CHAPTERS

Chapter 1: Biological Information

The standard schnauzer was once bred to catch rats, pests and were known to be (and still are) great guard dogs. The giant schnauzer as well as the miniature one were bred out of the standard schnauzer and were the outcome of outcrosses with other breeds which exhibited favorable traits requires for the original purpose of the moustache canine.

These be-moustache canines which show absolute loyalty and display great friendliness are energetic and protective animals who show love and tenderness coupled with every trait a dog owner would want in a companion canine. They are alert and will signal housemates of possible dangers or threats. However, its innate persistence could often lead to relentless barking. This trait can be curbed by a potential owner by getting the canine into proper training. The standard schnauzer is highly independent and is classified as possessing ideal traits of the working dog group.

History of Schnauzer Dogs

It was in the 1800’s when German breeders took an interest in standardizing the Schnauzer breed. During that period, cross breeding with black German Poodles and gray Wolfspitz produced the distinct color and texture of the schnauzer. It was also during this period when the Standard Schnauzer was cross bred with other breeds to come up with the Miniature Schnauzer and after which followed the Giant Schnauzer.

During those early years up until the late 1800s, Standard Schnauzers were known as Wirehaired Pinschers. It was in 1879 when they were first shown at the German International Show in Hanover. It was a canine named Schnauzer who placed first and brought home the prize that year. Since the 1880s, a breed standard was written up with the first specialty show held in 1890 at Stuttgart. Ninety three dogs were listed as entry candidates that year.

When the 1900s rolled in, the breed became more and more popularly known as the Schnauzer. This was possibly due to the fact that the standard schnauzer sported a be-moustache look and probably largely due to this first canine-sort winner whose name was “Schnauzer”.

It has been documented that several Standard Schnauzers were brought into US shores during the early 1900s. The distinctly unmistakable Schnauzer was so dearly loved by their humans that they were brought over by immigrants from Germany and American travellers who saw and fell in love with these adorable canines. It wasn’t until after WWI when the breed was imported.

It was in 1925 when the first Schnauzer Club of America was formed. The club later on split in 1933 and formed two separate organizations, namely, the American Miniature Schnauzer Club and the Standard Schnauzer Club of America.

Taxonomy and Origin

Another magnificent dog which originated from Germany during the 15th and 16th century, the Schnauzer got its name from the German term for snout and is the colloquial word for “moustache”, mainly because of its appearance of having one. The schnauzer does not have the typical terrier temperament but are considered a terrier-sort of canine.

They are highly intelligent canines with super high energy levels therefore getting them into training early is a strong recommendation if you want to keep the peace with your neighbors. Since they are highly energetic canines, it is also recommended that they have daily exercise to spend their energy positively. There are, presently three different sorts of schnauzers; the miniature, the standard and the giant schnauzer.

The miniature schnauzer makes for excellent companions because they are not the aggressive sort. However they will sound the alarm when they think there is a threat. The miniature schnauzer resulted from the crossbreeding of the original schnauzer with other breeds like the affenpinscher and the poodle. The miniature is a delicate sort and is recommended to be kept as an indoor pet.

The standard schnauzer, and the focus of our book, is around 1.5 feet tall from the shoulders and weighs in at around 30 to 45 pounds, or about 14 to 20 kilograms. The German Standard Schnauzer, and the limelight of this book, is classified under the working dog group. They have been employed to be rat and pest catchers by breeders of the past. The standard schnauzer, being the working dog that it is, was also employed to carry messages during the war. It aided the Red Cross and has also been utilized as police dogs.

The giant schnauzer measures in at about two feet or about 61 cm from the shoulder and weighs in between 55 to 80 pounds or about 25 to 36 kg. The giant schnauzer is also classified as a working dog and came about from breeding in Swabia during the 17th century. It is a variant of the pinscher breed and has a rough coat of fur. The giant schnauzer was independently bred through cross breeding with Great Danes, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Boxers, Bouvier des Flandres, Muncheners, Dobermans, Thuringian Shepherds, and the Standard Schnauzer. The Giant Schnauzer was bred for the purposes of guarding farms and driving livestock to market.

In the United States, the Schnauzer was classified as a terrier and this is how the Miniature Schnauzer is organized up to this day. However, since the Germans always classified the Standard Schnauzer as a working dog, the AKC reclassified and put it in the Working Group classification in 1945. It presently ranks 99th amongst the varieties of recognized breeds by the AKC.

Size, Life Span, and Physical Appearance

The standard male schnauzer is about 18 20 inches tall from its shoulders and would weigh anywhere from 35 and 58 pounds or around 16 to 26 kilograms. The standard female schnauzer weighs in at about 30 to 45 pounds or 14 to 20 kg and is about 17 to 19 inches high or 43 to 48 cm.

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