Do you ever think about how many breeds or races of schnauzers there are? Truth is, nowadays there are three varieties of this dog, a mini schnauzer, a medium size one, and a large or giant schnauzer.
Each one of these races has a certain special charateristic or peculiarity that make them so unique. Are you interested to know more about it? Then follow this article and find out more about this amazing dogs!
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Introducción
By nature, Schnauzers are known to be faithful and affectionate animals with all the people who are part of their family.
For the same reason, one of their many advantages is that they adapt to the environment very easily, although they should always be trained beforehand.
It is worth mentioning that their ancestors, coming from Germany, were recognized as hunters and willing to do anything for the family that welcomed them.
The passage of time made the Schnauzer adapt to a new environment, such as a new environment or even lower or variable temperatures.
On the other hand, due to their playful and fun temperament, Schnauzers have been called an excellent companion for the little ones at home.
In that way, both a puppy dog and a child who is just empathizing with its environment, both will help each other to better recognize their surroundings.
If you already have a Schnauzer or are thinking of adopting one, this article will surely interest you.
Are there Schnauzer sizes?
Are you thinking of bringing a Schnauzer dog home? Did you know that there is a Schnauzer for every lifestyle? No matter if you have small children or live in a small apartment or maybe you don’t have a lot of time, you will be happy to know that you can always find the pet you are looking for among the different types of Schnauzer.
So, generally speaking, the different sizes of Schnauzer are characterized by:
- They have a cute appearance, combined with a lively personality and great devotion or loyalty to their owners. This has made all Schnauzers very popular pets.
- Many owners have more than one Schnauzer, as they tend to thrive in companionship. In fact, they are sociable creatures that do not appreciate being left alone in the house for long periods of time.
- It is a dog that adapts easily, hence it is considered suitable for families, single people and even the elderly. He will be happy and calm as long as he feels involved in everything that happens.
- Although their coat requires more special care, this is compensated by the fact that they do not shed as many hairballs, plus their coat is hypoallergenic.
- Schnauzers require different care to stay healthy in the environment.
- Their playful and restless temperament by nature makes them the most ideal pets for children.
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What are the Schnauzer types?
The three varieties within the Schnauzer breed are:
- The Miniature Schnauzer, Dwarf or Mini
- The standard or medium Schnauzer
- The Giant Schnauzer
These three types emerged in Germany, under the original dog standard, although the miniature and the giant are born as its two later variations.
It is worth mentioning that, although they are described as different sizes of the same dog, the types of Schnauzer are separated by more than just stature.
As an independent breed, each exhibits its own personality.
Different clubs, such as the American Kennel Club, the United Kennel Club and the Fédération Cynologique Internationale, include the Standard Schnauzer and the Giant Schnauzer in the “working dog” group, while the Miniature Schnauzer is considered part of the “terrier” group.
Many disagree with this classification because some consider that the miniature breed does not share many of the common characteristics with other “terriers”.
Miniature or miniature Schnauzer
As its name reflects, this is the smallest type of Schnauzer that can weigh between 5 to 9 kilos, and measure between 30.48 and 35.56 centimeters in height.
This is a small dog, according to the standard, compact, robust, a little square, with a rectangular head, V-shaped eyebrows that extend along all eyes and thick whiskers, and ears set high on the skull.
His temperament is cheerful, affectionate and intelligent. He relates well with children and loves to spend time with his family. Therefore, he will always be willing to play and have fun in the company of his owner.
Generally, the Miniature Schnauzer gets along well with other dogs, but can be somewhat aggressive with cats.
It is considered to be the best type of Schnauzer dog for apartment living.
Keep in mind, however, that it is an energetic dog that needs daily physical activity, whether in the form of walks, jogs or outdoor play sessions.
Like other dogs, these dogs are prone to certain health problems, including liver disease, kidney stones, diabetes, eye problems or even skin disorders.
Keep in mind that, due to their small size, they can gain weight easily, so they should not be overfed. Their life expectancy is 12 to 15 years.
Schnauzer standard or medium
This is the “original” Schnauzer.
As an adult, the male Standard Schnauzer measures between 47 and 50 centimeters, and weighs between 15.85 and 22.67 kilograms.
The female Standard Schnauzer can measure between 44.45 and 47 centimeters, and weigh between 13.60 and 20.41 kilos.
It is a robust and somewhat heavy dog, with a dense and somewhat rough coat. The arched eyebrows, whiskers and abundant beard are the hallmarks of the breed.
Especially, the medium Schnauzer is intelligent and fearless, not for much it usually serves as a therapy dog, search and rescue dog, and even as a cancer and explosives detection dog. At the same time it is an excellent choice as a companion dog and family pet.
Temperamentally, it is playful, affectionate and loyal.
Like the mini Schnauzer, it can be a good dog for children, since it adapts well to life in apartments.
It is not strictly necessary to have a garden or yard, but consider that it tends to be very active indoors.
Given its past as a working dog, this is an energetic animal that requires daily physical exercise. If you can offer outdoor play sessions, then this is the ideal pet for you.
Common health problems include hip dysplasia, hemophilia, bladder stones and tumor development. Despite this, they have a life expectancy of 15 years or more.
Some of its most common characteristics are:
- It is not as popular as its cousin the Miniature Schnauzer.
- During World War I, it was used as a guard dog by the German Army and Red Cross carriers.
- It is considered purebred if its coat exhibits the colors salt and pepper or solid black. In addition, it sheds almost no hair.
- It is intelligent, sociable and alert. The combination of all this has earned him the nickname “dog with a human brain”, since he is known to reach his full potential when treated as part of the family.
- If there is another dog or pet in the house, he is likely to share a space with them, but consider that he can be somewhat aggressive with dogs he has just met.
Giant Schnauzer
In case you like big dogs, then the Giant Schnauzer may be the type of Schnauzer you are looking for.
In short, it is a large version of the standard, with an adult height of 64.77 to 69.85 centimeters in males and 59.70 to 64.77 centimeters in females. On the other hand, males usually weigh between 27 and 38 kilos, and females between 25 and 34 kilos.
This type of Schnauzer is exemplary and of somewhat square proportions.
Although they are also intelligent and easy to train, the Giant Schnauzer is very territorial and dominant, so the pet is not recommended for shy owners.
Thus, this dog shows an extremely protective behavior, hence the importance of training and socialization since it is a puppy.
In that sense, the owner should show firmness and consistency, combined with a calm and positive attitude.
If trained from an early age, it can be an excellent pet for any family.
As for its characteristics, it is a reliable, brave, loyal, bold and vigorous companion that loves to be with its owner at all times.
Due to its size, this type of dog is not suitable for apartment living.
It is usually quite active indoors, so it is advisable to have enough space outdoors.
This Schnauzer needs to exercise at least twice a day to expend all the excess energy that characterizes him.
Common health problems include epilepsy, hip dysplasia, certain eye conditions, thyroid disease and cancer.
Despite this, they have a long life expectancy ranging from 12 to 15 years.
Some curiosities are the following:
- The Giant Schnauzer is a dog that requires a lot of training and exercise. In case you wish to have one at home, you must be prepared to dedicate quality time to it, from puppyhood to adulthood.
- No one has been able to surpass him as a guard dog. It has a natural ability to protect its owners and home.
- Therefore, he likes to be involved in whatever his family is doing, even if they are just sitting around watching television.
- The only colors accepted in purebred Giant Schnauzers are salt and pepper or solid black. As with other types of Schnauzers, their double coat is hypoallergenic and they do not shed as much hair.
- If not exercised at least twice a day, they can be difficult to handle, even if they are well trained. Therefore, a common phrase among trainers of this breed is “the best giant is the tired giant”.
What are the Schnauzer colors?
The most popular colors of this breed are:
Solid black.
The genetics of these dogs is total black, that is, not only their coat is black, but the skin that shares this characteristic as well.
Some may have some white hair on their chest or paws. It is important to take this into account, since this does not mean that they are not purebred dogs.
Black and silver
For the most part, all Schnauzer dogs are black and silver. These are born with solid black characteristics, but from the time they are puppies, white markings can be seen on their legs, chest, muzzle, inside their ears and under their tail.
Salt and Pepper
This is the most popular color of all, but that doesn’t make it the prettiest of them all. Its coat can range from white, gray and even black shades. The Schnauzer’s body color is somewhat darker than that of its extremities such as the paws or muzzle.
You can also see the lighter, coppery shade of their beards and paws that are present in the other colors of Schnauzer, but it is lighter in this tone.
Summary
In conclusion, let us remember that the three different types of Schnauzer are characterized by being unique, affectionate and above all loyal.
In addition, there are certain shades that are more remarkable such as silver, black or a combination of both.
Knowing more about these types will allow us to identify the type of Schnauzer we really want to have at home.
Although, in any case, any pet adapts to the family that welcomes it.
