It is very important to know that there are no "toy" Miniature Schnauzers!! They are merely undersized and possibly mixed breeds that someone is trying to make a quick buck from! We also only have three acceptable colors of Miniature Schnauzer. Those colors are Salt and Pepper, Black,, and Black and Silver. Any other colors are very suspect and may possibly have another breed mixed in somewhere. Below is our breed standard and it is important to know that responsible breeders breed with this and the health and happiness of their dogs in mind!
General Appearance
The Miniature Schnauzer is a
robust, active dog of terrier type, resembling his larger cousin, the Standard
Schnauzer, in general appearance, and of an alert, active disposition. Faults -
Type - Toyishness, ranginess or coarseness.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size - From 12 to
14 inches. He is sturdily built, nearly square in proportion of body
length to height with plenty of bone, and without any suggestion of toyishness.
Disqualifications - Dogs or bitches under 12 inches or over 14 inches.
Head
Eyes - Small, dark brown and deep-set.
They are oval in appearance and keen in expression. Faults - Eyes
light and/or large and prominent in appearance. Ears - When cropped,
the ears are identical in shape and length, with pointed tips. They are in
balance with the head and not exaggerated in length. They are set high on the
skull and carried perpendicularly at the inner edges, with as little bell as
possible along the outer edges. When uncropped, the ears are small and
V-shaped, folding close to the skull. Head - strong and rectangular,
its width diminishing slightly from ears to eyes, and again to the tip of the
nose. The forehead is unwrinkled. The topskull is flat and fairly long.
The foreface is parallel to the topskull, with a slight stop, and it is at
least as long as the topskull. The muzzle is strong in proportion to
the skull; it ends in a moderately blunt manner, with thick whiskers which
accentuate the rectangular shape of the head. Faults - Head coarse and cheeky.
The teeth meet in a scissors bite. That is, the upper front teeth
overlap the lower front teeth in such a manner that the inner surface of the
upper incisors barely touches the outer surface of the lower incisors when the
mouth is closed. Faults - Bite - Undershot or overshot jaw. Level bite.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck -
Strong and well arched, blending into the shoulders, and with the skin fitting
tightly at the throat.
Body- Short and deep, with
the brisket extending at least to the elbows. Ribs are well sprung and deep,
extending well back to a short loin. The underbody does not present a tucked up
appearance at the flank. The backline is straight; it declines slightly
from the withers to the base of the tail. The withers form the highest point of
the body. The overall length from chest to buttock appears to equal the height
at the withers. Faults - Chest too broad or shallow in brisket. Hollow or roach
back. Tail - set high and carried erect. It is docked only long enough
to be clearly visible over the backline of the body when the dog is in proper
length of coat. A properly presented Miniature Schnauzer will have a docked
tail as described; all others should be severely penalized. Fault - Tail set
too low.
Forequarters
Forelegs are straight and parallel when
viewed from all sides. They have strong pasterns and good bone. They are
separated by a fairly deep brisket which precludes a pinched front. The elbows
are close, and the ribs spread gradually from the first rib so as to allow
space for the elbows to move close to the body. Fault - Loose elbows. The
sloping shoulders are muscled, yet flat and clean. They are well laid back, so
that from the side the tips of the shoulder blades are in a nearly vertical
line above the elbow. The tips of the blades are placed closely together. They
slope forward and downward at an angulation which permits the maximum forward
extension of the forelegs without binding or effort. Both the shoulder blades
and upper arms are long, permitting depth of chest at the brisket. Feet short
and round (cat feet) with thick, black pads. The toes are arched and
compact.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters have strong-muscled,
slanting thighs. They are well bent at the stifles. There is sufficient
angulation so that, in stance, the hocks extend beyond the tail. The
hindquarters never appear overbuilt or higher than the shoulders. The rear
pasterns are short and, in stance, perpendicular to the ground and, when viewed
from the rear, are parallel to each other. Faults - Sickle hocks, cow hocks,
open hocks or bowed hindquarters.
Coat
Double, with hard, wiry, outer coat and close
undercoat. The head, neck, ears, chest, tail, and body coat must be plucked.
When in show condition, the body coat should be of sufficient length to
determine texture. Close covering on neck, ears and skull. Furnishings are
fairly thick but not silky. Faults - Coat too soft or too smooth and slick in
appearance.
Color
Allowed colors: salt and pepper,
black and silver and solid black. All colors have uniform skin pigmentation,
i.e. no white or pink skin patches shall appear anywhere on the dog and the
nose must be solid black.
Salt and Pepper - The typical salt and pepper
color of the topcoat results from the combination of black and white banded
hairs and solid black and white unbanded hairs, with the banded hairs
predominating. Acceptable are all shades of salt and pepper, from the light to
dark mixtures with tan shadings permissible in the banded or unbanded hair of
the topcoat. In salt and pepper dogs, the salt and pepper mixture fades out to
light gray or silver white in the eyebrows, whiskers, cheeks, under throat,
inside ears, across chest, under tail, leg furnishings, and inside hind legs.
It may or may not also fade out on the underbody. However, if so, the lighter
underbody hair is not to rise higher on the sides of the body than the front
elbows.
Black and Silver - The black and silver generally follows the
same pattern as the salt and pepper. The entire salt and pepper section must be
black. The black color in the topcoat of the black and silver is a true rich
color with black undercoat. The stripped portion is free from any fading or
brown tinge and the underbody should be dark.
Black - Black is the only
solid color allowed. Ideally, the black color in the topcoat is a true rich
glossy color with the undercoat being less intense, a soft matting shade of
black. This is natural and should not be penalized in any way. The stripped
portion is free from any fading or brown tinge. The scissored and clippered
areas have lighter shades of black. A small white spot on the chest is
permitted, as is an occasional single white hair elsewhere on the body.
Disqualifications - Dogs not of an allowed color or white striping, patching,
or spotting on the colored areas of the dog, except for the small white spot
permitted on the chest of the black. The body coat color in salt and pepper and
black and silver dogs fades out to light gray or silver white under the throat
and across the chest. Between them there exists a natural body coat color. Any
irregular or connecting blaze or white mark in this section is considered a
white patch on the body, which is also a disqualification. Nose any color other
than solid black.
Gait
The trot is the gait at which movement is judged.
When approaching, the forelegs, with elbows close to the body, move straight
forward, neither too close nor too far apart. Going away, the hind legs are
straight and travel in the same planes as the forelegs.
Note - It is generally accepted that when a full trot is achieved, the rear
legs continue to move in the same planes as the forelegs, but a very slight
inward inclination will occur. It begins at the point of the shoulder in front
and at the hip joint in the rear. Viewed from the front or rear, the legs are
straight from these points to the pads. The degree of inward inclination is
almost imperceptible in a Miniature Schnauzer that has correct movement. It
does not justify moving close, toeing in, crossing, or moving out at the
elbows. Viewed from the side, the forelegs have good reach, while the hind legs
have strong drive, with good pickup of hocks. The feet turn neither inward nor
outward. Faults - Single tracking, sidegaiting, paddling in front, or hackney
action. Weak rear action.
Temperament
The typical Miniature Schnauzer is alert
and spirited, yet obedient to command. He is friendly, intelligent and willing
to please. He should never be overaggressive or timid.
Disqualifications
Dogs or bitches
under 12 inches or over 14 inches.
Dogs not of an allowed
color or white striping, patching, or spotting on the
colored areas of the dog, except for the small white spot permitted on the
chest of the black. The body coat color in salt and pepper and black and silver
fades out to light gray or silver white under the throat and across the chest.
Between them there exists a natural body coat color. Any irregular or
connecting blaze or white mark in this section is considered a white patch on
the body, which is also a disqualification.
Nose any color other
than solid black.
Approved July 10, 2012
Effective September 04,
2012
The Miniature Schnauzer is a
robust, active dog of terrier type, resembling his larger cousin, the Standard
Schnauzer, in general appearance, and of an alert, active disposition. Faults -
Type - Toyishness, ranginess or coarseness.
Size, Proportion, Substance
Size - From 12 to
14 inches. He is sturdily built, nearly square in proportion of body
length to height with plenty of bone, and without any suggestion of toyishness.
Disqualifications - Dogs or bitches under 12 inches or over 14 inches.
Head
Eyes - Small, dark brown and deep-set.
They are oval in appearance and keen in expression. Faults - Eyes
light and/or large and prominent in appearance. Ears - When cropped,
the ears are identical in shape and length, with pointed tips. They are in
balance with the head and not exaggerated in length. They are set high on the
skull and carried perpendicularly at the inner edges, with as little bell as
possible along the outer edges. When uncropped, the ears are small and
V-shaped, folding close to the skull. Head - strong and rectangular,
its width diminishing slightly from ears to eyes, and again to the tip of the
nose. The forehead is unwrinkled. The topskull is flat and fairly long.
The foreface is parallel to the topskull, with a slight stop, and it is at
least as long as the topskull. The muzzle is strong in proportion to
the skull; it ends in a moderately blunt manner, with thick whiskers which
accentuate the rectangular shape of the head. Faults - Head coarse and cheeky.
The teeth meet in a scissors bite. That is, the upper front teeth
overlap the lower front teeth in such a manner that the inner surface of the
upper incisors barely touches the outer surface of the lower incisors when the
mouth is closed. Faults - Bite - Undershot or overshot jaw. Level bite.
Neck, Topline, Body
Neck -
Strong and well arched, blending into the shoulders, and with the skin fitting
tightly at the throat.
Body- Short and deep, with
the brisket extending at least to the elbows. Ribs are well sprung and deep,
extending well back to a short loin. The underbody does not present a tucked up
appearance at the flank. The backline is straight; it declines slightly
from the withers to the base of the tail. The withers form the highest point of
the body. The overall length from chest to buttock appears to equal the height
at the withers. Faults - Chest too broad or shallow in brisket. Hollow or roach
back. Tail - set high and carried erect. It is docked only long enough
to be clearly visible over the backline of the body when the dog is in proper
length of coat. A properly presented Miniature Schnauzer will have a docked
tail as described; all others should be severely penalized. Fault - Tail set
too low.
Forequarters
Forelegs are straight and parallel when
viewed from all sides. They have strong pasterns and good bone. They are
separated by a fairly deep brisket which precludes a pinched front. The elbows
are close, and the ribs spread gradually from the first rib so as to allow
space for the elbows to move close to the body. Fault - Loose elbows. The
sloping shoulders are muscled, yet flat and clean. They are well laid back, so
that from the side the tips of the shoulder blades are in a nearly vertical
line above the elbow. The tips of the blades are placed closely together. They
slope forward and downward at an angulation which permits the maximum forward
extension of the forelegs without binding or effort. Both the shoulder blades
and upper arms are long, permitting depth of chest at the brisket. Feet short
and round (cat feet) with thick, black pads. The toes are arched and
compact.
Hindquarters
The hindquarters have strong-muscled,
slanting thighs. They are well bent at the stifles. There is sufficient
angulation so that, in stance, the hocks extend beyond the tail. The
hindquarters never appear overbuilt or higher than the shoulders. The rear
pasterns are short and, in stance, perpendicular to the ground and, when viewed
from the rear, are parallel to each other. Faults - Sickle hocks, cow hocks,
open hocks or bowed hindquarters.
Coat
Double, with hard, wiry, outer coat and close
undercoat. The head, neck, ears, chest, tail, and body coat must be plucked.
When in show condition, the body coat should be of sufficient length to
determine texture. Close covering on neck, ears and skull. Furnishings are
fairly thick but not silky. Faults - Coat too soft or too smooth and slick in
appearance.
Color
Allowed colors: salt and pepper,
black and silver and solid black. All colors have uniform skin pigmentation,
i.e. no white or pink skin patches shall appear anywhere on the dog and the
nose must be solid black.
Salt and Pepper - The typical salt and pepper
color of the topcoat results from the combination of black and white banded
hairs and solid black and white unbanded hairs, with the banded hairs
predominating. Acceptable are all shades of salt and pepper, from the light to
dark mixtures with tan shadings permissible in the banded or unbanded hair of
the topcoat. In salt and pepper dogs, the salt and pepper mixture fades out to
light gray or silver white in the eyebrows, whiskers, cheeks, under throat,
inside ears, across chest, under tail, leg furnishings, and inside hind legs.
It may or may not also fade out on the underbody. However, if so, the lighter
underbody hair is not to rise higher on the sides of the body than the front
elbows.
Black and Silver - The black and silver generally follows the
same pattern as the salt and pepper. The entire salt and pepper section must be
black. The black color in the topcoat of the black and silver is a true rich
color with black undercoat. The stripped portion is free from any fading or
brown tinge and the underbody should be dark.
Black - Black is the only
solid color allowed. Ideally, the black color in the topcoat is a true rich
glossy color with the undercoat being less intense, a soft matting shade of
black. This is natural and should not be penalized in any way. The stripped
portion is free from any fading or brown tinge. The scissored and clippered
areas have lighter shades of black. A small white spot on the chest is
permitted, as is an occasional single white hair elsewhere on the body.
Disqualifications - Dogs not of an allowed color or white striping, patching,
or spotting on the colored areas of the dog, except for the small white spot
permitted on the chest of the black. The body coat color in salt and pepper and
black and silver dogs fades out to light gray or silver white under the throat
and across the chest. Between them there exists a natural body coat color. Any
irregular or connecting blaze or white mark in this section is considered a
white patch on the body, which is also a disqualification. Nose any color other
than solid black.
Gait
The trot is the gait at which movement is judged.
When approaching, the forelegs, with elbows close to the body, move straight
forward, neither too close nor too far apart. Going away, the hind legs are
straight and travel in the same planes as the forelegs.
Note - It is generally accepted that when a full trot is achieved, the rear
legs continue to move in the same planes as the forelegs, but a very slight
inward inclination will occur. It begins at the point of the shoulder in front
and at the hip joint in the rear. Viewed from the front or rear, the legs are
straight from these points to the pads. The degree of inward inclination is
almost imperceptible in a Miniature Schnauzer that has correct movement. It
does not justify moving close, toeing in, crossing, or moving out at the
elbows. Viewed from the side, the forelegs have good reach, while the hind legs
have strong drive, with good pickup of hocks. The feet turn neither inward nor
outward. Faults - Single tracking, sidegaiting, paddling in front, or hackney
action. Weak rear action.
Temperament
The typical Miniature Schnauzer is alert
and spirited, yet obedient to command. He is friendly, intelligent and willing
to please. He should never be overaggressive or timid.
Disqualifications
Dogs or bitches
under 12 inches or over 14 inches.
Dogs not of an allowed
color or white striping, patching, or spotting on the
colored areas of the dog, except for the small white spot permitted on the
chest of the black. The body coat color in salt and pepper and black and silver
fades out to light gray or silver white under the throat and across the chest.
Between them there exists a natural body coat color. Any irregular or
connecting blaze or white mark in this section is considered a white patch on
the body, which is also a disqualification.
Nose any color other
than solid black.
Approved July 10, 2012
Effective September 04,
2012