This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, April 2013 issue.
Miniature Schnauzers were developed in the late 1800s from a background of German farm dogs known as Pinschers, breeds that became Affenpinscher, Miniature Pinscher and Standard Schnauzer. There are even records of early litters being divided by color, size and coat type. Schnauzers were imported into the US and shown in AKC shows in the 20s, but the AKC Miniature Schnauzer Breed Standard was approved in 1934, completing its official separation from the Standard Schnauzer. The Miniature Schnauzer has never forgotten his roots as a companion that would keep the household pantry and barnyard free from vermin. Ears were cropped, tails docked to protect them from injury while fighting and killing rats and mice; eyebrows and beard served to protect the face, furnishings the legs. With modest updates to clarify our breed standard, our breed carries on its history of being a fantastic family companion, a watchdog, and a perfect house-size ratter.
Our Miniature Schnauzers remain amazingly versatile dogs, belonging to the “Can Do (Almost) Anything” club. Records show that in 2011, our exhibitors finished 180 Championships, 47 Grand Ch, 34 CDs and CDXs, 9 UDs and above, 70 some Rally titles, 370 some Agility titles, 2 Earthdog titles, 16 Therapy Dog titles and even 3 Coursing Ability titles! Great problem solvers that they are, if allowed to watch Earthdog trials ahead of time, they may just head for the caged rat at the finish line, skipping the tunnels altogether! They love Flyball, and now the new Barnhunt comes as the perfect event to show off what Miniature Schnauzers were bred for. They are already starting to earn qualifying Barnhunt scores, some may be titled by the time this is published! The conformation dogs will be groomed to the nines for their ‘tuxedo’ look in the show ring—our companion event dogs, retired conformation dogs, and our pets are usually clippered, but they will maintain their distinctive look by using the same pattern as for the show ring. When judging a Miniature Schnauzer in the conformation ring, keep the following in mind: Shape, Size, Coat and Color. Our breed standard calls for a square outline, robust and active, sturdily built, short deep body, straight backline, high tailset. The standard already described an erect docked tail of a proper length, but a 2012 clarification reads, “A properly presented Miniature Schnauzer will have a docked tail as described; all others should be severely penalized.” The head should be strong and rectangular with clean cheeks, ears cropped or folded if not, a scissors bite, neck well arched. Built right, he’ll have a good reach and strong drive in profile, true coming and going.
Size is critical to maintain one of our differences from our larger cousin, the Standard Schnauzer. Miniature Schnauzers must be disqualified from conformation competition if under 12″ or over 14″ at the withers, regardless of age. Miniature Schnauzers in the conformation ring must have a coat that has been plucked or stripped or rolled to achieve the hard wiry texture of the outer coat, with a close undercoat. We don’t stipulate a length—it just needs to be sufficient to determine the necessary hard wiry texture. We have three allowed colors: salt & pepper, black & silver and solid black, judged without preference among the three colors, black nose required. Salt & pepper refers to a mixture of black and white banded hairs and solid black and solid white unbanded hairs, with banded hairs predominating. All shades of salt & pepper from light to dark mixtures are permissible, undercoat color will vary. The black of a black & silver will be a true rich black, and basically will follow the same pattern as the salt & pepper. Black, a rich glossy black with a softer black undercoat, is the only solid color allowed.
A small white spot on the chest of a black or an occasional single white hair elsewhere on the body is permitted. Any Miniature Schnauzer not of an allowed color or with white striping, patching or spotting on the colored areas of the dog, except for a small white spot permitted on the chest of the black, must be disqualified from conformation competition. Add an alert and intelligent temperament, an affectionate personality full of life, he’s super smart, sometimes a little stubborn, mostly willing to please. From the beginning to the present day, our Miniature Schnauzers are the best!
