MINIATURE SCHNAUZER ARTICLES
How
to tape and train your puppy's cropped ears to stand right
How to groom
the schnauzer head - Print out and bring to your pet groomer to get the
right schnauzer look!
Grooming the miniature schnauzer
Puppy Naming Tips
What is My Dog Saying?
6 Common Dog Emergencies
GPS Pet Tracking
MINIATURE SCHNAUZER SHOW REPORTS
CRUFTS, Birmingham, UK 2007 March 2007
The World Dog Show in Poland November 2006
Miniature Schnauzer Specialty Show in the UK October 2006
European Winner Show 2006 June 2006
Finnish Schnauzer Pinscher Club Specialty Show 2006 June 2006
The World Dog Show in Amsterdam July 2002
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How
long can Puppy be home alone?
How
do I housebreak my puppy?
How can I crate train my puppy?
I
would like to get two puppies at the same time…
I
think your guarantee is great, because if we can’t keep the puppy
anymore we can return him to you!
How
do you socialize your puppies?
Why
and how should I socialize my pup?
Should
I crate train my puppy?
Should
I ear-crop my puppy,
and what about tails and dewclaws?
What
is the origin of the Miniature Schnauzer?
How
big does the Miniature Schnauzer get?
I'm
allergic, can I have a Miniature Schnauzer?
Why are all your pups sold on spay/neuter contracts?
What is a puppy miller and why should I not buy a puppy from the pet store?
What can you do to help eliminate commercial breeding mills (puppy mill)?
We
have a Schnauzer and want to add another puppy to the family - is this
a good idea?
I have a minature schnauzer and would like to breed it
- what do I need to know?
My puppy just got her first offical schnauzer cut - SHE
LOOKS HORRIBLE - will it grow back?
My puppy's tail is too long, can it be docked more?
I am getting a white miniature schnauzer, is this an off
breed or are there white ones ?
When does the mature true coloring of the miniature schnauzer
show? My female was born black but is lightening up
Do you have other Miniature Schnauzer questions that are not covered here? Please don't hesitate to contact us!
How long can
Puppy be home alone?
Keep in mind that dogs are pack-animals, and you two become the puppy’s
family. Separation from you should really be kept to a minimum. It takes
a lot of time to train the puppy in the beginning, and the more time and
effort you put into it from the start, the easier and quicker the puppy
learns the basics.
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How can I
housebreak my puppy?
Send us an email at hilde@axcium.com
and request our puppy-training manual!
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How can I
crate train my puppy?
Send us an email at hilde@axcium.com
and request our puppy-training manual!
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I would like
to get two puppies at the same time…
I would not recommend that you get two puppies at the same time, it can
really complicate the matter of raising them as they will be more occupied
with one another than paying attention to you. I suggest you get one first,
train it to where you want it to be, and then consider getting a second
one. The second puppy will very often pick up the good behavior from the
older one (the opposite is also the case, if the older one is misbehaved
you bet the new one will pick it up immediately!)
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I think your
guarantee is great, because if we can’t keep the puppy anymore we
can return him to you!
I care A LOT for my puppies, and I really consider myself responsible
for them throughout their entire life. That’s why I put a lot of
effort into screening puppy-buyers to make sure their decision is well
thought through and that they are prepared to stay committed to their
dog its whole life. I will not sell to you if you don’t convince
me that you are planning to take care of the dog for it’s entire
life.
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How do you
socialize your puppies?
The first few weeks they stay in a separate room for mom and pups to have
peace and privacy. Then I turn the radio on when they’re around
3 weeks and open their ears. Then they move into the kitchen where there’s
more sounds and action (they have barely started walking at this point).
When the weather allows they will come outside and after a while they
will get to be around other dogs than just mom.
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Why and how
should I socialize my pup?
Take your pup with you everywhere: to the office, to dogshows, to the
park and little walks around the neighborhood where they get exposed to
different environments, dogs, and people. Think of the puppy as an open
book with blank pages. As far as they’re concerned the world is
a happy exciting place, and it’s up to you to show them that’s
true. You want to fill in the pages with happy experiences from as many
places and people as possible, because as the puppy grows older it gets
harder and harder. The more you fill your puppy with good memories, the
safer, more confident, and happier the puppy becomes. You want an outgoing
puppy that will explore their environment and be open to people, and I
just explained to you how you get there.
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Should I crate
train my puppy?
I will suggest that you start crate train your puppy when you get it home.
It simplifies the housetraining process. Crate training can be great when
it’s used correctly. The puppy will consider the crate his house,
and be safe and comfortable there. But keep in mind that the crate is
not a storage room for the puppy, and when you are home he should be with
you, not in the crate. I can send you some tips on crate training later
if you are interested.
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Should I ear-crop
my puppy, and what about tails and dewclaws?
The tails are already docked and the dewclaws removed when you get your
puppy, this is done when they are 3 – 5 days old. The ears will be cropped on the
puppy that I decide to keep. You can have the ears cropped
by a veterenarian when the pup is anywhere from 10 to 14 weeks old if
you decide to do this.
The Miniature Schnauzer is supposed to be ear cropped according to the
American Kennel Club breed standard. You can still show a dog that's uncropped,
but it is usually easier to show a dog that is cropped. The ears does
change the appearance of the dog quite a bit as seen on the picture above.
The two mini scnauzers in the picture are the same age, but clearly shows
the difference with or without cropped ears.
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What is the
origin of the Miniature Schnauzer?
The Miniature Schnauzer originated in Germany, and can be recognized in
pictures dating back to the 15th century. The breed was shown in dog shows
as early as 1899. The miniature schnauser is a smaller version of the
Standard Schnauzer, supposedly produced by breeding Affenpinschers and
Poodles to small specimens of the Standard Schnauzer. It was not originally
bred to 'go-to-ground' for prey like many of the other terriers, he will
gladly chase rodents.
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How big does
the Miniature Schnauzer get?
The Miniature Schnauzer's shoulder height should be between 12 –
14 inches (or 30 – 36 cm), and the weight is about 11 to 20 lbs.
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I'm allergic,
can I have a Miniature Schnauzer?
If you or someone in your family is allergic to dogs, you should try to
interact with a miniature schnauser to see what reactions it triggers
in your case. The Miniature Schnauzer sheds very little, and has proved
to be acceptable for many who have allergic reactions to other breeds.
But make sure that you spend enough time with a Miniature Schnauzer to
really determine if you will be able to interact with one on a regular
basis, BEFORE you decide to get one of your own. There is nothing worse
than discovering that you actually are allergic to the dog AFTER you have
acquired one.
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Why are all
your pups sold on spay/neuter contracts?
All our puppies are sold on spay/neuter contracts because there is a huge
over production of puppies today. Reputable breeders breed to get better
dogs to show, not to sell to the public or add more puppies to an already
overfilled market. By selling on spay/neuter contracts we prevent our
bloodlines from ending up in the hands of puppymillers. Our bloodlines
have been screened for problems for generations, which is why we can offer
the kind of health-guarrantees that we do (5 years against any hereditary
problem).
Because there already
are too many puppies available, it becomes a great responsibility to produce
a litter. Every year millions of puppies are euthanised, so as a breeder
you need to be prepared to care for your puppies throughout their whole
life. Responsible and reputable breeders are those who take full responsibility
for their dogs, from conception onwards. This responsibility should not
end when a puppy is sold. Reputable breeders offer health guarantees (years,
not days), do genetic testing, and are there to offer assistance to their
puppy purchasers for years to come. They should be always willing to take
a dog back.
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What is a
puppy miller and why should I not buy a puppy from the pet store?
A puppy miller's goal is to produce as many puppies as possible with nominal
overhead expenses. The puppies receive minimal veterinary care if any
at all, are fed poor quality food and are often kept in small cages and
sheds and have even been found housed in old scrap cars. They often suffer
maladjustment problems due to lack of early handling and socialization.
Puppy mills often produce a number of different breeds simultaneously
with little or no attention given to genetic defects or disorders which
are then passed on from one generation to the next.
The majority of the breeding females spend their entire lives in small filthy cages without exercise, affection or human interaction. They have only one purpose; to produce their inventory of puppies. Cages are often stacked on top of each other, allowing excrement to flow down on top of the dogs and puppies below. These females are usually bred every heat cycle until their worn tired bodies finally give out and they can no longer produce enough puppies to make them profitable.
Not only do puppy millers sell their puppies to pet stores and brokers, newspaper advertisements, flea markets and the internet also serve as a means to move their product. Although some puppy mill operators will sell directly to the public most do not want prospective buyers to see the horrific conditions the dogs are kept in, so are more likely to sell through brokers who make the transporting arrangements to the pet stores. Most often before the age of eight weeks, the puppies are made to endure long trips to final destinations in overcrowded, dark and dirty trucks, sometimes with no food or water available. Often, many of the puppies do not survive the journey.
We, as consumers,
need to take a firm stand and stop the suffering by refusing to purchase
puppies from the mill industry. I know how hard it is to see those puppies
in the pet store windows knowing full well you or someone you know could
offer them a wonderful life, a life full of love, companionship and care,
but if we are ever going to end the cruel and abusive practice of puppy
mills the buck has to literally stop somewhere and it has to start with
the consumer. As hard as it is, be strong and either don't go and look
at the puppies or if you do, close your eyes if only for a moment and
make the connection. Envision that adorable puppy's mother and/or father
isolated in a dirty, dark barn confined to a small filthy cage left hungry,
lonely and afraid. How can you possibly perpetuate the problem?
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What can you
do to help eliminate commercial breeding mills (puppy mills)?
• Refuse to purchase puppies from pet shops that sell puppies from
mills. Many people believe they are 'rescuing' a puppy when they make
such a purchase. Unfortunately these pet shops classify puppies as 'inventory'
or 'stock' and you will no sooner be out the door than another puppy mill
puppy will replace the one you just bought. If there is a demand,
puppy mills will supply!
• Pet shops that sell milled puppies must not be confused with pet
supply stores that support local humane societies and shelters by setting
up satellite adoption centres. Recently there have been several reputable
companies that have decided to take a stand against puppy mills and refuse
to buy puppies from brokers. Kudos to those companies! I personally make
a point of purchasing my supplies and food from them. If you are unsure
about a dog or puppies origin ask to speak with a manager and ask them
to specify which animal organization they are supporting. If you are still
not convinced, call the shelter for verification.
• Get in touch with a reputable breeder. Visit
the breeder, take your time, get on a waiting list if possible. A puppy
from a healthy breeding stock is far more valuable as it comes from bloodlines
that have been screened for health problems for generations. With your
puppy you will get a health warranty that lasts for years. Even though
you spend a bit more purchasing the puppy, it usually turns out that you
save money in the long run in veterinary fees.
• Adopt from your local shelter or humane society. There are far
too many wonderful dogs without homes waiting for a second chance.
• Never adopt a puppy (or any pet) on impulse. You are making a
10-15 year commitment and such a decision should be well thought out and
researched.
• Adopt a rescue dog. There is a rescue group for just about every
breed of dog and there are all breed rescues for mixed breeds as well.
Reputable dog rescue groups work cooperatively with humane societies,
shelters and veterinarians finding homes for displaced purebred and mixed
breed dogs.
• Be suspicious of classified newspaper advertisements that offer
many different breeds of puppies for sale, you will most likely be dealing
with a puppy miller or broker.
• Be equally wary of internet web sites that boast a variety of
different puppies for sale for again, you may be connecting with a puppy
mill operation.
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We have a
Schnauzer and want to add another puppy to the family - is this a good
idea?
Getting another schnauzer will be just fine - as the only thing better
than a miniature schnauzer is TWO miniature schnauzers! The old one might
get jealous in the beginning, but after a while they will really appreciate
each other.
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I have a minature schnauzer and would like to breed it - what
do I need to know?
Please read this article before you decide to breed or not to breed:
Things to
Consider Before Breeding Your Schnauzer
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My puppy just got her first offical schnauzer cut - SHE LOOKS
HORRIBLE - will it grow back?
Don't worry, the hair on a schnuzer will grow back. Use a different groomer
next time!
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My puppy's tail is too long, can it be docked more?
You can have the tail docked shorter, but the puppy has to be under full
anesthesia. Make sure you use a good vet, try to get references up front.
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I am getting a white miniature schnauzer, is this an off breed
or are there white ones ?
The white miniature schnauzer is not a real schnauzer as it is not pure
bred. The breed standard for miniature schnauzer only allows the colors
black, black and silver, and salt and pepper - any other color is disqualifying.
Some people think it is interesting to 'invent' new 'rare' colors for
the miniature schnauzer such as phantom, chocolate, teremit, and so on
- these are all results of mixing different breeds and are NOT rare, but
mongrels.
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When does the mature true coloring of the miniature schnauzer
show? My female was born black but is lightening up
All miniature schnauzers are dark when they are born, and then they lighten
up. If your puppy has any gray hairs behind the ears it is a dark salt
and pepper. If there are only black hairs you have a black and silver,
or a black if the legs are black too. When you clipper the dog she will
get lighter as well.
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Do you have other Miniature Schnauzer questions that are not covered here? Please don't hesitate to contact us!
We are members of the American Miniature Schnauzer Club
