Resources and standards

The Schnauzer


The origin of this sort of dog goes back up to millions of years. Charles Darwin ( 1809-1882 ), founder of the theory of evolution, thought that the dog descended from several sorts of wild canines, among which the wolf, the jackal and the coyote.

Today, one does not know any more really. Wolves, jackals, coyotes and dogs can reproduce among themselves. However it is with the wolf that the dog possesses most points in common, in the structural and social aspects.
Whatever is its size, whatever is its breed, the dog is a dog, that is a social carnivore, hunter, guard, capable of the best and the worst, according to the selection, the socialization and the education that man gives to him(her).

It is, of all the animals, man's first best friend.
Any behavior, any temperament undergoes the combined influence of genetics and the environment.


History of the Miniature Schnauzer


The Miniature Schnauzer was created from the average standard, and thanks to the contribution of the genes of Affenpinschers and miniature poodles.
The first exhibition of the miniature Schnauzer, as a different variety, dates from 1899, its breeding in the United States from the twenties; the breed club has existed since 1933.


Standard of the miniature schnauzer
 General aspect

The Miniature Schnauzer is a dog miniaturized but exempt from defects of the miniature breed.

 Character and temperament

The character is that of the Schnauzer, with more the temperament and the behavior of a small dog. Intelligence, assurance, stamina and attention make him a dog suited for the house, at the same time dog detective and pet. One can keep him easily in an apartment.


 Head and skull

The head is sturdy, lengthened, without strong projection of the occipital protuberance. It decreases gradually in width from the eyes up to the tip of the nose. The length of the head,,(from the tip of the nose to the occipital protuberance) represents about half of the full length. The back (from the withers to the tie of the tail) should harmonize with the volume of the dog. The forehead is flat and without wrinkles. The nose as well as the lips are always black, whatever is the color of the coat.

 Teeth

The set of teeth is complete, sturdy, with good occlusion in scissors and perfectly white.

 Ears

Cut ears: they are attached high, symmetrically and raised vertically. Natural ears: they are attached high, in the shape of V, and folded up.


 Eyes

Eyes are dark, oval, looking forwards. The lower eyelid is in touch with the globe, not revealing conjunctivitis.


 Trunk

Containing a chest of oval size. Of suitable convexity, it goes down to the elbows. The extremity of the breastbone entails that the breast exceeds, forward, the point of shoulders. The short distance between the last rib bow and the pelvis gives to the dog its compact aspect. The length of the trunk corresponds approximately to the height at the withers. The back is short and sloping slightly down. The top line draws a light elegant curve.


 Tail
The tail is attached high and reaches upward. It will be shortened approximately to the length of three vertebrae.

 Forelegs

There is a good angle between the oblique shoulder and the leg which is flat but strongly developed in the muscle. From in front as from profile, the legs consist of sturdy pillars of supports. Elbows are close to the body.


 Back limbs

Thighs are oblique, strongly developed in muscle. Backs of the knees are sharply elbowed

 Feet

Feet are short and round. Fingers are well squeezed, curved upward (foot of cat). Nails are dark. Soles are resistant and hard.

 Hair

The hair is hard, rough as wire and tight. It consists of a tight sub-hair and by a not too short, steep hair of coverage, neither bristled nor curled. It has the same harshness on the head and the members; it is a little shorter on the forehead and the ears .

 Colour

Colors are: monochrome black, salt-and-pepper, black and silver.

Size

The height at the withers is situated between 30cm (12in.) and 35cm.(14in.)

Defects

Unrefined, light construction. Too high or too low on paws. Heavy, rounded skull. Wrinkle on the forehead. Ears attached low. Clear, too big, round eyes. Prognathism lower, upper. Short, sharp, narrow snout. Too long back, back of carp, falling croup. Hare tail. Elbows turned to the outside and back of the knee inward. Ambling look.

Disqualification in competition

If the dog does not reach 30 cms. Or exceed s 35 cms.
The male does not have two testicles.
If the dog is of uniform white color.


Comments

The Schnauzer is a dog which does not lose hair but which requires an appropriate grooming.
The salt-and-pepper dog has a recessive color under the (dominant) black. So that a puppy is salt-and-pepper, he should have obtained this gene from his two parents. The salt-and-pepper are dominant with regard to black and silver gene. The bearers of the gene have often, but not necessarily, a small white patch over the nose.

Personality, qualifications

This dog has an aristocratic look and is renowned for being a reliable guard extremely devoted to his master. He is also sociable, alert,a comedian and a good companion for the children. It is possible to have a delinquent Schnauzer, it is enough not to educate him. The interaction between the Schnauzer, the children, the cats is not registered in the genes .It is not hereditary, it is learned. It belongs to the socialization and not to the breed.