Dog of the Month:

Schnauzer

Three breeds of Schnauzers exist today: Giant, Standard, and Miniature.  Of the three breeds, the Standard Schnauzer is the oldest.  The breed’s roots can be traced as far back as the Middle Ages.  The early Schnauzer, hailing from a farming and cattle-raising area in Bavaria and having descended from early European hearding and guarding breeds, was used for centuries to guard its family, rid the farm of vermin, and drive livestock.  German breeders took an interest to the Schnauzer in the mid-nineteenth century and began to mix it with other breeds.  The Schnauzer was first bred with the gray Wolfspitz and black German Poodle, which produced the distinguishing salt-and-pepper coat coloration present in today’s Schnauzers.  The resulting medium-sized dogs were also crossed with other breeds of various sizes to eventually develop the Miniature and the Giant Schnauzer.  The Schnauzer may have received its name from the German word schnauze, which means muzzle and is a reference to the breed’s hallmark beard and mustache.

Although a small number of Standard Schnauzers were present in the United States as early as 1900, the breed was not common until after World War I.  While widely used in Germany as a working police dog, the Giant Schnauzer is of very little popularity in the United States.  The Miniature Schnauzer, on the other hand, is the most prevalent of the Schnauzer breeds; it has been bred in the US since 1925 and has gained progressively in popularity since.

All three Schnauzer breeds generally display the same behavioral attributes.  They are affectionate, highly intelligent, protective, and reliable creatures.  Schnauzers are devout and loving companions, but early and regular training is a must.  What’s more, all children in the owner’s family should participate in the training process, as Schnauzers develop best when involved with the entire family.  Along with being used as family companions and guard dogs, Schnauzers, particularly the Standards, serve successfully as therapy dogs, search-and-rescue dogs, and service dogs for the disabled.

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Written by Trent Olsen