Breed Characteristics:
Apartment Friendly
?How well will this breed adapt to apartment living? Is the apartment size the most important factor when it comes to proper living conditions? Is the breed suitable for apartment living?
Good For First-Time Owners
?Some dogs aren't suitable for first-time dog owners. Is this breed a good match for someone with no dog experience? Can training help them be on their best behavior with owners with no dog experience? Are they suitable to be handled by someone who is just entering the canine world?
Overall Sensitivity
?Some dogs are sensitive. Certain breeds are rough on the outside, while having the softest heart on the inside. In other words, some dogs are 'thick-skinned' while some are 'easygoing.' Is this breed prone to sensitivity?
Tolerates Being Alone
?Separation anxiety in dogs is a serious condition that can affect a dog's life quality. Is this breed prone to this condition? Can you leave him alone for hours? How destructive this breed can become when bored, neglected, or not loved enough?
Affectionate With Family
?How affectionate this breed will be around his humans? Will he welcome new family friends easily or he will choose to be shy? Some breeds can be clingy with owners, while others don't attach a lot. Will this breed act as the family's best friend?
Kid-Friendly
?Some dogs will tolerate children, while others will adore well-behaved ones. Dogs and children should always be supervised, no matter how well trained the dog might be. Will this breed act as a nanny dog or he will stay away from children?
Friendly Toward Other Dogs
?Some dog breeds cannot wait to run to the dog park and run with others. Others prefer to be with their humans, and not to be a part of a multi-pet household. Is this breed dog lover or not? How friendly this breed will be toward other dogs?
Friendly Toward Strangers
?Some dog breeds tend to be reserved toward strangers and highly suspicious. Others are fast to walk away with them easily. How welcoming this breed is toward strangers?
Drooling Level
?If you love to clean all the time drooling level in dogs is a trait that you should mind. Is this breed less likely to drool, or you will always need a towel on hand?
Easy To Groom
?Heavier shedding during the shedding season is something that every dog needs to go through. However, some dogs shed just a bit all year round. Is this breed one of them? How often should you groom this dog?
Overall Health
?What can you expect from this breed in terms of health? Are there any genetic conditions to vary about? Is obesity a major issue in this breed? By knowing more about the dog's health, you are learning how to help him live a longer and healthier life.
Prone To Obesity
?Treats are a great addition to training sessions. Dogs love sweet bites of dog treats but they should be served in moderation. Treats can lead to obesity, next to poor nutrition. Can this breed gain extra weight from treats? How prone to obesity this breed actually is?
Trainability Level
?Training some dogs is easier than others. How easy this dog will be to train? What can you expect? Some dogs are huge people pleasers and they will master commands easily, while others will try to outsmart you.
Intelligence Level
?Dogs are smart beings. We do our best to train them, but they do still end up training us to adapt to their needs. How intelligent is this breed? Will he try to outsmart you? Or he will need multiple training sessions to master basic commands?
Prey Drive
?Dogs were bred for a specific purpose. Those who were bred to hunt have natural instincts to hunt, even today. This is why many dogs, like Terriers, will chase other animals. They will also have a hard time concentrating on your commands when there is something small moving. Is this breed prone to following his prey instincts?
Barking Level
?How vocal this breed is? Can you expect neighbors to ring you often to calm your dog? Or you can sleep without worries of hearing your Fido bark? Some breeds are highly vocal, others have unusual sounds, and some are silent. Is this breed prone to barking?
Energy Level
?Low-energy dogs are happy with regular walks and indoor chill times. High-energy dogs are always ready for action. Is this breed a couch potato, energetic dog, or somewhere in between?
Exercise Needs
?Some dogs are more than happy with a slow stroll down the street. Others need hours of active time to stay happy and fit. Is this breed demanding in terms of exercise? How much exercise this breed needs to stay happy and healthy?
Playfulness Level
?Some dogs never lose that puppy spirit, not even in their senior years. Others are more serious and prefer having a job to do. Is this breed demanding in terms of playfulness? Can you expect playfulness in their senior years as well?
If you want a super-intelligent dog you should think about getting the Standard Schnauzer.
This is a medium-sized member of the Schnauzer family of breeds. This dog is a true canine representative.
They are medium-sized which makes them great for city living, as long as you can provide enough exercise. If not obese or having any weight issues, these dogs usually don’t have more than 45 pounds.
They are significantly larger than Miniatures and much smaller than Giants. The Standard Schnauzer comes with a wiry coat that is pure black or a mix of pepper and salt.
The Standard Schnauzers are robust and square-built dogs whose look is complemented with arched eyebrows and bristly whiskers.
Walks on a leash are mandatory. Otherwise, you may find yourself searching for your Standard Schnauzer for hours, because they will try to catch any squirrel that crosses their path.
This is how accidents happen and how dogs get lost.
The Standard Schnauzer first began appearing in the United States in the early 1900s. Today, they are one of the most popular breeds in the States.
Quick Facts
Real name: Standard Schnauzer
Other names: Barkless Dog
Origin: Germany
Breed type: Working Dogs
Weight: 30 to 50 pounds
Height: 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 8 inches tall at the shoulder
Lifespan: 13 to 16 years
Litter Size: 4 – 8 puppies
Color: Salt and pepper
Coat: Outer coat is wiry, hard, and dense. Undercoat is soft.
Standard Schnauzer History
The Standard Schnauzer is an old breed.
The roots of this breed can be traced back to the Middle Ages in Germany. In the beginning, the Standard Schnauzer was used as an all-around dog who helped farmers with everyday duties.
They were mostly used as working dogs before mechanized agriculture.
Farmers of different regions used different dogs to deal with almost identical challenges, which is why many breeds were created, including:
- Rat Terrier
- Kerry Blue Terrier
- Belgian Tervuren
Still, in Germany, the most perfect farm dog was considered to be a breed today known as Standard Schnauzer.
First Schnauzers arrived in the States sometime during the 1900s, but it took additional two decades for people to start noticing the breed and getting them as pet dogs.
The year 1933 was a huge milestone for this breed’s popularity. This year the AKC’s parent club was divided into separate clubs for the Standard and Miniature breeds.
Standard Schnauzer Physical Appearance
Standard Schnauzers are easy to recognize, as long as you know the breed’s characteristics.
These dogs have a rectangular-shaped head that is strong. Their ears are of even shape with thick leather.
Their body is compact, sturdy, and alert. As for the exact size, Standard Schnauzers have between 30 to 50 pounds, and they are 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 8 inches tall at the shoulder.
As it is commonly the case, females are slightly smaller and lighter than females. It’s common for Standard Schnauzers in Germany to have their ears cropped.
As for the American Schnauzer Club, the rules state that Standard Schnauzers can participate in dog shows with natural and cropped ears.
It is common to see a docked tail in Standard Schnauzers. As for the color, they can be pepper and salt, or pure black.
All shades of pepper and salt are accepted. If your Standard Schnauzer has a pepper and salt coat the undercoat should be grey.
Dogs should have a darker facial mask that is well combined with other shades of the coat.
Good to know: Standard Schnauzer is considered to be non smelly breed, so make sure that you provide the right body care to keep him that way
Standard Schnauzer Personality
The Standard Schnauzer is an intelligent breed with a high-spirited temperament.
Just like in their early days, these dogs are even today mostly used as companions and personal guards.
They are extremely loyal, brave, and devoted. These dogs are easy to train and they prefer experienced dog owners who know what way around schnauzers.
Don’t expect to spend too much time indoors with this breed. This breed requires a fair amount of exercise, and not even the rain can stop them from being active.
Regular walks, indoor playtime, outdoor playtime, and additional exercises are mandatory to keep him happy and active.
If you miss providing enough exercise, you will learn what a dog with extra energy can do and that is something that you don’t want to experience.
Standard Schnauzers are family-oriented dogs who thrive in a loving and safe environment.
They will appreciate toys, indoor games, playing with children, and being active the majority of the time.
They will love children and love playtime with them as long as children know how to behave around dogs.
To provide a safe interaction between dogs and children, there should be the same ground rules.
In fact, children should know how to behave around dogs and not treat them as moving toys.
For extra safety, dogs should know basic commands and house dog rules. Dogs and children should never be left without supervision.
Standard Schnauzer Training
Training is a big part of dog ownership. In fact, training is the only thing that can help you turn your dog into a well-mannered canine citizen.
As a process, training is long, serious, and strategical. At least, good training should be this and much more.
Make training sessions consistent, fun, short, and packed with treats. Always reward your dog for the well-performed trick.
Dogs thrive on positive training methods. Never use any harsh training methods, no matter how challenging the training might be.
If you feel like a training session stresses you out or that you don’t have enough patience, think about hiring a professional dog trainer.
It may be pricey, but it will save you both time and energy. Plus, you will get a well-trained dog in no time.
Another option is puppy classes where you get to visit training sessions together with your dog. This is a great way to bond with your dog.
Standard Schnauzer Exercise
Dogs need regular exercise.
Not only that proper activity keep their body moving and active, but it engages their brain as well.
Dogs need mental stimulation next to physical activity to be happy. To get your Standard Schnauzer moving, you should provide regular walks, indoor playtime, and additional exercise.
Regular exercises are a great tool to keep the dog’s joints healthy and strong.
How much exercise do Standard Schnauzers need? It’s recommended to provide at least 30 minutes of exercise daily.
As such, this breed is recommended to active families, who spend time outdoors and love training dogs.
Standard Schnauzer Grooming
Every dog needs regular grooming and Standard Schnauzer is no exception.
Grooming goes beyond brushing, and you should know that minimal care can affect your dog’s health a lot in the long run.
Regular grooming should include:
- Regular weekly brushing
- Weekly gums and eyes check
- Monthly nail trimming or grinding
- Ears check and cleaning
The best way to provide proper grooming, you will need the best grooming tools.
With this breed, you will need to put extra care into washing the dog’s beard and legs.
If you are not sure how to do it properly talk to your veterinarian or a professional groomer.
Brushing your dog may seem like a lot of work, and don’t ignore it. You may hire a professional dog groomer for this, but bear in mind that brushing your dog is also a bonding experience, and shouldn’t be something that you ignore easily.
Standard Schnauzer Health
Standard Schnauzers are considered to be healthy dogs.
If you manage to provide high-quality food, proper care, enough exercise, and happiness surrounding your Standard Schnauzer could live up to 16 years.
This breed doesn’t suffer from any major health conditions, but they might be susceptible to minor issues.
Some of the issues that may be seen in this breed include:
- Canine hip dysplasia (CHD)
- Follicular dermatitis
- Cataract
Once you get a dog, you are directly responsible for his weight. This means that you should know:
- How much to feed your dog
- How many times per day to feed your dog
- How to read pet food labels
- What bloat is
- What a raw food is
The best way to keep your dog healthy is to provide regular veterinarian check-ups. This is the most effective way to keep your dog on top of his health game.
Just like in humans, prevention can do so much for your dog’s health and on your wallet.
You must know that treating a dog from certain conditions isn’t fast, or cheap.
This is why prevention matters – it will keep your dog healthy and your balance in order in the longer run. Also, dealing with responsible breeders only when getting a dog should be imperative.
You want to do your best to avoid puppy mills. If you want a truly healthy puppy you will find a reputable breeder.
Responsible dog breeders will present you with medical documentation on the breed, inform you on current dog health, share what you can expect in the future health-wise, and provide tips on dog training, health, and feeding.
National Breed Club recommends the following tests:
- Hip Evaluation
- Ophthalmologist Evaluation
- DCM DNA Test
The Bottom Line
Standard Schnauzers are lively dogs of keen expression and strong love toward humans. They are sweet and calm but watchful when you’re asleep.
No stranger could approach your home without them informing you about it.
This breed isn’t for you if you do have time or energy to train this dog, deal with intense jumping, and strong-willed dog this may not be the breed for you.
On the other hand, if you want a breed that is sturdy, elegant, intelligent, and can learn almost anything this is the breed for you.
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