What Are the AKC-Recognized Colors for Mini Schnauzers?

The American Kennel Club (AKC) only recognizes three colors for miniature schnauzers in order to allow a dog to be registered with the organization. Unfortunately, miniature schnauzers come in a fourth color, white, which is not allowed. Purebred miniature schnauzers sometimes produce white puppies. White is, however, a recognized color in the UK Kennel Club. The breed standard, including acceptable coloration, is written by the American Miniature Schnauzer Club.

  1. Salt and Pepper

    • Miniature schnauzers grow double-layered coats. The top layer is harsh, wiry and water-resistant while the undercoat is soft. In the salt and pepper color pattern, the undercoat is light and the top coat is mixed with solid white hairs, solid black hairs and hairs that are "banded," or containing both black and white in the same follicle. The black and white hairs are so close together that it appears the coat is sprinkled with salt and pepper. The black hairs are allowed to have brownish tints. Colors fade to light gray or silvery-white at the dog's chest, belly, eyebrows, throat, inside of the legs and underneath the tail.

    Black and Silver

    • In this color pattern, the majority of the dog's body is glossy black, except for the cheeks, whiskers, ears, eyebrows, belly, across the chest, insides of the legs and underneath the tail. These are all silvery-gray or a light gray. Ideally, no brown hairs are to be seen, but they occur in purebred miniature schnauzers, according to the AKC. The dog's dense, soft undercoat is to also be darkly colored.

    Solid Black

    • This is the only allowable solid color allowed for AKC registered miniature schnauzers and for those registered with the Canadian Kennel Club. Ideally, the dog is to be completely black, with black nose and dark eyes, but it is rare for a dog to achieve this coloration. One small white spot is allowed on the chest, but it is not to be larger than 1 inch in diameter. If the dog grows some individual white hairs only noticeable on close inspection, that is also allowed. This color is not as common as the previous two.

    What About White Miniature Schnauzers?

    • The American Kennel Club refuses to register any purebred white miniature schnauzers, even if both parents are registered with the AKC. The dogs are not albinos, but white with dark eyes and black noses. The white dogs do not show any health problems related to color. The color itself is just frowned upon for the simple reason that it is not an acceptable color, according to North Carolina Schnauzer Rescue. The AKC will only reverse its decision if the breed's parent club, the American Miniature Schnauzer Club, changes its breed standard.