Schnauzer breed Information
Schnauzer Dog Breed: The Ultimate Guide 2020
Are you aiming at enhancing how you take care of your Schnauzer? Perhaps you’re looking forward to adding this friendly, energetic, and intelligent dog suitable for lots of different environments to your family?
Welcome to your comprehensive ultimate guide for the Schnauzer dog breeds.
What Are The Characteristics Of Schnauzer
Schnauzer dogs are characterized by their friendly and calm nature towards their parents. They make great pets around several environments but have a drawback when it comes to first time parents.
However, there are other attributes that make them suitable for any home or family.
Let’s see which ones they’re:
1. Schnauzer Dog Breed: Adaptability
The Schnauzer is really a nice family dog with exceptional adaptability traits. They have a convenient size that makes them moderately good for apartment lifestyle.
They are playful dogs but not overly crazy to handle and hold an overall 3 star rating for being remarkably adaptable to different situations.
Take a look at what attributes sum up to this 3 star adaptability rating:
- Adapts well to apartment living: They are relatively small bodied making them a great apartment lifestyle breed. For that reason, they hold a 3 star rating for being in house friendly dogs.
- Good for novice owners: First time parents might find it challenging to raise dogs of this kind because they hold only 2 stars when it comes to how favorable they’re for novice dog owners.
- Sensitivity level: These spunky and playful dog breeds have an extremely high sensitivity score of 4 stars out five. They might not tolerate a noisy household or inconsistent routines.
- Tolerates being alone: Schnauzer puppies are poorly suited to be alone. They shouldn’t be left alone for hours. With a 2 star rating on loneliness tolerance, they tend to develop separation anxiety.
- Tolerates cold weather: These dogs can handle low temperatures (as low as 32℃). They have double coats which can keep them warm thus holding 4 stars out 5 for being suitable in cold climatic environments.
- Tolerates hot weather: As much as they can withstand cold weathers, they are perfectly suited for hot climates hence 4 stars out of 5.
2. Schnauzer Dog Breed: All-Around Friendliness
Even though Schnauzers are not that favorable for first-time dog owners, they’re generally cheery and loving.
They have a 3 star rating about their overall all-around friendliness. Not all of them could live to their friendly standards. Depending on how they’ve been raised and trained, some of them can be aloof and hyperactive.
Let me take you through some of the details that resulted to this 3 star rating:
- Affection with family: They’re affectionate, loving dogs who thrive spending time with family. Holding 4 stars out of 5 for this character, they’re naturally inclined to be excellent family members.
- Kid-friendly: Schnauzers do well with kids and hold 4 stars out 5 for their love for kids. Their willingness to socialize and interact with children makes them manageable. Nevertheless, they can develop some behavioural issues so any activity between these two lads should be watched.
- Dog friendly: These dogs are moderately friendly to other dogs and score 3 stars out of 5 for that. They could however be slightly territorial if proper socializan is not given to them.
- Friendly towards strangers: Both adult and puppy Schnauzers are highly suspicious towards strangers and hold only 2 stars out of 5 for being less friendly to strangers. This can be however eased by early training and socialization.
3. Schnauzer Dog Breed: Health And Grooming Needs
Schnauzer dog breeds possess only 2 stars out of 5 regarding their health and grooming needs.
They have some health concerns affecting their digestive tract and pancreas. Kidney stones being the most common issue.
They require regular grooming to keep their wiry coat in good condition:
Here is why they hold a 2 stars rating for their overall health and grooming needs:
- Amount of shedding: Having a 1 star rating on their level of shedding, these dog breeds shed a lot. If you’re looking forward to parenting one, be prepared to deal with a good amount of dog hair on your clothes, chairs and floor.
- Drooling potential: Schnauzer dogs are drool prone and hold a 1 star rating for this attribute. Many times, they’ll leave some ropes of slobber on your clothes when they come to say hello.
- Easy to groom: They hold only 2 stars out 5 when it comes to their grooming flexibility. Their coat is not a brush and go type because you’ll need to do some trimming once every 2-4 weeks.
- General health: These are generally healthy breeds with a lifespan of around 10-16 years. They hold a 5-star rating but are still prone to several genetic ailments.
- Size: Schnauzers are comparatively small bodied with an average body size of 3 stars out 5. They can do well in apartments and also hold up well to travel.
4. Schnauzer Dog Breed: Trainability
Schnauzer dog breeds are fun and easy to train and possess 4 stars out of 5 about their overall trainability.
They are quite clever and enjoy learning new tricks but always make training sessions stimulating and varied.
Here are the core reasons why they score such a high rating in training:
- Easy to train: These sweet poochs are generally easy to train. Their natural instincts, intelligence and energy level can make them somewhat stubborn during training sessions leading to a 3 star ease of training rating.
- Intelligence: They are extremely intelligent dogs who are determined to grasp commands. They have been proven to understand commands after only 15 repetitions obeying upto 85% when commanded thus possessing 5 stars rating regarding their intelligence.
- Potential for mouthiness: Having been bred for hunting activities, these dogs have 3 star rating mouthiness potential meaning that they can nip and chew things around them including shoes, curtains e.t.c.
- Prey drive: They have an exceptionally high prey drive with a rating of 5 stars. They’re known to compete in dog agility and tracking competitions.
- Tendency to bark or howl: These dogs have a tendency to bark when they see a stranger. They have 2 stars out of 5 for being protective of their home when they sense a threat.
- Wanderlust potential: Schnauzers are great explorers with a 5 star wanderlust potential. Their versatility in character can make them want to pull a leash when you're walking out with him. Ensure that you control his excitement when he has an instinct to chase.
5. Schnauzer Dog Breed: Physical Needs
They require at least 60 minutes of vigorous exercise everyday and score 5 stars for physical needs.
Exercise helps a Schnauzer to maintain a stable body mass and protect him from obesity.
Here are some of the factors we used to arrive at this rating:
- Energy level: They have a moderately high energy level rating of 5 stars out 5 making them fit into almost any family.
- Intensity: They are less vigorous dogs who score an average 3 star rating for their vigor.
- Exercise need: With a 5 star rating on their exercise needs, these breeds are adaptable to several exercise types like walks, morning/evening runs to maintain their athleticism.
- Potential for playfulness: They have a 5 star playful nature that fits into any family with kids
Important Stats You Should Know About Schnauzer Dogs
More Fun Facts About Schnauzer Breeds
- The Miniature Schnauzer and the Giant Schnauzer breeds were bred from the Standard Schnauzer.
- The three types of the Schnauzer dogs were bred for different needs but they share a common trait - they’re all guard dogs.
- They have stiff, wiry coats that don’t shed so much.
- These athletic dogs are agile and good for herding, agility, and tracking sports.
- They make great hunting dogs both on land and in water because they’re good swimmers.
- They’ve got an exceptional personality but sometimes they can be stubborn. They are intelligent enough to determine your weakness and overrule you.
- They can man their territory and can bark at strangers until you command them to stop.
- Because of their high intelligence level, they thrive on varied activities and get bored easily if subjected to repetitive routines.
- Schnauzers can be resentful to training if you use harsh methods in training sessions.
- Hunting dogs like Schnauzers should not be trusted with pets because they have an extremely high prey drive.
- They’re fearless and dangerous so you should never allow them to walk unleashed.
What Is The Origin Of Schnauzer Dog Breeds
Schnauzer dog breeds are typical sheepdogs of the Austrian Tyrol and Bavarian Alps.
It is believed that they were developed sometime in the 14th century. Studies say that they’re as a result of crossing the Wolf Spitz and Wire Haired Pinscher. Some sources have proved that the Black German Poodle was also involved in coming up with this breed.
Schnauzers were depicted in Albert Durer’s paintings dated 1492 and 1504.
Breeders saw a need to develop two more Schnauzer breed dogs, the Miniature,and the Giant Schnauzers. The two were purely bred from the Standard Schnauzer from a utility point of view.
The smaller Schnauzers (Miniature) were a crossbreed of the Standard Schnauzer and the Wire Haired Pinscher while the Giant Schnauzers were bred from Standard Schnauzers and German Boarhound.
Standard Schnauzer dogs arrived in Australia in 1934, Miniatures in 1962 and Giants in the 1970’s. During this time, the adult Schnauzer dogs were used by shepherds to herd flocks of livestock while the smallest of the litters were left at home as guards.
Schnauzer Appearance
At a glance, these dogs look small and bad-tempered but they’re calmer than the classic terriers. They are known for their square-shape with wiry coats (usually longer around the muzzle).
They might seem small but they’re well muscled.
You’ll see them in the following coat colors:
- White
- Black
- Black and Silver: Puppies born with this coat color have white bodies with black spots/patches. A bronze/copper color can be seen on their cheeks, eyebrows, and under the tail but later on turns to white.
- Salt and Pepper: Salt and pepper parti puppies are born with white bodies. Their hair is usually brown/gray which in later stages turns silver.
- Chocolate and Tan (Liver and Tan): Puppies with this coat color have white bodies with chocolate spots/patches. There are some who are born with cream/tan markings on their cheeks, sometimes eyebrows and below the tail tail.
- Black and White: These are born with solid white bodies with black spots/patches that vary in pattern.
- Chocolate and White: They have white bodies with chocolate spots/patches that vary in pattern.
As for the eye colors, you’ll come across Schnauzer dogs with the following eye colors:
- Brown eyes
- Hazel eyes
- Green
- Blue
What Is The Average Size And Lifespan Of Schnauzer Breeds
Under normal circumstances, Miniature Schnauzer have a height of around 30 – 36 centimeters while the Giant Schnauzer stands between 65 – 70 centimeters. The Standard Schnauzer breed from which the two emerged from is usually 47 – 50 centimeters tall at the shoulder.
If exercised well and the feeding routine is adhered to, Miniature Schnauzers should have a weight of 5 – 8.2 kg, Giant Schnauzer should be 34 – 43 kg, while the Standard Schnauzers should have an average body mass of between 14 – 20 kg.
Unfortunately, these Schnauzers face a real threat to their health. There are diseases that can negatively affect how long they live. With that in mind, you should only take a dog from a reputable breeder who guarantees little chances of genetic ailments. Miniature Schnauzer on a proper diet and in good hygienic environments live between 12 – 14 years. The Giant Schnauzer have a lifespan of 10 – 12 years while the Standard Schnauzer tend to live fairly long lives with a 13 – 16 years life expectancy.
What Are The Different Types Of Schnauzer
There are three types of the Schnauzer dog breed namely, the Standard, the Giant, and the Miniature Schnauzers.
The Giant Schnauzer and the Miniature Schnauzer were derived from the current Standard Schnauzer. After the successful development, the three breeds exhibited different characteristics.
- The Standard Schnauzer: They were developed around the 14th century. Being in the working group, they were purposefully developed to be multifunctional; hunting, herding, and guard dogs. According to AKC, they should stand at 47 – 50 centimeters tall and weigh around 14 – 20 kg. Because of their intelligence, they were also used to carry messages in war.
- The Giant Schnauzer: These dogs were developed in southern Bavaria in the 17th century by breeding the Standard Schnauzer with black Great Danes, Doberman Pinschers, German Shepherds, Boxers, and Rottweilers. Their primary function was to guard farms and drive cattle to the market. They’re the largest among the three standing between 65 – 70 centimeters with a weight of 34 – 43 kg. They have a great reputation of being used by police in the military.
- The Miniature Schnauzer: This third type of the Schnauzer dog breeds was developed in the late 1800s. It resulted from crossing the Standard Schnauzer with smaller breeds like German Affenpinscher and Miniature Poodle. In Australia, the Miniature Schnauzer are classified as utility dogs (a farm/house dog). They are the smallest kinds of the Schnauzer dogs standing to a height of 30 – 36 centimeters and a weight of 5 – 8.2 kg.
All About Schnauzer Temperament And Personality
All the three types of the Schnauzer dogs are good-natured, playful, intelligent, devoted, lively and trainable. A personality that any dog parent would wish for their canine friend.
They’re well-mannered and fun-loving, loyal, and curious companions with unfading love to their family. Since they have a high energy level, they require constant engaging activity to keep them happy and healthy.
They’ll always want to be by your side or slightly behind you because they don’t like being left alone.
They tend to be jealous when around other dogs, could bark at them, and chase small animals/pets but this behavior can be controlled during training.
There are only two words to describe these dogs and that is incredibly smart.
What Health Problems Are Schnauzers Prone To?
There are 5 common health problems that affect the Schnauzer community.
To help you understand which diseases affect which Schnauzer type, I’ll split the five health issues into two groups so that you are able to distinguish each breeds’ weakness.
Group 1: 3 Common Miniature Schnauzer Health Problems
If you already own a Mini Schnauzer or are planning on getting one, keep in mind that they’re more prone to serious health problems than their larger cousins.
Some of these health issues include:
1. Kidney Stones
Mini Schnauzers are most likely to develop kidney stones (Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis) in their urinary tract.
Male Miniature Schnauzers have a higher risk to contract oxalate uroliths than females. If left unattended to, it can result in complete urinary blockage, which is life-threatening.
Watch out for the following signs of kidney stones:
- Abdominal discomfort
- Increased/decrease urine production
- Blood in the urine (hematuria)
- Kidney pain though it is unseen
- Lethargy
- Fever, poor appetite and vomiting
2. Myotonia Congenita
This is an inherited muscle disorder that causes a Miniature Schnauzer’s muscles to remain contracted after some exercise.
Overtime, if this problem persists, your Miniature Schnauzer dog can develop the following issues:
- Your dog could develop bunny hopping gait.
- The muscles could start bulging resulting in motion difficulties.
- The toungue might start swelling, something that will lead to swallowing challenges.
- The dog might start falling or stumbling due to balancing problems.
In case of these signs, take your pup to a vet as soon as possible.
3. Central Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism is an inherent hormonal disorder that makes the thyroid glands shrink or become inflamed resulting in a decrease in thyroid hormone production.
This health problem can result in a an array of other health problems including:
- Decreased metabolic rate -can lead to obesity.
- Lack of energy
- Mental lethargy
- Skin issues e.g. hair loss.
- Shivering (your dog might be unable to withstand cold weather even though they have a 4 star tolerance to cold weather).
This condition can be treated with synthetic levothyroxine, so, if you notice the above signs, seek veterinary advice.
Group 2: 2 Common Standard Schnauzer Health Problems
Standard Schnauzers are generally healthy breeds that can live up to 13 -16 years. On average, they don’t contract serious genetic health problems but there are two concerns you need to know.
1. Pancreatitis
The function of the pancreas is to produce enzymes (which should activate on reaching the small intestine) responsible for the digestion process.
Enzymes released by the pancreas of a dog fighting pancreatitis tend to activate as soon as they’re released -which is not recommended.
This early activation of the enzymes could cause inflammation (damaging the pancreas and surrounding tissues/organs).
The warning signs of pancreatitis in a Schnauzer are:
- Dehydration
- Fever, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and weakness
- Distended abdomen and painful stomach
- Hunched back
Seek vet attention immediately or else it will result in serious digestive disorders.
2. Hip Dysplasia
This is an inherited condition in Schnauzers that can lead to the following issues:
- Chronic cartilage degeneration.
- Artritis.
- Formation of subluxation (usually on the head of the femur) that results in joint laxity.
See a vet if your Schnauzer exhibits the following signs:
- Bunny hopping gait
- Fatigue and sudden collapse/falls
- Hind end lameness
- Imbalance and loss of muscle mass, notably in the thigh
- Problems rising, running, or jumping
- Stiffness and swaying while walking
How Should You Take Care Schnauzer Dogs
Owning a Schnauzer can be as easy as visiting a shelter farm or breed organizations and picking the one that catches your eye. However, raising it is a whole new task that you can fail if you lack the proper dog care information.
These dogs are consistently intelligent and friendly but if you want them to be the companion that you’ve yarned for, then you’ll need to look into their nutritional, grooming, exercise, and training needs.
Let’s get down to how you should take care of your Schnauzer.
Feeding Your Schnauzer Dog
You’ll need to feed your Miniature, Giant and Standard Schnauzer with high-quality food with about 10 to 15% fat content in order to help him live to his life expectancy.
It is your responsibility to teach him about good eating habits. Two meals a day is enough for adults but you can have your Schnauzer puppies take three meals a day and give them plenty of water.
Below are some of the best food for your Schnauzer dog:
1. Purina Pro Plan Focus Dry Dog Food
This is the best food for small breeds like Schnauzer with chicken as the number one ingredient.
It is made with dry kibble hence the perfect pick for cleaning your pup’s teeth and enhancing its dental health.
This meal is protein rich thus very essential for your dog’s growth and development.
Apart from that, it contains important minerals and vitamins (e.g calcium, phosphorus e.t.c) and natural prebiotic fiber to assist in digestion.
Here are some of the key benefits of this dog food:
- It is a healthy diet formulated for small breed dogs.
- Premium chicken is the #1 ingredient.
- Come in bite-sized kibbles.
- Contains natural prebiotic fiber extracted from wheat bran.
- Contains calcium for strengthening your canine friend’s teeth and bones.
- Contains vitamin A and omega fatty acids that help keep the skin and coat healthy.
- It is rich in powerful antioxidants for a healthy immune system.
- Does not contain artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives.
Recommended Daily Feeding Amounts
2. Holistic Select Grain-Free Dry Dog Food
This is a grain -free protein rich food for your Schnauzer pooch.
It contains sardines, salmon, and anchovies that are ideal for the ultimate growth, development and energy of the pup.
Natural fiber is a plus (suitable for digestive health) and it does not contain any artificial meat byproducts, flavors or preservatives.
These are some of the benefits of this food:
- It is made with healthy fruits and veggies containing fiber necessary for maintaining a healthy digestive process.
- Contains digestive enzymes that help in proteins cellulase break down to starch.
- It has added natural fiber essential for moving food through the digestive tract.
- It contains antioxidant-rich superfoods (e.g blueberries and pomegranate) to to assist in the dogs general health
- Contains Omega 6 and Omega 3 fatty acids (from chicken fat, flaxseed and menhaden fish) for healthy skin and coat
Recommended Daily Feeding Amounts
3. Rachael Ray Nutrish PEAK Grain-Free Dog Food
Rachael Ray Nutrish Peak is a delicious dog meal made from farm-raised Turkey and Duck.
It is a hearty meal with nutritious ingredients (peas, potatoes and cranberries) but free of gluten, grain and fillers. These added nutrients enhance your Schnauzer’s health and energy levels.
Check out some of the benefits it has on your pup:
- Contains delicious proteins that dogs instinctively crave
- Farm-raised turkey, protein-rich duck and quail are the #1 ingredient
- Keeps Schnauzer puppies filled with energy
- The have high-quality proteins for healthy organs
- Contains amazing minerals such as Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3, Calcium Iodate, Manganese, and folic acid.
- It is free from preservatives and artificials colors.
Recommended Daily Feeding Amounts
4. Merrick Lil' Plates Grain-Free Schnauzer Dog Food
This is one of the best foods for small dogs featuring real deboned chicken as the #1 ingredient.
It contains DHA essential for growth of a healthy brain.
This meal is grain and gluten-free and it is rich with omega fatty acids, glucosamine, and chondroitin to maintain a healthy skin, shiny coat and support joint function.
Take a look at some of its key benefits:
- Contains prebiotics and probiotics for digestion
- Real deboned chicken is the #1 ingredient.
- Formed into a small kibble size hence ideal for small pups
- It has a crunchy texture for plaque reduction and keeping teeth clean
Recommended Daily Feeding Amounts
5. Iams ProActive Healthy Dry Dog Food
IAMS Puppy Small Breed Dry Dog Food is a huge head start for your Schnauzer dog.
This puppy food contains real chicken and is essential for growth and development of small-breed pups.
Rich with quality proteins, it helps your Schnauzer to develop strong muscles.
Here are the benefits:
- It is ideal for small-breed puppies nutritional needs.
- Protein rich for proper muscles development.
- Contains 22 key nutrients as in dog’s milk.
Recommended Daily Feeding Amounts
Grooming Your Schnauzer Dog
When it comes to your Schnauzer puppy, you want to make sure that you give him the best grooming care.
They are easy to groom and don’t require a lot of maintenance and here’s how you can keep them tidy.
- Brush his coat regularly: Schnauzers have a thick double coat which needs frequent grooming to maintain a good look. One brushing session every week is enough to get rid of tangless off his fur.
- Bathe your Miniature Schnauzer: These dogs require regular baths at least once a week. This is so that you can keep their wiry coats soft and smooth. After bathing him, comb the beard. Make sure you wipe out any food particles or dirt that sticks on your schnauzer’s beard everyday.
- Clean your schnauzer’s ears: Your Schnauzer’s ears should always be clean because it helps in preventing infections. Ensure that you clear any wax buildup a few times per week. Use soft cotton to clean the outer ear.
- Clip your schnauzer’s nails: These breeds happen to have strong, fast-growing nails. They require regular trimming about once every two weeks.
- Brush his teeth: Brush your Miniature Schnauzer’s teeth at least 3 times a week to prevent potential dental problems that arise from poor oral hygiene. Ensure that you only use a special toothpaste meant for dogs (human toothpaste can make your dog sick).
Essential Grooming Tools For Schnauzer
- Use a slicker brush to brush the dog's body.
- Use stainless steel greyhound comb to do his eyebrows and beard.
- Clippers are essential when conducting regular trims yourself.
- Special guillotine style nail trimmer or a nail grinder is useful for nail trimming.
- Tweezers - to remove ear canal hair
- Scissors
- Stripping knives
- Foot file -for rough stripping
- Lava rock - for removing fuzz from wire coats.
Exercising And Training Your Schnauzer
To maintain your pup’s weight and keep him motivated, exercise and training is important.
When doing this, you should make sure that the routines you carry out with him can mentally (understand commands i.e dos and don’ts), emotionally (keep him happy), and physically (maintain his weight for a healthy life) help him.
Here are some of the routines you should do with your dog:
- Play with your miniature schnauzer daily: They have a high energy level and so some 20 minute exercise is the best way to utilize his energy. You can play a game of fetch. To keep him entertained, provide him with fun toys. Daily walks are also a great way to have fun with your pup.
- Socialize your miniature schnauzer as a puppy: These dogs are pretty good with kids and friendly to people. However, they are not good around other dogs. To create a good relationship between them and other pets in your neighbourhood, early socializing will make him an all-round friendly dog. Make him get used to kids and babies, pushchairs, people of different ages, genders, races, and sizes, loud noises and crowded places.
- Consider crate training him as it is helpful for house training.
- Teach him some basic commands like stop, stay, sit, go, among others. This will help you to control him whenever he does something wrong.
Are Schnauzers Good With Children And Other Pets
Schnauzer dogs are typically good with children especially if they were raised around them.
They have a real soothing calmness and gentleness when playing with children. The two make an excellent combination to help one another burn off steam.
Before you fall for any myths out there, let me make it clear that these dogs are engaging and interactive, a personality that a good social pet should possess.
Schnauzers are not aggressive dogs but are very strong guard dogs and hunters. They were bred with leadership traits that’s why they’re intelligent and confident dogs.
As it is obvious with guard dogs, they have a territorial nature. Nothing more can be told of their prey drive instinct on small pets -hunting is in their nerves.
The three Schnauzer breeds have different in-bred temperament and personality towards other dogs but training and socialization can turn them into good animal community members in your hood.
Enough exercise, consistent training (among them gradual socialization) can make an irritable, aggressive, and destructive Schnauzer calmer and gentle to kids and other dogs/pets.
Australian Based Breed Organizations For Schnauzer Dogs
Have you ever given a thought as to why you should not acquire a puppy from just any breeder out there?
Some organizations might be far from your location but it is always wise to reach out to them rather than taking a dog who won’t live to its life expectancy from a nearby breeder.
I have gathered a list of some of the best Schnauzer dog breed organizations in Australia.
When you get in touch with them, make sure that you’re stable enough to:
- Cater for his food, vet fees and pet insurance, training and exercise needs.
- Ensure that you’re in a position to look after him for his 10-16 years lifespan?
- Make sure that you have a backyard to cater for their playful needs. If you don’t, are you able to take them to the park?
- Ensure that you can be available three times a day for a 20-minute exercise session.
- These pretty canines don’t like being left alone, are you able to commit to their company needs. If not, are you able to find a professional pet sitter?
If you can keep your word, visit one of the following registered Schnauzer breed organizations in Australia:
- Minibarbu Miniature Schnauzers - Miniature Schnauzer Breeder - Lara, Vic
- Loughrobn Miniature Schnauzers - Miniature Schnauzer Breeder - Adelaide, Sa
- Edelgeist Kennel - Mini Schnauzer Breeder - W.A
- Boxvale Kennels - Boxer And Miniature Schnauzer Breeder - Qld
- Mokai Mini Schnauzers - Miniature Schnauzer Breeder - Carwoola, Nsw
Look out for the following before you choose your long anticipated pup:
- Social Attributes: Social attributes of a puppy will give you an oversight of how he will behave with other pets and children at home. Keep in mind that Schnauzer dogs have a high prey drive, the last thing you want them to do is chase your pet birds and cats.
- Behaviour: An ill-mannered pup will always want to be the leader of the park. If you’re having yours from a reputable breeder, this trait should have been worked upon by the time they’re made available for give away.
- Welfare: Take a look at the living environment of the puppies. Is it well kept? Or are they living in poor hygienic conditions? Pups in dirty environments are at risk of contracting infections and you don’t want to take an exposed pup with you.
- Health: You’re not a vet but after taking you through the health problems that affect Schnauzers, I am certain that you know what signs and symptoms to look out for. If you see a pup with any of the signs listed in the health problems section, let the breeder give you another Schnauzer.
- Parents Information: Every breeder should have the breed parents. If they’re unable to show you (maybe they died), let them produce their records so that you can analyze their characteristics and signs of health issues they were fighting.
- Vet Records: Vet records can give you a clear picture of the general health of the puppy. If the puppy is under any medication or vaccines, let them have you look at them.
- Paperwork: If you are picking your dog from a rescue group, all the paperwork (legal ownership documents) regarding their acquisition of the dog should be presented to you without failure.
If everything about the pup is ok, let the organization give you a contract of Sale or receipt confirming that you’re now the legal owner of the puppy.
Apart from that, let them:
- Give you written advice on training/exercise, feeding, socialisation, and worming the pup.
- Tell you all the vaccinations that should be administered to him and if any have already been given.
Rescue Groups For Schnauzer Breeds In Australia
There are three major reasons why you might need a Schnauzer rescue group in your life.
- Maybe you want your dog to be given a loving home or you’re no longer capable of meeting his needs.
- Maybe you met a dog that is not receiving the proper care it deserves (mistreated dogs in a life threatening situation).
- You might want to become a Schnauzer parent but you want to acquire it from a shelter rather than from a breeder.
There are several benefits of rescuing a Schnauzer instead of buying from breeders and here is why you should consider rehoming one:
- Saving a life: Saving a dog’s life is the main reason why you should rescue a dog from a shelter instead of buying from a breeder. The work of rescue groups is not just to receive abandoned dogs but also to find people who can take them to their homes and give them the love they deserve. There are thousands of dogs in shelters who need your help. Let’s be dog lovers and reduce the level of animal euthanasia in Australia.
- Making room for new shelter dogs: There are over 100 thousand Schnauzers in Australian shelters currently. This shows that there is more need for you to rescue a dog than to buy from a breeder. Getting a dog from a shelter will be opening up space and resources for another Schnauzer on the streets so make your move today.
- You can get a dog who is already trained: An already trained Schnauzer is one of the advantages you’ll get when you acquire your dog from a rescue group. If this is your first time to parent a dog, training them can be somehow challenging. For that case, you can get yourself an adorable and nicely house trained Schnauzer dog.
Note that there is nothing wrong with a dog in a rescue group. People abandon them for silly reasons like too much tail wagging. Other parents received them as gifts in festive seasons and were not prepared to have one. On realizing what dog parenting is, they decide to abandon them and land in rescue shelters. Rescue groups take in abandoned dogs and also welcome parents who need to rehome the thousands of charming and quality rescued dogs at these shelters.
Here are some of the Schnauzer dog breed shelters in Australia:
- Australia Schnauzer Rescue ― ADOPTIONS
- Schnauzer Club of NSW Inc
- Victorian Dog Rescue and Resource Group Inc in Melbourne
- Schnauzer Rescue Vic
- Schnauzer Rescue NSW
- Miniature Schnauzer Club of NSW (Rescue)
- Schnauzer Rescue QLD
Concluding Lines On Schnauzer Dog Breeds
Schnauzer dog breeds are average dogs suitable for families in relatively small living spaces. It is a low shedding breed with inquisitive and kind temperament making a perfect dog for young children (as long you positively socialise them).
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