Legend's Miniature Schnauzers information - Quality Miniature Schnauzer puppies for sale in Atlanta, Georgia and surrounding area.
The Miniature Schnauzer
The standard says it all! "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."
Miniature Schnauzers are sweet, smart, loving and loyal. Their signature eyebrows and beards give them a very distinct look. They are hardy little dogs, originally bred to be ratters and companions on German farms.
They make excellent companions because they are obedient and quick to learn, extremely devoted, very playful and very affectionate. Their alertness and sometimes vocal nature makes them an excellent watch/alert dog. They delight in chasing (and sometimes catching) small prey; therefore a fenced yard or on-leash walks are recommended.
Miniature Schnauzers are intelligent and learn quickly. Many have excelled in formal obedience trials and in agility competitions. Though the breed was not originally bred to 'go-to-ground' for prey, he will gladly chase rodents wherever they go, including underground. Miniature Schnauzers are eligible to participate in Earthdog trials and some excel at them. There is also a newer dog sport called Barn Hunt that is right up their alley.
Miniature Schnauzers are as much at home in the city with a moderate amount of exercise as they are in the country where they appear tireless. They adapt easily to any change of condition or climate. They need to live as a part of their family, going where they go, doing what they do. Sleeping on the bed, or in his own, being near their people is their greatest joy.
The Miniature Schnauzer does not shed, so they often can be enjoyed by people who are allergic to other breeds of dogs. In return, you must keep them groomed regularly to maintain their handsome appearance.
The Official Standard for the Miniature Schnauzer (click to see full standard)
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.
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.
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