Schnauzer. I bet if I could talk like humans, that would be really fun to say — Schnowwwwzer. It kind of sounds like a human sneezing in slow motion.
Miniature Schnauzers became a thing when some humans decided to breed regular-sized Schnauzers with small Poodles to get a dog that is Schnauzer-riffic but in a smaller size. These dogs look very distinctive and probably look more formal and imposing than they are. Here are some fun facts about the breed:
1. While Miniature Schnauzers are adorable and love to snuggle, they can also be very energetic. Even though they love the outdoors, they are also happy to join their humans inside for a nap to re-energize.
2. Miniature Schnauzers are members of the terrier family, but unlike most of their terrier cousins, they are not from England. Schnauzers come from Germany!
3. That funny-sounding name — Schnauzer — is from the German word for muzzle, schnauzer! When you think about their very different-looking facial hair, it is easy to see why this is the right name for these dogs. Even Miniature Schnauzer puppies can look like a distinguished older gentleman because it looks like they have mustaches.
4. That mustache may look distinguished, but it also serves a purpose. For Schnauzers of all sizes, that thick facial hair is meant to make their heads seem larger and scarier to keep their enemies wondering how big and tough they really are.
5. You don’t have to dress them up to keep them clean. The coat of a Miniature Schnauzer helps keep dirt off of them, even when they are following their instincts and digging a lot in the dirt. Their unique, wiry coat also means that they don’t shed much, so that is one more bonus to these great dogs.
6. You might think that with all that hair, a Miniature Schnauzer would have trouble hearing, but NO! They have excellent hearing! This is probably a result of the fact that they were originally bred to hunt rats or other rodents. They can hear much higher frequencies than humans, which is why sometimes they might bark when you don’t even hear anything.
7. Miniature Schnauzers have been around since the late 19th century. The very first recorded one was a black female named Findel in 1888. I’m not sure if I am crazy about that name, but I am glad they decided to miniaturize schnauzers!
8. Even those schnauzers, as a personality, are pretty low maintenance, their beautiful hair requires some regular grooming. To keep them in tip-top shape and looking good, they need to see a groomer about every six weeks. Show dogs in this breed might require more frequent trims, but you don’t want to get me started about show dogs!
9. Healthy activity and foods that are lower in fat and sugars will keep Miniature Schnauzers healthier. If you need someone to take care of that extra bacon for you, I am always here.
10. I mentioned the cuddle factor, right? Miniature Schnauzers love to cuddle and their small size means they fit right in next to you on the couch or even in your bed. You will probably sleep better too!
11. Like a lot of active breeds, you might want to do some human training school when you get one. This is the best way to make sure humans know how much to play with and exercise their Miniature Schnauzer to keep them out of trouble. Remember, we dogs rely on you to set the rules, even if it takes some of us a long time to follow them.
12. Miniature Schnauzers are also good at working with other dogs to protect you! And they can be from other breeds too. A partner like a German Shepherd who can back up our bark with a little more brawn is never a bad idea.
13. These guys can also look pretty cute just cuddled up next to you. Give me a blanket and a favorite toy and I would probably stay put for a while too. At least until it is dinner time.
14. I would guess that this guy is about due for a trim. Although with their terrier breeding, any Miniature Schnauzer can rely on their great sense of smell to get some hunting done.
15. Whatever the season, a Miniature Schnauzer will give you a lot of happiness. They are thankful for humans who appreciate their unique look and “fall” for families that let them be active outdoors.
16. Sometimes Miniature Schnauzers have cropped tails, which is a thing humans do that I do not really understand. I personally like a really waggly tail.
17. Why so serious? It can be easy to forget how much fun Miniature Schnauzers are, especially when you think about how intelligent they are. They rank number 12 out of 140 different breeds for intelligence. Smarty pants!
18. Miniature Schnauzers (well all Schnauzers) are considered part of the terrier family. They do not have a lot in common with any English terrier breeds, except that they were bred to hunt for and catch rats. Stop for a minute and think about how much of a rat problem there used to be. Now, terriers have a lot less rat catching to do (hopefully), so give them a lot of other activities to keep them busy.
19. Even with their small size, Miniature Schnauzers can have a big bark. They do bark a lot to express all kinds of things. This is one more reason why training is important. We dogs do not love waking you up in the middle of the night, but we also need to keep you up-to-date on what is happening.
Smart, fun, active, and completely adorable — that’s a Miniature Schnauzer in just a few words. If you want to have a dog with a gentlemanly appearance (even the females), in a compact size then you might want to consider these dynamic dogs.
