MINIATURE SCHNAUZER AND CHILDREN

The Miniature Schnauzer is a calm dog that is good with children and other dogs. Miniature Schnauzer is devoted to home and family. Miniature Schnauzer is an enthusiastic barker, thus an excellent guard dog. The bushy beard does get messy with meals and needs extra care.

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover

TRAINING

The Miniature Schnauzer is naturally well mannered and obedient, however needs training. Miniature Schnauzer can be very demanding and if left alone, they can become somewhat of a tyrant. Consistency and a firm yet gentle hand is required. A variety of training methods work best with this breed. Obedience training must be started at an early age as they have the tendency to be stubborn. The Miniature Schnauzer is very eager to learn and is fairly easy to housebreak if the right techniques are used.

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover

FEEDING

Feeding the Miniature Schnauzer sounds very complicated, but a lot of it falls back on common sense. You want Miniature Schnauzer to have a diet high in nutrients that will help him to grow as healthily and disease-free as possible. Many of the dog foods are made of "fillers". When checking the ingredients of the dog food you are considering purchasing, make sure one or more of the first 5 ingredients listed are some kind of meat. By meat(proper meat) - not meat by products.

Many dog food companies will list one meat, then corn, then wheat, then soy. What you have in the first four ingredients consists of one quarter meat and three quarters grains (grains are corn, wheat and soy, and these are fillers). They may fill your dog up and make him think he's full but he's not getting the nutrition he needs. Your local vet can probably help you in choosing a food that is good for your Miniature Schnauzer.

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover

HEALTH INFORMATION

Miniature schnauzers are a healthy breed, and are not usually plagued by very many health problems. One of the biggest problems with miniature schnauzer seems to be controlling their weight. But regular exercise and proper nutrition will easily control this problem. One particular nutrition related problem that is occuring with increasing frequency in miniature schnauzers is pancreatitis.

It is not clearly understood, but appears to be associated with the fact that many miniature schnauzers have high blood serum lipids (fats). Symptoms generally include lack of appetite, repetitive vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy and depression. It is very much an emergency situation which requires immediate veterinary care to prevent more serious illness or even death. It can be prevented by maintaining your adult miniature schnauzer on a lower fat diet.

Another potential life-threatening problem is hyper-sensitivity to vaccines. Symptoms include facial swelling and extreme itchiness, and possible breathing problems. Vomiting and diarrhea can also occur.

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover

TEMPERAMENT

Temperament of Miniature Schnauzer:

The Miniature Schnauzer can have troubles with other dogs, however if properly trained and socialized, this breed can do all right. This breed should be supervised around small children, and does best with older children and more respectable children.

The Miniature Schnauzer can be combative with other dogs, however if raised with them this breed can do well. They are not recommended for a home with smaller animals such as the cat as they have the tendency to chase them.

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover

GROOMING

When it comes to grooming you will need to put some work in to keep the Miniature Schnauzer's coat in good condition. You should clean his beard on a daily basis for hygiene reasons and ensure that the hair around his bottom is kept trimmed. Brush the coat several times a week. For show dogs, the dead coat will need to be stripped every three months or so, or standard clipping can be used for pet dogs. This breed is a low shedder when groomed properly, and is therefore well suited to allergy sufferers.

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover