Selection guide - Friendly and playful with children

Choose a miniature schnauzer if you have children in the house. This dog is friendly and playful with children.

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover

Selection guide - Miniature Schnauzers are aggressive with most dogs

Reconsider getting a miniature schnauzer if you have other dogs in the house. Schnauzers are aggressive with most dogs unless socialized with them.

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover

Selection guide - Miniature schnauzers are not for everyone

Keep in mind that miniature schnauzers are not for everyone. They have a lot of energy, bark often and are very demanding of their owner's attention.

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover

Selection guide - Miniature Schnauzer is a great watchdog

The miniature schnauzer, originally used to kill rats, comes from Germany and is a mix of the standard schnauzer and the affenpinscher breeds. The schnauzer, whose name means "muzzle" in German, is affectionate and rambunctious and makes a great watchdog.

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover

Bonding tip - Don't get stressed

Don't get stressed - if your schnauzer puppy doesn't want to learn, try again another day. Do reward with treats if the behavior is encouraging.

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover

Bonding tip - Playtime is important

You need to have structured, regular play with your miniature schnauzer puppy.

One walk a day is good exercise, but not enough to help you both bond.
Instead, buy a big bone, or fill a Kong full of treats and hold it while he chews. This is how animals bond in the wild.

Try and maintain eye contact while he’s chewing; it really feels like you’re both sharing!

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover

Bonding tip - Feeding time is bonding time

Make your puppy sit and wait for his dinner – you need to assert that you’re in charge of his meals – once he knows it’s you that’s feeding him he’ll start to love you like his own mother. You’ll be pack leader, and you’ll gain his respect.

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover

Bonding tip - Teach him his name

After deciding on a name, catch your miniature schnauzer’s attention while you hold a treat in your hand.

If you can get him to approach you, or look at you after calling his name, pass him a treat. You’re teaching him that when you call that particular word, you’re after his attention. This is the first step in bonding with your new puppy – an ignorant, naughty dog will only make you feel more stressed!

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover

Attention - Check out potential breeders very carefully

Check out potential breeders very carefully, being sure to ask if they are members of breed clubs, specialty clubs or obedience clubs. Affiliation with a club means you can check their references to make sure that they don't run a puppy mill (a place where puppies are constantly bred for financial gain without consideration of the integrity of the breed) and that they screen for health problems before they breed.

Miniature Schnauzer - Dog Lover