Dog Breed Guide

Miniature Schnauzer

Profile

Size

Small

Country of origin

Germany

Origin

19th century

Bred for

Ratting, Watchdog, Companion

Height

30 - 35cm (12 - 14in)

Weight

4.5 - 8kg (10 - 18lb)

Life span

12 - 15 years

A small version of the Standard Schnauzer, whose impressive mustache and eyebrows are its charm points. The wiry coat comes in pepper and salt, black, black and silver, and white.

Bright, cheerful and curious, it adores its family and always wants to be part of the action. It has terrier-like energy and more nerve than you would expect from a small dog, and it barks to announce strangers and noises. It is intelligent and easy to train.

It sheds little and has little odor, so it is easy to keep indoors, but it needs regular grooming to keep its beard and coat in shape. The beard gets messy at every meal, so wipe it often. Because of a tendency toward problems with fat metabolism, it is prone to pancreatitis and bladder stones, so watch the fat content of its diet.

Good to know

The breed was developed in late 19th-century Germany as a farm ratter by crossing the Standard Schnauzer with smaller dogs. The first recorded Miniature Schnauzer was a black female named Findel, born in October 1888.

Germany began treating it as a breed separate from the Standard in 1899, and the United States followed in 1926. The American Kennel Club places it in the Terrier Group, while Britain and many other countries put it in a different group. Although it has almost no terrier blood, it has a terrier's temperament.

It has long been one of the most popular breeds around the world, and its low-shedding coat makes it a favorite with families who want a small, sturdy companion.