In the 1800's, mainly ín South-German peasant farms dwelt the rattlers, these general stable dogs, whose task was to kill mice and rats, escort coaches and watch over horses. They were 30-50 cm tall dogs of several colours, with smooth or wire coat. All of them had been called „pinchers”.

After 1895 the miniature wire pincher was bred separately in two types: the „monkey pincher” with inverse bite, and the miniature variation of the wire pincher.

L.Berta, the well-known specialist and judge of the years around 1880-1910 worked a lot in order to develop the characteristics of the breed. At the Erfurt Dog Show in 1897 he picked out the species approaching the imagined type, so he had given a start of forming a new breed, the miniature schnauzer. By 1910 the selection had been done. The first standard of the breed was written in 1923. In that time these dogs -similar to all types of rattlers- were very diverse in colours: whole black, black and yellow, red and yellow, grey and yellow, salt and pepper.

By 1956 the standard has ben sincronized to the middle schnauzer. Only two colours remained admitted: the black, and the salt and pepper. These two variations must be bred separately, even today. However in the litters born by salt and pepper parents sometimes black and silver puppies appeared. After long discussions, in 1968 this colour was admitted, but by that time also white ones appeared in several litters. The list of the dog breeds published by the FCI in 1990 mentiones all the four colour variations.



It's worth to speak about the so-called „American type” miniature schnauzer. The breeding made separately on the different continents assumed different looks. It mainly appears in the quality and the shades of the coat. The standard of the American Kennel Club a little bit turns away from the original German, so schnauzers are more terrier-like dogs there.

The recent miniature schnauzer, similarly to its relatives, is a very active dog. Perhaps it's more agile than the middle schnauzer. Very loyal to its owner and the family but keeps distance with others. Although the breed is small, it's not a toy, but a very good signal dog.
Height is between 30 and 35 cm, weight 4-6 kg.
The beard and the coat of the legs must be regularly combed, the coat on the body is trimmed. The breed is usually kept in flats, although needs a lot of exercise.

Height of the middle schnauzer is between 45 and 50 cm, weight 16-30 kg.
Height of the giant schnauzer is between 65 and 71 cm, weight 35-50 kg.

Origin: HSPK 1998/1 The Development of the Miniature Schnauzer
The four variations have been drawn by Király Klári.


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