Mittelschnauzer: breed description and nuances of content

There are a large number of dog breeds. Among the hundreds of varieties, the middling schnauzer stands out with very good qualities. Like many other species, the Mittelschnauzer’s past is very instructive.

Dogs similar in appearance are found in paintings by Albrecht Durer and Cranach the Elder. But experts believe that the most ancient ancestors of this breed lived already 5-6 thousand years ago. The Mittelschnauzer, the so-called peat dog, populated the space of modern Germany even before the construction of most of the Egyptian pyramids began. From peat dogs, the mittels took an elongated and massive skull. But, of course, on the way to a modern look, the breed has changed significantly.

In this case, many interbreed hybridizations occurred. The prevailing version says that the middle schnauzer was obtained by crossing:

• wire-haired pinschers;
• gray Wolfspitz;
• German poodles.

But not all experts agree with this hypothesis. There are suggestions that schnauzers were crossed with:

• griffon;
• terrier;
• pug.

In any case, there is no doubt that mittelschnauzer as an independent species of dogs appeared quite late. They were originally classified as wire-haired pinschers because the dogs were covered with coarse, wire-like hair. The name “stable pinschers” was widely used, since these animals were considered as rat-catchers suitable for stables.

Of great importance in this story is 1879, marked by the victory of one of the individuals at the Hanover exhibition. The very next year, the appearance standard was officially introduced. The Mittelschnauzer breeding club appeared in 1921, however, ordinary Pinschers were bred in the same club. In the United States, middlers were seen in the early twentieth century. Curiously, at first, American experts considered these dogs to be terriers. And only by the mid-1940s did the situation radically change. In our country, schnauzers began to be used on a large scale since the late 1970s.

Initially, the animals had pepper color, and only in the next decade black dogs appeared.

The most important thing in the Mittelschnauzer breed is that it occupies an intermediate place: the Giant Schnauzers are larger, and the Miniature Schnauzers are correspondingly smaller. Actually, the “mittel” in translation from German just means the “average” size of the dog. Adult “middling” 0.2 m below the rizenov and approximately 0.15 m above the zerg. However, all this greatly depends on the specifics of specific individuals.

The skull box of the Mittelschnauzer is large, elongated in length. The occipital protuberance is relatively small, and the forehead is flattened. The muzzle is close in shape to the wedge. It ends with a blunt part and has a clearly noticeable stop. A feature of all schnauzers is the large size of the teeth. The jaw looks impressive and closes, forming a scissor bite. Pure representatives of the breed have a nose with a massive lobe and with wide open nostrils.

Due to these anatomical nuances, the sense of smell in the animal is significantly improved. The lobes can only be painted black - any other color is considered a deviation from the standard. The oval-shaped dark eyes stand straight. The pet looks openly and with a clear curiosity for everything, is interested in what is happening around him.

The ears of the schnauzers have a triangular configuration. They hang on the cartilage. But in Russia, the practice of stopping and artificial shaping of the ears predominates. Therefore, they most often stand straight and resemble a pointed triangle. The dog’s neck contains relatively few muscles and is relatively thin. The scruff of the puppies of the mittel is clearly visible.

The skin on the neck and throat is stretched very tightly, folds and wrinkled areas should not be normal on it. The rectangular body is slightly sloping from above. The back is short, but strong. The lumbar structure is folded firmly and deepened. The thoracic part of the body of medium schnauzers is deep and wide, it is clearly visible that it protrudes forward.

The legs of the animal are straight, their set is moderately wide. The limbs of the mittels located at the back are drawn towards the tail, the shoulder blades are closely pressed to the sternum, and the elbows are pressed to the body. The femur of the limbs of the dogs is elongated, muscular. The elongated tibia is saturated with veins, the hock joints have joints with optimal angles.

The standard characteristics of the middling schnauzers indicate that they have short arched paws. The tail resembles a crescent or a sickle. Its length does not produce the impression of any unnaturalness. Recent requirements in European countries include the rejection of tail docking. Owners practicing this measure are deprived of the opportunity to send their pets to exhibitions.

In our country, stopping is still allowed. Because most breeders continue to resort to it. The coat of the schnauzers is tough and coarse. A dense undercoat is hidden beneath it, the spine has a normal length. The fit of the awn to the skin is quite tight.

On the forehead and near the ears, the coat is extremely short. The face and eyebrows are decorated with long strands.

There are only two medium-sized schnauzers that meet the cynological standards - black and salt and pepper.The second option is a multiton formed by a set of silver, gray and steel colors. In our country and in most other countries of the world, black and pepper varieties of mittels are bred and set apart from each other. Moreover, in England and the USA the practice is completely opposite.

White individuals are not officially put up anywhere. Violations that lead to the removal of an animal from the exhibition or to the deprivation of prizes are considered:

• too short or oblong limbs;
• eversion of elbows;
• wide bone;
• cow paw setting;
• atypical growth (deviation from the boundaries of the permissible norm up or down by more than 0.03 m).

Disqualification during a competition may also be due to:

• improper behavior;
• inappropriate color;
• non-standard bite;
• other deviations from the breed format.

The two-month-old “boy” of the Schnauzer has a height at the withers of at least 0.28 m. Its weight should be at least 4 kg. In "girls" these figures are less. Adult animals weigh from 12 to 20 kg.

Any middling schnauzer is a real "universal". He will be able to fulfill the role of:

• energetic companion (escort);
• bloodhounds;
• brave lifeguard.

Such a combination of qualities, especially taking into account the innate distrust of strangers, allows the use of meditators as guards. They have an almost absolute memory for faces, which helps to distinguish those who came to the house or just approaching on the street. Even skillful disguise and makeup often do not help attackers. But it is important to understand another thing - the pet is smart and cunning also in communication with the owners. During training, and sometimes after its completion, the animal uses every opportunity to conduct its interest.

The impressive intellectual achievements of the breed, for which it is so praised, do not appear by nature - they will have to be developed. Schnauzer builds up his mental abilities all his life, and the frequency and quality of communication with the owners plays a big role in this process. The breed is also distinguished by a tendency to hobbies, increased emotionality. Any business that the dog is engaged in absorbs its attention without a trace. Having won the love and adoration of the beast, you need to be prepared for the fact that these feelings will manifest violently.

Sometimes this happens unexpectedly or at the most inopportune moment. But you should not be angry about this. Animals are unobtrusive and perfectly understand what the owners need, what they require of them. If the owner makes it clear that he is not ready at the moment to show affection, he will be left alone. However, such hints should not be abused.

In vain, using your dissatisfaction, you can only push the pet away from you and set it against yourself. Paradoxically, the adoration of the owners does not block the dog’s desire to take a leading position and dominate people. Mittels are able to check the authority of family members and even their heads with whatever actions. High intelligence only makes attempts of this kind more sophisticated. Sometimes a single indulgence, a momentary weakness, is enough for the average Schnauzer to consistently push the hosts farther and farther away.

Special attention should be paid to such a topic as mittels and children. Dogs don't value babies too much. They are ready to be loyal and condescending, from the position of patron, to relate to weaker creatures. Simple leprosy will be forgiven, but a lack of respect or pain will entail a quick “punishment”. It is better for young children to clarify in advance that they can’t grab the animal by its “beard” or put its hands in a bowl with food.

The average schnauzer is rated by dog ​​handlers very highly.This is a universal working breed that has easily adapted to life in a big city. Of the positive features of these animals note:

• fidelity;
• outward beauty;
• high intelligence;
• unique style in appearance and behavior;
• ability to protect home from all kinds of dangers.

Medium schnauzers are complex in character. Those traits that are often referred to as positive can actually have negative consequences. Animals rarely get sick and live long (on average 14 years). However, owners should be prepared to immediately provide pets with active leisure. A regular leisurely walk on a leash will not allow them to lose excess energy. Be sure to load the dog with exercise.

When planning to use their pets for display at exhibitions, people should clearly understand that then professional grooming is indispensable. It is impossible to tidy up animals on their own and maintain their pleasant appearance. But if exhibition activity is not fundamental, then this requirement can be safely ignored. In addition, the mittels fit very well into the dimensions of an ordinary city apartment, without losing compliance with the service standard. Balanced and generally friendly, without excessive aggressiveness, the character is welcome.

"German bearded man" is pragmatic and knows how to show a sense of humor. In any family, he quickly becomes an equal member, while taking a clearly assigned position. Good health (with proper care and vaccination) allows you to almost no fear of problems. The coat of the mittel does not fade and the breed is recommended for allergy sufferers.

Connoisseurs of the breed indicate that mittelschnauzer has no characteristic song smell. Since the stiff spine and dense undercoat do not absorb moisture, the dog can walk in relatively bad weather. Owners also note the patience and diligence of their pets. If the educational process is set up correctly, you can achieve almost any level in training. The excitement in animals complicates matters somewhat, but the systematic training and composure of trainers helps to cope with it.

As for the negative traits of behavior, they are largely subjective, or even say so - situational. Distrust of “strangers” and the desire for leadership at any cost can be both harmful and useful. To cope with a craving for increased dominance helps the owners to have humor. And increased suspicion and some wariness are very important when the dog is involved in guard duty. But there are undoubted disadvantages - long growing and excessive excitement, zealous behavior, incompatibility with cats.

Thanks to powerful intelligence, the average schnauzer will solve training problems very easily. The problem is the frequent unwillingness (or rather, reluctance) of dogs to solve these problems. Therefore, the involvement of animals in the educational process is of great importance when building a training program and during their implementation. As soon as they get tired of monotonously executing monotonous commands, a way will immediately be found to evade this business. And the experience of many people shows that no intellectual superiority of a person over his pet helps to overcome such tricks.

Education and socialization should go hand in hand from the first days when puppies begin to move independently. Any training session should be conducted sequentially and brought to its logical end. Retraining even with the help of experienced dog handlers is almost impossible.

No matter how kindly the pet looks, it is impossible to allow it to complete tasks partially or partially. The slightest manifestation of aggression towards the owner or other household should be stopped immediately.

When the dog gets stronger and stronger, its powerful teeth will really torment the owners. And even at an early age, the puppy can be a pretty serious danger. Even the owner is threatened, to which dogs in a normal state show reverence. The earliest sign of such "rage" will be a glazed look.

Excessive enthusiasm for the puppy, because of which he concentrates too much on the game and begins to smash the home, should be suppressed. But the punishment should not be excessively harsh. An excited animal will be stopped by a light slap with a slipper, and sometimes a loud shout is enough. It makes no sense to use great physical force in relation to the enraged schnauzer. This can lead to serious injury to the animal.

In addition, during a fight or a passionate game, pain receptors are turned off or sharply increase the sensitivity threshold. Therefore, susceptibility to pain signals is almost or even completely absent. As an “admonition” such a measure will not work. But it can work as a provocation of retaliatory aggression.

There is no point in punishment some time after the offense. With all his mind, the middling schnauzer still remains an animal. The dog does not know how to think logically, linking the owner’s act and what he himself did 30-40 minutes ago. When the little schnauzer has to be left unattended in the house, you need to provide him with more toys. They must be varied, otherwise the pet will get bored quickly.

It is strictly forbidden to acquire representatives of this breed to teach children the initial skills of training. Due to the genetically driven desire for leadership, the dog will not obey the "lower beings" (these include children). You can not postpone for a long time familiarization with street conditions, with other dogs. At 7-8 months, the pet should already calmly respond to ones like it, to the noise of traffic or a dense crowd.

But we must remember that the schnauzer will not be able to fulfill guard duties if he was introduced to a large number of people from childhood. Feeding the dog with various goodies (even if good friends do it) should also not be strictly allowed.

In relation to strangers at all, there should be a clear balance between excessive gullibility and total suspicion. When preparing to represent your animal at the exhibition, you need to develop his ability to bear the touches of strangers. This is achieved by frequent massage and combing. It is very good if your friends will participate in such work.

The question is, how many years the schnauzers live are of interest to all potential owners. On average, the life expectancy of this breed is 14-16 years. But sometimes it grows to 18 years. To achieve this, you will have to take care of:

• about leaving;
• nutrition;
• maintaining the necessary activity of the dog.

Since medium-sized schnauzers have a hard coat, you can’t do without regular plucking. Trimming is carried out twice or thrice a year, in the spring and autumn months. The first procedure of this kind should be carried out in 4 months. The maturation of the wool occurs in 4-6 months, for each animal, this indicator is individual. When there is a goal to participate in the exhibition, you need to carry out a haircut 6-8 weeks before it.

Grooming in dogs whose hair grows slowly can be carried out 10-12 weeks before the desired date. But at the same time, there is no need to rush. When trimming is performed more than 3 months before the show, the spine will develop excessively. During the regrowth of the coat, you will have to pinch the undercoat repeatedly.Otherwise, it will grow faster than the spine, and the appearance will be spoiled.

Trimming is best left to experienced craftsmen. Particularly difficult to cut your head. To work, you will need:

• special trimming knife;
• hairbrush;
• hairdressing scissors;
• the machine.

It is not necessary to take a knife ready-made - it is often made with your own hands. To do this, use a piece of hacksaw blade for metal, wrapped with electrical tape, or a blade from a dull table knife. But the need for a typewriter is not always. Many masters successfully manage with only manual scissors.

Use very sharp scissors should only professionals. Without sufficient experience, it is easy to cause serious injury to a dog. The comb should be metal, with frequent teeth. Trimming lead from top to bottom, from head to tail. Wool removal should only be carried out in small areas.

After trimming, the pet is completely naked, so in cold weather it will have to be carried in a carry. The remaining hair is removed with a machine. Wool should be trimmed again 10-14 days before the show.

Puppies need to stop ears only with the help of a surgeon. Only a skilled specialist can do everything beautifully and competently. A dog can be sent for surgery only when the quarantine associated with vaccination is over. And one more nuance: not always shortened auricles immediately stand up as they should. Sometimes you have to conduct massage sessions and even glue the ear.

Despite the apparent simplicity, this is a very serious surgical intervention. Because you have to strictly follow the instructions of the doctors. Once a day, the seams are treated with disinfectants. It is impossible to prevent the appearance of crusts on the seams, because because of them, rotting, baldness begins. The pet may perceive the treatment of the wound surface with indignation, but all his yapping can be safely ignored.

For the most part, this is just an attempt to scare away enemies. Caring for cropped ears does not provoke any unbearable pain. If the ears do not stop, they will still have to be taken care of. It will be necessary to more often assess their condition and carry out preventive cleaning. Raising and laying the ears back is eliminated by massage and gluing.

The contents of the schnauzer should be as comfortable as possible for him. Animal needs in a sufficiently large free space. There it will be able to show its physical activity unhindered. Experts and professional dog handlers note that washing the paws should be done after any walk. At the same time, small specks are selected.

When the middling schnauzer eats, the hair adorning his face will inevitably get dirty. Therefore, after each meal, this part of the wool will have to be wiped and cleaned. Bathing is carried out monthly, while shampoos and balms for hard hair are always used. To maximize the effect, the detergent compositions are diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 1. The washed dog is blotted with a towel of cotton cloth and dried with a hairdryer.

Walk the average schnauzer twice a day. Once a walk is carried out when there is a fenced land plot near the house. The first exit to the street can occur 14 days after the first vaccination. For too long the animals kept in the four walls are not socialized enough and get used to the street poorly.

Even lengthy veterinary studies did not allow us to unequivocally establish what is best for the middling schnauzer - homemade food or factory food. The final choice will have to be made by the owners themselves. Pets respond equally well to any products, if only they were of high quality. Natural food is selected in such a way as to saturate the dog's body with vital amino acids.In addition, you will still need to spend money on supplements of vitamins and minerals.

The optimal diet of schnauzers contains:

• lean meats;
• offal;
• sea ​​fish;
• cereals from cereals;
• greens;
• vegetables;
• boiled eggs (once a week);
• dairy products.

Meat can only be given in raw form, previously chopped into pieces. For puppies, cut it into smaller pieces. You can’t categorically grind it into minced meat. Bird bones are also useless. At the same time, the brain veal bones will definitely please the pets and will benefit them.

It is possible to feed the dog with one dry food. You can add food to it only after a certain period of time. After eating, 2.5-3 hours should pass before the apple or carrot is dispensed. Excess plant foods can adversely affect a dog’s body. Every day, the same fruits should not be given out categorically.

In the estimates of the owners of the schnauzers, it is often noted that they look original. It is difficult to confuse this dog with other breeds. Other positive qualities that are commonly referred to are mind and extraordinary courage. But from the feedback of dog handlers and breeders, certain negative points should be mentioned. Among them, special attention is paid to the waywardness and choosiness in food.

High activity of animals can cause inconvenience to those who are very limited in time, get tired at work or often travel on business trips. However, there is a positive side - there are references that such dogs can become a center of attraction in the company.

Often also mentioned multifunctionality of the breed. And keeping medium-sized schnauzers is not too difficult compared to other dogs.

Choosing puppies, you can pay attention to the general conformity of the appearance and requirements of the standard. Any other nuances do not really matter. The unpredictability of schnauzers is that even experienced professionals rarely guess the prospects of two-month-old puppies. Success is achieved by those owners who pay attention to the reactions of animals. The best are those individuals who immediately behave boldly and inquisitively, show a desire to make contact.

About the features of the breed Mittelschnauzer, see the next video.