Instructions
Determine the height of the dog in question. A full-grown miniature schnauzer stands between 12 and 14 inches at the shoulder. Smaller than this indicates a toy schnauzer, which is nothing more than a short miniature. A toy is not a recognized breed for a schnauzer at this time. Any dog taller than this height indicates a standard schnauzer.
Weigh the dog. A miniature schnauzer in good health will weigh in between 11 and 20 pounds. Show dogs must conform to those measurements in order to qualify for competition.
Check the coloring of the dog. The most common colors for schnauzers are black and white, often referred to as salt and pepper. Full black and full white schnauzers are also recognized, although they are not common.
Pet the dog. A schnauzer's coat is wiry and curly. It is not silky and smooth like hair. A dog with a proper schnauzer cut will also have a beard and a skirt. That hair is very silky smooth. The tail of a schnauzer is typically a small stub but will often have a flag of silken hair as well.
Examine the ears of the dog. A schnauzer's ears are small and bend toward the face.
Watch the animal in question. Miniature schnauzers have a very alert look. They are friendly little dogs who interact well with other animals and people. Schnauzers are very quick and will bark some. When a schnauzer barks, she will often lift her muzzle to the sky and nearly sit as she speaks.
How to Identify a Miniature Schnauzer
Telling the difference between the wide variety of dog breeds takes some expertise. There are three recognized breeds of schnauzer to look for. And even pure-bred schnauzer who is not sporting a traditional schnauzer hair cut is nearly unrecognizable to the untrained eye. Read on for some simple guidelines to determine a miniature schnauzer from the crowd.