Don't be fooled by the Miniature Schnauzer's small stature; they are spirited, loud and excellent watchdogs. The Miniature Schnauzer hails from Germany, being the result of crossing the Standard Schnauzer and the monkey-faced Affenpinscher, with maybe a sprinkling of Poodle thrown into the mix.
Schnauzers can be salt and pepper, black and silver, and black. The Smart Owner's Guide series is the only series that offers readers an online component in which dog owners can join a breed-specific online club hosted by dogchannel. Always keep your Miniature Schnauzer on a leash when you're not in a fenced area. Miniature Schnauzers make fun and loyal companions, but with any breed, there are some things to think about when considering welcoming one into your home: Some dogs are perpetual puppies -- always begging for a game -- while others are more serious and sedate.
They were used as ratters in farms and homes, and still carry with them a lot of those instincts. Today the Miniature Schnauzer is primarily a companion dog, but they can still hack it as watchdogs, hunters, trackers, ratters, or trick performing dogs. A hairy little pooch, the Miniature Schnauzer has a tiny, square frame with a strong muzzle, straight front legs, and a docked tail. Their fur is coarse, with a wiry top coat and a somewhat softer undercoat. They generally have their ears cropped so they stand up straight.
They have a distinct look, with hair on their face resembling a mustache, beard, and bushy eyebrows.
So grateful for these types of books. Jun 13, , Miniature Schnauzer , Hardcover.
Illustrated with color photographs of adorable puppies and handsome adults, this easy-to-read primer is designed in a modern, lively manner that readers will find user-friendly and entertaining. Each Smart Owner's Guide offers a description of the breed's character and physical conformation, historical overview, and its attributes as a companion dog.
The reader will find informative chapters on everything he or she needs to know about acquiring, raising, and training this remarkable purebred dog, including: Obedience training for basic cues sit, stay, heel, come, etc. Real-life heroes and rescue stories are retold in full-page features called Pop Pups and True Tails. Schnauzer ears can be cropped or left natural. Ears should be cropped between nine weeks of age, when the puppies are past the fear period1. Many Schnauzer breeders keep puppies until the ear crop is done rather than leave it to the puppy buyer to arrange.
The cropped ear must be identical in shape and size, in balance with the head, and have pointed tips.
Cropping is surgery and should only be done by a veterinarian. Uncropped ears can be left on their own or can be set to fold over the top of the skull by gluing in place with a special adhesive. Breeders may begin this painless process when the puppy is six-to-eight weeks old. The ears should be left glued in place until the pup is about five months old, after his permanent teeth are in.
Inexperienced Schnauzer owners should depend on the breeder or a veterinarian to glue the ears to assure that air can circulate properly and the puppy can hear.
The original set remains in place about three weeks; after which it must be loosened and the ears cleaned and trimmed, and then reset. The Schnauzer body is square, with the height at the shoulders approximately the same as the length from the point of the shoulder to the point of the buttocks. The tail is docked to about three-quarters of an inch when the puppy is about three-to-four days old so that it will be clearly visible over the topline of the body when the dog is in proper coat.
The puppy has little pain sensation at that age; if the docking is done by a veterinarian or experienced breeder, it causes little discomfort. The Schnauzer is generally healthy and hardy. Major problems include hereditary cataracts and pulmonic stenosis incomplete opening of a heart valve due to thickening of the skin ; the breed is also subject to von Willebrand's Disease and hypothyroidism, both suspected inherited autoimmune diseases.
The Miniature Schnauzer is a merry dog with a mischievous streak. His character can run the gamut from extrovert to timidity with strangers, but he generally enjoys a good game, likes well-behaved children, and adapts well to apartment living. He can be scrappy at times if confronted with a strange dog.