Toy Poodle Vs. Miniature Schnauzer

History

• According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the poodle originated in Germany as a water retriever. It is a descendant of the French Water Dog, Barbet and possibly the Hungarian Water Hound. Toy poodles were bred down from the larger (standard) poodles, and became popular in the 18th century.

  The miniature schnauzer is also a German breed. It began when unintentional breeding resulted in puppies resembling both the coarse-hair schnauzer and smooth-hair pinscher appearing in the same litter. Once the standard schnauzer was established as its own breed, the smaller dogs were mated with the affenpinscher or poodle to create the miniature schnauzer breed. They now belong to the terrier group of the AKC.

Description

• The toy poodle must be 10 inches or shorter at the highest point of the shoulder, according to the AKC. The official weight is from six to nine pounds. Toy poodles have a thin but square appearance, and the ears lay long and flat against the head. The tail is sometimes docked to give the toy poodle a more balanced appearance. Toy poodles have the classic curly poodle hair.

  Miniature schnauzers are between 12 and 14 inches tall. They should weigh between 10 and 15 pounds. Miniature schnauzers are short, study, square dogs. The snout stops abruptly in a blunt end and the ears are often cropped to stand up straight. If left uncropped the ears are small and v-shaped, close to the head. The tail is docked and sticks upright. Miniature schnauzers have short, wiry hair.

Temperament

• The toy poodle is a highly intelligent dog and will excell in obedience school. They are social animals and do well with people and other dogs. Toy poodles should be trained to obey the humans in the household so as not to becomne snappy, aggressive, timid or nervous. They can be good with children, however it is important that the child display leadership toward the dog so that the dog understands who the master is. Toy poodles can bark frequently if not given proper rules and limits.

  Like toy poodles, miniature schnauzers are also very intelliegent dogs. They are quite social and should get along well with children. They are docile and happy dogs which have been known to make wonderful family pets. It is important to socialize them around other dogs. They do not have a shrill bark, but rather a lower-range howl type of bark.

Exercise

• Toy poodles can thrive in city, suburban and country life. They should be exercised regularly so that they are calm indoors. They can do fine without a yard as long as they have a daily walk. Because they are intelligent, they need to be tired to avoid becoming bored.

  Miniature schnauzers make excellent house pets, however they do require daily exercise. They can thrive with brisk long walks, and should be taught to heel to the owner. Schnauzers tend to gain weight easily, so a good diet and regular exercise is important to maintain healthy weight.

Grooming

• Toy poodles have a hypoallergenic coat and do not shed. However, the curly hair may easily mat and grow long so it is necessary to get regular grooming. The teeth also need to be scaled regularly.

  Miniature schnauzers should be brushed often to avoid matting. They shed very little and are good for allergy sufferers. The hair around the eyes needs to be kept short and whiskers need to be cleaned regularly, especially after meals.

Health and Longevity

• On average, toy poodles live 12 to 15 years, but they have been known to live longer. Some poodles can have health issues such as diabetes, epilepsy and immune mediated hemolytic anemia among other things. Dogbreedinfo.com reports that toy poodles can also suffer from eye problems, such as cataracts and progressive retinal atrophy.

  Miniature schnauzers live 15 years on average. They age very well and do not show age until late in life. According to dogbreedinfo.com, these dogs are "prone to liver disease, kidney stones, diabetes, skin disorders, von Willebrand's disease, and cysts." They may also suffer from eye problems.