Hello there!

[EspressoAddict]

Hi everyone! I've just joined the forum. I'm not currently a schnauzer owner but I'm looking to adopt one for my daughter for Christmas. She has been nagging me for one lol! Anyway, looking to arm myself with knowledge here before all of that (and maybe ask for help once it's here haha)

[Dawnspell]

Hi and Welcome

I presume you're wanting puppy but either way if its a rescue older dog I would delay and get one after Christmas.

Puppies are hard work and Christmas is busy without a puppy. The weather is also at its worst for potty training, going outside through the night in cold wet weather is not fun. Beginning of March on wards is a good time. Looking at time factor puppies are 8 weeks old when you collect from breeder. Thats not leaving much time to find a reputable breeder to get a puppy for Christmas. Many good breeders avoid having litters around that time adding to the difficulty.

[zeta1454]

Welcome to the Forum

The schnauzer breeds are all lovely dogs and there is plenty of information on the posts on the Forum which should help give you some guide as to the qualities and challenges of each. The miniature schnauzer is an ideal first family pet especially for novice dog families both in temperament and size. You haven’t mentioned how old your daughter is so, if you you are talking about a child, the dog you adopt will of course be your responsibility in terms of training, socialising, and, of course on-going financial costs which can be significant so worth bearing in mind

However, Christmas is the worst possible time to introduce a puppy into the family as it will need a calm, relaxed atmosphere without noise, celebrations, visitors etc. which are usually associated with the festive season. A puppy will need almost constant attention, house training, and socialising in terms of controlled outdoor experiences and meeting a range of local people, dogs, sights and sounds of the neighbourhood. The Spring months are ideal as the weather is usually mild and the daylight longer for house training and giving more opportunities for the puppy to be taken out and about.

It is vital that you search out a good quality breeder, responsible and passionate about the breed who will be able to advise and support you over the years ahead after you have adopted the puppy. You should preferably meet them or at least have a meaningful in-depth discussion with them as to their breeding protocols, parent dogs, how they raise their puppies and what health tests have been carried out on the parent dogs. Health testing for miniature schnauzers includes as a minimum eye screening for hereditary eye conditions and DNA testing for MAC. Meeting the mother-to-be is also important and hopefully after discussions with the breeder, you will be able to get on a waiting list for an up-coming litter.

Really much of the information that you need you will want to find out before you get your puppy as it will be too late once you have them in the family. Health testing and the quality of the breeder as regards why and how they are breeding and raising puppies are critical if you want to reduce the risk of puppies falling sick or having serious behavioural problems. Having a good breeder comes with so many positives and choosing to adopt one of their puppies is a way of supporting responsible, ethical breeding rather than funding backyard /puppy farm breeders.

I would not recommend getting a puppy or older dog as a re-home from a shelter or even directly from a breeder, as taking on either is highly likely to increase the challenges and issues ahead as regards behaviour, training and in some cases health. Most puppies and dogs that end up in a shelter are from deprived and/or abusive backgrounds and will have traumas to overcome and, even a re-home from a good background will entail an unknown history as regards previous experiences both good and bad, likes and dislikes and the effect (with an older dog) of their feelings of loss/ abandonment at leaving what they knew as their family home. Too many dogs and puppies are taken from shelters by those who do not have the knowledge and experience of caring for a dog that has suffered abuse and neglect or a puppy that has been deprived of early love and care and possibly separated from mother and siblings far too young, These dogs and pups often end up being abandoned again and the cycle of trauma continues. It is best for both the dog and the family that those taking on a dog with unknown or uncertain background have the experience, knowledge, time and possibly finances to devote to caring for a shelter dog or a re-home directly from their previous family.

Do have a browse of the topics on the Front Page Index as there are many with useful information on getting a puppy and raising them successfully with numerous posts regarding the usual challenges that face every puppy family and how to overcome these. Good luck in your search