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SCHNAUZERS – PICK A SIZE! |
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The Standard Schnauzer, a
medium sized dog, 18 to 20 inches at the shoulder for males, is the prototype
for all three sizes of this wonderful breed.
The breed is yet another brought to us thanks to Germany where it was
a working dog serving as cattle tender, guard dog and dispensing with
offending rats if necessary. When it
appeared in the United States, the AKC, in its infinite wisdom, declared it a
terrier and it remained in that category, contrary to its history until 1945
when it was placed more appropriately in the Working Dog category. The Standard declares it a
well muscled, heavy set dog, squarely built and yes, does resemble many
terriers in its structure. The coat should be hard and
wiry suitable to that of a dog that has to work under less than optimum
conditions and not likely to see much in the way of grooming tools. We usually see them in a salt and pepper
color but black is acceptable. No
other colors – solid, very light, spotted or tiger colors are acceptable. While it is still, sad to
say, fashionable to amputate tails and parts of the ears, that is no longer
acceptable in Europe and I most certainly discourage it. The Giant Schnauzer is a
“brother” to the Standard. Bavarian
cattlemen journeying to Stuttgart liked the stuff of which the Standard dog
was made but wanted a larger breed for driving cattle to market. They added a bit of black Great Dane, some “local”
cattle and sheep dogs, Bouviers and quite likely
some Rottweilers and Dobermans entered the scene.* Early on the dog was highly
acclaimed for its cattle driving abilities but when more was known about the
breed police admired them and took them for their very own. It is said that their “nature combines
high-spirited temperament with extreme reliability”. Size ranges from 21 ½ to 25
½ and, as with the Standards, colors include salt and pepper and black as
recommended colors. Unfortunately,
this size is also victim (all three, in fact), to
amputation of healthy tissue but that is a choice and not a requirement. A dog is a lot more than a tail and ears! Photos of these dogs from
40 or 50 years ago show the functional short, wiry coat best suited to a dog
working under all weather and all conditions.
Giant Schnauzers are no longer seen much (at all?) in police work
because the coat that is fashionable is not practical for a working dog. In fact, it has become a hair contest as is
seen with Cockers, Bouviers, Poodles, etc. These breeds could not possibly perform the
work for which they were known with the hair required now. So sad. And now! The Schnauzer we all are likely to see here,
there and everywhere: The Miniature! This size is most
definitely categorized as a Terrier even though its heritage is shared with
the Giant and Standard. The Mini was
produced by crossing Affenpinchers with smaller
than usual Standards. While it makes
sense, with this crossing, to declare them terriers it seems that almost all
terriers developed in England – not so this breed. One breed book declares this
little fella “trappy” and
while I am not sure how to define that word I think it suits the breed to
perfection! This is a handsome breed
still showing great strength in its ratting abilities and watch-dog traits. A downside is a lot of barking (an issue
with Giants as well!) if not carefully trained to have priorities with all the noise making!
And, yes, this is a trainable issue if you are prepared to not use
punishment. After all, punish the
barking and - you may eliminate it and have no watch-dog benefits! Best option is to train for what you want. Size for the Mini is from
12 to 14 inches and again, color holds true:
salt and pepper, black and silver (a version of S&P) and solid
black. Buyer beware
of any solid blacks you see – a dye bottle may be helping things along. The coat should be – SHOULD
BE!!!! – harsh/wiry - and any coat that is “too” soft,
“too” smooth or slick is a clear sign of some short cuts in the breeding. To maintain a hard coat
does require special grooming attention but genes play an enormous part. These three versions of the
Schnauzer seem to have something for everyone. If you choose one of these wonderful dogs
please do your homework and buy wisely.
*Following the horrors of
World War II most/all of the large breeds of dogs were almost totally
decimated. Various surviving dogs gave
us gene samples that “created” many of the breeds we see today. M |