There has been an ever-increasing demand for Schnauzer dogs over the last few decades, so in this article, I decided to talk about the most popular Schnauzer dog breed type – Miniature Schnauzer. So, what is Miniature Schnauzer?
Miniature Schnauzer is the smaller version of the Schnauzer dog type. It is a small-sized dog that is believed to have been developed from the miniature specimens of their bigger cousins – Standard Schnauzers. This dog breed is also believed to be the offspring of a mix between the Standard Schnauzer and a smaller dog breed like Poodles, Miniature Pinscher, or Affenpinscher.
In this article, we will provide you with all the crucial details that you should know before adopting a Miniature Schnauzer. And this includes their life expectancy, their temperament, their grooming needs, and how to take care of them. But before we get into that, let’s find out how big the Miniature Schnauzer gets.
What Do I Need To Know Before Buying A Miniature Schnauzer?
Size
There are three Schnauzer breeds: the Giant Schnauzer, the Standard Schnauzer, and last but not least, the Miniature Schnauzer. These Schnauzer dog breeds vary in size, with the Mini Schnauzer being the smallest.
The Mini Schnauzer has a square-shaped body that weighs between 10 and 18 lbs, with the males being heavier than the females.
The height of the Mini Schnauzers ranges between 11 and 14 inches. The male Mini Schnauzer is taller than the females.
Appearance
Just like the Standard Schnauzers, the Mini Schnauzers have distinctive beards and feathery, long eyebrows. The Mini Schnauzers are double-coated creatures with a soft undercoat and wiry exterior coat. They have v-shaped forward-folding ears, dark and oval eyes, and a rectangular-shaped head.
The Miniature Schnauzers are available in a wide range of colors, which are determined by their parent breeds. However, the recognized colors only include pure white, silver and black, salt and pepper, and black.
The distinct salt and pepper coloration is where their coats have shades of silver, gray, and black, with their legs and underside being silver or gray.
Is the Mini Schnauzer a Good First Dog?
The Mini Schnauzers have a great personality and can make everyone fall in love with them. The Mini Schnauzer makes a good first dog because of its spunky temperament, manageable small size, and ease of care.
How Do I Know if My Mini Schnauzer Is a Purebred?
As aforementioned, the Mini Schnauzer is the offspring of mixing smaller specimens of the Standard Schnauzer or mixing the Standard Schnauzer with smaller dog breeds.
Therefore, the best way to confirm if it’s a purebred is to look at its pedigree. The pedigree should display the history of its lineage, including 3 to 5 past generations.
Another way of confirming this is by doing a DNA test using a reputable kit. Genetic testing will help you ascertain if your pet is a purebred or not. You can also take it to a reputable vet who can perform numerous tests to confirm its breed.
What Is The Life Expectancy Of A Miniature Schnauzer?
Lifespan
The Mini Schnauzer has a lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
Despite being a healthy dog breed, the Mini Schnauzer is prone to numerous illnesses that can reduce its lifespan. Some of these health issues include:
Kidney Stones
Kidney stones, also known as calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis, refer to the formation of kidney stones in its Urinary tract. Unfortunately, the Mini Schnauzer has a high likelihood of developing bladder or kidney stones. This breed can develop different kinds of stones, with the most common ones being calcium oxalate and struvite stones.
Calcium Oxalate stones are common in senior dogs, while Struvite stones are common in females. This painful condition can be managed by diet; however, it might require surgery to remove them. Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis can be more dangerous in male dogs since they have narrow urethras.
Myotonia Congenita
This is an inherited muscle condition that causes this dog’s cells to be overexcited, resulting in their muscles remaining contracted after a workout.
Myotonia Congenita has no cure and dogs with this condition will never be able to exercise like other normal dogs, but it can be managed using medication and a healthy diet.
Central Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is a hormonal condition that is quite common among older and middle-aged dogs. This condition is characterized by insufficient production of thyroid hormones, which are responsible for regulating the body’s systems. This condition can lead to hair loss, lethargy, and weight gain, among other conditions.
So, if your dog suffers from this condition, you must know how big your Mini Schnauzer should weigh. Remember, the healthy weight of a Mini Schnauzer should be between 10 and 18 lbs. Make sure you start monitoring its weight once it’s fully grown or attain an age of about 12 months.
Other Complications
Just like all dogs, this breed is also prone to a wide range of illnesses that it can inherit from its parent breed. Other common complications that affect the Mini Schnauzers are skin problems, heart diseases, dental problems, and entropion, among others.
In fact, a huge percentage of Miniature Schnauzers die from heart failure.
How To Take Care Of Miniature Schnauzers?
Diet
All dogs need a well-balanced diet that meets their nutritional requirements. And feeding your Mini Schnauzer a nutritious meal will promote good health. The best meal for Mini Schnauzers is the PetPlate Barking Beef meal.
PetPlate barking Beef is a high-protein meal that is prepared for active dogs. It is a grain-free meal made of a recipe specially formulated by vet nutritionists that is perfect for picky eaters.
And in numerous instances, you can supplement your dog’s meal with multivitamins. For that we recommend Zesty Paws Probiotics. This multivitamin treats supplement will provide your dog with probiotics for bowel, immune, and digestion support. This supplement contains six probiotics that can help support your dog’s gut function while protecting it against bloating, gas, and diarrhea.
Exercise
The Mini Schnauzers are fairly energetic dogs that need more than an hour of workout per day. They are unique lap dogs that can join you in your evening or morning runs before you allow them to rest. Remember, this breed can sleep for up to 16 hours per day, so a proper workout is mandatory.
The Miniature Schnauzer is an active dog that can walk for a minimum of 30 minutes per day. Therefore, it can enjoy long walks in the evening or morning hours. And being an intelligent dog, make sure you stimulate it mentally using numerous games, including fetch.
To make the workouts fun, you can get an ifetch interactive ball launcher. An iFetch interactive ball launcher is an automatic ball launcher that can help your furry pal workout every day.
Potty Training
A healthy Mini Schnauzer pees about ten times per day, so proper potty training is mandatory. Therefore, make sure you start potty training your pup as soon as you adopt it. You can take your pup outside every 30 minutes and give it a chance to relieve itself in a certain spot on your lawn.
Do Miniature Schnauzers Bark A Lot? Temperaments Of Miniature Schnauzers
The Mini Schnauzer is an excellent and affectionate breed that is great with first-time owners. This breed has a lot to offer in terms of personalities. So let’s take a look at some of its unique traits:
Intelligence
A Miniature Schnauzer is an intelligent dog that requires mental stimulation to prevent it from getting bored. And like other schnauzers, the Mini Schnauzers are relatively easy to train. They are smart creatures that are known to become mischievous if allowed.
They can learn to open cabinets and get their favorite toys or food. They love being the center of attention and being in control. So early training is mandatory if you want your pet to be submissive.
Eager To Follow
Despite loving attention, the Miniature Schnauzer has a tendency for being independent; therefore, early socialization is a must. With proper training, they can become friendly and affectionate creatures that love to cuddle. After all, this dog breed is a great lap dog that loves attention.
And despite its love for attention, the Miniature Schnauzer can be left alone for short and long periods. But make sure they are older before you start leaving them alone in the house.
Remember, the Miniature Schnauzer can calm down once it attains the age of 12 months.
Energetic
Being a smaller version of the Standard Schnauzer, the Mini Schnauzer is a highly energetic creature that can thrive in an apartment. However, you should be ready to take it for its walks and even play fetch. Some mental workouts like fetch can help you eliminate some destructive behaviors.
Alert
Just like all schnauzers, the Mini Schnauzers were bred to be great guard dogs. They are naturally protective of their family members and can even stand up against breeds twice their size. They have great guarding tendencies without the need to bite.
Do Miniature Schnauzers Shed A Lot? Grooming Tips For Miniature Schnauzers
Shedding
Despite being a double-coated dog, the Mini Schnauzers are not heavy shedders, which is why they are considered hypoallergenic. Miniature Schnauzers are good for allergies as they are also not prone to drool. Therefore, they can be ideal for people with pet allergies.
So, if you own a Mini Schnauzers, we recommend that you get an iRobot i3+ vacuum cleaner. This vacuum cleaner can navigate around your home, and thanks to its reactive sensor technology, it will never get stuck. The reactive sensor technology shows the vacuum cleaner where it can and cannot access.
Grooming
Like most dog breeds, the Mini Schnauzers don’t need frequent baths. And that is because frequent baths can dry its natural skin oil. This breed should be bathed once every two weeks or when it gets into dirt.
It is crucial that you bathe it using the right shampoo that will leave its coat and skin healthy and shiny. We recommend that you wash your pet using Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Medicated Dog Shampoo. This dog shampoo is made of natural ingredients that have medicinal value and is ideal for sensitive skin. It is also extremely effective in preventing fleas from thriving in your dog’s fur.
Brushing
Miniature Schnauzers are double-coated dogs with a wiry outer coat that can trap loose, dead hair. Therefore, you should be ready to brush and comb its coat as frequently as possible using a FURminator Undercoat tool. This highly recommended grooming kit can reach through your dog’s topcoat and eliminate loose undercoats.
You can also leave the grooming tasks to professionals located near your residential area and have them style your beloved pooch the way you like.
Related Questions
How Much Does A Mini Schnauzer Cost? The cost of Mini Schnauzer puppies from breeders ranges between $500 and $2,700. You can also find one in a shelter where they go for between $50 and $300. However, ascertaining if a Mini Schnauzer obtained from a shelter is purebred can be quite challenging.
Do Miniature Schnauzers Swim? Mini Schnauzers are not natural swimmers; therefore, they should be well supervised when playing near the pool. But with patience and proper training, they can learn to swim and even grow to low swimming.
How Many Litters Can A Mini Schnauzer Have? A mini schnauzer can have a maximum of three litters per year, but some breeders allow their dogs to have two litters with a resting period. Each litter can have an average of approximately six puppies.
