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History
Records of development of the Miniature Schnauzer in Germany are
available from late 1800s. In the early stages of breeding, some experiments
were made by crossing several small breeds to bring down the size of the
already established Standard Schnauzer. Crossing with other breeds brought
into effect certain colors that were not acceptable in the final breed.
Overtime, breeders removed white puppies and parti-colored puppies from the
program to stabilize the gene pool
The first exhibition of Miniature Schnauzer was in 1889. As the breed
displayed exemplary courage, it was used to guard small farms, herds and
families. Later it was also used for hunting rats. The Miniature Schnauzer
appeared to have a liking for rats and its small made it a perfect hunter.
The Miniature Schnauzer was introduced in the United States in 1924 and the
American Kennel Club (AKC) registered it two years later. The AKC however
does not accept it as a true terrier because it is not inherited from the
terrier breeds of the British Isles.
General Description
The Miniature Schnauzer is sturdily built dog with a good deal of bone.
Despite his small size he does not exhibit any qualities of toy breeds. His
body length to height proportion is almost square.
The Miniature Schnauzer has deep-set dark brown and small oval eyes, showing
a keen expression. The ears are balanced with the head and lengthy. When
cropped they are identical in shape with pointed tips.
Overall, his head is strong and rectangular. The width decreases ears to
eyes and to the tip of the nose.
The Miniature Schnauzer has a double coat. The undercoat is softer than the
exterior fur, which is wiry. Too soft or smooth coat and a satiny appearance
are considered to be a fault in the breed.
The recognized colors have unvarying skin pigmentation and there are no pink
or white patches on the skin. Black is the only solid color acceptable.
Actually, the topcoat is rich and solid and glossy black while the undercoat
is less dense with a soft non-glossy shade of black.
Temperament
The Miniature Schnauzer is a spirited dog. He is also very alert. At the
same time he is obedient, friendly, intelligent and inclined to please.
A typical Miniature Schnauzer is never timid or overaggressive. Unlike
terriers he is not prone to aggression but will accept a stranger as a
friend only after the owner has welcomed the guest.
Once matured, he develops a strong territorial instinct but is not prone to
defending physically. He would rather do that vocally. At the first of
danger to his home he is liable to bark. At the same time he is
discriminating and intelligent. These traits make him a perfect choice for a
watchdog. However, it is important the he is trained for socializing with
other dogs and strangers because he does not bark randomly but is an
incessant barker.
Miniature Schnauzers are known to live a healthy life throughout their life
but are susceptible to health issues related to high fat levels. These
problems include presence of excess lipids in the blood, which increases the
possibility of inflammation in the pancreas. Other health issues that owners
have to be aware of include diabetes, bladder stones and eye problems.
Most health problems can be avoided by ensuring that Miniature Schnauzers
are kept on low or non-fat diets and unsweetened foods. They are also prone
to develop ear infection, especially if the ears are not cropped. It is also
important to check and dry them after swimming to avoid risk of infection. Pets4You offers listings of
Miniature Schnauzer breeders with puppies for sale. |
