Miniature Schnauzer Dog Breed

If you choose a docile Mini Schnauzer, they can make a great family pet.  

They’re active and need two good walks a day as well as activities that use their brains. So, parents with young children need to consider if they have enough time for this beautiful breed. 

Like with all dogs, it’s important to keep a close eye on them around children to prevent accidents or inappropriate interactions. 
Mini Schnauzers are loyal and loving and they’ll want to be involved in every activity - a true member of the family!

The Mini Schnauzer is an incredibly affectionate little breed. They want to be by your side as your best buddy.

If you’re looking for a four-legged friend who loves a snuggle, and you’re happy to share your furniture (even your bed!), then this could be the perfect breed for you. 

While great for an active family, these dogs make ideal companions for more mature people, too.
Remember, you’ll only see their loving side if their needs are met.

Mini Schnauzers are very playful. They were bred with pest control in mind, so they love to chase balls and chomp on their squeaky toys.

Owners need to have enough time to play with them regularly. They’ll love games that involve using their nose like hide and seek, playing tug-of-war, a game of fetch and chasing balls.

Getting children involved in supervised playtime will be great fun for all involved.

Mini Schnauzers can be quite vocal. They take their watchdog duties very seriously and will alert you to anyone or anything that they think you should know about.

This includes visitors to your home, passers-by, birds that visit your garden and neighbourhood cats.

They’re territorial, and barking is a big part of their personality. So, owners living in apartments might get complaints from neighbours. 

If you work from home, you’ll need to give your Mini Schnauzer something to do if you’re on a call.

These dogs bark more if their needs are not being met, so make sure you have enough time to devote to them.

As with all breeds, behaviour problems can happen if their needs are not met. They need training, mental and physical exercise, and companionship. 

A Mini Schnauzer who can’t use their brain and burn off their energy is likely to bark more than necessary and become a nuisance. 

Because they have a history of hunting rats, they enjoy digging. If they have their own dig pit, this shouldn’t be an issue… otherwise your prized lawn could be at risk!

They need to be with their humans and don’t enjoy spending too much time at home alone. This can lead to separation issues including barking, howling or destruction.

The Mini Schnauzer would be happy to fit into many types of homes as long they get everything they need there. 

This includes two good walks every day in green spaces and a garden to play in. They also need their owners to spend quality time with them and won’t like being left home alone for long.

This bright breed needs to use its smart mind! Activity toys and puzzle feeders will help keep them happy and satisfied. 

If Mini Schnauzers learn about how to be around animals and people in the right way, they can live with other dogs. Some males can be picky about who they make friends with, though.

Their history of rat-hunting can make them challenging with small furry pets. It’s best to introduce them when your Mini Schnauzer is still a puppy.

Like all breeds, they need their owners to have enough time for them.

Mini Schnauzers have bundles of energy! They were originally bred to be working farm dogs.

They need at least two 40-minute walks a day where they can enjoy running about in open spaces, chasing smells, and playing with toys.

They aren’t fans of walking in the rain, though, and generally avoid puddles.

Remember to exercise their brain too! Mini Schnauzers love an excuse to use their nose, so hiding treats or toys in the garden for them to find is lots of fun! It’s also a great way of getting children involved. Puzzle feeders and activity toys can be used indoors when it gets too chilly to venture outside.

All puppies need to learn how to be around people, pets, and other dogs, calmly and politely (known as socialisation). They also need help to feel calm, comfortable, and confident in everyday situations like travelling, the sound of traffic, and being in busy places (known as habituation). This is essential to prevent tricky behavioural problems in the future, and you'll be off to a great start with your ongoing training.

This breed can be easy to train. They’re bright and full of beans, but owners will need to be persistent, consistent, and positive. 

Training gives Mini Schnauzers the chance to use their brains, which this intelligent little breed needs. As little hunters, they’re likely to lose focus, but stick with it and you’ll reap the rewards later.

Start recall training (teaching them to come back when called) early. It reduces the risk of your Mini Schnauzer running off into the distance chasing exciting smells.

All puppies need socialisation and habituation training, meaning they learn about other people, animals, and the world in the right way. This also gives solid foundations for basic obedience training.

Good training will reduce the risk of behaviour problems in Mini Schnauzers, like excessive barking, digging, destructive behaviour and jumping up. 

Although Mini Schnauzers are double-coated, they don’t shed as much as many other breeds. Even so, they need regular grooming. This keeps them comfortable and helps owners to spot lumps, cuts and any parasites (like fleas or ticks) that need attention.

Their main body needs a good brush once a week and their beautiful beards need combing every day to keep them free from mats.  

Some owners also like to wash their Mini Schnauzer’s beard after meals to stop food from getting stuck in it.

Once every six to eight weeks, they’ll need to be clipped or stripped (like plucking but in chunks) to keep them looking trim and feeling comfortable. 

A good breeder will have health tested their dogs, particularly for a range of eye conditions that can affect Mini Schnauzers.

This breed can also be prone to allergies, pancreatitis (where the pancreas becomes inflamed), bladder stones, and diabetes.

It’s essential to give these dogs an excellent quality diet to lower the risk of some of these conditions. Owners should always avoid obesity in their dogs, but it’s especially important for Mini Schnauzers due to most of their health issues resulting from their food intolerances.

Regular health checks and a healthy lifestyle will keep your beloved dog in good shape.