Eight Essential Facts About Schnauzers

Schnauzers, whether giant, standard, or miniature, are a fascinating breed. They have one of the most unique and recognizable looks in the canine world but, as a terrier breed, they are not as popular as many shepherd and retriever breeds. Why is that the case? Are they not good pets or are there just some specifics people need to be aware of? Is there a stigma of sorts against terrier breeds like the schnauzer? Let’s find out by examining what are the 8 key things to know about the schnauzer?

1. Schnauzers come in three sizes

When we talk about schnauzers we’re really talking about all three types of this breed. Giant, standard, and miniature schnauzers may vary a lot in size but they are near-identical in most other aspects. They have the same temperament, the same coat and physique, the same nature and health risks, and so on.

Still, size does matter so choosing between the three different schnauzer sizes is going to be the first major decision you make with this breed. Here is how the three schnauzers differ:

In terms of height the Miniature Schnauzer is 12 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder (30 to 36 cm), the Standard Schnauzer 18.5 to 19.5 inches (47 to 50 cm), and the Giant Schnauzer – 25.5 to 27.5 inches (65 to 70 cm).

As for their weight, a healthy adult Miniature Schnauzer will weigh about 11 to 18 pounds (5 to 8.2 kg), a Standard Schnauzer – 31 to 44 pounds (14 to 20 kg), and a Giant Schnauzer – 75 to 95 pounds (34 to 43 kg).

As you can see, the difference in size between miniature and giant schnauzers is more than substantial. In fact, some giant schnauzers can be even bigger, going over 105 pounds or 48 kg. For reference, that’s larger than most large breeds people often get as pets such as Labrador Retrievers and German Shepherds. What’s more, the Giant Schnauzer is at the upper border between Large and Extra Large (or Giant) breeds as the boundary is usually thought to be 90 pounds or 41 kg – a weight limit that male giant schnauzers often go beyond.

In contrast, miniature schnauzers are not just a small breed but an extra small (or miniature) breed as they can’t reach the 20-pound (or 9 kg) range.

2. All schnauzers have strong, athletic, and sturdy builds

Giant or tiny, all schnauzers have a pretty uniform and impressive body type. They tend to lean on their front legs and extend their back legs behind them, giving them a forward-centric look. They are athletic and thin but also quite sturdy and strong. The tail, when it isn’t docked, is short and curls up and to the front in a very cute fashion.

The ears are long and floppy but some breeders still crop them into shorter and upright ears instead. Both the tail docking and ear cropping aren’t necessary for a pet breed but some breeders still insist on doing it for hunting and working dogs (to avoid incidents of the tail/ears snagging on something).

The schnauzer’s signature physical feature, however, is its strong jaw and “beard”. This unique facial hair gives the schnauzer both a threatening and downright adorable look that can’t be mistaken.

3. The schnauzer’s confident gait is reflective of its powerful character

All those physical characteristics fit the schnauzer breed’s personality perfectly. The schnauzer is willful, headstrong, and quite stubborn when it sets its mind on something. That’s normal for all terrier breeds, however, so the schnauzer isn’t unique in this regard.

Does this mean that looking after a schnauzer is difficult? Yes and no. Or, rather – it’s up to you how difficult it’s going to be. All dogs need obedience training but it’s doubly important for willful breeds like the schnauzer. Give that to your dog and you will be able to have a fun, safe, and easy-going life with it. Skip that step, however, and you may have a pretty disobedient pet which can be a problem if you’ve got a giant schnauzer.

4. Schnauzers are explorers by nature and they don’t do well with monotony

People often mistake canine obedience with intelligence. If you look at “dog intelligence rankings”, they are almost always topped by shepherd and retriever breeds. And while those dogs are undeniably intelligent, what also sets them apart from other canines is that they are naturally obedient. So, they do quite well in all intelligence tests we do.

Breeds like the schnauzer and other terriers and hounds don’t have that obedience. That’s because they were bred specifically to be more individualistic and self-driven – that helped them in the type of hunting they were bred for. So, nowadays these dogs need obedience training so they don’t grow up into “overly disobedient” dogs but they almost never end up as obedient as retrievers and shepherds. As a subsequent result of that, these dogs don’t do too well on intelligence tests.

That doesn’t mean they aren’t smart, however – on the contrary. Schnauzers are highly intelligent, curious, and inquisitive dogs. They love to explore, to play games, and to work. This means that they need frequent and diverse mental stimulation. Without it, they can grow bored, anxious, disobedient, or outright depressed. So, make sure that you often play new games with your pet, explore new parks and hikes, and get your dog new toys.

5. As a terrier breed, schnauzers require a lot of socialization

Giant schnauzers were used as guard dogs as well as hunters and working dogs. The smaller schnauzers also make for good watchdogs too. That’s because this breed isn’t naturally as social as some other breeds.

So, if you want a schnauzer as a pure family pet, it’s important to give your dog excellent socialization early in its life. This means meeting new people, having positive interactions with dogs in the dog park, playing with kids, and so on. Do this, and your dog will become well-adjusted and will get along with guests, strangers, and children. Without socialization, however, your schnauzer may become aggressive toward people and dogs it doesn’t know.

As for non-canine pets such as cats – those can live together with a schnauzer but that’d be a tall order. As a terrier breed, schnauzers have a very strong prey drive so be very patient, diligent, and careful if you want to bring a cat to a schnauzer’s home or vice versa.

6. Schnauzers are double-coated but shed very little

Schnauzers can have a short or medium-length coat with a thick underlayer of fur. Even though they are double-coated, however, schnauzers shed very little – a trait that’s usually shared between single-coated dogs. This, together with their almost hypoallergenic dandruff, means that schnauzers are a great breed for people with dog allergies. Naturally, they are also ideal for people who don’t want to brush dog hair off their couch every day.

Instead, a schnauzer’s coat is fairly easy to maintain. A routine brushing once a week and a monthly bath should be enough to keep your dog’s coat in check.

7. Most schnauzers come in three colors

The standard colors you can expect a purebred schnauzer to come in are black and silver, solid black, and salt and pepper. There can be some variations if the dog is a crossbreed or isn’t purebred, but those are the standard colors.

8. Schnauzers are healthy dogs but there are a few things to watch out for

All three size types of schnauzers are pretty healthy and can live long lives of 12 to 15 years on average (shorter for giant schnauzers). With good care, a healthy purebred dog can even surpass that average.

Naturally, this doesn’t mean that you should ignore your dog’s health risks or skip routine vet visits. A schnauzer can still fall sick and some of the more common conditions for this breed include hyperlipidemia, cataracts, urinary stones, pancreatitis, and liver shunts.

Conditions such as these are why you want to always get a dog with a health certificate to avoid hereditary health issues. After that, just give your pet plenty of exercise, good food, adequate care, and regular access to medical care, and everything should be all right.

As you can see, schnauzers of all sizes are a fantastic pet breed but only for people who are ready to give them the physical and mental exercise they need, as well as all the necessary socialization and training to make them well-adjusted. This can make schnauzers feel “high-maintenance” but, really, the same things apply to most other breeds.

Plus, schnauzers are very low-maintenance in other ways such as their coat maintenance and the fact that they are pretty healthy overall. So, if you are the outdoorsy type and you want a jogging companion, and if you’re responsible enough to give your dog the necessary training and socialization, a schnauzer can be a phenomenal pet for you.