Frequently Asked Questions
Temperament
Stocky, robust little dogs standing 12 to 14 inches, Miniature Schnauzers were bred down from their larger cousins, Standard Schnauzers. The bushy beard and eyebrows give Minis a charming, human-like expression. The hard, wiry coat comes in three color patterns: salt and pepper, black and silver, and solid black. Created to be all-around farm dogs and ratters, they are tough, muscular, and fearless without being aggressive.
The Miniature Schnauzer is a bright, friendly, trainable companion, small enough to adapt to apartment life but tireless enough to patrol acres of farmland. They get along well with other animals and kids. Minis are sturdy little guys and enjoy vigorous play. Home and family oriented, they make great watchdogs.
Does the Pet Schnauzer require grooming?
The breed has a double-coat; wiry topcoat and soft undercoat. To maintain the double coat required for a dog show, the dog’s coat needs to be plucked (hand stripped) or rolled on a regular basis. Most people choose to have their pet’s coat clippered. Pet Miniature Schnauzers should be groomed every five to eight weeks to look their best. This is something most people choose to let a professional do, but you may choose to learn to do it yourself. See Grooming Page for more details.
Whether you choose to clipper or strip the coat, in return, you have a dog that is generally odorless and does not leave hair all over your clothes and home!
Size and Weight
The breed standard calls for the height at the withers or shoulder blades to be at least 12″ and no more than 14″. It does not specify any particular weight for the breed. That will depend on size and bone structure. A dog measuring 12″ to 14″ will usually weigh 11 to 20 lbs.
Does the Miniature Schnauzer shed or cause allergies?
Miniature Schnauzers shed very little. They tend to cause fewer and less severe reactions in people allergic to dogs than breeds that shed more. Of course, anyone allergic to dogs should spend time around the breed before buying a Miniature Schnauzer because individual reactions vary widely.
Coat Color
We raise, “Salt and Pepper”, “Black and Silver”, and “Black”. The “Salt and Pepper” is characterized by banded hair, and may be any shade of gray. The “Black and Silver” color pattern generally follows the same pattern as the “Salt and Pepper”; however the entire “Pepper” body section must be black. The “Black” is a solid black, but some may have a small white spot on the chest. As the dogs age and are clippered, “Blacks”, and “Black and Silvers” may fade from black to dark gray. “Salt and Peppers” may fade to a lighter shade of gray.