Let's look at the face of the schnauzer, and see a huge resemblance to the wizard Dumbledore. Arched fringed eyebrows, a plentiful beard, as well as a glimpse of deep intelligence and, yes, humor in these dark eyes, agree? It’s not hard to imagine a schnauzer giving wise advice to Harry Potter or teaching one of the magic items in the classroom.
Are they really wizards or just really, really smart? In the end, it is this breed that their owners like to call a "dog with a human brain."
Barbara M. Dille, author of The Standard Schnauzer, writes: "This is sometimes a mischievous, fast and active ... intelligent, honest and reliable working dog with a superbly intelligent mind."
This breed has an impressive variety of roles that Schnauzer performs easily and even a little carelessly, it seems that they have a great many talents that exceed the capabilities of an ordinary dog.
A schnauzer was bred in Germany more than 500 years ago as a guard to accompany merchants and farmers taking their goods to the market, the universal schnauzer also served as a rat catcher, military messenger, cattle herder and companion, and also helped people with disabilities and hard of hearing, and acting as a police, security and search and rescue dog.
Of course, this list of achievements should be divided between the three varieties of baleen muzzles. Let's look at their characteristics now ... a courageous and strong defender ... this is exactly about the Giant Schnauzer. A tall, black dog with a hard coat of 60-70 cm at the withers.
Hmm ... loyal, considerate, very smart and reliable too ... this is the Mittelschnauzer. Medium height 45-50 cm at the withers. With a hard coat of pepper-salt color.
And tenacious, friendly, very cheerful baby, only 30-35 cm at the withers. Miniature Schnauzer is definitely a miniature. But do not rush to write it in the category of small pet dogs. The jaw system of this baby is like a medium sized dog. Lack of weight is offset by cunning and jumping. This is the smallest service dog. In the following articles I will talk about the Zwergs much more. By the way, “miniature” in translation from German means - a dwarf, and “schnauzer” - a mustached muzzle.
The breed experts agree that one of the characteristics common to all schnauzers is self-confidence. Although they never seek a quarrel themselves, these dogs do not retreat and do not flee from the enemy. Perhaps this is stubbornness; they know better and are not going to do something just because you say so. And now imagine that all this is combined with the size and strength of the Giant Schnauzer. Many breeders will not sell a Giant Schnauzer to an inexperienced owner.
But the miniature, now, undoubtedly, is the most famous of the varieties of schnauzers and is in the TOP 10 in popularity among the registered breeds of the American Kennel Club (AKC). Giant Schnauzer is 83rd in popularity. Mittelschnauzer in 99th place. I note that the medium-sized schnauzer is actually the original from which the larger and smaller variants were later created. A standard schnauzer, formed as a breed around 1600 by Albrecht Dürer and Lucas Cranach.
Whatever size of schnauzer matches your lifestyle, if you choose this smart and respectable breed for yourself, you will definitely be among those who insist that these dogs have special abilities that seem almost super unique.
A case in point is a schnauzer nicknamed George. The Mittelschnauzer, a former police dog, is now a certified doctor helping other dogs. George was the first dog trained to recognize skin cancer by acute sense of smell, and its accuracy in detecting melanomas is almost 100 percent.
The Giant Schnauzer is a formidable defender, widely used today in Europe for security and police work. Both the Giant Schnauzer and the Middle Schnauzer are rightly classified in the US Working Group.
All three varieties of schnauzers are solid black or the color of pepper and salt, and the miniature can also be black-white and silver. Schnauzers' wool is as hard as wire, thick and with a thorough undercoat. And since this breed does not fade, the wool must be plucked with hands twice a year at least. A haircut with a machine is unacceptable, so most owners choose to visit a special master about once every six weeks. Only muzzle and paws are processed with scissors.
North American schnauzers usually have cropped ears and cropped tails; however, in many other parts of the world, dog cosmetic surgery is currently not encouraged or completely prohibited, and schnauzers and other breeds are now found with natural tails and ears.