| By :
Brent McCoy
The Schnauzer is a German working breed of dog that is highly popular within Europe and features a distinctive beard and eyebrows with a wiry salt and pepper or pure black coat. The breed first appeared in the Middle Ages, and was initially raised for the chief purpose of herding, catching rats and acting as a guard dog. A number of their most identifiable characteristics can include their bold and lively nature as well as their high level of intelligence - which essentially make the Schnauzer a regular preference for historic use as a guard dog for Red Cross during World War I, police work in Germany and America, drug and bomb detection, search and rescue or as a companion dog to active and confident owners. The Schnauzer is believed to have come from Germany as early as the Middle Ages where they were used as a guard dog, for catching rats or herding but later gained popularity on the dog show circuit during the late 1800s and were finally given their official name after a winning dog called "Schnauzer". They are
understood to be a consequence of first cross-breeding black Poodles with grey Wolfspitz and later on wire haired German Pinschers were introduced into their breeding. Schnauzers are termed as a medium-sized dog. The suggested standard size for the Schnauzer male is 18.5-19.5 inches high from paw to shoulder and a weight of 45 pounds, while the recommended size for female Schnauzers is 17.5-18.5 inches tall from paw to shoulder with a weight of 35 pounds. The Schnauzer is legendary for their bold, lively and fun-loving personality. They are usually non-aggressive with guests but will protect their family when threatened, which can make them highly suitable as a guard dog. The Schnauzer is also accepted to be highly intelligent - placing equal 18th in comparison with other dogs when considering their ability to be trained obedience commands. They are also known to be good with older children - meaning they are somewhat suitable as a family pet. The Schnauzer is not always well-matched with other dogs who they may often become aggressive with and they are not recommended for living with smaller pets due to their hunting instincts. The Schnauzer should have a well-fenced yard to prevent them from escaping and chasing anything that catches their interest, but they are also quite suitable for apartment living so long as they are given enough exercise. The Schnauzer is made happy with pursuits including running around the yard, learning new obedience commands, exploring new areas or simply traveling with their family. They have a high quantity of energy and require daily exercise in the manner of one or two long walks to stop destructive behavior problems and keep them easy to handle. The Schnauzer can be the perfect dog breed for a confident and active owner or family with older children that will provide firm leadership. They are fit to anyone who is willing to execute a low amount of grooming and allow time to provide them with thorough socialization at an early age and positive obedience training with ongoing mental challenges as well as take them for long walks each day and give a very high amount of company and attention. Although they may be to some extent unsuitable for many owners and households, if you are able to meet their need for firm leadership and regular mental stimulation then the Schnauzer can make the perfect breed of dog for you.
|
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.articleforbacklinks.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
