The Standard Schnauzer is the original breed of the three breeds of Schnauzer, and despite its wiry coat and general appearance, is not related to the British terriers. Rather, its origins in old herding and guard breeds of Europe. Generally classified as a working or utility dog, this versatile breed is a robust, squarely built, medium-sized dog with aristocratic bearing. It was claimed that a popular subject of painters Sir Joshua Reynolds, Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt, but actual proof remains elusive.
Standard Schnauzers are either salt-and-pepper or black in color, and are known for exhibiting many of the “ideal” characteristics of each breed. These include high intelligence, agility, alertness, reliability, strength and endurance. This breed of dog is very popular in Europe, especially Germany, where it originated. The breed was exhibited for the first time at a show in Hanover in 1879, and since then have taken top honors in many shows including the prestigious “Best in Show at Westminster Kennel Club” in the United States in 1997.
In the Middle Ages, schnauzer-like dogs of medium size were developed based on herding, betrayed and guardian breeds in Western Europe. A dog of the peasant for centuries, with the arrival of the dog in the 19th century they finally caught the interest of the German dog lovers who began their appearance and temperament standardize the show ring.
Standard Schnauzers were mixed with the German Black standard poodle and the German Pinscher. That’s what gives it a Standard Schnauzer “royal” look. Could pups from a litter in the earliest days of the show schnauzer, has either a German Pinscher (shorthaired pups) or schnauzers (long shaggy-coated pups), only depend on coat length. And was swept away to the original German Pinscher breed during the First World War (it has since been reduced from several stock) [citation needed] The pepper-and-salt coat that is the trademark of the Standard Schnauzer breed in North America could be seen German Pincher (the silberpinsch), showing that the close relationship between the two races in the modern era. It was also in the late 19th century that the medium-sized schnauzer was developed in three different varieties / sizes: Miniature, the default (original), and Giant.
Speaking about the more distant origins of the breed, writers from the late 19th century suggested that the gray and black German Spitz pudles contributed to the early development of schnauzer, but this should be confirmed through genetic work.
The three schnauzer breeds derive their name from one of their kind, a medium sized show dog named “Schnauzer” which won the 1879 Hanover Show in Germany. The word Schnauzer (from the German word for “snout”, recalling the long hairs on the muzzle) first appeared in 1842, when used as a synonym for the Wire-haired Pinscher (the name under which the race for the first time shows dog). The schnauzer is the first in the United States imported in the early 1900s.
Apearance
Are characterized by the long beards and eyebrows, Standard Schnauzers are almost always pepper and salt, and less often black in color, with a stiff wiry coat on the body is equal to that of other shaggy varieties. The hair will continue to grow in length without properly, but contrary to popular belief Standard Schnauzers are not hypo-allergenic and they throw to a certain extent. The more wiry – and correct and weather-resistant – the coat, the more that the coat will shed, though the hair dropped from a single dog is said to be the almost unnoticeable.
Grooming
Twice a year, when most other breeds of dog are shedding their coat, a Schnauzer coat will attract boring and relatively easy to be and is said to have ‘blown’. The jacket can be at this point or stripped by hand and a new extruded jacket will grow in its place. Stripping is not painful for the dog and can be performed at any stage of hair growth, even easier to do it if the coat is ‘blown’.
As an alternative, the coat may be a regular cut with scissors. Cut strips opposite to a loss of the wiry texture and some of the fullness of the coat. Dogs with clipped fur no longer ‘blow’ their coat but the coat loses its wiry texture and becomes soft. The fur of clipped dogs are often more prone to tangles and knots, particularly when long, and is dull in color than that of stripped layers. For the salt and pepper Schnauzers, the characteristic striped hair completely lost when maintained through clipping; each shaft of hair becomes entirely gray rather than striped with multiple shades of gray, white and black.
Clipping is most common in the US as it can be difficult to find a professional willing to hand strip (the process is quite labor intensive). In Europe it is very uncommon to have a wire coated dog looking cut. It may not be possible to hand strip a poor quality coat, ie that soft in texture, but soft coats (while relatively common in pet quality Miniature Schnauzers) are not a widespread problem in Standards.
Independent of whether the body of the coat is stripped or clipped the ‘furnishings’ or longer hair scissored or clipped regularly and require daily brushing on the legs and face to remain free of potentially painful mats. Whether a Schnauzer is stripped or clipped, his coat requires a great deal of care. In most cases this means an owner must either take care to learn the required care – which breeder dog should be a great resource – or the owner to their dog in a regular, often expensive, trips to a groomer.
Docking and cropping
In the US and Canada, ears and tail and dewclaws are typically docked as a puppy. Veterinarians or experienced breeders will cut tails and dewclaws between 3 and 7 days old. Tails are traditionally linked to around three vertebrae. Shortening the ears is usually performed at about 10 weeks old in a veterinary clinic. Many breeders in North America have begun only those puppies retained for show purposes, or those puppies whose owners to cut questions. There is still something of a bias against natural ears in the North American show ring. However, there is a growing sentiment among breeders and judges that both ear types are equally show-worthy, and enjoy many North American show breeders of both cropped and natural eared dogs in their kennels. However, unlike in Europe, the majority of North American breeders believe that the choice to cut the ears and / or tails should continue to breeders and owners to stay. Outside North America, most Standard Schnauzers retain both their natural ears and tail as docking is now prohibited by law in many countries.
Temperament
The smallest of the working breeds, the Standard schnauzer makes loyal family dog with guardian instincts. Most will protect their home from uninvited visitors with a deep and robust bark. Originally a German farmdog, they adapt well to any climatic condition, including cold winters. In general, they are usually good with children and once in Germany as a “child watchers”. Were If properly trained and socialized early to different ages of people, races and temperaments, they can be very patient and tolerant in any situation. Like other working dogs, Standard Schnauzers require a fairly strong-willed owner that can be consistent and firm with training and commands.
Standard Schnauzers also widely known as intelligent and easy to train his. They are called the “dog with a human brain”, and are in Stanley Coren’s book The Intelligence of Dogs, rated 18 of the 80 races on the ability to learn new commands and to obey known commands. Standard Schnauzers are extremely versatile, excelling at dog sports such as agility, obedience, tracking, Disc dog, Flyball and herding. Members of the breed have been used in the past 30 years in the United States as for bomb detection, search and rescue, and skin and lung cancer detection.
Standard Schnauzers will be rambunctious Like most working dogs, up to about the age of two years; and lots of exercise will keep them busy. Owners must be prepared to stimulate their Schnauzer every day, even in their old age. Mentally and physically Like other high-intelligence breeds, a bored Schnauzer is a destructive Schnauzer.
According to the Standard Schnauzer Club of America, “The Standard Schnauzer is considered a high-energy dog. They need plenty of exercise, not only for the physical well-being, but also for the emotional well-being. The minimum should be an adult dog to get is the equivalent of a long walk every day. This walk should be firm enough to keep the dog at a steady pace trot to keep hold. the dog in optimal condition the Standard Schnauzer puppy is constantly exploring, learning and testing his boundaries. If adults, they are always ready for a walk in the woods, a ride in the car, training or any other activity that allows them to their owner. This is a breed that knows how to relax even when the signaling, by the feet of their owner. [4]
Generally, the Standard Schnauzer is a very healthy breed. The 2008 health survey done by the Standard Schnauzer Club of America revealed that approximately only 1% of dogs surveyed had serious health problems is to find the final, full report here, but a general summary is as follows .:
Data collected for 10-15% of eligible dogs;
Median life 12.9 years
Only a few serious diseases were noted;
Potentially serious conditions in less than 1% of the dogs
Clearly progress has been made in reducing the incidence of hip dysplasia
The two major hereditary within the breed are: hip dysplasia and hereditary eye disease. Both problems can be tested and identified in breeding stock before they recommend along the migration to the next generation, so the Standard Schnauzer Club of America that every kennel test their breeding stock for hip and eye problems before breeding and to breed only healthy animals.
However, it is entirely up to breeders whether they choose to health test their animals and whether they choose use breeding despite knowing that she tested positive for carrying a genetic disease. The SSCA also encourages all potential buyers to ask their breeder for up to date OFA and CERF certifications of the parent dogs before buying a puppy.
To find the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals on www.offa.org keep a register of purebred animals that have passed an x-ray screening for hip dysplasia. Dogs must be at least two years old tested OFA. Are The OFA results SSCA Health Survey in 2008 are as follows:
