Miniature Schnauzer

Unique Physical Features

• Expressive eyebrows


• Long, square beard

Unique Personality

The Miniature Schnauzer is a sweet and entertaining dog, with a spunky and opinionated personality. Whether it’s bouncing around or relaxing with their humans, they’re always willing to be the center of attention. They love their people fiercely and are eager to please, making them incredibly trainable. While mostly outgoing, they make excellent guard dogs because of their extraordinary hearing and willingness to announce someone’s approach. While they’re a part of the Terrier group, the Miniature Schnauzer breed is the only terrier not developed somewhere on the British Isles. Instead, it was developed solely in Germany. As a breed, their temperament is often a bit gentler and more outgoing than the British, Scottish, and Irish terriers that were bred for their fiery tenacity and independence.

History of the Miniature Schnauzer

The Miniature Schnauzer is a more petite version of its larger cousins, the Standard Schnauzer and the Giant Schnauzer. These larger versions were used in Germany for centuries before the emergence of the Miniature breed, typically for cart-pulling, herding, and livestock guarding. While the larger Schnauzers were depicted in German art as far back as 1492, it wasn’t until the late 1800s that the Miniature Schnauzer really made its debut. Breeders selectively bred the smallest of the standard size with breeds like the Affenpinscher, Poodle, or Miniature Pinscher to obtain the miniature-sized puppies. The first exhibition of Miniature Schnauzers was in 1899, and the breed quickly spread due to its versatility and temperament.

Changes Over Time

While not much has changed in the breed standard in the 120 years since the breed burst onto the scene, the cropping of Schnauzer puppies’ ears has fallen out of favor. The cropped ear is usually only seen in Schnauzers bred for the show, and the practice is becoming less common as the show standard now allows natural ears.

US History of the Miniature Schnauzer Over Time

Miniature Schnauzers made their way across the Atlantic to the United States in the mid-1920s. Many American-bred Mini Schnauzers can trace their lineage back to one of the four imported from Germany in 1924. The American Kennel Club recognized the breed in 1926 and it has been a consistently popular breed, even cracking the top 3 at one point.

Miniature Schnauzer Behavior and Training

The Mini Schnauzer was bred as a versatile farm dog who could work in the fields, hunt vermin, and other pests, or act as a guard dog for livestock. Due to their continental lineage, they tend to have less intense training “drives” (tendencies for certain reactions to stimulus such as prey) and are less independent than the other breeds in the terrier group. Their compact bodies and agile movement made them excellent ratters during the 19th century, but their sociability and love for being with people helped them wiggle their way into more of a companion role.

Plays Well with Others?

• Miniature Schnauzers are usually outgoing when meeting new people, but they might act protective of their owner if they perceive a threat. Proper proactive exposure to new sights, sounds, people, dogs, and other animals as a young puppy is essential for their socialization skills.

• This breed usually does well with children, especially older children that respect their space and don’t manhandle them. They just need to be properly socialized from puppyhood, and the children taught how to correctly interact with a dog. Young children and dogs should always be supervised, and it’s helpful for a dog to have their own “safe space” where they can go when they need some quiet time.


• When it comes to animal buddies in the home, it’s once again all about socialization. As long as they have been properly socialized and introduced, Mini Schnauzers can enjoy and benefit from the companionship of other animals.

Exercise Requirements

This lively breed needs lots of exercise to keep fit and trim — and burning excess energy helps prevent behaviors like excessive barking, digging, or destructive chewing. A couple of daily walks will do wonders, and if properly trained and conditioned for it, a Miniature Schnauzer can make an excellent jogging or running partner. They are quite playful, so playing games like fetch or tug-o-war is another excellent way to exercise a Schnauzer.

Mental Enrichment Needs

Mental enrichment is important for Miniature Schnauzers, which helps to keep them entertained and prevent unwanted behaviors. You can keep their brain sharp by teaching new tricks, attending obedience classes, joining a dog sport, and providing dog puzzles and interactive toys.

Activities Miniature Schnauzers Enjoy

Miniature Schnauzers enjoy and excel in a variety of activities:

• Barn Hunt


• Earth Dog


• Small Dog Agility


• Rally Obedience


• Fly Ball


• Canine Freestyle


• Trick Training


• Nose work

Miniature Schnauzer Coat Type

Miniature Schnauzers have a double coat that has a soft undercoat and a wiry outer layer. They are minimal shedders but do require regular grooming to keep the coat at a manageable length and free of mats and tangles. Mini Schnauzers are seen in four different colors: salt and pepper, black and silver, black, and white. However, the American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club do not recognize white as an acceptable color in Miniature Schnauzers, as this color was never seen in the Standard or Giant versions of the breed and might be a result of crossbreeding with other small breeds.

Mini Schnauzers are easily recognized by those expressive eyebrows and their long, square beards. It’s the beards that need constant attention — if they are left unbrushed they will become matted quite quickly, although when this breed was used as a ratter during the 19th century its matted beard formed a protective shield against retaliating vermin.

If left to grow long, a Schnauzers wiry coat will grow two to four inches long and need daily brushing, but most owners prefer to keep the body clipped short (which gives it a soft and smooth feel), leaving a bit of a skirt and fuller-looking chest and legs to match the facial hair. You can also strip their coat, which is a more intensive all-over grooming technique where the dead fur is pulled by hand or with a stripping tool, although this is more often done on show dogs than pet Schnauzers. A Miniature Schnauzer should see a groomer every 5 to 8 weeks to keep their coat in tip-top shape.

Introducing your Schnauzer puppy to the grooming experience from a young age and in a positive way will make their lifelong grooming needs a breeze.

Best Brush for Miniature Schnauzers: Slicker brush, Pin comb

Famous Owners of the Miniature Schnauzer

• Simon Pegg (Actor)


• Liza Minnelli (Actress, Singer)


• Keyshia Cole (Singer)


• Sugar Ray Leonard (Boxer)


• Katherine Heigl (Actress)


• Janet Jackson (Singer)


• Mary Tyler Moore (Actress)


• Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward (Actor/Philanthropist, Actress)


• Dennis Basso (Designer)


• Avril Lavigne (Singer)

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Common Health Conditions for the Miniature Schnauzer Breed

Use the chart of Trupanion claims data below to find out what health conditions happen most frequently for Miniature Schnauzers. Every Miniature Schnauzer is unique, but understanding what health conditions are likelier to occur can help you be a more prepared pet owner.