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Miniature Schnauzer - Breed Standards
Personality:
The Miniature Schnauzer is a robust, energetic and playful dog of the terrier breed. Usually constantly needing companionship and interaction with the owner.
Size and Proportion:
Size - From 12 to 14 inches and weighing from 10 to 20 lbs at adulthood, the Miniature Schnauzer is predominately and boldly built, square and proportional in body length to height.
Body:
Eyes – Small in proportion to head size, dark brown and set deep. The whites of the eyes are not usually visible immediately. They are round and oval in shape.
Ears - When cropped, the ears are identical in shape and length, with tips pointed up. They are again, proportional in size with the head. They are set high on the head and carried perpendicularly at the inner edges, with as little of a bell in the ear as possible along the outer edges. When uncropped, the ears are small and V-shaped, folding down close to the sides of the head.
Nose - Straight, predominant extending proportionally the size of the top head. The hair and whiskers hang down the sides of the nose in a most prestigious and dignified look.
Mouth – Slim lips surrounding the inner tooth structure. The top jaw gum line overlaps and surrounds the bottom jaw gum line. Teeth are usually cat like, meaning pointed sharp.
Head – Rectangular almost square in appearance with its width diminishing slightly from ears to eyes, and to the tip of the nose. The forehead is smooth and unwrinkled. The top of the head is flat and long. The front face is straight up and parallel to the top of the head, with a slight stop, and it is at least as long as the top head.
Neck - Strong and well arched, extending into the shoulders, and with the skin fitting tightly at the throat.
Body and Chest - Straight back extending to the hind quarters in proportional size to the height.
Forequarters – Front legs are straight and parallel when viewed from all sides. They have strong pasterns and good bone structure. They are separated by a fairly deep chest or otherwise called the “brisket” which precludes a pinched front. The legs’ elbows are close, ribs spreading gradually from the first rib out as to allow space for the elbows to move close to the front body. Shoulders are sloped and muscular while still maintaining a flat, clean, and toned appearance. They are set back from the neck, so that from the side of the tips of the shoulder blades are in a nearly vertical line above the legs elbow. The top tips of the shoulder blades are placed closely together. They slope forward and downward at an angle which permits for the maximum forward extension of the front legs without effort. Both the shoulder blades and upper legs are long, allowing depth of the chest at the bottom brisket.
Hindquarters - The hind legs are again strong, toned and muscular having slanting thighs. They are bent significantly at the stifles. There is a sufficient angle to the legs so that at stance, the hocks extend beyond the tail. The hind legs never extend over or higher than the front shoulders.
Tail - Straight and carried up proudly. It is docked between an average of 1/2 to 3/4 inches long, enough to be clearly visible over the backbone of the body.
Feet – Short, round, and almost ‘cat like’ in appearance. Bottom padding is thick and protective. Toes are proportional but yet set again in a ‘cat like’ appearance.
Coat – Double haired, with a hard and wiry outer coat and soft and almost silky undercoat. The outer coat hair of the body should be plucked. The hair is much like a persons hair.
Pennsylvania Miniature Schnauzers, Schnauzers Of PA.
By David L. Fisher, December, 2006.
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