The History of Schnauzers

The schnauzer has received much attention and notoriety since its creation in the 15th century. Known for its sturdy build and spunky personality, the schnauzer has become quite popular among pet owners. Schnauzers typically make good family dogs as they are loyal, have good temperaments and are generally well-behaved. In order to understand the nature of the schnauzer, it is often helpful to take a look into its history.

  1. The Facts

    • Schnauzers come in three sizes: miniature, standard and giant. The miniature schnauzer is about 12 to 14 inches tall at the withers and has a stocky build. Standard schnauzers are typically about 18 to 20 inches tall, while giants reach about 26 to 28 inches in height. Schnauzers have wiry hair that is typically gray, gray and white or black.

    Schnauzer Creation

    • Hailing from Germany, the schnauzer was created by combining a few different breeds. According to the website "DogBreedInfo," standard schnauzers were the first variation of the breed and are descendents of German pinschers. Miniature schnauzers were bred by mating standard schnauzers with either affenpincshers or poodles. Giant schnauzers were developed by breeding standard schnauzers with Great Danes or Bouvier des Flandres dogs. Over time, the schnauzer variations became their own breed and only needed to mate with each other to create more schnauzers.

    Breed Jobs

    • Schnauzers are highly intelligent and generally obedient dogs, which is why throughout history they've always had jobs. Standard schnauzers worked as messenger dogs in World War I, in addition to vermin hunters, stable and livestock guards and retrievers. Giant schnauzers were used as cattle-driving dogs in Bavaria, as well as guard dogs for the police and military, according to the website "DogBreedInfo."

    Breed History

    • The miniature schnauzer was exhibited as its own breed in 1899, according to the American Kennel Club. They have been bred in the Unites States since 1925, and in 1933, the American Miniature Schnauzer Club was formed. The standard schnauzer was recognized and enlisted as a part of the working gropu of the American Kennel Club in 1904. The giant schnauzer became a part of the working group in the American Kennel Club in 1930.

    Name Origin

    • The name of this breed is derived from the German word "schnauze," which means muzzle. This word was chosen to describe and name the schnauzer because of the breed's distinct, standard haircut, in which the mustache and beard hang well below the dog's face.