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Miniature Schnauzers

Appearance: Miniature Schnauzers have general appearance and all the appealing features of its full sized brethren; bushy eyebrows, bristly, stubby moustache and chin whiskers but still are quite distinctive in appearance. They are compact, muscular, and "square" in build (the height at the withers should be the same as the length of the body). They have long beards, eyebrows, and feathering on the legs. Ears are sometimes cropped to stand upright (illegal in some countries), and the tail is often docked short (illegal in some countries). Their coats are wiry (when hand-stripped,) and do not shed, which adds to their appeal as house pets. Miniature Schnauzers are highly recommended for dog owners who suffer from asthma. However, their coats have to be clipped every three months, as they do not shed. The AKC recognizes only three colors: black, salt and pepper, and black and silver. However, non-official colors of solid white and brown are rare but known.

History: The earliest official records surrounding development of the Miniature Schnauzer in Germany come from the late 1800s. In the breed's earliest stages, several small breeds were employed in crosses to bring down the size of the well-established Standard Schnauzer, with the goal of creating a duplicate in miniature. Miniature Schnauzers developed from crosses between the Standard Schnauzer and one or more smaller breeds such as the Poodle , Miniature Pinscher , or Affenpinscher . The earliest recorded Miniature Schnauzer was in 1888, and the first exhibition was in 1899. With their bold courage, the Miniature Schnauzer was originally used for guarding herds, small farms, and families. As time passed, they were also used to hunt rats, because they appeared to have a knack for it, and its small size was perfect to get into tight places to catch them. The AKC accepted registration of the new breed in 1926, two years after they were introduced to the United States . Two years latter the breed was introduced in UK .

Temperament: Miniature Schnauzers are known for their friendly personality and mischievous sense of humor, as well as intelligence and energy. They are very loyal and protective of their owners. While very good with children and most other pets, the Miniature Schnauzer does best when growing up with them. Owing to their use as ratters, they should not be trusted around small pets, as they will often attack and possibly kill them. The Miniature Schnauzer makes an excellent watchdog, barking at visitors to its home. Excessive barking can become aproblem if not corrected when the dog is young. They tend to be reserved with strangers and take some time to warm up to visitors to their home.

Health issues: The coat of this breed must be stripped at least twice a year, and regularly groomed to remove dead hairs. Its whiskers and longer hairs should be combed every day. This dog loves long walks but may forgo exercise on a rainy day. Miniature Schnauzers are prone to diabetes, bladder stones and pancreatitis. With proper care, without feeding the dog sweet or fattening food, it can often be avoided. Miniature Schnauzers with uncropped ears are prone to ear infections and deafness later in life if the ears are not checked regularly or dried out after swimming. Perfect weight varies on what size the dog is; if the dog is 14 inches high, and then the perfect weight would be 14 lbs. They should not be overfed since they gain weight easily. They can also develop a type of skin allergy, which shows up as a 'hot spot' often around the neck area, which can be tender for the animal forming a hard crust after weeping.