Miniature Schnauzer
The UK Kennel Club copyrights the breed standard
Miniature Schnauzer (updated November 1st 2010)
General Appearance
• Sturdily built, robust, sinewy, nearly square, (length of body equal to height at shoulders)
• Expression keen and attitude alert
• Correct conformation is of more importance than colour or other purely ‘beauty’ points
Characteristics
• Well balanced, smart, stylish and adaptable
Temperament
• Alert, reliable and intelligent. Primarily a companion dog
Head and Skull
• Head strong and of good length, narrowing from ears to eyes and then gradually forward toward end of nose
• Upper part of the head (occiput to the base of forehead) moderately broad between ears
• Flat, creaseless forehead; well muscled but not too strongly developed cheeks
• Medium stop to accentuate prominent eyebrows
• Powerful muzzle ending in a moderately blunt line, with bristly, stubby moustache and chin whiskers
• Ridge of nose straight and running almost parallel to extension of forehead
• Nose black with wide nostrils
• Lips tight but not overlapping
Eyes
• Medium-sized, dark, oval, set forward, with arched bushy eyebrows
Ears
• Neat, V-shaped, set high and dropping forward to temple
Mouth
• Jaws strong with perfect, regular and complete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaws
Neck
• Moderately long, strong and slightly arched; skin close to throat; neck set cleanly on shoulders
Forequarters
• Shoulders flat and well laid. Forelegs straight viewed from any angle
• Muscles smooth and lithe rather than prominent
• Bone strong, straight and carried well down to feet
• Elbows close to body and pointing directly backwards
Body
• Chest moderately broad, deep with visible strong breastbone reaching at least to height of elbow rising slightly backward to loins
• Back strong and straight, slightly higher at shoulder than at hindquarters, with short, well developed loins
• Ribs well sprung
• Length of body equal to height from top of withers to ground
Hindquarters
• Thighs slanting and flat but strongly muscled
• Hind legs (upper and lower thighs) at first vertical to the stifle; from stifle to hock, in line with the extension of the upper neck line; from hock, vertical to ground
Feet
• Short, round, cat-like, compact with closely arched toes, dark nails, firm black pads, feet pointing forward
Tail
• Previously customarily docked
• Docked: Set on and carried high, customarily docked to three joints
• Undocked: Set on and carried high, of moderate length to give general balance to the dog. Thick at root and tapering towards the tip, as straight as possible, carried jauntily
Gait/Movement
• Free, balanced and vigorous, with good reach in forequarters and good driving power in hindquarters. Topline remains level in action
Coat
• Harsh, wiry and short enough for smartness, dense undercoat. Clean on neck and shoulders, ears and skull
• Harsh hair on legs
• Furnishings fairly thick but not silky
Colour
• All pepper and salt colours in even proportions, or Pure Black or White, or Black and Silver. That is, solid black with silver markings on eyebrow, muzzle, chest and brisket and on the forelegs
Below the point of elbow, on inside of hind legs below thee stifle joint, on vent and under tail
Size
• Ideal height: dogs: 36 cms (14 ins); bitches: 33 cms (13 ins)
• Too small, toyish appearing dogs are not typical and undesirable
Faults
• Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon
the health and welfare of the dog
Note
Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.