Miniature Schnauzer

The Miniature Schnauzer is a small dog that is sturdy and strong and almost square in dimension. He has a rectangular shaped head, which is emphasized by the heavy eyebrows around deep set, small, dark eyes and accentuated by a long, luxurious beard. The dog has a wiry coat and their ears can either be left natural or cropped. The Miniature Schnauzer's tail is docked when he is about three to four days old to about three-quarters of an inch. A veterinarian or experienced breeder does the surgery and at that age, there is very little pain or discomfort. Terrific Pets:[1]

Features and Grooming

The Miniature Schnauzer breed comes in the colors of salt and pepper, black and silver, solid black, and solid black and white hairs that are mixed in. The salt and pepper coloring is the most common. This breed of dog has a double coat. The undercoat close to the skin is softer and the outer coat is wiry and not soft. The hair on the legs and face is left long and thick.

The schnauzer's coat must be stripped or plucked in order for it to keep its wiry quality. If the Miniature Schnauzer's coat is clipped, it will not only ruin it's coat, but the peppery part of the salt and pepper hairs which will leave the dog a lighter shade of grey instead of the salt and pepper color that it should be. It does not hurt the dog in any way if the owner decides to clip their dog and many pet owners choose the clipping rather than stripping since it takes more time and effort. Whatever way that the Miniature Schnauzer is groomed, it must be done frequently to avoid the mats in the hair, especially in the beard and on the legs.CanisMajor:[2]

History

The Miniature Schnauzer breed originated in Germany in the early 1800s and they were utilized as a ratter and farm dog. It actually wasn't until 1899 that Germany distinguished this breed as being a totally separate breed from the Standard Schnauzer. The Miniature Schnauzer is descended from the Standard Schnauzer and the Affenpinscher, with probably a bit of poodle thrown in there. In addition to the Standard Schnauzer and Miniature Schnauzer there is also the Giant Schnauzer, which of course is the largest version of schnauzer. The American Kennel Club puts the Miniature Schnauzer with the terrier group. TerrificPets:[1]

Temperament and Health Problems

Miniature Schnauzer dogs are robust, energetic little dogs. They can be sweet and curl up on your lap in a lounger, or run around like crazy so you will pay attention to them. There seems to be two completely different sides of these dogs. They can be a very gentle breed and are a favorite of the older generation. It seems like they know when to be gentle and calm around smaller children, but know that they can be crazy and completely out of control with the older kids. Miniature Schnauzers are well known for being mischievous little clowns but they can also be stubborn and obstinate if they think they are in charge. They usually do well around other dogs, although they often try to be the dominant dog, even among dogs larger than them. They just need to be socialized with other dogs, large and small, at an early age. All in all, Miniature Schnauzers make wonderful family pets. http://www.terrificpets.com/dog_breeds/Miniature_Schnauzer.asp

Miniature Schnauzers can have some major health problems such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and Congenital Cataracts. PRA is an eye disorder in which the retina degenerates and it can result in blindness. Congenital Cataracts is a genetic disorder that involves both eyes that, over a length of time, can produce blindness. Miniature Schnauzers are also at risk for diabetes, skin disorders, von Willebrands disease, bladder stones, diseases of the liver and anaphylactic reactions to some vaccinations. Additionally, Miniature Schnauzers are at high risk for [[urinary infections, Cushings disease, allergies, obesity, and Schnauzer Comedome Syndrome or Schnauzer bumps as they are usually called. http://www.terrificpets.com/dog_breeds/Miniature_Schnauzer.asp