Terriers – Tenacity, Personality and Loyalty
December 6, 2009 by Schnauzer Owner
Filed under Standard Schnauzer
The Terriers are a group of dogs with dozens of individual entrants. Most of these dogs have some common traits, including the fact that they’re almost always tenacious at whatever task life has handed them. Terriers range from the very small to the very large, from those with rather snappish tendencies to the very tolerant. And there are even some that have little or no hair.
The American Hairless Terrier is one of those with no hair. Many adults weigh in at no more than six or seven pounds. They tend to have white or pink skin with spots just like a Rat Terrier would have, but with no hair. If you think that breeding these hairless Terriers to a haired dog is a good idea, think twice. The result is sometimes a dog that has random tufts of hair.
The Black Russian Terriers are sometimes called Bear Schnauzers. The Schnauzer is among the direct ancestors of this breed that was created by the Soviets for use as a military dog. The breed today has been standardized and is often used as a watch or guard dog. These Terriers grow to be well over 120 pounds, but are much more suited to indoor living than life in a kennel.
Patterdale Terriers are smaller Terriers, usually only ten to twelve pounds. These dogs are usually calm – a trait not so common in Terriers. The breed is common to England, but not so well known around the world.
The West Highland Terrier – also known as the Westie – is the epitome of all things Terrier. These dogs are lively and alert, always anxious to be included in anything that’s going on within his territory and ready to stick his nose into everyone else’s activities. These little guys tend to like their people and simply exude the fact that they are secure in their rule over their part of the universe!
Dandy Dinmont Terriers are very similar to the Westies in many ways. These dogs simply seem to take over any house where they feel comfortable and secure. As is the case with most Terriers, they may be reserved with strangers or those who are not overly kind to them, but their people will never wonder if the Dandy Dinmont is happy to see them.
The German Hunt Terrier exhibits one of the traits common to many Terriers. This little dog has the tenacity to run its game to ground, and a tail that will withstand the strain of a hunter pulling the dog from a hole! Many of the terriers were bred to hunt various game or vermin – the Rat Terrier, for example. Sometimes, the hunter had to pull these tenacious little dogs from the hole to keep them safe and to provide the hunter a clear shot at the prey.
The Terriers as a breed are as diverse as any in the canine world. These dogs range from extremely tolerant to reserved and serve many purposes. Whether you’re hunting, taking an afternoon nap, romping in the park, throwing a stick in the water or tossing a Frisbee, the dog you’re playing with may very well be one of the many Terriers that we call friend.
Exercises For Different Dog Breeds
November 12, 2009 by Schnauzer Owner
Filed under Standard Schnauzer
Dogs of different breeds behave differently and have different physical characteristics. It is therefore advised that different breeds of dogs should get different exercise routines so that they do not get over exhausted or obese. Selecting the right exercise regime for your dog depending on the breed is therefore essential.
Breeds and their exercises
Based on the different classes of breeds, a set of exercises can be determined.
1. Terriers- This class of dog includes breeds such as the Jack Russell Terrier, Irish Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Welsh Terrier and the famous American Pit Bull Terrier. They are highly intelligent and full of energy and can thus manage mind and body games such as obstacle courses and Frisbee. Chasing games are also good for this class of dogs.
2. Companion Dogs/ Toy Dogs- These are generally dogs, which are bred for companionship rather than utility such as Chihuahua, Pug, English bulldog and Shih Tzu. They require only minimal exercises such as walking. However, some breeds, which are also for companionship like the Dalmations and the Yorkshire terriers, need walks that are more vigorous.
3. Hounds- The hounds can be sub classified into two more subtypes: the scent hounds (which are bred to search on the basis of scent e.g. Harrier, Coonhound and Dachshund) and the sight hounds (which are bred to search on the basis of sight e.g. Greyhound, Irish wolfhound and Basenji). They have tendency to switch between work and play and therefore are recommended for walks, runs and hikes.
4. Guardian Dogs- These include breeds like the Bullmastiff, Great Dane, Great Pyrenee, Doberman Pinscher and the Rottweiler. These are strong dogs that can be quite active, however behaviorally they tend to start taking the play quite seriously, which could be problematic. It is therefore recommended that these dogs should be given exercise in the form of runs and obstacle courses but within limits.
5. Northern Dogs- This class includes dogs from breeds like the Chinook, Siberian husky, Malamute and Chow Chow. They are highly active and should be exercised a lot with hiking, runs, games (like sledding) to keep them active.
6. Gun/ Sporting Dogs- This class includes breeds like the Irish Settler, Labrador Retriever, English Cocker Spaniel and the Standard Poodle. Being bred for sports and hunting, these dogs have a lot of stamina and require a lot of exercise. Long walks, hiking and running activities are good. In addition, games like fetch can be played to keep the activity up.
7. Herding Dogs- Breeds, which come under this class, include the English Sheepdog, Welsh Corgi, Collie, Border Collie, German Shepherd, and the Schnauzer. These breeds generally have a moderate to high energy level and are therefore suited to a variety of exercises. Almost any games and sports are good for the dogs, especially runs, walks and challenging hikes.
Thus, depending on which class of breed your dog falls into, you should select an appropriate exercise regime for it. You must also determine the personality of your dog to best choose games and activities, which it can do for its wellbeing.
Best breeds for guard dogs – Part 6
October 28, 2009 by Schnauzer Owner
Filed under Standard Schnauzer
There are several breeds that make good guard dogs. A majority of these dogs are in the working group but also the herding group as well, though almost any dog will at least alert a human to danger or defend the house. An important thing to consider is what breed you can handle. Many of the breeds considered to be guard dogs are strong willed and require an experienced handle. People who are inexperienced with dogs or have submissive personalities should choose very carefully. As with any dog the guard dog needs to be trained and socialized properly. It should be protective should it need to act but should also be well behaved and easily handled. The dog should be able to be handled by any member of the household.
One should either be an experienced trainer or find one to help train the dogs. It is important to be careful of trainers that use harsh training methods and anyone that strikes the dog is to be avoided. I would suggest Schultzhund training for a guard dog. This is a training method that is often used for the training of police and military dogs. It was developed in Germany as sort of an ultimate training course. There are three parts of the training. The first part is obedience. It’s pretty straight forward dealing with responding to basic commands. As the dog gets more experience distractions will be introduced to make the exercises more challenging. The second part is tracking. It’s sort of like search and rescue in a way. Dogs are trained to track either a human or caged animal. No animals are ever harmed in the training if the instructor is reputable. The third part is protection. The exercises are designed to show the dog when and how to bite in order to protect it’s charge. This training should not make the dog aggressive. Please, before purchasing/adopting any dog research the breed.
Suggested List Of Breeds For Guard Dogs
Airedale Terrier, American Bulldog, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Belgian Shepherds (Groenendael, Laekenios, Malenios, Tervuren), Black Russian Terrier, Borzoi, Boxer, Briard, Bulldog, Bullmastiff, Bull Terrier, Canaan Dog, Cardigan Welsh Corgi, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Doberman Pinscher, Dogue De Bordeaux, Great Pyrenees, Irish Terrier, Jindo, Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, Rottweiler, Shar Pei, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Standard Schnauzer
A look at designer dog breeds – Part 4
October 25, 2009 by Schnauzer Owner
Filed under Standard Schnauzer
Designer Dogs – New At Neiman Marcus
Did you know Ralph Lauren now makes a dog? Have you checked your Cockapoo for a DKNY stamp on its’ butt? Designer dogs are all the rage in these days of “must have what Paris has”.
The actual usage of the term “designer dog” means, of course, that the dog has been bred by design to encourage certain traits (and discourage others).
This is a tricky business, unless you are breeding for sheer “cuteness”, flip a coin as to whether or not you will get the genetic outcome that you seek.
Breeders across America started cross breeding in the 1980’s when it became apparent that the shedding (or non-shedding) gene in poodles appeared to be quite dominant and easily transferred to puppies almost regardless of the other “parent”. The usual pet allergy is an allergy to the dander, not necessarily to the pet hair. Dander is the combination of dead skin cells, skin oils, dirt, dust, and anything else that “sloughs” off of a dog’s coat.
All Dogs Shed.
All dogs shed hair if they have hair. That being said, some breeds do not shed dander in the form of oils and allergens. Poodles have been long known as THE “non-shedding” breed, others include: the Bichon Frise, the Schnauzer, the Soft-coated Wheaton Terrier. These are also the most popular for cross-breeding. When checking into a designer dog breed (or any puppy), look for a reputable breeder. This is crucial for making sure you are getting what you want; it is easy to pass off a poorly bred puppy as a designer dog, do you know the difference between an over/poorly bred Poodle and a Cockapoo? Be sure to LOOK at both dame and sire in person. Puppies should have the attributes of BOTH parents, or may look exactly like one. It is still highly recommended that purebred to purebred returns the best results: Pure Cocker x Pure Poodle, Pure Schnauzer x Pure Poodle.
A Few Popular Designer Dog Breeds
Along came a Cocker Spaniel with all of the problems this breed encounters, and hooked up with a Poodle. The Cockapoo was born! Adorable little dogs of 15-25lbs depending on the weight of the parents. If a well bred Cocker mates with a well bred poodle, the results are often: far fewer ear infections, far less shedding, and a sturdier dog that can rough house with the kids.
A feisty Schnauzer met a demure Poodle and a Schnoodle was born. If you have difficulty with the breed name, it may be easier to call these little dogs “bounce”. For that is exactly what they do. Great little guys weighing in around 10-15lbs, will be the biggest “small” dog you ever own! Full of spunk and vigor, they fear nothing, yet run to your lap when things get out of control. Again, very little or no shedding is expected from this breed.
One of the latest designer dog breeds is the Teddy Bear. This is the cross of the Shih Tsu and the Bichon Frise. What a gorgeous puppy this produces, again with very low shedding. A sign should be hung above these pups reading, “My owner must LOVE to comb me!” Still considered to be non-shedding, these pups will lose hair, they are not a double-coated breed and therefore will not “blow” a coat twice a year.
Other popular small designer dog breeds include: LhasaPoo, BichonPoo, YorkiePoo, ShihPoo, MaltePoo, Puggle (Pug x Beagle), Cockaleer (Cavalier King Charles Spaniel x Cocker Spaniel), Cavachon (Cavelier KCS x Bichon), LhasaTese (Lhasa Apso x Maltese), WheatonPoo.
Large breed designer dogs include: Labradoodle (Lab x Standard Poodle), Golden doodle (Golden Retriever x Standard Poodle).
Standard Schnauzer Puppy And Dog Information
February 27, 2009 by Schnauzer Owner
Filed under Standard Schnauzer
The Standard Schnauzer can live in an apartment as it can get most of her exercise needs indoors. They are very protective dogs and should be socialized to people, pets and situations when young. They generally get along with other dogs and pets but again should be socialized. They are said to do well with older children. As a reminder, never leave a child unsupervised with a puppy or dog.
*Approximate Adult Size. The approximate adult size (two years old or older) of the male Standard Schnauzer is 18 to 20 inches to the withers (highest point of the shoulder) and 30 to 45 pounds. The female ranges from 17 to 19 inches to the withers and 30 to 40 pounds.
*Special Health Considerations. Most dog breeds have certain inherited health problems associated with that specific breed and the Standard Schnauzer is no exception. Although considered a very healthy breed, be on the look out for genetic eye diseases, and Canine Hip Dysplasia (genetic based looseness in the hip joint that can lead to arthritis pain and lameness). This disease list is an informative guideline only. Other diseases may also be significant threats, please contact your veterinarian for a complete list.
She should visit the veterinarian several times in the first year for shots, boosters and check up. Then, as an adult, she should visit the veterinarian yearly for shots and check up. As she gets older, six years and on, she should visit the veterinarian twice a year for check ups and shots. Remember; avoid feeding your dog sweets.
*Grooming. The Standard Schnauzer has a double coat. The under coat is soft and thick. The outer coat is thick and wiry and hard. She should be brushed regularly. Brushing will help her maintain a clean and healthy coat, avoid mats, help you keep a closer eye on her health and strengthen your emotional bond with her. Her beard should also be cleaned off after every meal.
Her teeth should be brushed at least twice a week with toothpaste and toothbrush designed for dogs. Brushing removes the accumulation of plaque and tartar which can cause cavities (rarely) and periodontal disease. Dog periodontal disease can lead to pain, loss of teeth, bad breath and other serious disease.
Her toenails may need to be examined for growth and clipped regularly. The toenails of the rear feet grow slower than the toenails of the front feet.
*Life Span. The Standard Schnauzer can live between 12 and 14 years with proper nutrition, medical care and excellent living conditions.
*History. The Standard Schnauzer comes from Germany where it was used for all around farm use. They were first registered by the American Kennel Association in 1904.
Some Registries:
* Standard Schnauzer Club of America
*UKC United Kennel Club
*NKC National Kennel Club
*CKC Continental Kennel Club
*APRI Americas Pet Registry Inc.
*AKC American Kennel Club
*FCI Federation Cynologique Internationale
*NZKC New Zealand Kennel Club
*KCGB = Kennel Club of Great Britain
*ANKC = Australian National Kennel Club
*ACR = American Canine Registry
Litter Size: 4 to 9 Standard Schnauzer puppies
Category: Non Sporting
Terms To Describe: Intelligent, fearless, alert, reliable, robust, sturdy, protective, affectionate,
*SPECIAL GOOD POINTS
Make a good watch dog.
Make a good guard do.
Have almost no dog odor.
Do not shed.
*SPECIAL BAD POINTS
Can be willful.
Needs a dominant owner.
*Other Names Known By: Mittelschnauzer,
*Every dog is an individual so not everything in this information may be correct for your dog. This information is meant as a good faith guideline only.
Standard Schnauzer Maverick – Advanced Obedience Graduate
February 26, 2009 by Schnauzer Owner
Filed under Standard Schnauzer
Maverick is a 23 month old Standard Schnauzer that graduated from the Neuman K-9 Academy pet dog obedience training program. The program covered off-leash commands such as sit, down, heel, sit + stay, down + stay, recall, and etiquette (no jumping up or barging through doors). Neuman K-9 Academy is dog training facility located in Minnesota that provides professional obedience training and boot camp for dogs of all ages. Can you train my dog? Go to www.mndogtraining.com or www.NeuK9.com
Giant Schnauzer Dog Breed Facts And Essential Information
February 23, 2009 by Schnauzer Owner
Filed under Standard Schnauzer
The Schnauzer, as one might expect from the name, is definitely of German origin. The German word “schnauzer” means “muzzle”. In Germany today there are three recognized Schnauzers, the Giant, the Standard and the Miniature.
Among the characteristics that the three Schnauzers have in common is the distinctive look of the head, which has a beard and mustache and heavy brows of hair over the eyes. The body structure is quite square in appearance. The coat is “wire-haired” and harsh, a typical terrier type of coat which is stripped since it will not shed naturally. The colors of salt and pepper or black are most common. The purposes of all three dogs are quite different.
Paintings depict the Standard Schnauzer as early as 1842. The Standard is considered the “foundation stock” of both the Miniature and the Giant. It is believed that the Giant Schnauzer was bred from the Standard Schnauzer by crossbreeding the Standard with some of the larger breeds of the day such as the Great Dane and perhaps the Bouvier des Flandres, a drover’s dog. The Giant schnauzer was meant to serve the function of a drovers dog and a draft dog. The breed served a useful purpose in the farmer’s market guarding produce carts besides pulling the carts to the market. The dogs were also used as livestock guardians.
The height of the male is 25 to 27 inches and of the female, 23 to 25 inches. The American Kennel Club standard remarks that dogs that are too large “lack the agility and maneuverability ” of a working dog and can not perform the work for which they were intended.
The Giant Schnauzer must posses a certain strength and power, what is often called “drive” from the rear quarters in order to pull a cart and so there is good angulation in the rear, with strong straight forelegs and a “well laid back” shoulder, with nearly a right angle at the shoulder, also a necessity for length of stride and powerful pulling. The Giant Schnauzer is a large dog that is still in use today as a general livestock guardian on many German farms, besides being a much loved family guardian and pet. The breed gained popularity after World War I.
The dog was used as a military dog during the war, where it’s strong working abilities were much admired. During the war the dog often served as a messenger dog, often braving the enemy fire to travel to its destination carrying the orders of the day.
It is still used in the world today in some places as a military dog, bomb sniffer and search and rescue dog. The typical personality of this large dog is one of friendliness and willingness to work for people. This is a breed that does not accept harsh punishment. A Giant Schnauzer will do anything for its master, with an extreme sense of loyalty and protection. Positive training will reap great rewards with a Giant Schnauzer.
The Protective Giant Schnauzer
February 22, 2009 by Schnauzer Owner
Filed under Standard Schnauzer
There are three distinct Schnauzer dog breeds. The oldest and progenitor of the other two Schnauzer breeds is the mid-sized Standard Schnauzer or Mittelschnauzer. While this breed probably originated in the Middle Ages, it is the least popular of the Schnauzer breeds with an American Kennel Club (AKC) registration ranking of 99 in 2005. The most popular Schnauzer is the Miniature Schnauzer with an AKC registration ranking of 10 in 2005. The Mini or Zwergschnauzer was originally bred as a rat catcher and watchdog but is now an extremely popular companion dog. The Giant Schnauzer or Reisenschnauzer was bred to be a capable and versatile working dog and was ranked 78 in 2005 AKC registrations.
The German Schnauzers share a common ancestry and genetics with the versatile German Pinscher breeds. At one time the rough-coated Schnauzers and smooth-coated Pinschers were thought to be varieties of the same German Pinscher Breed as they often occurred in the same litter. The smooth puppies were called Pinschers and the rough puppies with furry schnauzes or muzzles were called Schnauzers. The mid-size German Pinscher was also involved in the development of the Doberman, Miniature Pinscher and other Pinscher type breeds. However it is best known for its involvement in the development of the wire-haired Pinscher or Standard Schnauzer which became an official breed when it was exhibited in Germany in the 1870’s.
About the 1850’s farmers around Munich used various large drover cattle dogs to work their cattle and then bred them with Standard Schnauzers and possibly black Great Danes and Bouvier des Flandres. The progeny of this breeding program were then carefully bred with Standard Schnauzers to produce a larger version with similar characteristics. These larger dogs were initially called Mucheners and later Giant Schnauzers or Reisenschnauzers and were used to herd cattle and sheep. The Giants also became prized as guard dogs and watchdogs for butcher shops and breweries. In fact the Giants became less popular as farmer’s cattle dogs and more popular as coach dogs and guard dogs. By the end of the 19 century the Giant Schnauzer became an extremely popular participant at German dog shows. During the First World War, the Giant became an excellent police and security dog and also a battle-tested war dog. Giant Schnauzers were intelligent, powerful, large enough to be a deterrent and easy to train. In Germany the Giant became the dog of choice for police and military work. In the US and Canada, Giants are used for search and rescue work and also at airports for the detection of dangerous or illegal substances.
The first Giants were shipped to North America in the 1920s and by the 1930’s some of the best German breeding stock was in the US. The Giants have excelled in conformation, obedience, agility and schutzhund competitions and when thoroughly socialized make good family pets. However this is not a dog for an inexperienced or novice dog owner as the Reisenschnauzer is a dominant breed which is genetically protective of its family pack and distrustful of strangers. Owning a Giant takes a gigantic commitment to early and on-going socialization with children, other dogs and strangers. Giants can be aggressive toward small pets, other dogs and overly protective of its family’s children when they are playing with others. Small children should be thoroughly supervised when playing around the Giant Schnauzer as the breed will try and dominate them. Giant Schnauzers do best with older family children and are not the best breed for families with young children or other pets. This breed has the potential for assertive and aggressive behavior and the owner must be capable of controlling this powerful dog on its leash when it attempts to get into a fight with another aggressive dog. Giants require lots of time and attention and need lots of human interaction. They are also working dogs and require lots of daily exercise. Giants make fantastic family pets if they are thoroughly socialized and trained when young. All members of the family should be involved in the early training and socialization so that the young Giant doesn’t try to raise itself in the family pack hierarchy and dominate certain family members. All members of the family should use the same consistent approach to dealing with the Giant so it knows that it is at the bottom of the family pack hierarchy. Caution should also be used when strangers come onto the Giant’s property or into its house. The Giant must be thoroughly socialized to accept the visits of strangers when it is a puppy or else it must be locked in its crate to avoid being overly protective of its turf when strangers visit.
Giant Schnauzers have an expected lifespan of about 10 to 12 years. Prospective buyers should ask for the breeding parents Orthopedic Foundation for Animals test results for hip dysplasia. They should also ask about cancer, hypothyroidism, epilepsy and bloat in the breeders specific bloodlines.
Miniature Schnauzers
February 20, 2009 by Schnauzer Owner
Filed under Standard Schnauzer
Miniature Schnauzers
The miniature Schnauzer is the outcome of the result of crossbreeding between the standard size Schnauzer and one or more smaller breeds like Miniature Pinscher or Affenpincher and poodle. The aim was to create a smaller breed of standard Schnauzer which proved successful. Germany is the place where it originated in the early nineteenth century. The breed is one of the favorite and most popular breed in US.
The miniature Schnauzer comes in the color combination of pepper, salt, black and silver. Like any other dog miniature Schnauzer requires proper and regular grooming. But it advisable to include healthcare in grooming as this will help to keep the coat of your pet healthy. The coat over the top is very coarse and hard whereas the undercoat is extremely soft. The wiry coat of Miniature Schnauzer is easy to take care of. It should be trimmed around the eyes and ears and the knots should be clipped if any.
The maximum weight gain is up to fifteen pounds and it can reach to the height of twelve inches. The life expectancy of this miniature breed is around fourteen years and the time spend with the Miniature Schnauzer will always be a quality time. These dogs are bold and courageous and were originally used for guarding small farms, herds and families. They were once used as rat hunter and their small body helped them to get into tight places. Their natural instinct as rat hunter makes this dog untrustworthy when kept around small pets. Any animal smaller to them can suffer the attack of Miniature Schnauzer.
They are very lively and energetic and demands the attention of the owner, if not played with them they invent their own games and derive fun. They are very sensitive and emotional and if ignored by the owner for a long period can lead to depression and further leading to mental and physical deterioration. Miniature Schnauzer enjoys the company of children and knows to be gentle with them; moreover he is a very good companion with larger pets.
They can be easily adjust into the family and can be loving and loyal provided that they get comfortable with the surroundings. They are the excellent watch dogs and barks on those who appear to be a threat for their family. They are very cautious regarding strangers and shall defend vocally and do not resort physically. This breed easily gains weight if fed with balanced diets and regular exercise. In travelling they can prove to be very good companions.
Before and after buying a miniature Schnauzer a through medical checkup along with the inquiry of the medication and immunization should be done to keep you dog with sound health. This breed is considered to be a healthy breed but still it can have some health problems like bladder stones, diabetes and pancreatitis. It should never be fed with chocolates as this can act as poison and can take the life of your dog.
Standard Schnauzer Puppies
February 20, 2009 by Schnauzer Owner
Filed under Standard Schnauzer
Our Standard Schnauzers first litter 9 puppies
