Schnauzer what’s good about em

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Key Takeaways

• Miniature schnauzers are smart, trainable dogs who excel at canine sports
• They have lively, fun-loving personalities and bond closely with their families
• Their minimal shedding coat makes them easier to live with indoors
• Schnauzers are vocal and quick to bark at anything suspicious
• They require more exercise and training than some small breeds
• Health issues like pancreatitis and bladder stones should be monitored

What are the best traits of a miniature schnauzer?

The miniature schnauzer is a popular small dog breed thanks to many redeeming qualities:

Intelligence and trainability

Mini schnauzers are very smart, ranking 10th the smartest breed. Their intelligence makes them highly trainable and responsive to commands. They excel at obedience, agility, and other canine sports.

Low-shed coat

The wiry schnauzer coat sheds minimally, making them a good option for those with allergies. Their minimal dander release suits cleanliness.

Lively fun-loving temperament

These small terriers have energetic, bouncy personalities. They love playing games, exploring the outdoors, and spending time with their family.

Sturdy and robust

Despite their small size, schnauzers are sturdy dogs built for work and activity. They remain lively and robust well into their senior years.

Excellent watch dogs

True to their terrier heritage, schnauzers are alert and quick to notify owners of anything amiss in their territory. Their bark serves as an excellent alarm.

Relatively healthy breed

With an average lifespan of 13-16 years and relatively few major health problems, miniature schnauzers are quite healthy compared to other purebreds.

For those seeking an intelligent, playful small dog that excels at watchdog duties and fits well into family life, the miniature schnauzer has outstanding qualities.

Why are schnauzers such good dogs?

Miniature schnauzers have earned their ranking as one of the most popular small dog breeds thanks to many outstanding traits:

Intelligence and trainability

Schnauzers are very smart, ranking in the top 10 intelligent dog breeds. They learn quickly and respond well to training. Their intellect allows them to excel at canine jobs and sports.

Adaptability

This breed adjusts well to any home, whether city apartments or country estates. They are content as long as their people are around. Schnauzers travel well too.

Low-shed coat

The wiry schnauzer coat sheds very minimally, making them a good choice for those with allergies or who want less dog hair around the house. Their coat requires clipping every 6-8 weeks.

Fun personality

Miniature schnauzers have lively, bouncy personalities. They thrive on play, action, and spending time with their family. A schnauzer is always up for an adventure.

Excellent watch dogs

True to their terrier roots, schnauzers will sound the alarm if anything is amiss on their property. They are quick to notify owners of strangers or suspicious activity.

With intelligence, an agreeable temperament, minimal shedding, and their outgoing personality, it’s no wonder miniature schnauzers excel as small companion dogs for many types of owners.

What are schnauzers known for?

The schnauzer, available in three sizes, is known and recognized for several signature traits:

Distinctive appearance

The breed standard calls for a rectangular, sturdy body covered in a wiry, dense coat clipped into a characteristic cut with trimmed beard, bushy eyebrows, and striped legs. This unique look makes them immediately identifiable.

Minimal shedding

All three schnauzer sizes – miniature, standard, and giant – have coats that shed very little. Their hair grows as a double coat instead of shedding off the body, making them ideal house dogs.

Intelligence and trainability

Schnauzers are working dogs known for their intelligence, ranking in the top 10 smartest breeds. This mental acuity makes them highly trainable. They excel at canine sports and jobs.

Alert watch dogs

As terriers bred to work vermin on farms, schnauzers are quick to sound the alarm at anything suspicious on their territory using their loud, authoritative bark. This watchdog ability is in their blood.

Fun loving temperament

While great watch dogs, schnauzers also love their families. They are upbeat, lively, and eager to please their owners. A schnauzer wants nothing more than to have fun with its people.

The schnauzer’s distinctive appearance, minimal shedding, intelligence, watchdog nature, and playful personality have all contributed to the breed’s popularity over the years.

Do schnauzers make good pets?

Yes, schnauzers can make excellent companion pets for many reasons. Here’s an overview of their merits as small household dogs:

Easy to train

Schnauzers are very intelligent, ranking in the top ten smartest breeds. This high trainability allows them to learn commands, tricks, and proper etiquette relatively easily with consistency and positive reinforcement.

Minimal shedding

The wiry schnauzer coat sheds very little compared to other breeds. While no dog is completely non-shedding, schnauzers release far less dander and hair than heavy shedders.

Smaller size

At 11-20 pounds, miniatures take up little space and their exercise needs can be met with short walks or play sessions versus rigorous, long exercise. Their size suits apartment or city living well.

Fun loving temperament

While great watch dogs, schnauzers also thrive on being part of the action. They love playing with toys and games, exploring the outdoors, and spending quality time with their family each day.

Relatively healthy

With good care, schnauzers tend to stay healthy into their early teens and avoid many of the serious genetic diseases impacting other breeds. This minimizes expensive vet bills.

For an intelligent, fun loving small dog that adjusts easily into family life, the schnauzer can be an excellent choice. Ensure you meet exercise and grooming requirements.

What are the pros and cons of owning a schnauzer?

Miniature schnauzers have many endearing traits but the breed isn’t for everyone. Here are the notable pros and cons:

Pros:

• Highly intelligent and trainable
• Minimal shedding coat
• Alert watch dogs who also love people
• Playful, energetic personality
• Adapts well to any home environment
• Sturdy, robust health as a breed

Cons:

• Require regular professional grooming every 6-8 weeks
• Prone to barking and possible noise complaints
• Can be wary of strangers and young children if not socialized
• Have high exercise needs despite small size
• Tendency towards stubbornness and willfulness
• Separation anxiety is common if left alone frequently

Good for: Urban or rural living, singles, seniors, retirees, families with older kids. Need active owners able to provide adequate exercise and training.

Not ideal for: Very young families, full-time workers often away from home, couch potatoes unwilling to commit to activity requirements. Barking may frustrate neighbors.

For the right owner willing to meet grooming and exercise needs, miniature schnauzers make outstanding companion dogs. Their pros tend to greatly outweigh the cons.

Are schnauzers good family dogs, Schnauzer what’s good about em

The miniature schnauzer can be a good choice for families with older children who are prepared to meet their needs. Here are some schnauzer family dog considerations:

Grooming requirements

Schnauzers require frequent clipping every 6-8 weeks by a professional groomer. Some tolerance for a “natural” look between grooms or willingness to learn DIY clipping is advised.

Exercise needs

Mini schnauzers are energetic despite their small size. They need 30-60 minutes of brisk daily exercise. Regular play sessions and walks are a must.

Barking tendencies

Schnauzers are quick to vocally sound the alarm at anything amiss. Their barking when bored or for attention must be managed to prevent annoying neighbors.

Intelligence

Smart and eager to please, schnauzers thrive on training games and commands taught through positive reinforcement, an engaging activity for kids.

Adaptability

Miniature schnauzers transition easily into new homes and environments. They just need their people by their side. Good for busy military or traveling families.

Overall, miniature schnauzers can adapt well into family life with the right expectations, training, and outlets for their energy. Adult supervision of interactions with young kids is advised.

Are schnauzers good with kids, Schnauzer what’s good about em

How well miniature schnauzers do with children depends largely on the individual dog’s temperament and early socialization:

When well socialized

Schnauzers introduced to children of all ages as puppies generally interact well with kids they are raised with and know. Socialization prevents wariness.

With supervision

All interactions between schnauzers and young children should be closely supervised. A dog’s patience threshold can be unpredictable. Never leave unattended.

If matched personality

Laidback schnauzers with lower protective instincts tend to tolerate pokes and prods from tiny hands better than more reserved dogs. Seek a low-key pup.

With older children

Schnauzers do best with kids old enough to understand canine body language and interact gently and safely. Ages 6+ is ideal.

When needs are met

Schnauzers who get enough exercise, training, and attention are less likely to become impatient with rambunctious kids. Prevent boredom barking.

No toddlers

Very young toddlers moving erratically and grabbing are too much for most schnauzers. Save adoption until the youngest child is 3 years old.

While great for some families, the breed may not be the best fit around very small, unpredictable children. Maturity and proper introduction is key to success.

Are schnauzers easy to train?

Thanks to their intelligence and eagerness to please, miniature schnauzers are generally easy to train using positive reinforcement methods:

Highly intelligent

Ranked 10th smartest dog breed, miniature schnauzers are quick to make associations between commands and desired behaviors when taught properly.

Eager to please

This terrier breed bonds very closely with their family. They aim to impress their owners through fast learning.

Responsive to rewards

Whether food treats, favorite toys, or praise, miniature schnauzers thrive on reward-based training. Positive reinforcement really clicks.

Excel at canine sports

The combination of intelligence, trainability, and physical ability allows properly trained schnauzers to excel at dog sports like agility, flyball, and obedience competition.

Learn through repetition

Schnauzers learn best through short, engaging, repetitive lessons focused on one skill at a time. Consistency is key.

May need refresher courses

Once learned, commands should be refreshed regularly. Schnauzers can be prone to selective hearing without practice. Reinforcement prevents lapses.

Thanks to the breed’s overall willingness to work with their owner, training a miniature schnauzer using rewards and repetitions can be very enjoyable and successful.

Do schnauzers bark a lot?

As alert watch dogs bred to vocally warn of intruders, schnauzers do have a tendency towards frequent barking:

Frequent barkers

Schnauzers will readily bark at doors, noises, strangers approaching their home and anything else out of the ordinary. Their first instinct is to sound the alarm through barking. This trait must be managed.

Barking triggers

Common triggers leading to barking include doorbells, passing pedestrians, arriving visitors, unfamiliar vehicles, and sounds from outside. Barking often erupts in these situations.

Barking for attention

Schnauzers may also bark excessively due to boredom, frustration, or wanting attention from their owners. Lack of exercise and enrichment can contribute to nuisance barking.

Training can help

With time, consistency, and positive reinforcement, miniature schnauzers can be taught to minimize non-stop barking through commands like “quiet” and “enough”. It takes diligence.

Outlets for energy

Ensuring your miniature schnauzer receives adequate daily exercise and activity reduces boredom and the barking it causes. A tired schnauzer barks less.

Reduce reactivity

Desensitizing training helps tone down barking by gradually exposing the schnauzer to triggers like strangers at a distance and teaching non-reactivity.

With the right approach, time investment, and training, miniature schnauzer barking tendencies can be managed. But their vocal nature should be expected.

What health problems do schnauzers have?

While a relatively healthy, long lived breed, miniature schnauzers are prone to some inherited health conditions owners should be aware of:

• Pancreatitis – Inflammation of the pancreas, often triggered by high fat diets. Symptoms include vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Prevent with low fat diet.
• Bladder stones – Crystals that form in the urinary bladder. Signs include straining, blood in urine, and frequent urination. Special diet helps.
• Cataracts – Cloudiness that develops in the lenses of the eyes, leading to blurred vision and eventual blindness in advanced cases. Annual eye exams recommended.
• Von Willebrand disease – A bleeding disorder causing prolonged bleeding from wounds or surgery. Annual veterinarian check ups to monitor are key.
• Allergies – Both food and environmental allergies occur. Symptoms include itchy skin, ear infections, and hair loss from scratching. Treated through diet trials, medications, and avoiding triggers.

Other concerns: Hip dysplasia, hypothyroidism, diabetes, deafness, epilepsy

Selecting a miniature schnauzer puppy from health screened parents and keeping up with vet care minimizes risk of health problems. Most live a full life into their mid teen years.

Conclusion

• The miniature schnauzer is a popular small breed due to their intelligence, athleticism, minimal shedding, loyal personality, watchdog abilities and overall versatility
• They thrive when provided ample daily exercise and activity to prevent nuisance barking
• Schnauzers bond very closely with their families and can be prone to separation anxiety
• Their high energy and vocal tendencies may not suit all owners
• But for an active home seeking a loyal, fun-loving small dog, the miniature schnauzer can make an excellent pet with the right care and training.