Miniature Schnauzer

Temperament

This is a small dog with a big sense of its own importance. The Miniature Schnauzer is lively, curious and very attached to its family, and it wants to be part of everything that happens at home. It learns fast and enjoys working with people, so it does well in agility, obedience and rally. It is, however, a watchdog at heart and loudly announces every visitor, mail carrier and dog outside the window, so teaching it to settle is a must. It usually plays wonderfully with children, because it is sturdy and not as fragile as toy breeds. With strangers it can be aloof at first. Its strong ratter's hunting instinct means a hamster or pet rat should never be left with it unsupervised, and cats work best if it has known them since puppyhood.

Energy

calmvery energetic

Affection

independentvelcro pet

With children

not idealgreat

With other pets

difficultgreat

Trainability

stubborneager to learn

For first-time owners

for experienced ownersyes

With strangers

waryoutgoing

Playfulness

dignifiedeternal puppy

Shedding

minimalheavy

Grooming

easydemanding

Being left alone

strugglescopes well

Apartment living

needs a house and yardgreat in a flat

Barking

quietvocal

With other dogs

difficultgreat

Protectiveness

lowhigh

Drooling

hardly anya lot

Cold tolerance

feels the coldexcellent

Heat tolerance

strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Miniature Schnauzer for?

A good choice for someone in an apartment, a family with children and a first-time owner who enjoys training and has time for regular grooming. A Schnauzer also suits an active senior. Don't choose one if you live behind a thin wall from noise-sensitive neighbors and don't want to work on barking, or if you keep rodents at home.

Size and looks

Care and exercise

It needs 45–75 minutes of exercise a day, ideally split into several walks and a short session of fetch or treat searching. Outside fenced areas, keep it on a leash, because it chases small animals. The wiry coat calls for routine: combing several times a week, especially the beard and legs, plus hand-stripping or clipping every 6–8 weeks. Hand-stripping, or plucking out dead hair, keeps the coat's harsh texture and color; clipping is easier, but the hair turns softer and lighter. Rinse the beard after meals. The breed is prone to fat metabolism problems, so avoid fatty table scraps and feed a food with moderate fat content. Training is a pleasure as long as it stays varied, because a Schnauzer quickly gets bored with repetition.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Miniature Schnauzer lives a long time: a 2024 UK study of almost 8,000 dogs found a median of 13.3 years. Still, the breed has a few typical weak spots. The most characteristic is hyperlipidemia, an excess of fat in the blood, which makes pancreatitis more likely. Bladder stones, cataracts and liver shunts are also common. The British Kennel Club recommends eye exams for the parents and whole litters, plus a DNA test for an inherited susceptibility to MAC mycobacterial infections. When choosing a puppy, ask for the parents' eye and genetic test results, and in an adult dog it's worth checking the lipid profile now and then.

• hyperlipidemia and pancreatitisThe breed is prone to high levels of fat in the blood, which raises the risk of pancreatitis.
• urinary stonesBladder stones occur more often than in other breeds; drinking enough water and the right diet matter.
• cataracts and other eye diseasesThe breed is covered by a recommendation for eye exams, including of whole litters.
• portosystemic shuntA congenital defect of the liver's blood vessels, suspected when a puppy grows poorly.
• susceptibility to mycobacterial infection (MAC)An inherited immune defect for which there is a DNA test.

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

According to the FCI standard, the first Miniature Schnauzers appeared around the turn of the 20th century near Frankfurt am Main, at first described as wire-haired Miniature Pinschers. Breeders long struggled with a wide variety of types, sizes and coat textures, from harsh to soft and silky, before they managed to get a small dog with the look and qualities of the Standard Schnauzer. The British Kennel Club says the miniature variety was first officially recorded in 1888, and that a dash of Affenpinscher blood helped reduce the size. Today the Miniature Schnauzer is above all a very popular companion dog.

Fun facts

• The FCI standard states outright that the Miniature Schnauzer can easily be kept even in a small apartment.
• The FCI standard allows four colors: black, pepper and salt, black and silver, and white.
• In the early 20th century, Miniature Schnauzers were described as wire-haired Miniature Pinschers.
• The American breed standard calls for a height of 12–14 inches, or about 30–36 cm, slightly more than the FCI.

Frequently asked questions

This breed also appears in

• Small dog breeds
• Dogs for allergy sufferers
• Best dogs for kids
• Best dogs for apartments
• Dogs for first-time owners

Sources

1. 1FCI – wzorzec nr 183 Miniature Schnauzerfci.be
2. 2AKC – Miniature Schnauzerakc.org
3. 3The Kennel Club – Miniature Schnauzerthekennelclub.org.uk
4. 4McMillan i in. 2024, Longevity of companion dog breeds, Scientific Reportsnature.com

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.