Standard Schnauzer

Characteristics

Health & Longevity

Average Life Span: 12-14 years
The Standard Schnauzer is considered to be a breed that is generally healthy and does not suffer from many problems. While your pup may be healthy and the breed may not have many medical conditions and diseases, some do exist.

If you want to have a healthy pup, it is important that you work with a breeder who is responsible and tests his or her dogs to ensure none of them will pass down any genetic conditions during breeding.

Some of the medical issues you need to be concerned about include hip dysplasia, eye problems, and dermatitis.

Hip dysplasia is a condition that occurs in larger breed dogs, but it can also commonly occur in your Standard Schnauzer. This condition affects the hip joint and socket in your pup. When this condition is present, your pup may develop arthritis. Hip dysplasia can be quite crippling.

Eye problems may occur in your Standard Schnauzer. They can range from a simple eye infection to cataracts and even blindness when eye diseases are present. It is important that you have your pup’s eyes screened to ensure that any conditions are caught early on and treated.

Dermatitis may affect your Standard Schnauzer which is a skin condition that causes itching, skin irritation, and even inflammation. Typically, your veterinarian will treat this condition with topical or oral medication.

The Standard Schnauzer has a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years.

Temperament & Train-ability

The Standard Schnauzer is a free spirit and enjoys life to the fullest. You will find that this pup is a wonderful companion and is often looked to as one. This pup does have a loving side and will provide you with the affection you want from your dog.

This breed does have a brave and courageous side to them as well, which makes them a wonderful guard dog. Your pup will protect you when he or she feels the timing calls for it. This breed is alert and may vocalize a warning to you when a stranger approaches or when your pup feels a threat may be present.

You should know that if your Standard Schnauzer thinks that you are in danger, he or she has the ability to become aggressive, so it is important to handle training appropriately.

Many Standard Schnauzers like to be indoors and do not like the hot weather. With this said, your pup will play outside and will still require some exercise. If you have a yard, you should let your pup run around in it, but if you do not, a walk or two per day is generally sufficient.

Your Standard Schnauzer can become destructive in your home if they are left alone or if they are not given the attention that they need. You will find this breed generally gets along with children and pets in the house, but early socialization is needed to ensure that this is the case.

Training of this breed is pretty easy because of this breed’s intelligence. You will find that your Standard Schnauzer wants to please you and will work hard to do so. Sometimes, you may run into a stubborn streak or two and you will notice that your Standard Schnauzer outsmarts you and ignores your commands.

When it comes to training, make sure that you remain consistent and firm. You want to avoid harsh training methods, as this will not get you far or be very effective.

Grooming

The Standard Schnauzer is considered relatively easy to groom, but your pup does have a few grooming requirements that you must be ready to tackle. This breed has a light top coat and a dense undercoat, which means that you will need to spend time on the undercoat and brush it at a minimum of once per week to keep it smooth.

You should brush your pup’s outer coat at least once per day to ensure mats and tangles are free and clear. You will notice that this breed does not shed a lot, which is perfect for those who do not want to clean up the hair.

You will need to take your Standard Schnauzer to the groomer at least a few times per year to receive a trim. In the meantime, you should trim your pup’s mustache, beard, and eyebrows.

Your Standard Schnauzer does not need a regular bath and should only be bathed when needed. In fact, you could have your pup bathed when he or she heads to the groomer.

It is important that you check and clean your pup’s ears at least once per week to ensure they are free and clear of buildup. Lastly, always trim your pup’s nails once a month or so to make sure that they do not grow too long.

Diet

Your Standard Schnauzer will consume anywhere between 1.5 cups and 2.5 cups of food per day. It is important that your pup receives the proper amount of nutrition in his or her diet to ensure that he or she grows properly and lives a healthy life.

When it comes time to choose a dry kibble for your pup, you should look for one that does not contain any fillers or by-products.
 

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Standard Schnauzer Puppies For Sale

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Cost

Your Standard Schnauzer puppy will cost you close to $1,200 to purchase. You will find that the price of this breed fluctuates depending on the demand for it.

Paws ‘N’ Pups Ranking

Paws ‘N’ Pups ranks every breed out of 4 with 1 being easiest to integrate into your life and 4 being the toughest – The lower the ranking the better.

Ranking takes into account a few basic factors including cost, skill level needed, high vs low maintenance and how critical regular training is to success. The Standard Schnauzer is a great choice and may be the right choice for you if you are ready to have a lively and protective dog in your home. The biggest thing that you need to watch out for with this breed is that he or she may become aggressive if he or she feels that you are in danger. The Standard Schnauzer is a free spirit and courageous. This breed ranks a 2.

 

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