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What to Look for When Buying a Miniature Schnauzer

by Cheyenne Cartwright

Overview

The miniature schnauzer is a member of the American Kennel Club's terrier group. This little dog, which weighs between 12 and 14 pounds, is solidly, nearly squarely built, with a rectangular head and a topline that slopes back to the tiny, cropped tail that sits jauntily upright on the dog's backside, and a double coat. If you want to add one of these cheerful little dogs to your household, here's how you should approach the task.
Pet Store or Breeder?

Buy a miniature schnauzer from a reputable breeder, not a pet store. You may see what you think is the perfect miniature schnauzer in a pet store at the mall, but keep in mind that these dogs may come from puppy mills, which often produce inbred, sickly, poorly socialized animals. Instead, purchase your puppy from someone who has been breeding miniature schnauzers for quite a while and who has established a solid reputation for producing healthy, happy dogs. The American Kennel Club recommends that you start by contacting the parent club, in this case, the American Miniature Schnauzer Club (AMSC). The parent club establishes the breed standard and encourages its members to adhere to good breeding practices, the club's code of ethics and AKC rules and regulations. The AMSC has members almost everywhere in the United States and can direct you to a good breeder in your area.

Visiting the Puppies

Once you've found a good breeder who has puppies for sale, go to the facility yourself. Look around to make sure that it's clean and spacious enough for all the dogs that live there and that they look well cared for and healthy. When the breeder brings the puppies out to meet you, ask if the parents are on the premises. If they are, ask if you can meet them.
Temperament

When you're down on the floor playing with the puppies, pay attention to how they interact with you and with one another. First off, you want a pup who clearly demonstrates the breed's correct temperament, which the AKC defines as "alert and spirited, yet obedient to command." A well-bred schnauzer pup should be "friendly, intelligent and willing to please," but never "overaggressive or timid." A puppy that won't come out to greet you, or hides in a corner, is not the dog for you, nor is a puppy who is bullying his/her littermates. Look for a dog that is lively, cheerful and curious.
Conformation

Finally, look for proper conformation. It's sometimes difficult at the puppy stage to tell what sort of adult a dog will grow into, but the AKC and the AMSC both consider certain physical faults to be disqualifications from conformation competition. Some of these physical problems can contribute to ill health later in life, so study the breed standard thoroughly before you go look at the pups. Among the physical traits that should raise red flags are light-colored or too prominent eyes; a coarse or "cheeky" head; an underbite; a chest that's either proportionately too broad or too narrow; a hollow back; loose elbows; short, round ("cat") feet; a coat that's softer or smoother than the usual wiry coat or is not a standard color; a tail set too low on the animal's hindquarters and an awkward gait. In addition, any miniature schnauzer that stands shorter than 12 inches or taller than 14 does not meet the standard. If you want a miniature schnauzer as a companion, not as a competitor in AKC-sanctioned dog shows, issues of the animal's size or color may not matter as much to you as making sure the pup is sturdily built and well tempered. Nevertheless, it's wise to know all you can about the breed before you look at the litter. The breeder likely will pay more attention to you if he perceives that you know what you should be looking for.