Mittelschnauzer – breed description and character, care and maintenance, haircut features, what to feed, owner reviews

Characteristics of the breed

Ancestor of all Schnauzers

Height: 45 to 50 cm.

Weight: 14 to 20 kg.

Life span: 12–14 years.

• Not too large a dog of medium size, the body is strong and stocky.
• muscular limbs,
• The nose and lips are exclusively black in color.
• Massive skull and blunt muzzle wedge.
• The eyes are oval in shape and medium in size.
• Ears, if docked, stand straight upright; if not, then hang down.
• Short and strong back, muscular neck.
• From under the eyebrows, the bridge of the nose is pronounced.

Historical information

The standard schnauzer comes from Germany and is the ancestor of all schnauzers. It is not known exactly when this breed appeared. There is an opinion that back in the XNUMXth century, the Germans used mittels as hunters for small rodents. Others argue that schnauzers appeared long before those times.

Informally, these dogs are called “piedcatchers” for their great love of catching rodents. It is believed that the standard schnauzer is the result of crossing a poodle, a wire-haired terrier and a spitz.

In the 1880s, breeders officially started breeding Schnauzers for the first time. During the First World War, they helped signalmen and orderlies.

FCI standard

Group: 2 “Pinchers and Schnauzers, Molossians, Mountain and Swiss Cattle Dogs”

Section: 1 “Pinchers and Schnauzers”

Number: 182 “Schnauzer”

Coat type and color

Mustache and beard – these are his documents

The coat of the standard schnauzer is hard with a thick undercoat. Hair of medium length, can be rough to the touch. Short hair grows on the forehead and ears. On the paws and muzzle, the fur is softer. Also on the muzzle, long hair forms a recognizable beard, eyebrows and mustache for this breed.

The color can be black, black and white, grayish and brownish. In general, any shades of these colors. You can often find an unusual “pepper and salt” color, which arose only after the Second World War and is completely a merit of man.

Character and working qualities

Playful but stubborn

Standard Schnauzers are very active, energetic and playful dogs.. Madly in love with their family and wary of strangers. They can be cute and terribly serious at the same time. Schnauzers are very intelligent dogs, easy to train and train. They are very loyal, combining the roles of a pet, guard and protector. By nature, they have hunting qualities. Sometimes these properties can appear in them. Therefore, if you want to get a schnauzer and, for example, a cat, then you need to seriously consider teaching them to get along together.

It is important to note that schnauzers are notorious for their stubbornness. The owner of such a dog must have a strong character that he can show. If this is not done, then the mittels will try to take the lead in their paws.

How to choose a puppy, what to look for, how much the purchase will cost

Future true friend

It is better to buy puppies from a trusted breeder. It is necessary that he provide all the necessary documents.

When choosing, you should pay attention to the condition of the coat: if the dog is healthy, then the coat looks shiny, not dull. The mucosa should be pink, not pale. The eyes should not water. The puppy should not look depressed and whine. But do not think that if the dog is very mobile, then it is necessarily healthy. It all depends on the character: someone can sit quietly and watch, and someone can dangle from corner to corner.

The price varies from 10000 rubles to 50000 rubles. But puppies whose parents have titles of prestigious exhibitions can cost more.

Miniature Schnauzer Care

Features of the content in the apartment

Standard Schnauzers are great for keeping in an apartment. They practically do not shed and do not have a characteristic smell that other dogs have.

But the apartment may not have enough space for a too mobile and playful schnauzer. Therefore, you need to walk with him on the street at least twice a day. This walk should be as mobile as possible so that the dog can stretch the bones and muscles.

Pet hygiene, trimming

Just after a haircut

• After each walk, you need to wash your paws. Particular attention should be paid to the areas between the fingers. Dirt, small pebbles, weeds can clog there.
• You need to bathe the schnauzer as it gets dirty, but preferably no more than once a month. The bath should be taken at a temperature not exceeding 30°C. Use special shampoos for dogs. It will be better if your veterinarian recommends them.
• Check your dog’s ears once a week for any debris or ear mites. To avoid the appearance of the latter, you need to periodically use drops for prevention. As it gets dirty, clean with a cotton swab – preferably at least once every 2 weeks.
• Teeth do not require special care. Unless periodically inspect them for tartar. If this formation is suspected, the pet should be taken to the veterinarian to have it cleaned.
• After each meal, the schnauzer needs to wash its face. This can be done with a damp cloth or directly with a stream of water. Due to the fact that they have long hair on their muzzle, food remains in it. Residues can lead to a skin infection.
• Nails should be trimmed with special tongs.
• Due to the fact that schnauzers have a long and coarse coat, it is often tangled. For care, it is recommended to use different types of combs: for the muzzle – with metal teeth, for the body – a massage brush. You can pre-treat the dog with a special balm, since the coat is very coarse and difficult to treat. You need to comb in the direction of hair growth, then in the opposite direction, preferably once a week.
• You need to cut the mittens no more than 3 times a year.
• Trimming (forced shedding) is a procedure to remove dead hair and tangled fur. Wool is removed manually with special devices precisely according to hair growth. To do this, use: a stone, a special knife and much more. First you need to pluck the hair, and then wash the dog. The procedure is carried out in a special sequence, the head is treated last. The undercoat does not need to be plucked, it is usually combed out or shaved with a machine. But you do not need to completely remove it, leave 2-3 mm, because it protects the body from the effects of negative factors. If the skin turns red, then you can apply special powders that relieve irritation. When going outside after trimming, you need to put on a dog suit to protect the skin. The procedure is carried out no more than twice a year, usually during the seasonal molting period: in spring and autumn.

Principles of proper nutrition

If the cake, then only from rye flour

You can feed standard schnauzers both with food and with the usual food that people eat. If your choice fell on feed, then you need to use expensive and good brands. They have all the nutrients and vitamins your dog needs. If you are not sure which food to choose, you can consult your doctor. It should be borne in mind that the dog food you have chosen may not like it, so it is better to give several types for testing so that the dog herself decides what she likes better.

But if you still decide to feed the schnauzer with regular food, then make sure that she gets all the necessary vitamins. It is also worth considering that much of what we eat should not be eaten by dogs.

• Dogs should not eat sugar and sweets, as well as salty foods (no more than 10 g of salt per day).
• It is forbidden to give starch, so you should exclude potatoes altogether.
• Dogs need proteins, so the bulk of the diet should be meat: beef and lamb, as well as offal.
• You can not eat bread and all bakery products.
• Meat can be mixed with various cereals, the addition of vegetables and fruits is required.
• Dairy products must be present in the diet.
• Fats are the main source of energy. You can give fish: mackerel, salmon and sardines.
• Carbohydrates are good for muscles. Contained in oatmeal, buckwheat and barley groats. You can give rye bread.
• Water should always be freely available to the dog. Clean and fresh. The recommended temperature is no more than 20°C.

Mating, pregnancy and childbirth

Pregnancy in standard schnauzers appears quite late

Like males, a bitch must be bred no later than the second year of life, so that the puppies are healthy, like the mother herself. Mating occurs from 11 to 15 days of estrus.

Before mating, do not feed the animals. You need to introduce them in neutral territory, preferably in the fresh air, so that they can “get to know each other” well, walk together and run. The mating itself must be carried out on the territory of the male, but if this happens immediately upon meeting, then you should not interfere. Don’t scare the dogs or disturb them. Somewhere after 48 hours, carry out a control mating.

Young females bring fewer puppies, the number increases with age. It is important to mark mating days in order to know the timing of pregnancy. If a dog is going to give birth too early or vice versa too late, then this can adversely affect the health of the puppies.

It is difficult to know if a dog is pregnant or not. Obvious signs appear already at a later date. The dog becomes calm and affectionate, sometimes you might think that she is sick.

Before giving birth, you need to prepare everything you need:

• clean sheets or disposable diapers;
• a lot of rags, it is possible from old things, but clean and ironed, they will need to wipe the puppies;
• sterile wipes;
• bowl for placenta;
• box or bowl;
• antiseptic;
• medicines in case of difficult childbirth.

Bitches whelp between 58 and 63 days. It will be better if you give a laxative before this so that the dog clears the intestines. A few days before giving birth, the dog’s body temperature drops to 37°C.

Education and training

Standard Schnauzers are highly trainable.

Standard Schnauzers are very mobile and physically hardy. They will only be happy if you give them enough to run. They also love various physical exercises that they perform with pleasure.

It would be better if the owner already has some experience in training and raising dogs.

You need to be able to find a “common language” with these dogs, and then they will become pliable and will carry out any commands.

Pet health

With proper care, the schnauzer is not afraid of diseases

The standard schnauzers are quite healthy. But if the dog is not allowed to move much, then it can develop joint diseases (hip dysplasia). Schnauzers are also prone to diseases of the urinary system.

In addition, standard schnauzers can be diagnosed with:

• pancreatitis;
• oncology;
• cataract;
• cystitis;
• atopy;
• diabetes.

It is not necessary that your dog gets sick with any of the above. With the right care and the right level of care, a schnauzer will be healthy and live a long and happy life..

What nicknames can be given to a boy and a girl

Archie? Or Baxter?

What nickname to give the dog is up to you. Any name you like will do. But if you find it difficult to decide what to name your pet after all, you can look at the list below.

Names for girls: Jessie, Iris, Nika, Polly, Daisy, Gloria, Emmy, Chelsea, Molly, Cleo, Susie, Penny, Alice, Lucy, Casey, Sandy, Sandra, Piggy, Hannah, Bella, Lucky.

Names for boys: Archie, Spike, Milo, Chase, Walt, Arnie, Charlie, Asterix, Rudy, Riley, Thunder, Barney, Baxter, Alan, Mars, Ringo, Messi, Ray, Claude, Frank, Marvin, Oliver, Nico, Simon, Sparkley, Richie.

Standard Schnauzers are kind and loyal dogs. They will become true friends and loving family members. With proper care, they will stay with you for many years and will delight you with their playfulness, fun and love.