Breed Standard

Temperament The dogs are known for their friendly personality and mischievous sense of humour as well as intelligence and boundless energy. They are excellent family dogs as they adore children and will get along with other dogs. They would not suit a family with small pets e.g. hamsters, gerbils etc as they will instinctively chase and catch them. These little dogs do not shed, making them a good choice for dog-lovers with allergies. Despite their size, Miniature Schnauzers also make wonderful watch dogs General Appearance Sturdily built, robust, sinewy, nearly square, (length of body equal to height at shoulders). Expression keen and attitude alert. Correct conformation is of more importance than colour or other purely ‘beauty’ points. Characteristics Well balanced, smart, stylish and adaptable. Temperament Alert, reliable and intelligent. Primarily a companion dog. Head and Skull Head strong and of good length, narrowing from ears to eyes and then gradually forward toward end of nose. Upper part of the head (occiput to the base of forehead) moderately broad between ears. Flat, creaseless forehead; well muscled but not too strongly developed cheeks. Medium stop to accentuate prominent eyebrows. Powerful muzzle ending in a moderately blunt line, with bristly, stubby moustache and chin whiskers. Ridge of nose straight and running almost parallel to extension of forehead. Nose black with wide nostrils. Lips tight but not overlapping. Eyes Medium-sized, dark, oval, set forward, with arched bushy eyebrows. Ears Neat, V-shaped, set high and dropping forward to temple. Mouth Jaws strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws. Neck Moderately long, strong and slightly arched; skin close to throat; neck set cleanly on shoulders. Forequarters Shoulders flat and well laid. Forelegs straight viewed from any angle. Muscles smooth and lithe rather than prominent; bone strong, straight and carried well down to feet; elbows close to body and pointing directly backwards. Body Chest moderately broad, deep with visible strong breastbone reaching at least to height of elbow rising slightly backward to loins. Back strong and straight, slightly higher at shoulder than at hindquarters, with short, well developed loins. Ribs well sprung. Length of body equal to height from top of withers to ground. Hindquarters Thighs slanting and flat but strongly muscled. Hindlegs (upper and lower thighs) at first vertical to the stifle; from stifle to hock, in line with the extension of the upper neck line; from hock, vertical to ground. Feet Short, round, cat-like, compact with closely arched toes, dark nails, firm black pads, feet pointing forward. Tail Previously customarily docked. Docked: Set on and carried high, customarily docked to three joints. Undocked: Set on and carried high, of moderate length to give general balance to the dog. Thick at root and tapering towards the tip, as straight as possible, carried jauntily. Gait/Movement Free, balanced and vigorous, with good reach in forequarters and good driving power in hindquarters. Topline remains level in action. Coat Harsh, wiry and short enough for smartness, dense undercoat. Clean on neck and shoulders, ears and skull. Harsh hair on legs. Furnishings fairly thick but not silky. Colour All pepper and salt colours in even proportions, or pure black, or black and silver. That is, solid black with silver markings on eyebrow, muzzle, chest and brisket and on the forelegs below the point of elbow, on inside of hindlegs below the stifle joint, on vent and under tail. Size Ideal height: dogs: 36 cms (14 ins); bitches: 33 cms (13 ins). Too small, toyish appearing dogs are not typical and undesirable. Faults Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog. Note Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. EYES Hereditary Health Problems affecting the Miniature Schnauzer Cataracts (both Hereditary and Congenital Hereditary forms) and Generalised Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), can occur in the Miniature Schnauzer. Every effort must be made to eradicate such problems from the breed and it is very strongly recommended that ALL Miniature Schnauzers be eye tested annually, by a vet registered under the British Veterinary Association/The Kennel Club Eye Scheme. Puppies can be tested for the Congenital form at 6-8 weeks. You should only buy a puppy that has been tested. Hereditary cataract and PRA need annual tests as these both develop later. The former can only be diagnosed from about 6 months so all all puppies should be tested again at 12 months, and annually after that. PRA may not appear until 3 years of age upwards. All dogs should be tested annually up to the age of 8 years. Should your dog be diagnosed with any of the above conditions it is VITAL that you immediately inform the SCGB, the Miniature Schnauzer Club and its breeder, this is the only way to stamp out these conditions.