Should i get a Standard or miniature Schnauzer?

Im trying to decide between a standard or mini, what are the main differences?

thanks

One is not just a smaller version of the other: the Standard is alot more INTENSE than the mini. He is 2x the size of the mini, but has 4x the personality, which means he is 4x more stubborn, 4x as energetic and needs 4x the exercise – both mental and physical. They are not a dog you can just sit on the couch with and walk a few times a day – they need a job.

However, a mini is no laid back character either. They are VERY active indoors – meaning you will be throwing the tenis ball/playing tug/rolling around on the floor alot to meet their mental and physical needs.

Schnauzers – in any size, are not for the laid-back, for those who want to “feed and forget” or someone who wants to leave the dog at home to run even a short errand. Schnauzers need and want to be with you ALL THE TIME. They need the interaction.

But the main difference: availability. Mini’s a very common – go down to your shelter right now, and they will have 2 or 3, if not 5 or 6 minis waiting for new homes. Check Craigslist – every city will have one mini needing a new home, if not more. (The reason for this is all the damn puppy mills churning out minis to meet demand – they are the 11th most popular dog in the US – and not all the puppies find good, forever homes.). Which means if you decide on a mini, you might be able to have one within the month if you get one from a shelter.

Standards, however, are quite rare. The only people breeding them are people that show SSs, and “show breeders” typically only breed one or two litters a year – TOPS (they are breeding that one litter in hopes of getting their next show dog, and they screen potential buyers for the other puppies CAREFULLY). So if you want a SS as a puppy, its going to be a long wait – up to a year or a year and a half if the breeders around you (if there are any) already bred their one litter for the year. However, if you are lucky enough to have a SS breeder near you, and lucky enough to pass the 10 pages of paperwork to get accepted to have one of their dogs, you might just find they need a home for an older (usually 2-4 years old) retired show dog – they come already trained, too!

Either way, you are in for a ride (I own one of each myself) but if you don’t have a backyard, or are still young and will be moving around alot in the next few years (or live in a place where you will be renting/leasing) – get the mini. They come in under 25lbs and most apartments, if they allow dogs, want dogs uner 25lbs. Standards weigh 45lbs+ and its very difficult to rent or lease with a dog over 25lbs. After all, you don’t want to be giving the old “I’m moving” excuse when you leave your pet behind at some shelter 2 years down the time.

Other than that – SSs are typically healthier than mini’s (just due to overbreeding and bad breeding in the minis if you don’t get a mini from a show breeder who does genetic testing), but you can take minis more places with you (like into bookstores, etc) due to their small size. However, SS can have hip dysplacia (make sure your breeder tests his dogs, and get a report on your puppies ancestors at least 3 generations back from the OFA).

Either breed is not going to like strangers – mine take at least a month of constant interaction to get used to new people (like a new friend coming over to watch a movie) and both bark at children, old folks, bikes, skateboarders, or people who “moved too fast” in front of them. Even after they “accept” a new friend, and allow themselves to be pet, they will never really do snuggle up to your friends, or greet them with a lick. My mini will wiggle and bark to show he knows a friend who comes to visit, and maybe allow himself to be pet, but thats about it.

If you are extroverted and love having new people over, or love meeting new folks on the street – don’t expect a schnauzer to agree.

Schnauzers are also very vigorous. Meaning they do every at 90mph – whether that is playing fetch or playing at the dog park. Or barking.

You like barking? I hope so :) But do your neighbors?

And have you thought about grooming? I groom mine myself, and its cost about $400 in equipment. Its either learn to groom yourself, or spent $50 every2 months. And if you groom yourself, it takes about 2 hours to do it right, btw.

So, are you still wanting a schnauzer? If so, I hope this info has helped :)