Adamis
Miniature Schnauzer
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Is a Mini Schnauzer right for me?
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Miniature Schnauzers was developed in the late 1800's in Germany. They became scaled down version of
Standard Schnauzers, better suited to be household companions and still function as a ratter. The miniature
schnauzer is a fairly stocky, yet elegant dog. They have hard wiry coats with bushy beards and full
furnishings on their legs. They are a happy and proud dog, that will want to be the center of your universe.
They are good guard dogs in the house, always letting you know when someone is at the door. They are
happy living in smaller homes and apartments, but love to go out for exercise and long walks.
Schnauzers do not shed. If shown they need to have their coats plucked. This encourages the harsh hair to
come through. For pets, we recommend clipping. They should be clipped every 6 - 8 weeks. It is best to have
it done professionally in order to have your schnauzer look it's best. Because they do not shed, they are
usually good for people with allergies. Schnauzers need to have their legs and beards brushed and combed
weekly. If not, they will begin to mat. Matting is uncomfortable for the dog and makes grooming much more
difficult. They do not need to be bathed unless they get into something. Although you can rinse out their
beards after they eat. Please see our Grooming page for more details.
Mini Schnauzers must be between 12 and 14 inches for the show ring. Pets often go 1 inch above or below
these standards. Mini Schnauzers should weight between 12 and 20 pounds. Many have a tendency to
become overweight and can develop related health issues. So care must taken not to overindulge the dog.
Miniature Schnauzers come in 3 colors;
Salt and Pepper - This color ranges from dark slate gray to very light silvery gray in the body and fades to
almost white in the legs, forechest, rear end, and under the throat. There should also be the typical mask on
the face of very day hair and very light hair.
Black and Silver - In this color the body is solid black and the legs, forechest, rear end, and under the throat
fade to silvery white. There should also be the typical mask on the face of black and very light silver hair. The
underbody should also be black.
Black - In this color the dog is solid black all over the body. Only a small white spot on the chest may be
present. In most dogs this color, unfortunately fades out to more of a blue color as the dog matures. Most
dogs you see in the show ring have had their color altered to look better in the show ring. This alteration of
course is against the dog show rules, but cannot be easily proven to have had been done.
You may see some people advertising many different colors or "toy" schnauzers. The only approved colors
are list above. Any other colors probably have been attained by someone introducing a non-schnauzer in
order to produce a "unique color". Of course this is taboo and was, in all likelihood, done through
questionable methods (i.e. Falsification of registrations). "Toy" schnauzers do not exist. People selling these
are selling abnormally sized dogs. While they may be cute, they often develop health issues associated with
extremes.
Mini Schnauzers are generally healthy dogs. They are prone to certain diseases. All breeders should have
had a puppies eyes examined by a certified veterinary optomologist (AVCO) . You should expect a certificate
stating your puppy is free of eye disease. Reputable breeders should take advantage of available tests for
the puppy' parents.