Each month we will be shining a light on different dog breed in our series, Dog Breed of the Month. Next up, we take a deep dive into the world of the Schnauzer. From characteristics to temperament, here's everything you need to know.
"Schnauzers are great and versatile dogs, easily recognisable by their bristly whiskers, eyebrows and beard," Bill Lambert, from The Kennel Club, tells Country Living.
"While Schnauzers and Miniature Schnauzers make a fairly compact companion, and most would happily live in a flat or smaller house, a Giant Schnauzer is an excellent choice for active owners with a larger house and garden, who are looking for an energetic and loyal four-legged friend."
Are Schnauzers good family pets?
Generally, Schnauzers are excellent family pets and are a great choice for owners with different lifestyles. Whether you have young children or live in a household with other adults, Schnauzers will fit into place fairly easily with the right training.
Bill tells CL: "Schnauzers are considered easier to train and good-natured, and can make a great companion for owners living in the city or the countryside, and first time owners too."
Do Schnauzers need a lot of space?
"While Schnauzers and Miniature Schnauzer are mostly companion dogs, Giant Schnauzers need more space and exercise, which means they will be happiest in a larger house with access to a large garden," Bill says. "They also require more than two hours of exercise, which makes them a good choice for active owners that enjoy outdoor exercise."
Like with many dog breeds, Schnauzers will also need plenty of room where they can stretch their legs and play. If you don't have a garden, make sure you give them plenty of walks throughout the day or head down to your local park so they can stretch their legs.
What kind of temperament do Schnauzers have?
Generally well-mannered and fun-loving, Schnauzers make great additions to most families. As well as this, they are loyal companions who are curious, alert, playful and love when the attention is on them. To keep them happy, ensure they are given engaging activities throughout the day — they'll get bored with nothing to do.
According to Dr Carolina Paz, veterinary surgeon for Joii Pet Care, other behaviour concerns include:
- An excellent guardian as well as a loyal and fun companion
- Playful and good with children
- Bold, watchful, busy and often mischievous
- Tends to be aloof toward strangers
- Can be aggressive toward strange dogs
- Usually gets along with household pets
- Food or games are the best rewards for reward-based training
- Fast learner, but also bored easily, and can be quite headstrong at times
Why Schnauzers are the best dogs?
Thanks to their loving, laid-back personalties, Schnauzers rarely get angry. Originally bred in Germany to hunt vermin, you can be sure that they will drive out all the pests in your home.
They also make excellent guard dogs, too. "Giant Schnauzers were later also used as guarding, police and tracking dogs while the smaller variations became a popular companion dogs," Bill tells us.
Do Schnauzers have any health concerns?
While this varies due to lifestyle, some of the health concerns associated with Schnauzers according to the PDSA include:
- Cataracts (opacity of the lens of the eye – giving a 'cloudy' appearance)
- Pancreatitis
- Bladder stones
- Atopy (hypersensitivity to certain allergens, causing itching and skin trauma)
- Urolithiasis
Chyrle Bonk, a veterinarian working with petkeen.com, explains: "Schnauzers are prone to pancreatitis, so they should be fed a diet strictly of dog food without any high fat human foods. They can also get cataracts and urinary stones with higher frequency."
Do schnauzers bark a lot?
While all dogs will bark, Schnauzers are notorious for barking a lot and can make excellent watch dogs. Some of the reasons why they might bark include feeling frightened, being hungry, or feeling depressed or bored.
Chyrle adds: "They can be vocal dogs, especially when they're protecting their family." Schnauzers are easily trained but they need lots of mental stimulation in the form of games or puzzles to keep them from becoming destructive."
Do Schnauzers shed a lot of hair?
While Schnauzers do shed hair, it tends to be minimal. If you notice that your Schnauzer is shedding a lot of hair, it may indicate an underlying health problem so always head to your local vet for expert advice.
"Their coat is hard and wiry, longer on the legs, muzzle, and eyebrows," adds Dr Carolina. "Their coat needs combing once or twice weekly. There are many pet owners who elect to have their dogs professionally groomed or clipped into an easier-to-maintain trim. This may be repeated every three to six months. Shedding is below average."
8 fun facts about Schnauzers
1. Schnauzers come in a couple different sizes. Standards are larger and stand about 18" tall and weight around 40 pounds
2. Schnauzers are very affectionate and loyal dogs to their family and can work well with small children
3. They make good watch dogs and are often wary of strangers and other animals
4. Because of their loyalty, Schnauzers make good watch dogs and are often wary of strangers and other animals
5. They worked for the German army
6. They shed very little
7. They are in the group of working dogs, bred as multifunctional dogs to catch rats and other rodents
8. They all have their own distinct look
9. The breed has a loud bark and can be noisy
10. The coat of this terrier must be stripped at least twice a year, and regularly groomed to remove dead hairs
11. Schnauzers are highly trainable and thrive with mental stimulation and obedience training
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