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Breed Characteristics
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Standard Schnauzer
| Other Names | Mittelschnauzer, Schnauzer, Wirehair Pinscher (obsolete) |
| Country of Origin | Germany |
| Weight | Males: 30 - 45 lbs. (14 - 20 kg) Females: 30 - 40 lbs. (14 - 18 kg) |
| Height (at withers) | Males: 18 - 20 in. (46 - 51 cm) Females: 17 - 19 in. (43 - 48 cm) Ideally, the height should be the same as the length, resulting in a rather square impression. |
| Coat | The coat of the Standard Schnauzer is harsh to the touch and wiry in texture. The undercoat is very soft and fine and should uniformly cover the dog's body but should not be visible under the thick outer coat. The coat should be straight and not wavy, curly or shaggy looking. The hair on the legs, known as furnishings, should be noticeably longer than the hair on the body but not exceedingly long. |
| Colour | Coat colours come in solid black and salt and pepper. |
| Litter Size | 3 - 6 puppies |
| Life Span | 12 – 15 years. Although many have been known to live much longer. |
| Origin & History | In the Middle Ages, schnauzer-type dogs of medium size were developed from herding, ratting and guardian breeds in Western Europe. A dog of the peasant farmer for centuries, with the advent of dog showing in the 19th century they finally captured the interest of German dog fanciers, who began to standardize their look and temperament for the show ring. Standard Schnauzers were mixed with the German Black Standard Poodle and the German Pinscher, giving the Standard Schnauzer a "regal" look. In the earliest days of the show schnauzer, puppies from a single litter could be classified as either German Pinschers (short-haired puppies) or schnauzers (long-coated wire-haired puppies), dependent only on coat length. Some of the original coat types German Pinscher breed may have been lost during WWI (it has since been brought back from different stock) the pepper-and-salt coat that is the trademark of the Standard Schnauzer breed in North America could be seen in the German Pincher (called the silberpinsch), attesting to the close relationship between the two breeds in modern times. It was also in the late 19th century that the medium-sized schnauzer was developed into three different breeds/sizes: the Miniature, the Standard (the original), and the Giant. Speaking on the more distant origins of the breed, writers from the late 19th century proposed that the grey Wolfspitz and black German poodles contributed to the early development of the schnauzer, though this has yet to be confirmed through genetic work. The three schnauzer breeds take their name from one of their kind, a medium-sized show dog named "Schnauzer", who won at the 1879 Hanover Show in Germany. The word Schnauzer (from the German word for 'snout', recalling the long hair on the muzzle) appeared for the first time in 1842 when used as a synonym for the Wire-haired Pinscher (the name under which the breed first competed at dog shows). The schnauzer was first imported into the United States in the early 1900s. In modern history, the Standard Schnauzer has taken on a variety of roles. The Red Cross used the dogs for guard duty during World War I. Both German and (in one documented instance) American police departments have put the dogs to work as well. Several Standard Schnauzers have been used in the USA for drug and bomb detection, and also as search-and-rescue dogs. The current Standard Schnauzer excels at obedience, agility, tracking, herding, therapy work and, in Germany, schutzhund. Despite being a popular pet in Europe, the Standard Schnauzer has never gained wide popularity in North America. For the past 20 years, the American Kennel Club has registered only ~540 Standard Schnauzer puppies a year (compared with ~100,000 Labrador Retriever puppies each year). |
| Personality | The Standard Schnauzer makes a great watch and guard dog. It is lively, but not restless if provided with enough exercise. Enthusiastic, spunky and affectionate, it tends to have the temperament of a terrier. Bright, intelligent, and playful, Standard Schnauzers need companionship and are good dogs to travel with. This breed has a high learning rate. If the owner does not display a confident demeanor with firm and consistent rules the dog must follow and limits as to what the dog can and cannot do, he can be quite willful, demanding, and may begin to act fearless. He may become untrustworthy with children. May become very protective and dominant, guarding objects, places and people from other people. Along with being this breed’s pack leader, socialize and train him well, and be sure to take him for a daily pack walk to release mental and physical energy. These energetic dogs need active, dominant owners, who have the ability to clearly demonstrate that they are the boss and not the dog and are willing to take the time to keep it well exercised. |
Care Requirements
| Health | A very healthy breed overall, the Standard Schnauzer has no major genetic or Health conditions inherent in the breed. Like all larger dog breeds they can be prone to canine hip dysplasia so test on the hip should be performed if this is a concern. Ask if either the of the Breeding lines have a history of canine hip dysplasia before choosing a puppy. The breed occasionally will develop follicular dermatitis, which is a skin condition that can be treated by a vet. |
| Grooming | The wiry coat is reasonably easy to look after, but the undercoat is dense and it will become matted unless it is combed or brushed daily with a short wire brush. Clip out knots and brush first with the grain, then against the grain to lift the coat. The animal should be clipped all over to an even length twice a year—in spring and fall. A lot of owners choose to learn how to groom their own dogs rather than take them to a professional. Trim around the eyes and ears with blunt-nosed scissors and clean the whiskers after meals. They have no doggie odor and shed little to no hair, although some owners have reported that their Standards do shed. If you are concerned about shedding ask the breeder if the parents of the dog you are going to adopt sheds. |
| Exercise | These energetic dogs will take as much exercise as they can get. A daily, long, brisk walk or jog is a must. They will also enjoy play sessions during which they can run free. Do not overdo it with very young pups, though, until their body frames are strong and mature. Pups still need to walk, just a shorter distance. |
| Other Considerations | The Standard Schnauzer is a good dog for apartment life. It is very active indoors and will do okay without a yard. Famous Schnauzers; From the AKC: "Rembrandt painted several Schnauzers, Lucas Cranach the Elder shows one in a tapestry dated 1501, and in the 18th century one appears in a canvas of the English painter Sir Joshua Reynolds. In the marketplace of Mecklenburg, Germany, is a statue of a hunter dating from the 14th century, with a Schnauzer crouching at his feet which conforms very closely to the present-day show Standard." George, the cancer-sniffing dog, has received much acclaim. Blu, Franklin's pet blue dog in the comic Monica's Gang Colin in the UK comedy series Spaced, became a regular feature in the middle of the first series. Shunaemon from the manga and TV series Fortune Dogs Junkers, a talking schnauzer from the anime film Junkers Come Here Asta, the dog belonging to Nick and Nora Charles, in the Dashiell Hammett detective novel The Thin Man, was a female Schnauzer (presumably a Standard, based on the size she's indicated to be). In the subsequent film series based on the novel, she was instead depicted as a male Fox Terrier. |
