Miniature Schnauzers

[scoobydoobie]

I think we're pretty much decided that our puppy should be a miniature Schnauzer. My son has asthma and I hate dog hair, so Schnauzers seem to suit from that perspective and from what we researched they seem to be good dogs for families, need moderate exercise and are easy-ish to train. The one trait that bothers me is the yappy-ness. I've heard from people that some are, some aren't. I'm sure its not possible to tell from a puppy at 5-8 weeks whether it'll be yappy so that is my sticking point. That and the fact that I do have to work part time on 2 days (4.5hours and 5.5 hours) though my husband is around for a few hours of that every other week. I have heard that the fact that they are intelligent (hence easy to train) means the fact that they could be destructive if left at home? I understand that getting a dog means integrating into your lifestyle, but at the end of the day, it is a pet and not another child, and they will be times when the dog can't come with us, or we feel it not suitable to take it.

I would be really grateful to hear from owners of miniature schnauzers, to hear what their opinions are of the breed and whether my concerns are to be considered. Also, if any owners of this breed would care to share their breeders name (by personal message), I would be very grateful as it seems to be a complete mine field to find a breeder who is genuine and above board.

Many, many thanks fellow Schnauzer lovers!

Scooby

[scoobydoobie]

As a follow up, has anyone heard of Eronel Schnauzers? They are in Wales.

[Toria2014]

I have two mini schnauzers. They are highly intelligent (our female is a thinker, she plans stuff, I've watched her do it!) to varying degrees. Our boy is not as sharp as our female.

Ours are yappy. Its annoying. Schnauzers were originally bred as alarm dogs, so they see it as their very important job to raise the alarm at any given opportunity! They are trainable, but you HAVE to be clear, consistent, and mean it! They will give you the 'schnauzer eye' otherwise and can be very stubborn.

We have ours groomed regularly, otherwise they get very woolley, plus I love the way they look when they are groomed in the traditional schnauzer trim.

Temperament is important. They are good family dogs (although our boy is a nervous dog) love being around their family and want to be involved with everything. Our dogs are never left for more than a couple of hours once in while, as they go into work with my DH most days, or stay at home with me.

They can be high maintenance dogs, depending on personality. I do know of laid back ones. Mine are needy, but they are also a joy. They do have stupidly sensitive stomachs, so diet is very important. They are both from different breeders so its obviously a breed thing.

I used to do dog agility with my female and she was brilliant at it, want to get back to it at some point. They love to use theirs brains and enjoy a challenge.

Hope this helps

[scoobydoobie]

Thank you for your honest response. Its so hard to pick a breed for a new owner when they have to be non shedding and hypoallengenic. I don't know whether a cross would be better, but I probably won't ask for advice on here about that given the arguments in the past couple of days!

[Dieu]

I'd recommend the Shih Tzu (also non shedding)! I have a 1 year old boy and would be happy to answer any questions We love him to bits and he's the best, but not if it's a particularly bright dog you're after

[Dieu]

Oh, and they're also the least yappy of the smaller breeds. Ours isn't at all. I did an exhaustive amount of research on it all!

[BigGreenOlives]

We have quite a few friends with miniature schnauzers and they seem like great family pets. I've only heard good things about them. (2 in our road, 2 pairs in neighboring road, countless others).

[scoobydoobie]

Thanks Dieu, they are sweet but were after something a bit bigger.

BigGreenOlives. Thanks for the feedback. I guess they can't be too vocal with so many around, otherwise everyone would be complaining! Great news!

[tabulahrasa]

Can't help you with mini schnauzers as they're not a breed I know well, but just as a word of warning, make sure your DS gets to spend plenty of time with them before you take them home as it's often not the fur that sets off asthma and allergies.

[Dieu]

No problem, but our Teddy is easily the size of a Schnauzer. Grown males can get fairly big, and ours is a chunky and robust wee thing.
It sounds like your heart is set on a Schnauzer though, as we often find ourselves drawn to a certain breed, so you should see where your gut instinct takes you.
Good luck with the search!

[scoobydoobie]

Thank you tabulahrasa, that's good advice.

[exLtEveDallas]

Hi OP, there is a Schnauzer two doors up from me and I've never heard it bark, except when it's chasing a ball on the field! It's a lovely dog with fantastic eyebrows!

It's very well trained though; I'm at home most of the day with my own dog and have seen the owners doing clicker training with it, so maybe that's the answer - lots of training.

[Buggers]

My nan&grandad have a mini schnauzer, they spoilt it far too much and it now howls and yaps like mad if they leave it home alone so try to get it used to being left from a young age. Shes a lovely dog though, very good with my 3yr dd and is pretty chilled out apart from when she's left. She is also very well trained and will come as soon as she is called and sits when she's told, so not all of them are too stubborn. Sounds like it would be a good choice for your family though and well done for researching to find a suitable breed for your family

[thewalrus]

Hello,
Not sure I can give you much advice, but we are in a similar situation, hoping to have a mini schnauzer join our family later this year. My DS is also asthmatic, as am I,though neither of us has ever had a problem with dogs.
As part of our research we dog sat my sister's mini for ten days recently. She is a delight, friendly, affectionate, not happy at all, though does bark like mad at postman. Longest we left her for, in our house, was 3 hours, she was fine. Is sometimes left longer at home, though not on a regular basis.
I think they are really good dogs for young families, a bit of a bigger dog personality in a small body. She can walk a good distance too, but you can get away with half an hour if you need to.
Have rambled a bit, but hope that helps. When are you hoping to get your dog? If allgoes to plan, we will have our puppy in sSeptember.

[thewalrus]

Not yappy even!!!

[scoobydoobie]

We're hoping for September too when the summer busyness and holiday is out of the way but before the bad weather is upon us! Where is your breeder if you don't mind me asking?

[thewalrus]

Snap. Breeder is in Essex. We live in the south west but are prepared to travel to her because she bred the lovely dog we know. How about you?

[scoobydoobie]

We're in Devon. We've never had a dig before so really hoping to find someone closer so we can visit before buying. Have you had a dog from this lady before? Are you visiting before picking up?

[thewalrus]

Yes, there'd definitely be advantages to someone closer. This will be our family's first dog too (though I had them as a child) and I am very excited (kids will be too, but they don't know yet!). We're going with this breeder because my sister knows her well and has one of her dogs. But it'll mean an epic journey home (we're in Cornwall). We're going to go up when the puppies are 4 weeks as well so will see them then.
Keep me posted with your search - it is such a minefield isn't it.

[OhnowhatwasIthinking]

I have a 10 month old schnauzer bitch. She is amazing and really only yaps in the garden. When we are out she is quite quiet unless she is playing with other dogs. I've managed to reduce the yapping in the garden by allowing her to yap a bit and then making her come in.
She is far from perfect and in the park has taken to barking and chasing runners... But we are working on that.
She is bright, lively and just so loving. My daughter has asthma and has been fine with her.
She is just adorable and I am so pleased we got her.

[AnnMumsnet]

I have one too! She does bark at the postman (guarding her home) and at tradesmen who come in the house but stops once they are in. She also sometimes barks in the evenings because she wants a wee! She's a great family pet and I agree re the exercise etc - not too much is but she also is more than happy with a longer walk every now and again.
My sister is asthmatic and allergic to dogs and is fine with her.

She has never (touch wood) eaten anything in the house she shouldn't except perhaps one barbie when she was very young.

[whattodoforthebest2]

I have an 18-month old mini schnauzer cross patterdale terrier. She's fantastic and is wonderful with family, friends, strangers, other dogs, you name it. She was v easy to train, sheds a minimal amount, although I haven't had her clipped (I've been meaning to) and has a lot of terrier instincts in terms of retrieval, energy etc.

I went for a cross in the hope that I'd find a slightly tougher dog, less breed traits and health issues. I'd been looking for ages and then when I visited the breeder, she came home with me there and then (the dog, that is, not the breeder!) She's coming on a cruise this summer, to Spain, so that'll be interesting!

I love schnauzers, wonderful temperament and mine barks a bit in the garden and at night when people walk past the house - I suppose that's her nature. She's got the cutest face and very pretty markings - it's lurve.

[scoobydoobie]

Thank you so much for these recommendations. I think we are sold!
@OhnowhatwasIthinking Do you mind if I ask which breeder yours was from please? Thanks all!

[3catsandcounting]

We have a female MS - she's 9 now, and has been an absolute joy to us. The DCs were 8 and 10 when we got her.

She does bark, but only at the postie, or anyone else that comes near the house (we're quite rural, so passers-by are rare)
I see this as a positive, she's a great guard dog. She was trained as a puppy, and tries her very best to please!

No shedding, but she needs to go to the groomers regularly (which she hates) as backs of legs and beard can become easily matted. She has a habit of scratching at doors to be let in/out, but she's not a chewer (but now we're having problems with plaque on her teeth because of that, and she loathes her teeth being cleaned!)

I'm in the north west and ours was a private breeder, but I know Toniks in Blackpool have a good reputation. Probably nowhere near you though!
Get one.... you really won't regret it!!

[scoobydoobie]

3catsandcounting Thank you. We're in Devon! Can't wait!

[Themoonhatesthestars]

We have a miniature schnauzer and he's great. He's a really good fun little dog and like all schnauzers has the cutest little trot/strut. He can be a bit barky in the garden when trying to defend it from the evil sparrows that are invading his space! However it can be trained out, we've let it slide a bit with two young children on the go so need to start that training aspect back up.

He's great with all the family children and will happily run around and play with them all but he can be a ball hog, again thats our training downfall. Ours also loves to cuddle up with us and has been nicknamed the couch-teddy. He's never been destructive apart from tearing up the cardboard inners of loo roll if he finds one but that's probably not uncommon for any breed.

My friend is a veterinary nurse in a large city hospital and says they hardly ever see them and if they do it's usually due to injury and not often illness so said it was a good choice in her opinion. No matter what dog breed you end up getting making sure they are properly trained and polite means that you can really take them anywhere with you (that allows).