Schnauzers

Schnauzers (Miniature)

Today, Schnauzers come in three separate varieties, the Schnauzer, the Schnauzer (Miniature), and the Schnauzer (Giant). The names of these varieties are based on their size. Despite this classification, each of these varieties is a unique breed, which conceals their somewhat common ancestry.

History of the Schnauzer

Schnauzer Night-Watchman c 1620

Schnauzer history dates back to the late 1400s when their days were spent with shepherds in Austrian Tyrol. During the 1600s the smaller Schnauzers in the litter were commonly used as a household guard dogs when the larger Schnauzers were away tending the sheep. Simultaneously, the larger Schnauzers guarded the yard and outer buildings against wolves and undesirable people. Schnauzer-like dogs of various sizes appear in works of art of several artists of this period. These include a tapestry by Rembrandt and a statue in Stuttgart.^[5]

The name 'Schnauzer', meaning a dog with a moustache or whiskers, describes the Wire-haired Pinscher that were first described in dog literature in 1842. Later in 1800s the wire coated German Pinscher became somewhat confused with the Affenpinscher, This confusion ceased when the Affenpinscher was accepted pure breed.

The Schnauzer becomes a Pure Breed

Despite his origin being the Austrian Tyrol, the first Schnauzer records were in the German Kennel Club Stud Books in 1878. By 1880, the first Schnauzer Breed Standard of the Wire-haired German Pinscher, Ratter or Rat-catcher described an alert dog with a rough, hard coat. This is the dog we know today as the Schnauzer, sometimes also called the Schnauzer (Standard).

Schnauzer (Pepper and Salt)

Consequently, by the 1880s the status of the Schnauzer went from a farm dog to becoming a pure breed. By 1885, the blacks were becoming known. By 1890 the occasional Schnauzer with true salt and pepper colour was produced by mating blacks the reddish-coated dogs Reh Pinschers, a type of dog used for hunting in the forests of Germany in the 1800s. The breed was well established in Germany by 1914 when World War One began.

The Schnauzer (Miniature) becomes a Pure Breed

Schnauzer (Mini) Black & Silver

First exhibited at Hannover in 1879, a Breed Standard was issued in 1880 and the first Specialty Show held in 1890 in Stuttgart, Germany. The first (of six) Schnauzer Stud books was published in 1902. These separated the Miniature from the Standards. However, in 1895 the Pinscher-Schnauzer had been formed in Munich and, in 1924 these two Stud Books amalgamated registrations, lasting until well into the 1950s^[4].

The first ten years of Miniature Schnauzer breeding in America was from 1925 - 1935 when 108 were imported from Germany. Between 1935 and 1941 when the participation of World War Two by America began, almost 2,000 Miniature Schnauzers had been registered. These, almost entirely descended from the original 108 imports, produced 54 American bred Champions^[4a].

However, their popularity was much slower in Britain. A black Schnauzer bitch was first imported in 1928 followed by a dog in 1930. Standards were registered together with Miniatures until 1932. In 1935 the English Kennel Club changed their name to 'Affenschnauzer' but it was changed back again to 'Schnauzer' after World War Two ended in Britain 1946^[4b].

The Schnauzer (Giant) becomes a Pure Breed

Schnauzer (Giant)

As outlined in the History of the Rottweiler, large dogs were known in Southern Germany since Roman times, and used for both for droving and carting and as herding dogs along the old trade routes. Indigenous hunting dogs like the German Boarhound and later, the Bullenbeisser were probably added to this mix. This large dog was likely to be mixed with the Schnauzer that was already known in this area, to create the Schnauzer (Giant).

History of the Schnauzer in Australia

Schnauzer bred by Anthea Cunningham

Although a couple of Schnauzers were introduced here by Anthony Horden in 1934, interest in the breed did not continue. In 1948, after World War Two had ended, Anthea Cunningham in Victoria imported Delaborde Mampe and Rodelia Bishopsten. She followed these two up with more imports. For many years, Anthea not only bred beautiful Schnauzers under the Urangeline prefix, she was always ready to assist any person with an interest in the breed.

Also in 1948, Patrick White (a Nobel Prize winning novelist) imported Schnauzers into NSW. This is the interesting wartime story of how Patrick and his partner became so significant in introducing Schnauzers into Australia.

Patrick's lifetime partner was Manoly Lascaris, an Egyptian officer in the Greek Royal Army. In Palestine, he bought a Schnauzer pup 'Franz' from a Jewish refugee. 'Franz' became a mascot with Greek Sacred Regiment in the Middle East and went to Tobruk and back during World War Two. When Manoly's regiment moved to Europe, his partner Patrick White collected the pup and took it to the British occupied Egyptian port of Alexandria.

Schnauzer

After the War, Patrick took Franz back to England where, on the recommendation of a judge, the Kennel Club (UK) gave him a pedigree and officially registered him. Patrick then bought a Schnauzer bitch, Blacknest Brevity to keep Franz company during the long months the pair sailed on board a ship to Australia. Once here, Patrick and Manoly bought a second bitch, Blacknest Charity to keep Franz and Lottie company during their mandatory six-months quarantine period. Then Partick and Manoly the established the Grauvolk prefix and had Franz registered as Ironsides of Erehwon ('nowhere' spelt backwards).

They then imported Karen of Knells. Together with Franz, they produced many champions under the Graufolk prefix. Partick and Manoly were very successful in the showring. This put Schnauzers on the map here in Australia^[2].

Deltone Deldario (Imp UK)

History of Schnauzer (Miniature) in Australia

In 1962, the first Schnauzer (Miniature) arrived here with June Rees of Casa Verde Kennel who brought into NSW English Champion Gosmore Wicker Keeper.

Later that year, Sylvia Cerini imported a son of Wicket Keeper as a birthday present for her husband Clem. This was the Schnauzer (Miniature) Deltone Deldario (imp UK) pictured on the right, who they called 'David'.

Jevinus Rigoletto (Imp UK)

Then the black Miniature Schnauzer Jevinus Rigoletto (imp UK) ("Brumus") pictured on the left followed. A year later, Clem and Sylvia Cerini also brought in Deltone Delsanta Delia (imp UK).

History of Schnauzer (Giant) in Australia

The first Schnauzer (Giant) to arrive here was in 1978 when Mavis Hawkins brought in the bitch, Ch Odivane Vyaren Velvet C.D followed by a dog Ch Paris Garden Diablio C.D also from UK.

Schnauzer

Mrs Hawkins then trained Schnauzers of all three sizes to the title of Australian Obedience Champion. This surely epitomises how passionate Mrs Hawkins was in striving to demonstrate not just the Schnauzer's beauty, but also its reliability and intelligence^[3]. To attain this remarkable achievement, each dog had to gain titles separately in both Utility Obedience Trials and Tracking Dog Excellent Tests.

Her three Schnauzers that were awarded these titles were:

Miniature Delderland Sweet Su Fi AOC,
Schnauzer Ch Pejtal Honey Beetoo AOC
Giant Ch Vayaren Easter Daizee AOC.

Schnauzers Today

Despite the Schnauzer coming in 3 sizes, their heads have the following similarities:

They are strong, of good length with parallel head planes with the skull is moderately broad between the ears.
They have a medium stop which accentuates their prominent eyebrows.
Their powerful muzzle with its bristly, stubby moustache and chin whiskers houses a normal scissors bite.
Their eyes are oval, of medium size and set under bushy eyebrows.
Their neat, V-shaped, set high button ears drop forward to temple.

Differences Between Schnauzer, Schnauzer (Miniature) and Schnauzer (Giant)

	Schnauzer	Schnauzer-Mini	Schnauzer-Giant
General appearance	Sturdily built, robust almost squarely built	Sturdily built, robust and almost squarely built	Sturdily built, robust and almost squarely built
Size	Dogs 48 cm (19 ins) Bitches 46 cm (18 ins) Variation up to 2.5cm (1in) allowable	Dogs 36 cm (14 in) Bitches 33 cm (13 in) Small or like a toy not typical	Dogs 65-70 cm (25.5-27.5 in) Bitches 60-65 cm (23.5-25.5 in)
	Schnauzer	Schnauzer-Mini	Schnauzer-Giant
Colour	Pure Black. Pepper and salt ranging from dark iron grey to light grey.	Pure Black. Pepper and salt ranging from dark iron grey to light grey. Black and Silver. White.	Pure black. Pepper and salt ranging from dark iron grey to light grey.
Coat	Double coated. Top coat harsh and wiry, sufficiently short for smartness.	Double coated. Top coat harsh and wiry, sufficiently short for smartness.	Double coated. Top coat harsh and wiry, sufficiently short for smartness.
Characteristics	Strong, capable of great endurance	Smart, stylish and adaptable	Versatile, strong, capable of great speed and endurance
Temperament	Primarily a companion dog. Reliable and intelligent.	Primarily a companion dog. Reliable and intelligent.	Bold, reliable good natured and composed.
Body	Chest moderately broad, with breastbone reaching to the elbow. Back strong and straight but slightly higher at the shoulder than the loins.	Chest moderately broad, with breastbone reaching to the elbow. Back strong and straight but slightly higher at the shoulder than the loins.	Chest moderately broad, with conspicuous forechest reaching the elbow. Back strong and straight but slightly higher at the shoulder than the slightly sloping croup.
	Schnauzer Pepper/Salt	Schnauzer-Mini Black/Silver	Schnauzer-Giant Black
Front	The neck should be moderately long with smooth shoulder muscles. The elbows should be close to the body. The strong bone extends right down to catlike feet which point forwards.	The neck should be moderately long with smooth shoulder muscles. The elbows should be close to the body. The strong bone extends right down to catlike feet which point forwards.	The neck should be moderately long with smooth shoulder muscles. The elbows should be close to the body. The strong bone extends right down to catlike feet which point forwards.
Hindquarters	Strongly muscled, the line from stifle to hock, in line with the extension of the upper neck line.	Strongly muscled, from stifle to hock, in line with the extension of the upper neck line.	Strongly muscled, from stifle to hock, in line with the extension of the upper neck line.
	Schnauzer	Schnauzer-Mini	Schnauzer-Giant
Movement	Free and vigorous, with balanced reach and drive in forequarters and hindquarters.	Free and vigorous, with balanced reach in forequarters and hindquarters.	Free and vigorous, with balanced reach and drive in forequarters and hindquarters.
Tail	Set on and carried jauntily and high	Set on and carried jauntily and high	Set on high and carried at an angle slightly above topline

References and Further Reading

The History of Schnauzers was published in Published in Dog News Australia (Top Dog Media Pty Ltd Austral NSW) May 2021 Page 6

^[1] Mary Cole Schofield 'The Standard Schnauzer' SSCA Source Book Vol 111', Published by the Standard Schnauzer Club of America on its 50th Anniversary 'The Standard Schnauzer - a History Pages 304 - 308

^[2] Andrew Kidd, "The History of Purebred Dogs in Australia" published by OzDog Newspaper 1997 The Schnauzer Page 264

^[3] National Dog - the Ringleader Way (Published by Sahjobe Pty Ltd, Menangle Park NSW ABN 86 075 412 761) Vol 11 No 11 November 2008 Page 6

^[4] Anne F Paramoure 'The Complete Miniature Schnauzer' Part 1, 'Breed Origins' page 48

^[4a] Ibid.,American Producing lines Page 95 - 96

^[4b] Ibid.,The Breed in Great Britain Page 157

^[5] Donald Becker, the Schnauzer Club of Great Britain 'The Origin and Early History of the Schnauzer' Published c 1966 Pages 2 and 3