting blaze or white mark in this section is considered a white patch on the body, which is also a disqualification. GAIT - The trot is the gait at which movement is judged. When approaching, the forelegs, with elbows close to the body, move straight forward, neither too close nor too far apart. Going away, the hind legs are straight and travel in the same planes as the forelegs. Note - It is generally accepted that when a full trot is achieved, the rear legs continue to move in the same planes as the forelegs, but a very slight inward inclination will occur. It begins at the point of the shoulder in front and at the hip joint in the rear. Viewed from the front or rear, the legs are straight from these points to the pads. The degree of inward inclination is almost imperceptible in a Miniature Schnauzer that has correct movement. It does not justify moving close, toeing in, crossing, or moving out at the elbows. Viewed from the side, the forelegs have good reach, while the hind legs have strong drive, with good pickup of hocks. The feet turn neither inward nor outward. Faults - Single tracking, sidegaiting, paddling in front, or hackney action. Weak rear action.
CARE REQUIRED: A Miniature Schnauzer needs to be brushed well once or twice a week to prevent matting - more often if they wear a sweater in the winter, and watch the armpit area for mats. Your pet puppy needs to be clippered about every 2 months; show puppies' coats are treated differently. Remember, the longer the coat grows, the more it tends to mat. Your Miniature Schnauzer will be much prettier and easier to care for if you keep him clean and neat.
CHARACTER: The Miniature Schnauzer is very perky and bright-eyed. Loving and intelligent. Energetic, affectionate, and obedient. Playful, happy and alert, they like children. They can be feisty and fairly dog-aggressive. If properly introduced, the Miniature Schnauzer will get along with another dog, but will not accept all dogs. They make good companions and family pets. Schnauzers tend to bark a lot. They make good guard dogs and are good to travel with. Some can be reserved with strangers, but most love everyone.
TRAINING: He is as much at home in the city with a small amount of exercise as he is in the country where he appears tireless. And, he easily adapts to any change of condition or climate. His deepest need, however, is to live as a part of the family, going where they go, doing what they do.
SOCIAL BEHAVIOR: The Miniature Schnauzer is a good dog for apartment life. It is fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard.
EXERCISE: These energetic little dogs enjoy long, brisk, daily walks, and love play sessions off the leash.
