Miniature Schnauzer
GENERAL APPEARANCE : Small, strong, more compact than tucked up, rough-haired, elegant. A scaled-down image of the Schnauzer, without the defects of the dwarf appearance.
Personality: Smart, active and tough.
Energy Level : Very Active. This dog is active and energetic, and needs daily exercise.
Good with children: Yes.
Good with other dogs: With supervision.
Grooming: Seasonal.
Life Expectancy : 13-16 years old.
Bark level: Moderate.
HISTORICAL SUMMARY
At the turn of the century, a Dwarf Schnauzer from the Frankfurt/Main area appeared, still referred to as a rough-haired Dwarf Pinscher (Miniature Pinscher). Due to the different shapes, sizes and types, plus the mix of hard, silky and soft coats, it was not an easy task to create a small dog with the appearance and essential characteristics of its bigger brother, the Schnauzer.
Country of Origin: Germany.
BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT: Its characteristics correspond to those of the Schnauzer and are determined by the temperament of a small dog. Intelligence, intrepidity, resistance and his aptitudes for guarding make the Miniature Schnauzer a pleasant family dog, as well as a guard and companion dog that can live even in a small apartment without problems.
HEAD
CRANIAL REGION
Skull: Strong, long, occipital not pronounced. The head must be in balance with the dog's strength. The forehead is flat, without wrinkles, parallel to the nasal bridge.
Stop: Appears to be well defined due to the eyebrows.
FACIAL REGION
Nose: Well developed, always black.
Muzzle: Ending in wedge. Straight nose bridge.
Lips: Black, soft and well fitted to the jaws. Closed labial commissure.
Jaws and Teeth: Strong upper and lower jaw. A complete scissor bite (42 teeth white according to dental formula) is strongly developed and tightly closed. The muscles of mastication are strongly developed, but the cheeks should not interfere with the rectangular shape of the head (with the beard).
Eyes: Medium in size, oval, frontal, dark, with a lively expression. Eyelids well adherent.
Ears: Dropped, set high, V-shaped with inner edges extended close to cheeks, carried evenly, facing forward towards temples. Parallel folds, should not go beyond the skull line
NECK: Strong, muscular, nobly arched, fitting smoothly into the withers. Strongly inserted, slender, of noble bearing, corresponding to the strength of the dog. Throat skin adherent without dewlap.
TRUNK
Topline: Slightly sloping from withers to root of tail.
Withers: Forming the highest point of the topline.
Back: Strong, short and straight.
Loin: Short, strong and deep. The distance from the last rib to the croup is short, making the dog appear compact.
Croup: Slightly rounded, passing imperceptibly to the tail set.
Chest: Moderately broad, oval in diameter, reaching to the elbow. The forechest is distinctly marked by the tip of the sternum.
Underline and Belly: Flanks not too tucked up, forming a well curved line with the underside of the ribs.
TAIL: Natural; it is sought to be carried in the form of a saber or sickle.
MEMBERS
FOREQUARTERS: Viewed from the front, the forelegs are strong, straight and not too close together. Viewed in profile, the forelimbs are straight.
Shoulders: The scapula is placed close to the rib cage and is well muscled on either side of the shoulder bone, prominent above the point of the thoracic vertebra. As inclined as possible and well placed, forming an angle of approximately 50° with the horizontal.
Arms: Close to the body, strong and well muscled, forming an angle of 95° to 105° with the scapula.
Elbows: Close to the body, turning neither in nor out.
Forearms: Seen on all sides, completely straight, strongly developed and well muscled.
Carpal joint: Strong, firm, just protruding from the structure of the forearm.
Pasterns: Seen from the front, vertical. Viewed in profile, slightly inclined towards the ground, strong and slightly elastic.
Feet: Short, round. Toes tightly closed and arched (cat paws) with short dark nails and sturdy pads.
HINDQUARTERS: Seen in profile, placed obliquely; viewed from behind, placed parallel but not too close together.
Thigh: Moderately long, broad and heavily muscled.
Knees: Turning neither in nor out. Legs: Long and strong and with obvious tendons, going down to a strong hock.
Hocks: Very well bent, strong, firm, turning neither in nor out.
Metatarsals: Short and vertical to the ground.
Feet: Toes short, arched and well closed. Short, black nails.
GAIT/MOVEMENT: Flexible, elegant, agile, free and covering the ground. The front legs reach as far as possible; the hindquarters cover the ground and are elastic giving the necessary propulsion. The forelegs on one side and the hindquarters on the other move forward at the same time. The back, ligaments and joints are firm.
SKIN: Tight over the entire body.
COAT
Coat: Must be hard, wiry and dense. It consists of a dense undercoat and a not too short top coat, lying close to the body. The covering coat is hard and long enough to prove its texture; it should not be bristling or wavy. On the limbs, the hair tends to be less stiff. On the forehead and ears it is short. As a typical feature, it has a not-too-soft beard on its muzzle and bushy eyebrows that slightly cover its eyes.
COLOR: Solid black with black undercoat, salt and pepper, black and silver, pure white with white undercoat. The aim of the creation, in the color salt and pepper, is an evenly distributed and well-pigmented medium shade with a gray undercoat. Variations from dark gray to silver gray are allowed. All these colors must include a dark mask, which emphasizes the typical appearance of the Miniature Schnauzer, blending harmoniously with the different shades of the coat. White patches on the head, chest and limbs are undesirable. Black and Silver: The purpose of breeding the black and silver is a black outer coat with a black undercoat, white spots over the eyes, on the cheeks, on the beard and on the throat, on the forechest two divided triangles, on the pasterns, on the feet, on the inside the hindquarters and under the tail. The forehead, the neck, the outer part of the ears must, like the outer coat, be black.
SIZE: Height at the withers: Males and Females: between 30 and 35 cm.
WEIGHT: Males and Females: approximately 4 to 8 kg.
FAULTS
Any deviation from this standard should be considered a fault and penalized in exact proportion to its severity and its effects on the health and well being of the dog.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
• Aggressiveness or excessive shyness.
• Any dog that shows any sign of physical or behavioral anomaly must be disqualified.
• Atypical dogs.