Standard Schnauzer Care

The Standard Schnauzer is iconic for its regal-looking facial hair, its high energy, and its bold personality. While these dogs are normally friendly and loyal, they can become "rulers of the roost" unless taught respectful behavior from an early age. Overall Standard Schnauzer care won't take a ton of work, but will need to include a good bit of daily exercise and some early training and socialization.

Here you'll find plenty of details on how to take care of a Schnauzer: puppy care and development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition, and more are all covered. If you see an ad reading "Schnauzer Needs Home," by all means adopt the dog--and keep reading for more info!

These dogs are very energetic, so Standard Schnauzer exercise requirements are pretty extensive. Since they're also smart and task-oriented, Schnauzers will need a variety of daily activities that both condition them physically (walking, fetch) and stimulate them mentally (games, canine sports). They make good jogging and bicycling companions as well.

Adult Standard Schnauzers, depending on their age and overall activity levels, will need at least an hour of dedicated exercise per day. You can start exercising your Schnauzer puppy when it's three months old by taking it on short walks, then you can increase the walks' length as the pup grows.

Precautions with Standard Schnauzer exercise:

• Don't exercise puppies too hard before they're nine months old
• A leash is required when exercising in public; leash training during puppyhood is recommended
• Yards must be securely fenced t keep the dog from running off
• Possible separation anxiety; exercises should be done together with people

Exercising your Schnauzer every day is a must. While they're generally good-natured, without consistent activity these dogs can become disobedient, ill-tempered, and destructive. Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind! A few exercise ideas:

• Walking/Jogging/Bicycling: Two 20-minute walks (or 15-minute jogs or bike rides) per day is a good target
• Fetch/Frisbee: Schnauzers love chasing a ball, stick, or Frisbee
• Hide-and-Seek: Great indoor activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, Schnauzers enjoy the company of other dogs
• Canine Sports: These dogs can excel at obedience or agility trials and other events
• Hiking: Excellent bonding activity

When indoors, giving your Standard Schnauzer access to balls or toys will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also good to have a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks, jogs, or bike rides after breakfast and dinner and playtime in the afternoon.

Overall, these dogs need moderate maintenance, which will include a good bit of grooming. Standard Schnauzer shedding is minimal, though, and drooling isn't an issue.

Schnauzers have medium-length, wiry, double-layered coats, with longer furnishings on the face and legs. Does a Schnauzer shed at all? It does, but the shedding amount is low. Even so, owners will need to brush their Schnauzers often with a slicker brush (and a comb on the facial furnishings) to keep the coats from matting and tangling. The coats will also need to be stripped (or clipped if the Schnauzer is not a show dog) several times per year to keep them looking their best. If the coats are properly maintained, though, the shedding will remain low, and hair cleanup won't really be necessary.

And a Schnauzer almost never drools. If your Standard Schnauzer is drooling excessively, that might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

The Standard Schnauzer diet will need to include animal proteins and healthy carbs, vitamins and minerals, and omega fatty acids--nutrients every dog needs to maintain its health in the long term. This means the best Schnauzer food is premium dry kibble, as it contains balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients. If consistently fed a premium brand like Royal Canin, Schnauzer dogs will be much healthier and longer-living.

And how much to feed a Schnauzer? Adult portions of dog food for Schnauzers is about 2½ cups of dry food per day, divided into two meals. Standard Schnauzer puppy food portions are a bit smaller: depending on age, about 1¾ cups per day, divided into three meals (not two) until six months of age.

For more info on Schnauzer dog food portions, here's a handy Standard Schnauzer feeding guide:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by mixing in adult formula with the puppy formula, in slowly increasing amounts with each meal, for one week.

Try if possible to stick to the above-listed portions. Though not really pone to obesity, if these dogs are constantly overfed (and under-exercised) they certainly can become overweight--and a fat Schnauzer will have numerous health problems and a potentially shortened lifespan. You can help control your Standard Schnauzer's weight by having consistent feeding and exercise schedules, by not feeding the dog table scraps, and by not leaving food in the dog's bowl all the time.

If you're worried your Standard Schnauzer is overweight, try this simple test: run a hand along the dog's side, and if you can't feel any ribs, it's diet time--which means less food and more exercise!

A majority of veterinarians, breeders, and owners agree that the best food for Schnauzers is premium dry kibble. This high-quality food, while more expensive, provides dogs with more complete nutritional health--which cheap generic foods that consist of mostly empty "filler" ingredients simply lack.

The best dog food for Schnauzers is the kind formulated for active breeds. Royal Canin, SportMix, and Dr. Tim's are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium high-energy food.

Standard Schnauzers are better suited as indoor dogs. While they'll need a good bit of outdoor exercise each day, Schnauzers will be much happier living inside with their human family members. And for the Standard Schnauzer, apartment living is fine--owners just need to make sure they take their dogs out to stretch their legs several times a day.

Another consideration for owners of a Standard Schnauzer: weather. Overall, these dogs are pretty adaptable to most kinds of weather, and will be comfortable living in all but extremely hot or cold climates.

Schnauzers should do fine in almost all temperatures. Their dense double coat should keep them warm in cold weather; however, areas that are exceptionally are not the best environment for them. In cases such as these they should be indoor dogs and exercised during the coolest times of the day.