| By :
Brent McCoy
Just a few of the Miniature Schnauzer's most distinguishing features can be their bold, spirited and highly affectionate character - which help make the Miniature Schnauzer a highly popular dog breed among active singles, seniors and families alike. The Miniature Schnauzer was originally created in Germany during the late 1800s shortly after the Standard Schnauzer was recognized and their smaller size made them much more suitable for the task of catching rats around the house or barn. They are
understood to be a product of cross-breeding the original Standard Schnauzer with smaller breeds like the Affenpinscher and the Poodle. After their introduction they quickly became the most popular of all three Schnauzer breeds. Miniature Schnauzers are classed as a small-sized dog. The recommended standard size for the Miniature Schnauzer male and female is 12-14 inches tall from paw to shoulder and a weight of 13-20 pounds. The Miniature Schnauzer is renowned for their alert, spirited, playful and sometimes stubborn spirit. They are usually friendlier with guests than their larger counterpart, which can make them unsuitable as a guard dog. The Miniature Schnauzer is also known to be extremely intelligent - ranking 12th compared to other dogs when taking into account their capacity to learn obedience instructions. They are also famous to be good with kids - which makes them quite suitable as a family pet. The Miniature Schnauzer is usually companionable with other dogs when they're properly socialized at an early age. The Miniature Schnauzer doesn't always need a yard to play in, so they can be quite suitable for living in an apartment just as long as they are exercised on a regular basis. The Miniature Schnauzer is made happy with activities that include playing games of fetch or running around in a safe area. They possess a moderately high quantity of energy and this necessitates exercise every day in the form of short walks to inhibit excessive weight gain as well as destructive behavior that might result from boredom. The Miniature Schnauzer could make the perfect dog breed for active owners, seniors or families that have plenty of time to look after a dog. They are well-matched to anyone that is able to perform a regular level of grooming and take time to provide them with early socialization and positive obedience training as well as take them for short walks each day and grant a very high amount of companionship and attention - they are known to become depressed if neglected too regularly and are not an ideal dog to be left alone all day. Although they may be to some extent out of place as a guard dog, if you are able to meet their need for a good deal of patience and a lot of love and attention then the Miniature Schnauzer may well be the ideal breed of dog for you.
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