Miniature Schnauzer (-ology)

Affectionate, intelligent, mischievous, and often stubborn

- Deborah Blane

Schnauzers consist of three breeds: the giant, standard, and minia-ture. The Miniature Schnauzer breed is the most common in South Africa and is a popular and favourite family pet.

The Miniature Schnauzer is a dog breed that has it all in one small package: intelligence, affection, an extroverted temperament, humour, and a personality that’s twice as big as they are. Throw in that signature beard and quivering enthusiasm and they’ll make you laugh every day. With a Miniature Schnauzer in the house, you’ll never be alone, not even when you go to the bathroom. They’ve got personality-plus, and whether they’re bounding around ahead of you or curled up snoozing on your lap, you’ll never be bored with them around.

HISTORY

Miniature Schnauzers were originally bred to be ratters and guard dogs on farms. They were developed in the mid-to-late 19th century in Germany by crossbreeding the Standard Schnauzer with smaller breeds, such as the Miniature Pinscher, Affenpinscher, and perhaps the Poodle or Pomeranian. In Germany, he’s known as the Zwergschnauzer (“zwerg” means “dwarf”).