This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, April 2013 issue.
Standard Schnauzers originated in the farming and livestock-raising area of southern Germany. They were a common dog among local farmers and merchants, valued for their economic size, hearty health, and loyal temperament. Structure and temperament were determined by their work. For the medium-sized Schnauzer, his tasks required a sturdy build, quick and efficient movement, and an alert, determined temperament.
These hearty dogs herded livestock to market, chased off unwelcome intruders, and dispatched pesky vermin. They accompanied itinerant peddlers, protecting their wares as they traveled from town to town. During WWI, they worked as guard dogs for the German army and as dispatch carriers for the Red Cross.
1907 German Pinscher Klub Standard From the German Pinscher Klub Standard of 1907: “The Schnauzer shows himself in every aspect as a real working dog (never a fashion or luxury dog). His looks emphasize this statement: a sinewy, compact, and square body of a working-oriented medium-sized dog, with firm legs and feet, a powerful jaw carrying a healthy bite, lively dark eyes and black nose, bushy eyebrows and harsh whiskers, a water-resistant wiry coat… a perfect balance of power and nobility.”
Echoes from the 1907 Standard can be heard in comments from today’s breeders:
The head is an important aspect of type. Shaped like a blunt wedge, it narrows slightly from ears to eyes to nose, which is large and black. With the addition of a beard and whiskers, the head shape appears rectangular.
The topskull is moderately broad between the ears, flat, and unwrinkled. The top of the skull and muzzle are equal in length and parallel, divided by a slight stop. The muzzle is strong with good fill under the eyes. A scissors bite is favored, though a level bite is not considered as serious a fault as an undershot or overshot bite. Length of the head is about one-half that of the back.
The alert expression is centered in the very dark brown, medium-sized oval eyes, which are turned forward and not obscured by too long an eyebrow. If cropped, the ears should stand straight up when the dog is alert, with the inner edges parallel to each other and perpendicular to the skull. Uncropped ears are of medium size and break forward in a line with the top of the skull, with the inner edges lying along the cheek.
The body shape is square, with the height at the withers approximately the same as the distance from the chest to the rump. Height over or under the size limits is a disqualification. Males must NOT be under 18″ or over 20″; females must NOT be under 17″ or over 19″. The middle one-inch range is considered the ideal.
The neck is well-arched and flows smoothly into a short, firm back. The backline is straight but slopes slightly to the set-on of the tail. The tail is docked to between 1″ and 2″ in length and set moderately high, at about 1-o’clock when the dog is alert. Though a docked tail is preferred, an undocked tail is not a reason to ignore or dismiss a quality exhibit.
The Standard calls for the shoulder blade and upper arm to be equal in length and set as close as possible to a 90-degree angle. Shoulders should be smooth and well-muscled. An oval chest extends to the elbow, allowing for good heart and lung room.
There is a prominent prosternum (forechest), and the brisket extends back, well past the elbows. The tuck-up is moderate, and the loin is short and well-developed. The body is strong and athletic without being coarse.
Stance is four square. Viewed from the side, the front legs appear straight, in line with the rounded end of the shoulder. In the rear, the thighs are broad, and the stifles are well-bent. Rear pasterns are perpendicular to the ground, and the hocks are well let down. A compact cat’s foot, which favors endurance, is preferred.
Viewed from the front and from the rear, when the dog stands naturally, the legs should appear to form a straight column of support from the point of shoulder to the feet in front and from the buttocks to the feet behind. At a trot, a straight visual line remains, but rather than the legs remaining parallel, the feet converge to the center of gravity, close to forming a “V.” Tracking in reduces lateral displacement, which in turn increases the efficiency of movement.
Viewed from the side, movement should appear smooth and effortless with good reach in front and propulsion from behind. The topline should remain firm, and there should be no bounce nor roll from side to side. The croup should not appear higher than the shoulders.
The wire topcoat is a hallmark of the breed. Either black or pepper and salt in color, the wiry outer coat gives excellent protection from the weather. Schnauzers are double-coated, so they also have a soft, insulating undercoat. Grey undercoat is preferred in pepper and salt dogs, but a tan undercoat should not be faulted. Black dogs must have a black undercoat.
Furnishings on the legs are somewhat longer than the coat on the body; however, they should be wiry and never so long or profuse as to detract from the working capability of the dog.
Only two colors are allowed in Standard Schnauzers: black and pepper and salt. Black dogs should be a deep, rich black all over, though an occasional white hair can be found in the best of coats. Pepper/salt coloring is unique to the breed and comes from the hairs of the topcoat being banded black and white. The shade varies depending on the amount of black banding on the white hairs. Faults in the pepper/salt dogs include lack of black and white banding or rust and brown color in the guard hairs.
Today’s Standard lists the following breed traits as desirable: highly developed senses, intelligence, aptitude for training, fearlessness, endurance, and resistance against weather and illness. “His nature combines high-spirited temperament with extreme reliability.” In judging, it admonishes that, “In weighing the seriousness of a fault, the greatest consideration should be given to deviation from the desired alert, highly intelligent, spirited, reliable character of the Standard Schnauzer.”
As owners are quick to tell you, they love that Schnauzer temperament. Though judges can’t thoroughly evaluate this intangible, they should seriously fault an obvious deviation.
