The Standard Schnauzer as seen by a dog trainer

Origin:

First of all, for people who are not aware of this breed, it is necessary to clarify that Schnauzers come in three sizes, the Giant, the standard, and the miniature. This article, focuses on the medium size which is called the Standard Schnauzer.

It is a very recent name that appeared in the late 19th century to refer to the wire-haired Pinscher (which was how this breed was known until then). It is of German origin and the literal translation for the name is "Snouter" from the German word for "snout" and means colloquially "moustache" because of the dog's distinctively bearded snout.

We have to go back to 3000 BC to find the predecessors of these dogs close to the lake populations (Baltic shores). Their ancestors were already dedicated to protecting these men from wild beasts, more specifically, the hunting of wild boars and bears. Centuries later, this dog was dedicated to the escort of carriages and errands, always next to the horses, discovering the predators and keeping the away.

With selective breeding, kennels created the other two variations, the giant Schnauzer and the miniature one.

Physical attitudes:

The Standard Schnauzer is a robust dog of a medium height (45 - 50 cm to the height of cross), of wire hair. Resistant to fatigue, rain and cold. A perfect athlete, fast and agile.

Temperament:

Its temperament is very similar to that of the Giant Schnauzer. It is a strong-minded breed and although its appearance is of serious dog, it is a charming animal. It is lovely with its family and a great for children as it is a secure, strong and patient animal. Its temperament and size make it an idea breed for guard and defence. As for its relationship with other dogs, it is typically very goods.

Grooming:

The hair of the all sizes of Schnauzers has to be stripped, a technique that the actual hair is pulled out rather than cut. At the same time, the undercoat needs to be removed to liberate the hair follicle. Due to the complexity of the process, stripping is typically done exclusively by professional groomers.

Maintenance:

Medium maintenance cost, 300 g to 400 g of food per day.

Training:

Being a strong dog, both in body and mind training needs to start at an early age which allows channelling all that energy and strength of the breed. They are intelligent dogs that learn very fast and are very predisposed to work.

Walking:

Similar to the giant Schnauzer, the standard Schnauzer is an ideal dog for sporty people. They love to walk and run.

More Breeds

You can check Mario’s advice on other dog breeds here