Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzer Hair & Coat

Miniature Schnauzer Health & Care

Miniature Schnauzer are generally a healthy breed but you have to remember when getting a puppy home that almost all and every breed has a chance of developing genetic disorders and they can also contract any of the common diseases. So this not a word of law these are some of the unfortunate cases that you can encounter with your Schnauzer at times.

One of the most common health problems that your pet can encounter is of the heart and eye. Your pet can easily get cataract; this mostly results in opacity of the lens of the eye, which leads to poor vision. This gives the dog’s eye a cloudy appearance; this mostly occurs in the pet in old age and can be removed surgically.

Your Miniature Schnauzer is prone to urinary stones as well. This can lead to a lot of issues in your pet. Stones will lead your pet to strain when he or she urinates. There are times when it can even pass blood when they urinate. This issue can be resolved with a change in the diet or has to be removed though medications as well.

Along with this the Schnauzer can easily be affected with the Von Williebrand’s disease that is a  blood clotting defect. This is mostly genetic and in this the dog can suffer from severe bleeding in case of surgery. Even a minor wound inflicted on the body can lead to severe blood loss, which can be fatal to your pet’s health.

Miniature Schnauzer Behavior

The Miniature Schnauzer is a small dog, but by no means a lap dog. Bred to hunt vermin and known for their intelligence, these dogs are active and easily bored. This means you will need to keep them occupied both mentally and physically. They are also known to be easy to train, so teach your Schnauzer well. Owing to their keen sense of hearing and their reputation for bravery, they make excellent watch dogs. They will guard their house and their family fearlessly. They are also very affectionate and loyal dog, so if you don’t enjoy a cuddle or ten, this may not be the breed for you! The Schnauzer is friendly with other dogs as well, though it is advisable to socialize them early with other pets in the house. However, if you have smaller animals living with you such as guinea pigs, hamsters or mice, be wary of adding a Schnauzer to the mix; they were bred to hunt vermin, and hunt they will, family or not.

Miniature Schnauzers love people so they will thrive in a home. They are good with children and love to play, so they make great pets for a family with children. Besides being warm and affectionate dogs, they are also the perfect guard dog and can be protective when it comes to family. Miniature Schnauzers can adapt to all climates and their small size makes them perfect for apartment living, but there’s a catch: that famous Schnauzer barking. Be wary of combining the dog-hating neighbour and the neighbour-suspicious dog. Training and intelligence Miniature Schnauzers are known for their intelligence and are extremely active dogs. They are quick to learn and do very well with training. As in the case of most intelligent breeds, a trainer or family with innovative training methods will have a lot of fun teaching the Schnauzer. Their training and intelligence levels make them a hit in various obedience and agility competitions. This is an agile breed and will need every day exercise to ensure that a bored mind does not turn destructive.

The Miniature Schnauzer is an intelligent breed and is extremely active inside the house. This is a loveable dog and will follow you everywhere. This is an agile breed and will need every day exercise to ensure that it does not turn destructive. A daily walk will keep your pet happy and he or she will be happy to be your lapdog.

You should always start with the giving your puppy basic training that is commands like sit and stay. The earlier you start the training the better. When you get a Miniature Schnauzer home remember that this a great dog to do tricks. So this dog will be able to perform a number of tricks for you.

Miniature Schnauzer barks horrendously at time, this most of the times is triggered by their exceptional sense of hearing. So it is very important to train you puppy in the beginning only to not bark as otherwise he or she can grow to be an annoyance to the neighbors. Their training and intelligence levels make them a hit in various obedience and agility competitions.

Miniature Schnauzer Breeding

An average male or female Miniature Schnauzer attains sexual maturity anywhere between six to nine months of age, though they are still too young to breed at this time. They are generally a healthy breed and there are few complications in their breeding process, however, it is always important to identify prospective pet parents for the Schnauzer puppies even before they come out into the world. Even a perfectly adorable home litter can go horribly wrong if the puppies fall into wrong hands, where they are abused, ill-treated or plain neglected. Miniature Schnauzers take around 18 months to reach their full height and structure. It is advisable to breed dogs only if they are two years or older. If you are a first timer at breeding, then take a vet’s opinion. An average litter size for the breed is three to six puppies.

Miniature Schnauzers puppies are jovial, hilarious bundles of energy. Be prepared to keep a constant eye on these little ones and avoid leaving them alone for long. They love company and can at times easily develop separation anxiety. Your puppy will have to be trained early to spend time alone, otherwise the separation anxiety could grow into a lifelong issue. A Schnauzer loves to chew, so keep a variety of dog-safe chewies and toys. Have an interesting mix of smells and textures, since this is the age at which they will explore everything. Remember to keep your valuables away! With a breed that is known for its incessant barking, try to familiarise your Schnauzer from a young age with a variety of sounds he or she is likely to hear around the house.

Miniature Schnauzer Appearance

The most noticeable feature of the Miniature Schnauzer is its long-haired rectangular muzzle and eyebrows. The schnauzer’s head is long and gradually tapers to a blunt muzzle that can be groomed into an enviable beard. The body is square with a deep chest and straight sloping back. The coat is coarse and wiry with a dense undercoat. As in the cases of most wire-haired dogs, schnauzers are non-moulting dogs to a large extent and their shedding is minimal and almost unnoticeable The recognised coat colours are black, salt and pepper, black and silver, and white. The feet are cat-like: round and short, with arched toes and thick black pads. The forelegs are straight and strong and the thighs on the hind legs are muscular. The tail is set high and is generally carried erect. The body is 13 to 14 inches (33 to 36 cm) tall and weigh 10 to 15 pounds (4.5 to 6.8 kg) in females and 11 to 18 pounds (5.0 to 8.2 kg) in males. The teeth meet in what is known as a ‘scissor bite’, they have dark oval eyes, and their ears are naturally forward pointing. Unique aspects A remarkable feature of the Miniature Schnauzer is its exceptional hearing. Schnauzers can hear sound frequencies twice as high as those audible to humans. This is one of the primary reasons why they make such excellent watch dogs. It is also responsible for their excessive and what is often misconstrued as pointless barking, since they can so much better than humans.   Schnauzers are known for being protective about their home and family. They are extremely alert dogs and will bark at the slightest noise. They are not compatible with pesky, complaining neighbours so make sure you choose to live with a Schnauzer only if you’re very confident that your neighbourhood will love and understand dogs as they are. They’re not too keen on strangers either, and will continue to be suspicious of new people till their human family is seen to accept them. Once introduced, the Schnauzer is a very friendly dog.