Schnauzer

Utility

Size:

Grooming:

Exercise Level:

Trainability:

Barking Level:

Good with Children:

Good with other pets:

Affectionate:

Protective:

Height: 45 - 50cm M | 43 - 45cm F

Weight: 18 - 22kg M | 15 - 20kg F

Life Expectancy: 12 - 16 Years

Thinking of buying or adopting a Schnauzer?

For Sale

For Adoption

For Stud

Introduction

Simply known as the Schnauzer, the Standard Schnauzer dog breed is the original size of the 3 Schnauzer breeds; the 3 include Miniature (or Small), Standard, and Giant. He originated in Germany and was bred as a versatile farm dog.

The Schnauzer dog breed is a smart, playful, clownish, and loving dog that thrives on human interaction. He gets along well with other pets in the household, but may chase after stray animals.

Protective and courageous, the Schnauzer dog is a good candidate for a watchdog and a guard dog.

The wiry coats of Schnauzer dogs are low-shedding but high-maintenance. As athletic working dogs, they require extensive daily exercise to wear them out. They have an average lifespan of 12–16 years.

Are you excited to take home a Schnauzer puppy? Here is a brief background of this charming, lively, and loyal dog of the Utility Group.

History

The Standard Schnauzer is the oldest and the original of the 3 Schnauzer dog breeds. He is also known as the Schnauzer or Wire-haired Pinscher.

This purebred dog breed was originally bred in Germany in the 15th century, as depicted in the artwork of Albrecht Durer in 1492.

The Schnauzer dog breed was an all-rounder. He was bred to perform various farm tasks like guarding property and livestock and catching rats. At the same time, he also protects merchants travelling to and from the marketplace.

In the 19^th century, the breed caught the eye of German dog fanciers. They developed the breed by crossing a grey Wolfspitz and a black German Poodle. This resulted in the well-known salt and pepper and black coats that we see in the modern breed today.

Around this time, these medium-sized dogs were also crossed with other breeds to develop the Mini Schnauzer and the Giant Schnauzer.

The Schnauzer dog breed was first shown in the 1870s at the same time when the breed standard was written. His name came from the German word “schnauze,” meaning muzzle.

In 1907, the Bavarian Schnauzer Club was established in Munich, which helped catapult his popularity. This dog breed also became widely popular in the United States in the early 20th century.

Today, they are some of the most sought-after companion dogs because of their adorable looks and kind, loving, and loyal nature.

This purebred dog is recognised by the Kennel Club in the UK under the Utility Group. The very first breed club of the Wire-haired Pinscher called Schnauzer Club of America was formed in 1925.

Later on, the American Kennel Club first acknowledged him as a Working breed. However, he was later on move into the Terrier Group in 1926. After a decade, the breed was placed back into the Working Group.

Appearance and Grooming

The Schnauzer dog breed is a medium-sized canine. He is a solid and squarely-built dog characterised by a distinctive beard and arched and bushy eyebrows. He has a rectangular head and a strong and blunt muzzle.

The Standard and Giant Schnauzers are 2 distinct breeds. You can obviously tell them apart through their size—Standard ones are smaller compared to Giant ones.

Adult male Schnauzer dogs weigh approximately 18–22 kilos (40–50 pounds). They can grow up to 45–50 centimetres (18–20 inches) tall.

Full-grown female Schnauzer dogs weigh around 15–20 kilos (35–45 pounds). They measure about 43–45 centimetres (17–18 inches) tall.

The intense expression in the Standard Schnauzer dog’s small, deep-set eyes gives him a grumpy look. The ears, set high on the skull, are either cropped or uncropped (when uncropped, they’re small and V-shaped).

Schnauzer dogs sport double coats that are made up of a dense, soft undercoat and a wiry, rough outer coat. Their coat colours come in solid black or salt and pepper.

Do Schnauzers shed?

Yes, Schnauzer dogs shed much like all dog breeds. However, they are minimal shedders, thus owners won’t have much trouble cleaning loose dog hairs around their homes. But they still require regular brushing at least 2–3 times a week.

Are Schnauzers hypoallergenic?

Yes, Schnauzer dogs are considered hypoallergenic because they are low-shedders. They are great companions for dog lovers with allergies. But note that hypoallergenic doesn’t mean they can’t trigger allergies.

To be on the safer side, consult your doctor on what precautionary methods you can take to lower the chances of triggering your pet allergies.

How to groom a Schnauzer

The Schnauzer dog’s wiry coat needs more grooming than other breeds. His legs and beard need daily brushing with a pin brush. After meals, you will need to clean his face and remove food particles from his beard.

His coat will need to be hand-stripped every 4–6 months, especially if you plan to include him in the show ring. Doing this tedious task will help strengthen the coat and maintain its texture. Bathing should be done every 4–6 weeks.

The rest is basic grooming, such as keeping the ears clean and dry to prevent infection. Don’t forget to brush his teeth for overall oral health, and trimming the nails to avoid painful overgrowth.

Temperament and Intelligence

The Schnauzer dog breed is highly intelligent but a bit stubborn (quick to pick up bad habits). Due to this, early socialisation and training are important. This way, he will know what is expected of him and where he is placed in the pack.

However, he is amenable to training since he is the type of dog that relishes being given a job to do and learning new things.

Schnauzers are pet-friendly when they are raised together with other pets in the household. But they will not hesitate to chase off other pets they encounter in the neighbourhood since they will think that they’re fair game.

With that said, care should be taken when Schnauzer dogs are around small dogs and cats.

What kind of temperament do Schnauzers have?

The Schnauzer is considered an easy-going and friendly dog, so he makes a good companion and family pet. He is great around children because he is gentle and calm.

However, any interaction with small children should be well supervised. This is done to avoid accidents in case playtime becomes a little boisterous.

Are Schnauzers aggressive?

No. Schnauzer dogs are wary of strangers but would never show any aggressive behaviour, unless provoked. They have a fairly strong guardian instinct. These bold dogs are bred to be natural watchdogs and guard dogs because of their protective nature.

Thus, if you want a medium-sized dog that is alert to potential burglars, then a Standard Schnauzer dog is a perfect fit.

Do Schnauzers bark a lot?

Yes, Schnauzer dogs are moderate barkers. They are quick to alert family members of intruders. Train your dog on how to distinguish a threat from a friendly individual. This will keep him from barking at anyone crossing your home.

Nutrition and Feeding

Adult Standard Schnauzer dogs need 1–2 cups of excellent-quality dog food per day. Before you decide to feed your dog, it’s vital to have a rudimentary understanding of the building blocks of a healthy and balanced canine diet.

The following are typical daily calorie needs of adult Standard Schnauzer dogs that weigh 18 kilos (40 pounds):

Senior and less active: up to 990 calories daily
Typical adults: up to 1110 calories daily
Physically active/working dogs: up to 1235 calories daily

Make sure to select a dog food that is rich in protein. Protein, such as beef, fish, eggs, and poultry, helps to build and maintain the dog’s muscle, organs, bones, and immune system.

Whereas good fats, such as chicken fat, lamb fat, and fats coming from sunflower oil, provide energy.

Health and Exercise

The Schnauzer dog breed has an average lifespan of 12–16 years. Many ailments and health conditions are hereditary, meaning they are associated with the dog’s breed.

If you want to take care of your Schnauzer dog, you must know the health issues specific to his breed such as:

Nephroliths

The formation of nephroliths or kidney stones is a common health problem in the Schnauzer dog breed.

If ignored, they can cause complications including recurrent renal infections and kidney obstructions. Small kidney stones may travel down the bladder and become urinary stones.

Pulmonic Stenosis

It is a congenital heart disease that is prevalent in Standard Schnauzer dogs. This condition is caused by a deformity in the pulmonic valve. As a result, obstruction of blood flow from the heart to the lungs may occur.

The Schnauzer dog breed has a high energy level. This means he will require plenty of daily exercises. Since he is also an intelligent breed, he needs to be given enough mental stimulation to be a happy and well-adjusted dog.

The Schnauzer dogs should be given at least 60 minutes of daily exercise with as much off-lead time as possible. Do this if you don’t want the dog to pick up negative behaviours just to let off steam.

Enrolling your pooch in dog sports is something that you should consider. This dog breed excels in lure coursing, agility, herding, and barn hunt.

Cost of Ownership

The cost for a healthy and well-bred Schnauzer puppy is around £1,500–£2,000. It is highly recommended to buy a puppy with a health guarantee from a reputable and responsible breeder.

This will help you from getting duped by puppy scammers or breeders who have unethical breeding practices.

To keep your Schnauzer puppy well-nourished and in good shape, his meals should be composed of high-quality dog food. The total amount for his monthly food cost will range from £30–£40.

Adding a new puppy into your brood means making your home a comfortable and welcoming place for him. Buying his basic dog supplies including a dog bed, toys, and collar will require you to shell out around £100–£300.

Visiting the vet regularly will ensure that your Standard Schnauzer puppy will less likely to develop diseases. Prepare to pay around £30–£60 for each check-up session.

Your young Schnauzer puppy needs to be vaccinated to keep highly infectious canine diseases at bay. First jabs of vaccines cost approximately £100–£150. For yearly boosters, budget around £50–£60.

Spaying or neutering your Schnauzer puppy will set you back about £110–£400.

Raising a Schnauzer puppy comes with the responsibility of vet care. As he is expensive, getting pet insurance is recommended.

The monthly insurance cost, if you opt for a time-limited package, is around £15–20. On the other hand, the cost for a lifetime coverage will range from £18–£80 a month.

Schnauzer Breed Highlights

The Schnauzer dog breed represents the original size of the 3 Schnauzer breeds.
He is a smart, playful, and clownish dog that thrives on human interaction.
Grooming-wise, this purebred dog is high-maintenance and often considered hypoallergenic.
This dog breed is a natural watchdog and guard dog because of his protective nature.
He has an average lifespan of 12–16 years.