There are three
sizes of Schnauzer, of which the miniature is the smallest
and the only one of the three breeds to be classified as
a terrier, the other two being classified as working breeds.
The miniature was developed in Germany towards the end of
the 19th century and is thought to represent a cross between
small specimens of the Standard Schnauzer and a toy breed,
either the Affenpinscher or the Miniature Pinscher or possibly
a bit of both. The oldest known specimen to be registered
in Germany was a black female according to the stud book
of 1888. Some authorities also claim that the pomeranian,
the Fox Terrier and the Scottish Terrier may have played
a part in the breed's ancestry. If so, this would account
for the appearance of the occasional "mismark"
still said to occur in present-day litters.
The breed name derives from the German
word schnauze meaning snout or muzzle, or perhaps, more
specifically, schnauzbart meaning conspicuous mustache,
a characteristic with which the schnauzers are all well
endowed. Intended to resemble its larger cousins in all
respects, the Miniature Schnauzer was first used as a
barnyard ratter, an instinct many of the breed still carry
although the schanuzer's role today is chiefly that of
family pet and watchdog.
The breed was first exhibited as a distinct
breed in its country of origin in 1899 but did not make
its debut on this continent until 1925. It is from a very
small number of dogs imported into the United States between
the year 1925-1935 from the continent, mostly from Germany,
that the majority of presentday Miniature Schnauzers in
Canada and the United States descend. In America the breed
was not an overnight success. But in 1946, after a Miniature
Schnauzer won Best in Show at a Prestigious event, its
popularity was assured.
In 1933 a national specialty club was
founded in the United States, and in1951 a similar organization
came into being in Canada. First called The Miniature
Schnauzer Club of Ontario, since 1955 this group has been
known as The Miniature Schnauzer Club of Canada. First
official registration took place in Canada under the breed
name "Schnauzer-Pinscher" in 1933.
Official Breed Standard for
the Schnauzer (Miniature)
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General Appearance:
The Miniature Schnauzer is a robust, active dog of terrier
type, resembling his larger cousin, the Standard Schnauzer,
in general appearance, and of an alert, active disposition.
He is sturdily built, nearly square in proportion of body
length of height, with plenty of bone, and without any suggestion
of toyishness. Faults: Type-Toyishness, raciness, or coarseness.
Temperament:
The typical Miniature Schnauzer is alert and spirited,
yet obedient to command. He is friendly, intelligent and
willing to please. He should never be over-aggressive
or timid. Faults: Temperament-shyness or viciousness.
Size:
From 12-14 in. (30-36 cm).
Coat:
Double, with hard, wiry, outer coat and close undercoat.
Head, neck, and body coat must be plucked. When in show
condition the body coat should be of sufficient length
to determine texture. Close covering on neck, ears, and
skull. Faults: Coat too soft or too smooth and slick in
appearance.
Colour:
The recognized colours are salt and pepper, black and
silver, and solid black. The typical colour is salt and
pepper in shades of grey; tan shading is permissible.
The salt and pepper mixture fades out to light grey or
silver white in the eyebrows, whiskers, cheeks, under
throat, across chest, under tail, leg furnishings, under
body, and inside legs. The light underbody hair in not
to rise higher on the sides of the body than the front
elbows.
The black and silvers follow the same
pattern as the salt and peppers. The entire salt and pepper
section must be black.
Black is the only solid colour allowed.
It must be a true black with no grey hairs and no brown
tinge except where the whiskers may have become discoloured.
A small white spot on the chest is permitted, not to exceed
one inch in diameter.
Head:
Strong and rectangular, its width diminishing slightly
from ears to eyes, and again to the tip of the nose. The
forehead is unwrinkled. The top skull is flat and fairly
long. The foreface is parallel to the top dull, with a
slight stop; and it is at least as long as the top skull.
The muzzle is strong in proportion to the skull; it ends
in a moderately blunt manner, with thick whiskers which
accentuate the rectangular shape of the head. Faults:
Head coarse and cheeky.
Head:
Strong and rectangular, its width diminishing slightly
from ears to eyes, and again to the tip of the nose. The
forehead is unwrinkled. The top skull is flat and fairly
long. The foreface is parallel to the top dull, with a
slight stop; and it is at least as long as the top skull.
The muzzle is strong in proportion to the skull; it ends
in a moderately blunt manner, with thick whiskers which
accentuate the rectangular shape of the head. Faults:
Head coarse and cheeky.
Teeth:
The teeth meet in a scissors bite. That is, the upper
front teeth overlap the lower front teeth in such a manner
that the inner surface of the upper incisors barely touches
the outer surface of the lower incisors when the mouth
is closed. Fults: Bite undershot or overshot jaw. Level
bite.
Eyes:
Small, dark brown and deep-set. They are oval in appearance
and keen in expression. Faults: Eyes-light and/or large
and prominent in appearance or excessively small.
Ears:
When cropped, the ears are identical in shape and length,
with pointed tips. They are in balance with the head and
not exaggerated in length. They are set high on the skull
and carried perpendicularly at the inner edges, with as
little bell as possible along the outer edges. When uncropped,
the ears are small and V-shaped, folding close to the
skull.
Neck:
Strong and well arched, blending into the shoulders, and
with the skin fitting tightly at the throat.
Forequarters:
The forequarters have flat, somewhat sloping shoulders
and high withers. Forelegs are straight and parallel when
viewed from all sides. They have strong pasterns and good
bone. They are separated by a fairly deep brisket which
precludes a pinched front. The elbows are close, and the
ribs spread gradually from the first rib so as to allow
space for the elbows to move close to the body. Faults:
Loose elbows.
Body:
Short and deep, with the brisket extending at least to
the elbows; ribs are well sprung and deep, extending well
back to a short loin. The underbody does not present a
tucked up appearance at the flank. The topline is straight;
it declines slightly from the withers to the base of the
tail. the over-all length from chest to stern bone appears
to equal the height at the withers. Faults: Chest too
broad or shallow in brisket. Sway or roach back.
Hindquarters:
The hindquarters have strong-muscled, slanting thighs;
they are well bent at the stifles and straight from hock
to so-called heel. There is sufficient angulation so that
, in stance, the hocks extend beyond the tail. The hindquarters
never appear overbuilt or higher than the shoulders. Feet
short and round(cat feet) with thick, black pads. The
toes are arched and compact. Faults: Bowed or cowhocked
hindquarters.
Tail:
Set high and carried erect. It is docked only long enough
to be clearly visible over the topline of the body when
the dog is in proper length of coat. Faults: Tails-set
low.
Gait:
The trot is the gait at which movement is judged. When
approaching, the forelegs, with elbows close to the body,
move straight forward, neither too close nor too far apart.
Going away, the hind legs are straight and travel in the
same planes as the forelegs.
NOTE: It is generally accepted that
when a full trot is achieved, the rear legs continue to
move in the same planes as the forelegs, but a very slight
inward inclination will occur. It begins at the point
of the shoulder in front and at the hip joint in the rear.
viewed from the front or rear, the legs are straight from
these points to the pads. The degree of inward inclination
is almost imperceptible in a Miniature Schnauzer that
has correct movement. It does not justify moving close,
toeing-in, crossing, or moving out at the elbows.
Viewed from the side, the forelegs have
good reach, while the hind legs have strong drive, with
good pickup of hocks. The feet turn neither inward nor
outward. fults: Sidegaiting. Paddling in front, or high
hackney knee action. Weak rear action.
Faults:
Toyishness, raciness, or coarseness. Shyness or viciousness.
Coat too soft or too smooth and slick in appearance. Head
coarse and cheeky. Undershot or overshot jaw. Level bite.
Eyes light and/or large and prominent in appearance or excessively
small. Loose elbows. Chest too broad or shallow in brisket.
Sway or roach back. Bowed or cowhocked hindquarters. Tail-set
low. Sidegaiting. Paddling in front, or high hackney knee
action. Weak rear action.
