Standard Schnauzer Grooming

The Standard Schnauzer, with its wiry, medium-length coat and bushy facial furnishings, definitely has a signature style. Keeping your Schnauzer looking its dignified best, though, will take some time and energy. Overall Standard Schnauzer grooming will need to include consistent brushing to avoid the wiry coat from tangling. Baths aren't necessary too often, but the coats will need stripping or clipping several times per year.

Here you'll find details on maintaining the Standard Schnauzer coat, including plenty of info on brushing and bathing. You'll also learn more about caring for these dogs' paws, teeth, and ears--and you can get the 411 on various Schnauzer hairstyles.

Grooming Schnauzers can be a time-consuming, daily task--and a most of the Schnauzers' grooming will be spent maintaining their wiry coats. Though the coats don't shed much, the furnishings on the face and legs tend to mat and tangle if not brushed frequently, so the Schnauzer groom will need to include daily brushing, especially on the coat's furnishings.

Baths will be necessary every six weeks or so, unless the dog gets especially dirty or stinky.

In regards to haircuts, there are two schools of thought on grooming a Schnauzer: stripping or clipping. Hand-stripping will need to be done every 4-5 months, and will leave the coat looking more natural; for those who show their Schnauzers, stripping is a must. But the stripping process is time-consuming (up to an hour or more), so those who keep these dogs as pets often prefer to have them clipped. Note, though, that clipping a Schnauzer's coat will soften its texture over time, and the coat will shed more than if it's stripped.

And while it's possible to learn how to do all the Standard Schnauzer grooming yourself, most owners rely on a professional groomer for the major tasks like bathing and stripping or clipping. In any case, it'll be good to take your Schnauzer to a pro at least once. The groomer can give the dog's coat a proper makeover, provide various Schnauzer grooming tips, and demonstrate how to groom a Standard Schnauzer at home.

Schnauzer grooming will also require the use of a few Schnauzer grooming tools: a pin or slicker brush and canine shampoo are must-haves. Optional tools include a de-matting tool, a stripping knife, and a set of high-quality clippers, among other things.

Schnauzers' wiry coats need to be brushed at least twice per week. The furnishings on the face and legs will need special attention, as they mat or tangle pretty easily--so a lot of owners give the furnishings a quick run-through with a comb on a daily basis.

And what is the best brush to use on a Schnauzer? Some think the best dog brush for Schnauzers is a pin brush, as it glides through the stiff hairs the easiest--but others believe the best brush for a Schnauzer is a slicker brush, because this type is better at collecting dead hairs from the undercoat. In reality, either will work. A greyhound comb will be good to have as well, and some people also keep de-shedding tools (like the Furminator) in their grooming kits to help remove tangles and mats.

How to brush a Standard Schnauzer: first wet the coat with water mist from a spray bottle, then starting at the shoulders, brush the coat section by section with the pin or slicker brush, moving in the direction of hair growth. If you encounter a tangle or mat, follow the instructions provided in the Getting Out Tangles section below. Finish by going through the furnishings with the comb.

Standard Schnauzers' coats, and in particular the furnishings on the face and legs, tangle up if not consistently maintained. Two popular methods for removing them:

• Use your fingers. This is the preferred method, as it's less damaging to the coat. Use your fingers to separate the tangled hairs, going strand by strand if necessary. Some find it helpful to use the end teeth of a greyhound comb to get the process started. If the hairs are really matted or tangled, use scissors to cut the knot in half or even fourths to help separate it. If the tangle is impossible to get out, just cutting it out completely might be the only option.
• Use a de-shedding tool. If owners use a tool like a Furminator, Schnauzer dogs' coats are less likely to tangle in the first place. These tools' sharp, curved teeth also cut out stubborn mats. The problem is that the tools often remove healthy hairs along with the dead or tangled ones, which leaves the coat looking uneven--so using your fingers is best.

Hand-stripping a Schnauzer requires a good bit of time and patience--which is why a lot of owners leave the Schnauzer stripping to professional groomers. And if the dog is for show, Standard Schnauzer hand-stripping is pretty much required. Regardless, hand-stripping Schnauzer puppy or adult dogs leaves the coats looking healthy, neat, and closer to their natural state than clipping them does.

It is possible to learn to hand-strip your Schnauzer's coat yourself. Note that the process will take a good bit of time (up to an hour)--but luckily, it'll only need to be done two or three times a year.

While some people like to use stripping knives, hand-stripping with your fingers is a much more effective method. How to strip a Schnauzer's coat with your fingers: use one hand to part a small section of coat. With the thumb and forefinger of the other hand, grasp a tuft of hair and tug gently; if hairs are dead, they should come out easily. Put the dead hairs in a small bag or other container, then move on to the next section.

Go though the entire coat in this manner. It may take a while--but your Schnauzer's coat will look fantastic!

Do Schnauzers smell? While not known for their "doggy odor," breed members can get stinky or dirty if not bathed periodically--especially if the dog spends a lot of time outside. In general, though, your Schnauzer bath will only need to happen every couple of months, unless the dog rolls in something dirty or smelly.

In between baths: your Schnauzer's facial furnishings will often get soiled when the dog eats. Clean the dog's beard with a wet rag after meals if needed, and give it a quick comb-through afterward.

It's also important to use canine shampoo when bathing your Schnauzer, as the kind made for humans can irritate a dog's skin. The best shampoo for Schnauzers includes brands like Buddy Wash, Nature's Miracle, and 4-Legger.

How to bathe a Schnauzer: first give the dog's coat a good brushing. You can bathe your Schnauzer either in the bathtub, or in an outdoor plastic pool using a garden hose. Wet the coat thoroughly, then apply a quarter-sized portion of Schnauzer shampoo to the dog's back. Lather well, working downward and outward as you go. (And don't forget the legs, underbelly, and tail!) Clean the face, head, and ears with a washcloth. Rinse until the water runs clear.

Towel-dry the coat, then while it's still damp, give the dog another quick brush- and comb-through to make the coat look clean and neat.

Some owners--particularly those who keep their Standard Schnauzers as pets--like to have their dogs sport various Schnauzer haircut styles. Cutting Schnauzer hair isn't difficult, and most of these Schnauzer haircuts can be done at home--but it's probably best to let a professional groomer do your Schnauzer's haircut at least once, as he or she can properly demonstrate how to cut a Schnauzer's hair in the preferred style. Regardless of whether you prefer Schnauzer clipping over stripping, these Schnauzer hair cuts make these dogs look fantastic!

Here are four popular Schnauzer grooming styles:

• Schnauzer Cut: If you think "Schnauzer Cuts" on Schnauzer dogs don't take much work, you'd basically be right. Since this Schnauzer's haircut is based on how the breed's coat already looks, the cut simply trims and evens out the hair all over the body, leaving its length as it is. Some groomers like to use thinning shears on the furnishings to make them more uniform. Can be done at home with some practice.
• Puppy Cut: A "low-maintenance" style. The Schnauzer Puppy Cut sees the hair cut short (to 1-2 inches) all over. Most people like to leave the facial furnishings (and sometimes the legs too) longer so the dog can keep its signature look. Can be done at home.
• Summer Clip: An even lower-maintenance 'do. This short Schnauzer haircut has the entire coat--facial furnishings and all--clipped to an inch or less. If you're picturing a shaved Schnauzer, you're more or less correct. Those who think Schnauzers without beards just don't look right, should consider another style. Can be done at home, but will definitely take some practice.
• Mohawk: The Schnauzer Mohawk is doable with any other short style--but the hair on top of the head (and if desired, in a line along the spine) is left longer and "spiked" to make it stand up. Probably best done by a groomer.

Your Standard Schnauzer's paws will need routine maintenance in the following areas:

• Nails: If Schnauzer nails click on hard surfaces, it's time for a trim. Use standard clippers to cut the nails as close to the toes as possible--but be careful not to cut them too short! Doing so will cut into the nail's "quick" (the blood vessel running through it), making the nail bleed and be painful. (BONUS: artistic-minded folks can leave the nails a bit longer, and paint them with some fabulous Schnauzer nail art!)
• Toe Hair: If the hair between your Standard Schnauzer's toes gets too long, it'll collect dirt and debris and even get infected. Use scissors to trim the hair short if needed.
• Paw Pads: Your Schnauzer's paw pads can get dry and cracked, especially if the dog walks a lot on hot asphalt or snow and ice. Apply commercial paw pad moisturizer (available at pet stores or online) to the pads weekly to keep them soft and moist.

Your Schnauzer will also need care in these areas:

• Teeth: Just like a human's, Schnauzer teeth need regular brushing to prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar, and to minimize that Schnauzer bad breath! Brush the dog's teeth 2-3 times per week with a regular toothbrush--but be sure to use canine toothpaste (available at pet stores or online), as the kind made for humans can make dogs sick if they swallow it.
• Ears: If not cleaned periodically, your Standard Schnauzer's ears can collect dirt and debris and even get infected--which often leads to hearing loss. Clean the dog's ears monthly with canine ear cleaning solution. Be sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions, but the usual process is to squirt a generous amount of solution into the ear canal, close the ear flap, and massage the outer ear for a few seconds to work in the liquid. The dog will probably shake its head vigorously--this is normal--then use a cotton ball (never a Q-Tip!) to wipe out any remaining solution.