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 are in old herding and guard breeds of Europe. The AKC classifies the Standard Schnauzer as Working Dog; however, this versatile breed is a robust, squarely built, medium-sized dog with aristocratic bearing. It was a popular subject of painters Sir Joshua Reynolds, Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt.
Standard Schnauzers are typically Pepper & Salt or Black in colour, and are known for exhibiting many of the “ideal” traits of any breed. These include high intelligence, agility, alertness, reliability, strong with high endurance, and loving companion. Standard Schnauzers are one of the oldest breeds with over 500 years of history. This breed of dog has been very popular in Europe, specifically Germany where it originated. The breed was first exhibited at a show in Hanover in 1879. They are majestic and regal in the show ring, and have taken top honours in many shows including the prestigious “Best in Show at Westminster Kennel Club” in 1997.
Appearance
Standard Schnauzers are always pepper and salt or less commonly black in colour, with a stiff and wiry fur coat on the body similar to that of other wirehaired breeds such as many breeds of terrier. Their hair will perpetually grow in length without properly shedding. Twice a year, when most other breeds of dog are shedding their coat, a Schnauzer’s coat will become dull and relatively easy to pull out and is said to have ‘blown’. At this point the coat can be stripped or pulled out by hand and a new wire coat will re-grow in its place. Stripping is not painful for the dog and can be performed at any stage of hair growth although it is easier to do when the coat is ‘blown’. Alternatively, the coat can be regularly clipped with shears. Clipping as opposed to stripping results in 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 tends to be more prone to tangling and knots, particularly when long, and is duller in colour than that of stripped coats. In the case of the salt and pepper Schnauzers, the characteristic banded colour of the hair is completely lost when maintained through clipping; each shaft of hair becomes entirely grey rather than being banded with multiple shades of grey, white, and black. Regardless of whether the body of the coat is stripped or clipped the ‘furnishings’ or longer hair on the legs and face must be scissored or clipped regularly and require regular brushing to remain free of potentially painful mats. Whether a Schnauzer is stripped or clipped, his coat requires a great deal of grooming. In most cases this means regular brushing on the part of the owner and regular, often expensive, trips to a grooming salon.
Clipping is most common in the US as it can be difficult to locate a professional willing to hand strip as the process is quite labour intensive. In Europe it is very uncommon to see a wirecoated dog which is clipped. It may not be possible to hand strip a poor quality coat, i.e. one that is soft in texture, but soft coats, while relatively common in pet quality Miniature Schnauzers, is not a widespread problem in Standards.
Inside the US and Canada, ears and tail and dewclaws are typically docked as a puppy. Vets or experienced breeders will cut tails and dewclaws at a few days of age, while ear cropping is usually performed at about 10 weeks. Outside of North America, most Standard Schnauzers retain both their natural ears and tail as docking is now prohibited by law in Europe. Like the Miniature Schnauzer and Giant Schnauzer, these breeds are most noted by their long beard and eyebrows giving them a regal and wise appearance. It is important to note, the Miniature Schnauzer and Giant Schnauzer were bred from the Standard Schnauzer using additions of smaller and larger breeds respectively to change the size and, to some degree, the character of the dog. Thus the Standard Schnauzer is the original and oldest breed of Schnauzer.
Standard Schnauzer males ideally are 18-20 inches high at the shoulders and weigh 35-50 pounds. The females ideally are 17-19 inches high at the shoulders and generally weigh 30-45 pounds.
Temperament
The Standard Schnauzer Club of America states that “The Standard Schnauzer is a squarely built, very energetic, medium-sized dog with a stiff, wiry coat. It is a robust and sturdy working dog, yet small enough in stature not to be overwhelming.” Standard schnauzers make loyal family dogs with guardian instincts. Most will protect their home from uninvited visitors with a deep and robust bark. The breed is also known to be intelligent and easy to train. They adapt well to any climatic conditions, including cold winters. In general, they are good with kids and adults alike. It is, however, important to socialise from the start. If properly trained, they can be very patient and tolerant. Like other working dogs, standard schnauzers require a fairly strong-willed owner that can be consistent and firm with training and commands. They are ranked 18th in Stanley Coren’s The Intelligence of Dogs, being of excellent working/obedience intelligence.
According to the SSDA, “The Standard Schnauzer is considered a high-energy dog. They need ample exercise not only for physical well-being, but also for emotional well-being. The minimum amount an adult dog should get is the equivalent of a one long walk a day. This walk should be brisk enough to keep the dog at a steady trotting pace in order to keep the dog in prime physical condition. The Standard Schnauzer puppy is constantly exploring, learning and testing his limits. As adults, they are always ready for a walk in the woods, a ride in the car, a training session or any other activity that allows them to be with their owner. This is a breed that knows how to be on the alert, even when relaxing by the feet of their owner. Standard Schnauzers are extremely versatile, excelling at dog sports such as agility, obedience, tracking, Disc dog, Flyball and even herding.
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