Miniature Schnauzer Description

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.

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 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 the stifle joint, on vent and under tail.

Size

Ideal height: dogs: 35.6 cms (14 ins); bitches: 33 cms (13 ins).
Too small, toyish appearing dogs are not typical and undesirable.

The breed standard is copyrighted by the UK Kennel Club. Click here for the full KC description.