Miniature Schnauzer Tell me about them

[WhiteChristmas]

Does anyone have one? I'm thinking of adopting another dog and I've meet a schnauzer {actually a giant} and I know I can't handle a giant. but the mini seems more my speed. Anyone have one? how are they with kids and cats?

[Runestone]

I have an elderly miniature schnauzer - Zachary who is now 17 1/2. He was raised with children (before I adopted him at 6 years old) but has always be loving and snuggly. He is a terrier...so they do have terrier instincts. They can be stubborn but are highly trainable. Zachary was in his prime a great mouser - better than the cats

I adopted him as a companion for my Border Collie so they are not as delicate as some smaller dogs.

His best buddy now is our cat Lucky who actually spends time grooming him
They don't seem to shed much but their coats do need regular grooming.
I wouldn't hesitate to get a miniature schnauzer but be sure to get one from a reputable breeder..they can have health issues but so can many dogs.

[PNP Katahdins]

I had a miniature schnauzer years ago that I showed in obedience to her CDX title. Very nice family dog and devoted to us. The two drawbacks I can think of (besides basic health problems that so many breeds have) are the grooming and the yappiness. Dogs that don't shed will mat up really quickly if not brushed and combed regularly. Schnauzers can have a shrill bark and use it a lot. Otherwise they can be really nice dogs. They are so popular for a reason.

Peg

[SquashNut]

our 2 had trouble with their teeth, blood sugar problems and had absesses from their yearly shots. So you have to have their teeth cleaned alot, make sure they have meals on time, and be very carefull to clean the injection sites extra well.
We had 2 males and never got them fixed, so we never were able to get them completly potty trained. Both of my dogs this time around are fixed and well behaved.

[galfriend]

I have had 3 in my lifetime, all mini's.
1st time I bought a silver female (6 weeks old). She was "mine". Totally my dog, she totally had me spoiled. Very smart and played well with my GK's. My inside watch dog too. I actually think she tried her best to talk to me.
2nd time around I bought a pair of white ones. They were the last 2 of the litter (brother and sister) I just couldn't break them up (not planning on breeding, so no issues)...besides I couldn't decide just which 1 either. lol The male was totally devoted to me, always acted very mature even at 6weeks, stayed right by my side. His sister, omGosh another story, finally decided she was just touched in the head and that was just "her" being herself. Never learned her name, or anything for that matter. Friendly yes, but just like a wild child.

They all got along well with kids, and other pets. How ever with the pet part, they (or mine anyways) seemed to want to dominate and protect "me" and really didn't want any other animals around me in their presence. With the exception of the "wild child" she could care less.

I learned to groom my own. They are wonderful companions and loving pets.
Oh, talking about them makes me want one now too

[Runestone]

galfriend...
My Zachary gets along well with all the dogs I've had - even instigating play so I think it's an individual 'dog' thing Zachary loves everyone so I he's never been dominate or a protector

PNPKathadins - Zachary had separation anxiety when I first got him....He SCREAMED...he doesn't do that as much anymore at his age. As for barking, I didn't find him all that yappy...but then again, maybe it's an individual dog thing

[RedHeadedTricia]

my scooter was a dear..... he was a rescue and unfixed and the prefect gentleman. He did not do alot of barking ... only with someone knocked on the door or pulled in the actual drive. It was only a couple of those "someone is here" wait to see if I knew who it was and then would come and sit at my feet 'til the person left. he loved all my critters 2 and 4 legged. I would do my own grooming, giving him a bath & a field cut. I found him to be a good mouser too and a great companion til he crossed the bridge 2 years ago. He loved cruisin with his momma..... i miss him.

RHTricia

[GrannyCarol]

I've groomed a lot of Mini's. Their health and temperament has been widely variable. I've known some wonderful specimens and I've had more biters in that breed that in most others. Right now I have three regular customers... One is a biter (who may not be purebred, though her owners think so), you cannot handle her feet without a muzzle and there is something about her rear that seems to make it uncomfortable for her to stand up normally. Another is sweet, but a bit timid and has mega-esophogus and requires special care (that is thought to be congenital, not so much heredity). The third is out of two really nice dogs that I groomed and is a handsome and sound dog, but fearful and protective at home. I've groomed him since he was a pup and he's excellent for me. In this area of the country, I'd hesitate to get one. In 38 years of grooming, I've known more nice ones than difficult and I think they are handsome. Just be careful.

[Ruby]

I have one now, he is a darling. The only problem we've had is he hates the cat and will bark at him every time he sees him outside. He is a rescue and it took a while before he got completely relaxed with us. We've had him a year and he's just now starting to use the doggie door to come back inside. He would go out but didn't want to come back in it.

He is intact and is completely house broken. He has not even attempted to do anything inside. Once last winter when it was snowing he wouldn't go outside and held it all night until about noon the next day and didn't have an accident. He don't bark in the house but does when he's outside.

[Ruby]

We had another one that died at the age of 7 with a heart attack, so they are prone to heart problems. But I think if you were to get one you would be hooked for life. They have such huge personalities. Max, the one that died would "talk" to me.

[wolffeathers]

My aunt had one. Right off the bat, it developed a hernia that required surgical repair twice. A couple of years later the dog lost it's sight, due to something genetic. A couple of years later something else genetic popped up and my aunt made the heartbreaking decision to finally put the poor, sweet thing to rest.

Granted there are good and bad breeders, that was my only personal encounter with one. Do your homework and save yourself heartbreak!

[Ruby]

There are LOTS of dogs out there that have genetic problems, not just mini schnauzers. I have known several who lived to be very old. They are just like any others, you take a chance no matter what kind you get.

Humans are the same way, we all have heath problems. Some just sooner than others.

Here is a picture of my Luigi.

[lamoncha lover]

I am with granny carol. I have groomed in both Tn and Georgia. What I have found of them is that they can be a bit unpredicatable at least on the grooming table. I have had ones that have been standing perfectly for their grooming and with out warnings bite.
I love grooming them but always am extra careful. Unpredicatable is not a good trait for the groomer. It kind of goes along with cockers. Ask any groomer what breed will potty consistently on the table. At least in Georgia and TN.

[Wolf Flower]

Originally Posted by GrannyCarol

I've groomed a lot of Mini's. Their health and temperament has been widely variable. I've known some wonderful specimens and I've had more biters in that breed that in most others.

Some Schnauzers are nice, but I've had so many neurotic, yappy, snappy Schnauzers in for grooming that I don't think I would want to own one. Part of the problem is overbreeding, and I think there are a couple of bad BYB's in our area that churn out dogs with predictably poor health and temperament. (At least they're predictable, right? ) They have skin problems, ear problems, eye problems, dental problems, metabolic disorders, etc. Some are friendly, but others are neurotic and would just as soon bite you. And...they SCREECH. There is this high-pitched, ear-splitting scream that they emit when excited; I could NOT live with that!

They do need regular grooming, about every 6 weeks. I like grooming them because the Schnauzer clip looks so cool! With the long beard and long, slanted brows, the dog should look "evil" if the clip is done right. Maybe that's why so many of them are little devils; they know they look evil.

As always, your chances for a healthy dog of proper temperament are greatly increased by buying from a reputable breeder, not someone who put a classified ad in the local newspaper or Craigslist.

[Grits57]

We have a mini-schnauzer. Hands down the best dog ever. Easily trained, very smart, not yappy at all. As a matter of fact... it scares me when he does bark inside, because he never does. A great rodent hunter. Has brought me several "gifts" :-)
Doesn't shed. Does take regular grooming, but I enjoy his brushings as much as he does. I wouldn't hesitate to get another. Love the breed.
The giant schnauzers are massive. Used in police work. I found them to be hard to handle. My ex had two of them. JMHO

[WhiteChristmas]

We're still looking but trouble is I've run into unreliable people about pups. Call them up yup twn puppies come pick. Make the hour trip less then a half hour after getting off the phone. Sold them all to the petstore. at $300 a pup. Yikes. Or sure I'll meet you off the highway and then the wait for an hour and a no show. Ugh. At this point in time we're cosndering putting off the search. and saving up more. Budget right now is $400. for a good puppy. we don't want a male. We've got a male chi who doesn t like males.

[WhiteChristmas]

As always, your chances for a healthy dog of proper temperament are greatly increased by buying from a reputable breeder, not someone who put a classified ad in the local newspaper or Craigslist.[/QUOTE]



puppyfind.com, and local breed club. Nothing either more then I care to spend $800. or gone in seconds. That and we really want a girl. Even spoke to rescue. No luck. We're in a apartment in a not so good neighborhood and they wont adopt out there.

[Wolf Flower]

Originally Posted by WhiteChristmas

We're still looking but trouble is I've run into unreliable people about pups. Call them up yup twn puppies come pick. Make the hour trip less then a half hour after getting off the phone. Sold them all to the petstore. at $300 a pup. Yikes. Or sure I'll meet you off the highway and then the wait for an hour and a no show. Ugh. At this point in time we're cosndering putting off the search. and saving up more. Budget right now is $400. for a good puppy.

This is EXACTLY why you don't get a puppy from the classifieds or craigslist! Not to mention the fact that you don't want to support backyard breeders (people who know nothing about the breed and simply slap any two dogs together to in order to make money selling puppies).

Take a little more time to save your money so that you can afford a good puppy from a reputable breeder. In the long run, you won't miss the money, and you're much more likely to get a healthy pup, which means you'll be saving money on vet bills.

[galfriend]

Have you checked with your vet? I know my vet can sometimes refer a person to contact or he checks with them and then will get back with me.

I wish you the best.