Miniature Schnauzer Grooming Tips

Miniature schnauzers are terriers that stand about a foot high and weight up to 18 pounds. They range in color from black to almost white, with a salt-and-pepper gray the most common color variation. They have dense, wiry outer coats and silky undercoats. Miniature schnauzers are usually trimmed with feathers on their legs and a distinctive beard, with the rest of the body clipped close. Here are some tips for grooming your miniature schnauzer.

  1. Equipment

    • Use good quality equipment appropriate to a schnauzer's coat and unique grooming needs. Professional groomer Diane Ykelenstam recommends, in addition to the usual electric clippers, scissors, and shears used for almost all dogs, thinning shears, a slicker brush and a pin comb.

    Bathing

    • Bathe your schnauzer regularly. Schnauzers can often have oily coats that require more frequent bathing than other dog breeds. If your schnauzer spends a lot of time outside or likes to play in the dirt, you'll need to bathe him about once a week. After a bath, don't rub the schnauzer's beard or the feathers on his legs, but gently squeeze the water out. Use a gentle shampoo such as a specialty pet shampoo or baby shampoo.

    Basic grooming essentials

    • Groom your schnauzer's beard and legs several times a week. The dense hair of the beard and leg furnishings, as breeders and groomers call them, can get matted easily. Brush out your dog's beard and feathers at least a few times a week, if not every day. Use the pin brush to gently remove mats and tangles. Keep the beard and legs trimmed neatly. Ykelenstam also recommends regular eyebrow trims using blunt-nosed scissors and a comb. Be sure to put your hand over your dog's eyes when you trim his eyebrows both to protect his eyes and to keep stray hair from falling into his eyes. Clip belly hair and hair around the dog's tail every two months to keep the area clean and neat. Always clip in the direction of hair growth.

    Rewards

    • Reward your schnauzer for good behavior during grooming. Even it it's a short grooming session tidying up her beard, give your dog a treat when she sits nicely and doesn't resist being groomed. Over time, your schnauzer will look forward to having her beard and eyebrows done, her legs brushed and her tummy clipped.