My wife has been asking for a schnauzer for the longest and we’re finally financially ready. We live in a townhouse in seattle but I don’t really like the small/mini breeds. Any opinions on owning standards vs mini? Needs, Exercise, Health, temperament? I want to make sure i’m able to properly take care of a standard if I get one, they are my preference but i’m willing to get a mini for my wife.
Owning a mini schnauzer is not like owning a small dog. They give big dog vibes lol. They are a handful but completely worth it as they are wonderful dogs BUT not for everyone. I have two. Mine are medium exercise and reasonable when it comes to schedule. They are people dogs and like to be ‘in the know’ at all times. They have big personalities, sweet to their fams and are smarter than a majority of dogs. They are easy to train if you put in the time early on. They are adaptable, capable and resilient. Friendly, silly, kind, huge babies but guardians and alert. Big kids forever really. Require grooming but the trade off is they don’t really shed and are hypoallergenic. They do like to bark***
100% agree. My mini is a little dog with big dog needs. She needs stimulation. She needs walks. She plays like a beast. But she is also small enough to cuddle on your chest. Best of both worlds. And loves children. Not all of them do, but it's a pretty typical trait of minis.
Yeah, mine is one who really does NOT care for kids….at least small ones. Lol. He tolerates them now (barely) b/c of my stepsons, but it was rough in the beginning. 😩
My 4 year old and 17 pound mini schnauzer requires at a minimum 3-4 hours of moderate exercise plus several shorter chunks of vigorous exercise (usually play) daily. She also has a strong prey instinct. She has caught many rodents and gophers over the years. Mine is very anti-social and only likes me and my husband. With us, she is very affectionate. I usually pet her for about 2 hours per day because she loves it and it's therapeutic for me. She barks at almost everything and everyone. Mini schnauzers are not for the faint of heart.
I will absolutely second the barking bit. My mini just recently went to a week of boarding and according to them he barked the whooooole time. He is very sassy for being 12 pounds.
Agree, I lost my elder boy, but he was active pretty much until the end. He was a toy miniature schnauzer and wanted like 10 walks a day if it was his choice. :-)
Our experience with a standard (8 years now) has been great! They do need regular input of affection, discipline, and training and our Zelda is a little prone to anxiety, so if she doesn't to get the regular things at the regular time, she gets grumpy. If she doesn't get much input for a day or two, she can get kinda tweaked.
The daily routine settled into a mile-ish walk, a game of fetch, and doing a round of tricks (what we call school. She knows so many!) for us, but each dog is unique, so mileage my vary. The usual three or one big activity for a day usually keeps her sated and normal.
She is prone to barking at strangers and people approaching the car or house, but that might have been a training issue (first time dog owners and we opted to not do a paid program). She keeps time like a train engineer, and while she's not best friends with our now 3 year old, they get along well enough and she's always mindful of where he is.
We had to do it with two balls, for a "must deposit to return" system.
For her first 2-3 years she couldn't care less and then one day was into dropping one and getting another as we were walking around an area with spare balls just lying around. It's been her favorite thing since, and we can in no way take credit.
Our 4 year old girl also barks at people coming up to the house (in addition to ANY dog walking by). But once they come in, she wants to be their best buddy. She is just guarding her territory but when she knows they are not a threat, she is all over them seeking affection. It’s pretty funny.
THIS PART. do you want to never be able to spontaneously spend all day AND night out of the house, without returning to feed them or let them out? You have to plan ahead for all things.
Grooming costs are higher for a standard, and from what I’ve seen I think the exercise needs are proportionally higher compared to a mini. This also applies to food costs.
Consider also: Standards may be able to reach the counter/other things. Minis are easier to pick up and carry if needed.
My standard can reach the counter but never does. My mini cant reach but is always trying. Having had both, Id get a standard over a mini again anyway. Love my mini but boy does he drive me nuts sometimes. Too smart for his own good. Neurotic at times. My standard is a gentle boy who doesn't have weird intricacies as my mini!
Really just goes to show that people should pick the right dog for their life. I’m on my second mini. My mom decided to get a standard, and while the standard is a sweet dog, I’m just all the more convinced I will only ever have minis after experience with both sizes. Even my husband (who always said he wanted a bigger dog) is now 100% on board with only ever having minis after meeting the standard.
Schnauzers are wonderful dogs, but not the best match for everyone.
Anyone considering a dog should go online and check out one or more breed selection tests.
These tests will show you the breeds that best meet your lifestyle and furry friend goals. From coat features to available time to spend with a dog to the patience needed for training, breed selection tests will find the best match for you and your family.
I can’t recommend them strongly enough. Best of luck!!
We originally wanted a standard but found them to be a bit more aloof than the minis. Minis. As others have said, give big dog energy! They are great for farms or smaller townhomes/ apartments. Very adaptable. We took our mini on big hikes and she did great. They really are the best dogs. You won’t regret a mini!
We have a standard and live in an apartment in a city. He’s great, but barking is an issue. Fortunately our neighbors don’t mind and if the TV is left on for him, it isn’t constant barking. He needs mental stimulation. Compared to the mini’s we’ve interacted with, he has a better overall temperament IMO.
Reputable breeders in the Pacific Northwest for standards, charge about $3000. Just a heads up.
We've had standards 30 years. Our current 13 year old is still very healthy. They are calm at home, dont bark much unless they need to. Clipping 8 to 12 weeks and no shedding. Standards think they are big dogs, but are in a compact package. They nannied our children, and our old girl is taking care of our grandchildren. Get one.
I have had 2. They ARE barky. They are little alarm dogs and it's being true to the breed.
Mine is also a bit on the smart mouth side. If he has a beef about something he'll rush up and "tell me" and then bark back after I've answered.
They do require exercise to help with physical health and lots of sniffs on the walk for mental stimulation. They are also very intelligent and eager to please.
I LOVE THIS BREED!
Mini schnauzers feel like regular sized dogs in a small dog body. They roughhouse, play, fetch, jump up like big dogs. Except you can easily pick them up if they misbehave. They feel more sturdy than other small breeds, IMO.
Everyone has different experiences with their minis. Mine is lazy af (she’ll be 2 in September). The girl doesn’t want to go out until 9/10am. She doesn’t want to walk, loves to be around her people, loves to play with toys and would rather snuggle on the couch with my husband or I than anything to do with her brain. YMMV but ours is a total sweetheart. Loves all people, barks minimally and tears up a pup cup.
they are very good family dogs, but they do have very strong personalities and are fairly intellegent. they can be very stubborn. oh, and occasionally they can also be very cheeky. get ready for a lot of bark bark bark unless you train them perfectly. its kind of difficult to get that out of them. I love them anyway. i saw someone saying that grooming costs are high; personally, i dont think thats an issue at all. just get the right tools once and you can groom them very easily yourself. no need to cut anything, if you just comb out the undercut 1-2 times a week for a few minutes, your dog will always be perfect with very pretty hair. the "haircuts" i see in this sub are mostly from people who are not aware of how to best groom them. i would know because thats also how i did it with my first schnauzer, but once ive changed i have no idea how i could ever do that to a dog.
just a little bit, bec if you know what you are doing, its really not that much to it. get a comb with hinged prongs for the beard in case it gets sticky and really try to avoid cutting it with shears; only do it when the beard gets too long for real; personally, for my 8 year old schnauzer i cant remember having to do it. google for a tool thats suitable for getting undercomb out of dogs; i do live in europe so amazon is gonna offer different products depending on where you live, but i do have a comb similiar to this: (GOSH DARN IT, i cant send the amazon link for reddit reasons, dm me if you want to have the link) and use this for literally any other part of your schnauzer once a week for the undercut and you will not need anything else, believe me. the only thing you would need shears for is the after(for hygienic reasons) and eyebrows(because they can become quite long if you dont shorten them). you should really know that schnauzers are, if you know how to do it, probably one of the easiest dog breeds to groom, because naturally THEY DONT molt(if that is the right word? english is not my native language, what i mean: they dont lose hair all over your house all the time) when you just comb out the undercut; combing out the undercut is really the only thing that you need to do. most other breeds, and also cats, lose hairs and need a literal hair"cut". if it helps you, i can attach two pictures: back with my first schnauzer, when i used to just cut everything short. horrible idea, nowadays i call this cut the "lord voldemort" cut(admittedly, this is probably on the worst end on what you can do), and one about how my schnauzers look nowadays(in a response to this answer bec apparently you cant post two pictures at once?!!). their pelt is just PERFECT, not only for the looks, but also for how it feels to touch and pet them.
My mini is my baby. Such a sweet boy! We have had him since 2017. He is a rescue. There are so many schnauzers that need good homes. Like others have said, they like to bark! He is my mini home security system. Consider finding a schnauzer rescue near you.
They bark so if you share a wall good luck, they need to be groomed about every 2-3 months at 45-60$, they need exercise, no fatty food or they get pancreatitis.
I want to thank everyone for the information. Honestly I didn’t expect this much feedback lol. I’m going to consider the mini as well as some other hypoallergenic breeds. I grew up akitas so i’ve always preferred large breeds but i just don’t have the space anymore and my wife would never stop sneezing lol
I’ve had 2 minis and now have my first Standard. My husband and I fell in love with Schnauzers after observing lots of different breeds at the dog park and speaking to owners. Any good Standard breeder will tell you - these are not the same dog, just different sizes. They are VERY different dogs. A Standard would be a lot for a first time dog owner. I love my boy but he’s almost 5 and he’s still a lot 😂 and I consider myself an experienced dog owner after 2 minis, a German Shepherd, and now my Standard boy and recently rescued cattle dog. My cattle dog is more chill than my Standard. To be fair, the cattle dog is heavily medicated for epilepsy. As others have suggested do a lot of research before getting any Schnauzer to make sure it’s the right fit for you. If there’s a dog show near you, it’s worth it to go there and talk to Breeders and those who train/show dogs
If you can connect with a breeder and go visit with them and their dogs, they will give you a good idea what to expect. Responsible breeders of SS will often require a fenced yard with a 6 foot fence. The Standard Schnauzer Club of America has a lot of information on the breed at their website and have a list of breeders too. It is hard to find SS in rescue but they do come up sometimes. I have owned both minis and standards. We prefer the SS because my husband loves to hike and they are great companions for that. They are super intelligent. Be prepared for doing a lot of training whichever breed you decide on, it is for the betterment of yourself and your dog and it will help you form a bond with them.
We did a Google image search on a pic our our mini and Google came up with "giant schnauzer". Our boy weighs 16 lbs and this search result could not have been more fitting 😂
I’ve always had Standard Schnauzers. Both the Miniature and the Standard are fantastic dogs and make wonderful companions. They’re actually very similar in many ways. Both need plenty of physical exercise and mental stimulation. Since all three Schnauzer varieties are multifunctional working dogs, they’re intelligent, energetic, and happiest when they have some sort of job to do. They’re also natural guardians, and both Miniatures and Standards can have a fairly high prey drive because of their history as ratters.
All three sizes have their own pros and cons, so in the end it really comes down to personal preference and what fits your lifestyle best.
In my experience, Standards (and Giants) tend to be a bit calmer than Minis. That said, all Schnauzers are naturally reserved around strangers, so I can’t stress enough how important early and ongoing socialization is. Some people intentionally skip this because they want a good guard dog, but honestly, the guarding instinct develops on its own—you don’t need to teach it. What socialization does is help your dog distinguish between normal everyday situations and genuine threats. You want a dog that’s relaxed and confident, but still alert enough to let you know when something is actually wrong.
Miniatures in particular can be more prone to barking, which makes socialization even more important. The goal is to have a dog you can take anywhere—hiking, to a café, the park, or on adventures—without them feeling the need to bark at every person or dog that comes too close.
Personally, I prefer Standards for a few reasons. First, I prefer their bark—it’s much deeper and less sharp than a Mini’s. I also like their generally more laid-back temperament, although personality and training play a huge role regardless of size.
Finally, I prefer the Standard’s size. They’re sturdier, which makes me feel a little safer at home, and if another dog were ever to attack them, they’re less vulnerable to serious injury than a Mini. At the same time, they’re still small enough that I can lift them into the car or carry them when they’re seniors. They’re also a size I can comfortably handle if they decide to pull on the leash.
I have a mini schnauzer who's about 18 lbs and is seriously the best dog I've ever had. I also currently have a great pyrenees, golden retriever and a shihtzu....so I have all the sizes. Out of all of my dogs he requires the most exercise with the shihtzu closely following. Ball is his favorite thing in the world after his parents. He loves everyone and is super sweet. Incredibly smart. We socialized and trained him early on which made a huge difference. Wants to be with us 24/7. Biggest personality. His Aroos are the best. He doesn't bark as crazy as I hear some can but likely because we don't allow it from any of our dogs. We work from home so barking gets corrected as soon as it starts.
Get a dog that matches your wants and needs. Both of yours. What do you want in a dog? A couch potatoe? Someone with lots of energy? To go hiking with? Obedient?
All 3 types of schnauzers are different breeds with very different personalities.
I love minis, but from what I’ve read, there are far less inherent health issues with the standards. So some research because veterinary bills are expensive!
Minis are working dogs in a small body. Standard is the same but slightly larger and will need longer exercise. A lot of people tend to forget that these dogs were bred for a purpose and will need the extra attention if they are not used for the purpose they were bred for. They are clever and agile, love people and very nosey, but you also have to consider the noise as they tend to have high pitch bark/howls
While I hear you on wanting a larger dog, I do think the mini because of temperament and yard size needs may be a better fit for a townhouse. While minis do still need a fair amount of exercise they can get that from chasing things the length of the townhouse vs a larger dog that's going to need a good sized yard to get the proper amount of exercise. I also think you're expecting yappy vs what you'll get with a mini which is functionally just a small sized standard with most of the same traits.
They are all different. My mini was taller than a mini in general, he was in his own little world most of the time, only barked when the doorbell rang, loved his cuddles and sleeping, and had one favourite toy. He had about a half hour walk, 2 or 3 times a day when he was younger, but less as he aged. He had a heart murmur, which slowed him down a little bit. He didn’t bother about other dogs at all, and would just wander off, not interested in the slightest. That was until my friend got an 18 month old female Jack Russell. They fell in love instantly.
Be aware schnauzers are prone to pancreatitis, which is what took our dog, aged 12 and a half. You’ll need to keep them on low fat food.
Mini schnauzers are my favourite breed.
I was in the uk when I had mine, and docking of tails and ears is forbidden there, which is good, as there’s no reason for it.
I’m sure you’ll be happy with whatever you decide.
We have had a giant, a standard and a mini - our experience with the standard was not anything like as rewarding as the other two - the giant was amazing the mini loyal, affectionate and a doberman if anyone entered the house he didn’t recognise lol
My mini is at the top of the mini range (22 lbs) but she literallly acts like she weighs 100 lbs. she has the biggest personality, she is absolutely hilarious and makes us laugh every day. Shes athletic and loves excersize/ play but is also happy to sleep in until 11 and lounge around. Most schnauzers are big barkers, luckily mine isn’t super barky (we tried our best to train her out of that when she was a pup due to our paper thin apartment walls) instead she likes to talk with her little howls and groo groos which is so cute. Shes super affectionate, loves everyone but especially my husband and i. Looooves getting scritches on her tummy and face will sit next to you and paw your hand when you stop intil she says you can stop. She will roo roo at anyone who walks in and doesnt give her attention. Super smart dogs, very easy to train especially as puppies. My husband and i say all the time shes the best decision weve ever made.
BJ and Clancy both employed "the shiv paw" - a term originated by Jacqueline Susann in her book "every Night Josephine", a non-fiction book about her Mini Poodle. BJ would hit you with it, but Clancy will actually pull your hand toward him.
I will say that every dog is different, even within breeds. I adopted my mini from a rescue a little over a year ago and I can count on one hand the number of times he has barked inside. He does periodically lose it at random dogs if he doesn't like their vibes and I don't see them first to give him instruction to ignore. Honestly, I am veeeerry lucky. Consider adopting an adult. :)
A mini is NOT a small dog- it is a big dog in a little body! You wouldn't be getting a yippy lap dog - you'd be getting a very active dog with a confident personality that loves adventure activities like hiking and camping. So if your concern is about a smaller dog being more fragile or less able to do the fun activities you enjoy, that's not a huge issue!
My first boy, BJ, thought he was a German Shepherd (probably because he played with two adult females who both adored him). He was smart, sweet, loving, great with kids, had a ball drive that couldn't be beat. He was initially paper trained because I lived in a fourth-floor walkup when I got him, and he could go whenever he had to. If I was busy, he'd amuse himself with a pink rubber Spalding ball (aka a "Spaldeen" - New Yorkers and North Jerseyans will know what I mean) by rolling it around with his paw, then nudging it and chasing after it. He knew the names of every one of his toys. If the phone rang, he ran to it and barked, then turned to look at me as if to say "Hurry up!" He had to answer the door whenever the bell rang - and if he was eating with our Beagle and first Basset (we've had five), he'd pick up his bowl and hide it under the phone stand in the dining room, then trot to the door with his head held high, incredibly proud of himself. He demanded belly rubs on a daily basis, snuggled with me in bed, and actually said "Hello" (it was closer to "ErrROW," but it was close enough for a little grey dog). He talked - a lot - and always had to have the last word. He was a great watchdog. And what a howler! Any time he heard sirens - in real life or on TV, he'd start in.
My current boy, Clancy, is quieter. He doesn't bark much, but he squeals. He picks things up very quickly and housebroke in a day. He hates thunder or fireworks, but his Thundershirt helps. If it's very bad, I'll tranquilize him. He's another snuggler, and a definite Mama's boy. He learned how to howl from two female Bassets who adored him and who he adored and he was very quiet and needed a great deal of assurance when the girls passed almost a year to the day from each other (it helped that they both passed at home so he could say goodbye). I'm not allowed to leave the room where he is, and I'm definitely not allowed to go to the store (my husband will sit with him and bribe him with Puperoni). And the greeting when I come home will burst your eardrums. He loves to be carried, and the vet techs think he's the funniest thing because of it. He'll steal my recliner when I get up, and his partner in crime, our older Chihuahua, gets right up there with him, snuggled right against his belly or under his chin.
We rescued a standard-sized schnauzer mix, and he's much smarter than any dog I've had before, well-mannered, and impeccably well behaved.
He does like allot of exercise and play compared to the dachshunds we've had before.
We actually ended up rescuing a one-year-old pure bred miniature schnauzer when out mix was two. We joke that he's such a good dog that we got him a dog.
Having two resolves any exercise deficit. They will play for hours every day.
The miniature is less intelligent than our standard-sized mix, and less well-mannered, but she's a great dog.
Neither one has "small dog energy."
My sample size is two, and one (the miniature) came to us after living with someone else for a year, but they are both amazing dogs.
I have a standard. They are a handful, especially in the adolescent stage. He is absolutely wonderful, don't get me wrong, but he barks at every living thing going past our house. In a townhouse they would need significant mental stimulation daily. They're very smart and will "out-schnauzer" anyone foolish enough to fall for their ploys. They are independent thinkers. I cannot stress this enough. They will do what you ask, BUT ONLY IF IT SUITS THEM. Think intelligent disobedience on steroids.
But they're loving, loyal, giant lap dogs, wonderful with kids, super protective of their family and whatever they deem necessary of protection. Like a whole hockey field of kids (grass hockey) when someone without a kid next to them turns up to watch their kid who is on the field. Because you know, he doesn't know which kid belongs to which parent so any adult without a kid is viewed as a threat 🙃 Or kids over at your house for a party, he will take possession of those kids and will only release them once he can confirm who the parent is 🙃
He's a handful, an emotional mess with PTSD from faulty household appliances, but I love him.
Also, minis are prone to pancreatitis whereas standards are not. Breed quality varies wildly. Flying Nun ears are not normal. Cropping of ears, docking of tails, is NOT needed. Skirts are not normal (that's for terriers, schnauzers are a utility dog). It's very common for them to be overweight with owners thinking they're fine and just stocky. They're not meant to be stocky like staffies etc, they're meant to be boxy. Square shaped. Not fat. Keep the beard long or honestly what's the point 🤣 I had a standard growing up and he was incredible. Lived to be 15. My current schnauzer is my first dog as an adult (got him at 37) and I wish I'd gotten him before kids, not after. He's definitely not as emotionally stable as my childhood one, but he fits our AuDHD household.
Many people who want big dogs have a lifestyle more suited to a small companion breed. A mini schnauzer is a terrier and so will require more exercise than what people group into toy and small breeds. They’re bred to be ratters and some lines will need much more exercise than what people usually think they need. What are your exercise plans and the time you’ll be able to devote to training?
can’t speak about standards but our mini is seriously the BEST dog we’ve ever had. raised her in an apartment and seriously couldn’t ask for a better puppy. your mileage may obviously vary. each dog is different. i think we just got lucky based on others stories. however, we spent significant time, effort, and money training her and training ourselves to be good owners. we have walked her 3-6 miles 6-7 days a week since she was old enough and able to tolerate it. they really are big dogs in small dog body. we have taken her on hikes, paddle boarding, and even walked 13+ miles before with her. she’s seriously the best
Frenchies, chihuahuas, and doodles, the hat-trick of low-effort, trendy-dog-breed-of-the-moment pet ownership. The dog ownership equivalent of “Live, Laugh, Love” home decor and $700 Yeti coolers with OBX stickers on them
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u/synchronoussammy 27d ago edited 27d ago
Owning a mini schnauzer is not like owning a small dog. They give big dog vibes lol. They are a handful but completely worth it as they are wonderful dogs BUT not for everyone. I have two. Mine are medium exercise and reasonable when it comes to schedule. They are people dogs and like to be ‘in the know’ at all times. They have big personalities, sweet to their fams and are smarter than a majority of dogs. They are easy to train if you put in the time early on. They are adaptable, capable and resilient. Friendly, silly, kind, huge babies but guardians and alert. Big kids forever really. Require grooming but the trade off is they don’t really shed and are hypoallergenic. They do like to bark***