Schnauzerless... But not for long!

Please feel free to introduce yourself and your Schnauzer to the rest of the members of the forum. A photo of your Schnauzer is always appreciated.

Moderators: GaryThomlinson, zeta1454, Dawnspell

Forum rules
Please do not post questions regarding your dog here. This area allows people to introduce themselves and get to know other members of the forum. Any specific issues can be raised in the appropriate section.
Post Reply
Mrs Red
Posts: 1
Joined: 27 Nov 2018, 08:28
First Name: Stacey

Schnauzerless... But not for long!

Post by Mrs Red »

Hi there, I'm Stacey!

We are looking to add a schnauzer to our family. Not 100% sure if we are going for a standard or minature. I love the look and size of the minature but I have been reading they have alot of health issues which is why the standard is a contestant in the decision.

I'm from East Midlands, I have 2 small boys, 3 cats, fish tank, praying mantis and a created gecko. I currently work in the pet industry and I have an animal biology degree.

One thing I do know is that it's a schnauzer I want.
I have chosen to feed raw and my partner works from home.

So yeah, hi!
Oscar 12345
Member
Posts: 1592
Joined: 02 May 2017, 11:28
First Name: Julie
Dog #1: Oscar RIP Sweety
is a: P/S Mini Dog
Born: 21 Dec 2002
Dog #2: Otto
is a: B/S Mini Dog
Born: 04 Jul 2017

Re: Schnauzerless... But not for long!

Post by Oscar 12345 »

Hi Stacey and welcome to our world of schnauzer talk.

Not sure we can conclude that standards have less health issues than miniatures. There are so few of them around so impossible to compare. Good luck in your search.
Man cannot survive with wine alone...
we also need a schnauzer.
User avatar
zeta1454
Moderator
Posts: 5136
Joined: 19 May 2011, 16:58
First Name: Leigh
Dog #1: Magic
is a: P/S Mini Bitch
Born: 20 Apr 2010
Dog #2: Trilby
is a: P/S Mini Bitch
Born: 15 Mar 2012
Dog #3: Pip
Born: 21 Feb 2014
is a: P/S Mini Bitch
Location: North Yorkshire
Contact:

Re: Schnauzerless... But not for long!

Post by zeta1454 »

Hi Stacey and welcome to the Forum :-)

Do have a browse through the Puppy and the Breeding sections of the Forum as well as those specific to the two breeds you are interested in. A hugely significant factor as regards health will be directly related to the quality of the breeder from whom you get a puppy in that you need to look for a knowledgeable, experienced breeder who carries out relevant health screening of their dogs for any known hereditary conditions in the breed, knows the pedigrees of both parents of the litter and is raising their puppies to the highest standards as regards welfare and development.

Miniature schnauzers are extensively puppy farmed and bred by breeders with solely financial profit in mind and the annual statistics for puppies registered in the UK reflect the great difference in numbers compared with the standard schnauzer (there were 192 standard schnauzer puppies registered in the whole of 2017 compared to 5,611 minis). Inevitably this will mean that the health of miniature schnauzers will be compromised by their poor breeding rather than that they are a breed with a lot of health issues.

Miniature schnauzers from fit, healthy parents who have been raised well, are fed nutritious food, given the opportunity to engage in training and family activities, not over-exposed to chemical treatments / drugs / vaccinations etc. should not be unhealthy dogs. Many miniature schnauzers do live into their teens without serious health issues in our experience.

As regards hereditary health conditions, the Kennel Club highlight two main areas of concern for the miniature schnauzer which are eye conditions (Hereditary Cataracts and Progressve Retinal Atrophy) and MAC. The eye conditions can be screened for and the Kennel Club provide a publicly available "Health Test Pedigree" for dogs which have been tested so you can see the results for dogs further back in a puppy's ancestry. There is a DNA test for MAC and all responsible breeders will be taking advantage of this even though the condition is still rare in the UK. For the standard schnauzer, there is a DNA test for Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

As you have a family with young children and other pets, you do also want to take account of how much time and commitment you can give to raising a young puppy, as well. Standards are known to be much more challenging than a miniature schnauzer and any puppy will need a considerable amount of time devoted to him/her in the first year to ensure that housetraining, socialisation etc. are all well established. Puppies are a huge commitment which continues as they mature and dogs do want to be an active part of the family. Although your partner works from home, if they are working, they will not necessarily have the time to fully engage with a puppy unless this can be timetabled into the day, every day.

Do research as much as possible about both these breeds and the amount of time they need daily in terms of training and social interaction before making a decision. If you have not already done so, get in contact with the breed clubs and talk to people who own and breed each of the schnauzer breeds for more feedback on what it is like to live with / raise a puppy of that breed. Try to go to a Championship show where these breeds are exhibited (both are in the Utility group so would be shown on the same day) where you can meet breeders and owners and see the relative sizes of the dogs.

Good luck with your search but do make sure you are confident that your family are ready and able to fulfil the needs of a puppy / dog before you commit.
Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole. ~Roger Caras

Magic - Silversocks Sharade at Darksprite
Trilby - Darksprite Rosa Bud


https://m.facebook.com/pages/category/C ... 916994967/
User avatar
Dawnspell
Moderator
Posts: 4710
Joined: 05 Mar 2013, 18:27
First Name: Alison
Dog #1: Barney RIP 8/3/19
is a: White Mini Dog
Born: 06 Feb 2013
Dog #2: Jasper
is a: White Mini Dog
Born: 25 Apr 2019
Location: Guernsey

Re: Schnauzerless... But not for long!

Post by Dawnspell »

Hi and welcome.
It also depends on what size you want. In my opinion the bigger the dog the bigger the responsibility. My OH keeps on about fancying a standard and I keep saying not sure about that. Jasper is a high maintenance character and knowing that standards can be more challenging than minis I cant help thinking how much more difficult it would be with Jasper in some instances if he was the size of a standard. Although at 16.5" hes not far off but doesnt have the bulk and muscle of a standard.
Our first family dog
Barney - Pocketpark Biali Eyebright 6/2/13 - 8/3/19 Gone too soon
Motto for owners who groom their own Schnauzers -"Never mind it'll soon grow back"
Post Reply