Mittelschnauzer: description of the breed and the nuances of the content

There are a large number of dog breeds. Among the hundreds of varieties, the mittel schnauzer stands out for its very good qualities. Like many other species, the Schnauzer's past is very instructive.

Similar in appearance, dogs are found in paintings by Albrecht Durer and Cranach the Elder. But experts believe that the most ancient ancestors of this breed lived 5-6 thousand years ago. The Mittelschnauzer, the so-called peat dog, inhabited the space of modern Germany even before the construction of most of the Egyptian pyramids began. From peat dogs, mittels took an elongated and massive skull. But, of course, on the way to its modern look, the breed has changed significantly.

At the same time, many interbreed hybridizations took place. The prevailing version says that the mittel schnauzer was obtained by crossing:

• wire-haired pinschers;
• gray wolfspitz;
• German poodles.

But not all experts agree with this hypothesis. There are assumptions according to which schnauzers were crossed with:

• griffon;
• terrier;
• pug.

In any case, there is no doubt about the fact that the mittel schnauzer as an independent species of dogs appeared quite late... They were originally classified as wire-haired pinschers because the dogs were covered in coarse, wire-like hair. The name "stable pinschers" was widespread, since these animals were considered rat catchers, suitable for stables.

The year 1879 is of great importance in this history, marked by the victory of one of the individuals at the Hanover exhibition. The very next year, the standard of external appearance was officially introduced. The Mittelschnauzer breeding club appeared in 1921, but ordinary pinschers were also bred in the same club. In the United States, mittels were seen at the beginning of the 20th century. Curiously, American experts initially considered these dogs to be terriers. It was only by the mid-1940s that the situation changed dramatically. In our country, mittelschnauzers have been used on a large scale since the late 1970s.

Initially, the animals were peppery, and only in the next decade did black dogs appear.

The most important thing in the Mittelschnauzer breed is that it occupies an intermediate position: the Giant Schnauzers are larger, and the Miniature Schnauzers, respectively, are smaller. Actually, "mittel" in translation from German just means "average" size of the dog. Adult "middle peasants" are 0.2 m shorter than rizen and about 0.15 m taller than miniatures. However, all this strongly depends on the specifics of specific individuals.

The skull of the mittel schnauzer is large, elongated. The occipital protuberance is relatively small and the forehead is flattened. The muzzle is close in shape to a wedge. It ends in a blunt part and has a clearly visible stop. A feature of all mittelschnauzers is the large size of the teeth. The jaws look impressive and close together to form a scissor bite. Pure representatives of the breed have a nose with a massive lobe and wide-open nostrils.

Due to these anatomical nuances, the animal's sense of smell is significantly improved. Lobes can only be colored black - any other color is considered a deviation from the standard. The oval-shaped dark eyes are level. He looks at the pet openly and with obvious curiosity about everything, is interested in what is happening around him.

The ears of Mittelschnauzers are triangular in shape. They hang from cartilage. But in Russia the practice of cropping and artificial shaping of ears prevails. Therefore, they most often stand upright and resemble a pointed triangle. The dog's neck contains relatively few muscles and is relatively thin. The scruff of the mittel puppies is clearly visible.

The skin on the neck and throat is stretched very tightly, it should not have normal folds and wrinkled areas. The body is rectangular in shape from above, slightly sloping. The dorsal part, albeit short, but strong. The lumbar structure is firmly built and deep. The chest part of the body of medium schnauzers is deep and wide, it is clearly visible that it protrudes forward.

The animal's legs are straight, their carriage is moderately wide. The limbs of the mitts located behind are pulled towards the tail, the shoulder blades are closely pressed against the sternum, and the elbows are against the body. The thighs of the limbs of the dogs are elongated, muscular. The elongated lower legs are saturated with veins, the hock joints are connected with optimal angles.

In the standard characteristics of Mittelschnauzers, it is noted that they have short arched legs. The tail resembles a crescent or sickle. Its length does not give the impression of any unnaturalness. The latest requirements in European countries imply the rejection of tail docking. Owners who practice this measure are deprived of the opportunity to send their pets to exhibitions.

In our country, docking is still allowed. Therefore, most of the breeders continue to resort to it. The coat of the Mittelschnauzers is harsh and rough. A dense undercoat is hidden under it, the awn is of normal length. The adhesion of the spine to the skin is quite tight.

On the forehead and around the ears, the hair is extremely short. The muzzle and browbones are decorated with long strands.

There are only two medium schnauzers that meet the cynological standards - black and salt and pepper.The second option is a multitone, formed by a set of silver, gray and steel colors. In our country and in most other countries of the world, black and pepper varieties of mittels are bred and displayed separately from each other. At the same time, in England and the United States, the practice is completely opposite.

White individuals are not officially displayed anywhere. Violations that lead to the removal of an animal from the exhibition or to the deprivation of prizes are:

• too short or elongated limbs;
• eversion of the elbows;
• wide bone;
• cow-set paws;
• atypical growth (deviation from the boundaries of the permissible norm up or down by more than 0.03 m).

Disqualification during a competition may also be due to:

• wrong behavior;
• inappropriate color;
• non-standard bite;
• other deviations from the breed format.

A two month old Schnauzer "boy" has a height at the withers of at least 0.28 m. His weight must be at least 4 kg. For "girls" these indicators are lower. Adult animals weigh between 12 and 20 kg.

Any mittel schnauzer is a real "all-rounder". He will be able to fulfill the role:

• energetic companion (accompanying);
• bloodhounds;
• brave rescuer.

This combination of qualities, especially taking into account the innate distrust of strangers, allows the use of mittels as guards. They have an almost absolute memory for faces, which helps to distinguish those who have come into the house or simply approaching on the street. Even clever disguise and make-up often fail to help intruders. But it is important to understand another thing - the pet is smart and cunning also in dealing with the owners. During training, and sometimes after its completion, the animal uses every opportunity to hold its interest.

The impressive intellectual achievements of the breed, for which it is so praised, do not manifest by nature - they will have to be developed. The schnauzer builds up its mental abilities throughout its life, and the frequency and quality of communication with the owners plays an important role in this process. The breed is also distinguished by its penchant for hobbies, increased emotionality. Any business that the dog is engaged in absorbs its attention without a trace. Having won the love and adoration of the beast, you need to be prepared for these feelings to manifest violently.

Sometimes it happens unexpectedly or at the most inopportune moment. But you shouldn't be angry about this. Animals are unobtrusive and perfectly understand what the owners need, what they require of them. If the owner makes it clear that he is not ready to show affection at this moment, he will be left alone. However, such hints should not be overused.

Using your discontent in vain, you can only push the pet away from you and turn it against yourself. Paradoxically, the adoration of the owners does not block the dog's desire to take a leading position and dominate people. Mittels are able to test the authority of family members and even their heads with whatever actions they want. High intelligence only makes attempts of this kind more sophisticated. Sometimes the only indulgence, a momentary weakness, is enough for the average Schnauzer to consistently push the owners further and further.

Such a topic as mittels and children deserves special attention. Dogs don't appreciate babies too much... They are ready to be loyal and condescending, from the position of a patron, to treat weaker creatures. Simple pranks will be forgiven, but lack of respect or infliction of pain will quickly lead to "punishment." It is better to explain to young children in advance that they cannot grab the animal by the "beard" or climb up to it with your hands in a bowl of food.

The average schnauzer is rated very highly by dog ​​handlers.This is a versatile working breed that has easily adapted to life in a big city. Of the positive traits of these animals, they note:

• loyalty;
• external beauty;
• high intelligence;
• unique style in appearance and behavior;
• the ability to protect pets from all kinds of dangers.

Medium Schnauzers are complex in character. Traits that are often referred to as positive can actually have negative consequences. Animals rarely get sick and live long (average 14 years). However, owners need to prepare to immediately provide pets with active leisure. The usual leisurely walk on a leash will not allow them to lose excess energy. It is imperative to load the dog with exercise.

When planning to use pets for display at exhibitions, people must clearly understand that then they cannot do without professional grooming. It is impossible to tidy up the animals and maintain their pleasant appearance on your own. But if the exhibition activity is not fundamental, then this requirement can be safely ignored. In addition, mittels fit very well into the dimensions of an ordinary city apartment, without losing compliance with the service standard. Balanced and generally friendly, without undue aggressiveness, the character can only be welcomed.

The "German bearded man" is pragmatic and knows how to show a sense of humor. In any family, he quickly becomes an equal member, while taking a clearly assigned position. Good health (with proper care and vaccination) means little fear of problems. Mittels' coat does not shed and the breed is recommended for allergy sufferers.

Connoisseurs of the breed indicate that the mittel schnauzer does not have a characteristic canine smell... Since the stiff awn and dense undercoat do not absorb moisture, the dog can walk in relatively bad weather. Owners also note the patience and diligence of their pets. If the educational process is adjusted correctly, you can achieve almost any level in training. The excitement in animals somewhat complicates the matter, however, the regularity of the classes and the composure of the trainers help to cope with it.

As for the negative traits of behavior, they are largely subjective, or even, let's say, situational. Mistrust of “outsiders” and striving for leadership at any cost can be both harmful and beneficial. To cope with the craving for increased dominance helps the presence of humor among the owners. And heightened suspicion and some alertness turn out to be very important when the dog is attracted to guard duty. But there are also undeniable disadvantages - long growing up and excessive passion, zealous behavior, incompatibility with cats.

Thanks to its powerful intelligence, the average schnauzer will solve educational problems very easily. The problem is the frequent unwillingness (or rather unwillingness) of dogs to solve these problems. That is why the involvement of animals in the educational process is of great importance in the construction of the training program and during their implementation. As soon as they get tired of monotonous execution of monotonous commands, they will immediately find a way to avoid this case. And the experience of many people shows that no amount of human intellectual superiority over his pet helps to overcome such tricks.

Parenting and socialization should go hand in hand from the first days when puppies begin to move independently. Any training session should be carried out sequentially and brought to its logical conclusion. Retraining even with the involvement of the most experienced dog handlers is practically impossible.

No matter how sweetly the pet looks, it is impossible to allow it to complete tasks incompletely or partially. The slightest manifestation of aggression towards the owner or other household members should be stopped immediately.

When the dog gets stronger and stronger, its powerful teeth will really torment the owners. And even at an early age, a puppy can pose a rather serious danger. Even the owner, to whom dogs normally show reverence, is under threat. The earliest sign of such "rage" will be a glazed look.

Excessive enthusiasm for the puppy, due to which he concentrates too much on the game and begins to destroy the home, should be suppressed. But at the same time, the punishments should not be overly harsh. An excited animal will be stopped by a light slap with a slipper, and sometimes a loud shout is enough. It makes no sense to use great physical force in relation to the angry mittel schnauzer. This can cause serious injury to the animal.

In addition, during a struggle or passionate play, pain receptors are turned off or sharply increase the threshold of sensitivity. Therefore, sensitivity to pain signals is almost or even completely absent. As "admonition" such a measure will not work. But it can work as a provocation of retaliatory aggression.

There is no point in punishing for some time after the offense. For all its intelligence, the mittel schnauzer is still an animal. The dog does not know how to think logically, connecting the owner's act and what he himself did 30-40 minutes ago. When the little schnauzer has to be left unattended in the house, you need to provide him with more toys. They must be varied, otherwise the pet will quickly get bored.

It is strictly forbidden to acquire representatives of this breed to teach children the initial skills of training.... Due to the genetically inherent desire for leadership, the dog will not obey the "lower creatures" (these include children). It is impossible to postpone for a long time familiarization with street conditions, with other dogs. At 7-8 months, the pet should already calmly react to its own kind, to the noise of traffic or a dense crowd.

But we must remember that a schnauzer will not be able to fulfill guard duties if he was introduced to a large number of people from childhood. It is strictly forbidden to also allow the dog to be fed with various delicacies (even if it is done by good friends).

In relation to completely unfamiliar people, there should be a clear balance between excessive gullibility and total suspicion. When preparing to present your animal at an exhibition, you need to develop in him the ability to endure the touch of strangers. This is achieved by frequent massage and brushing. It will be very good if your acquaintances will also participate in such work.

The question of how many years mittelschnauzers live is of interest to all potential owners. The average life span of this breed is 14-16 years. But sometimes she grows up to 18 years old. To achieve this, you will have to take care of:

• about leaving;
• nutrition;
• maintaining the necessary activity of the dog.

Since Medium Schnauzers have a coarse coat, regular plucking is indispensable. Trimming is carried out twice or three times a year, in the spring and autumn months. The first procedure of this kind should be carried out at 4 months. Wool maturation occurs in 4-6 months, this indicator is individual for each animal. When there is a goal to participate in an exhibition, you need to carry out a haircut 6-8 weeks before it.

Dogs with slow coats can be grooming 10-12 weeks before the desired date. But at the same time, there is no need to rush. When trimming is done more than 3 months before the show, the awn will overdevelop. During the regrowth of the coat, you will have to repeatedly pinch the undercoat.Otherwise, it will grow faster than the awn, and the appearance will be spoiled.

Trimming is best left to experienced craftsmen. Haircut is especially difficult. For work you will need:

• special trimming knife;
• comb;
• hairdressing scissors;
• machine.

It is not necessary to take a knife ready-made - it is often made by hand. To do this, use a piece of a hacksaw blade for metal, wrapped with electrical tape, or a blade from a blunt table knife. But the need for a typewriter is not always there. Many craftsmen successfully manage with hand scissors alone.

Very sharp scissors should only be used by professionals. Without experience, it is easy to cause serious injury to a dog. The comb should be metal, with fine teeth. Trimming is done from top to bottom, from head to tail. Hair removal should only be done in small patches.

After finishing trimming, the pet is completely naked, so in cold weather it will have to be carried in a carrier. The remaining hair is removed with a machine. Wool should be trimmed again 10-14 days before the show.

Puppies need to dock their ears only with the help of a surgeon. Only a skilled specialist can do everything beautifully and competently. The dog can be sent for surgery only when the quarantine associated with vaccination is over. And one more nuance: the shortened auricles do not always stand up right away. Sometimes you have to carry out massage sessions and even glue the ear.

Despite the seeming simplicity, this is quite a serious surgical intervention. Because you have to strictly follow the instructions of doctors... Once a day, the seams are treated with disinfectants. It is impossible to allow the appearance of crusts on the seams, because because of them rotting, baldness begins. The pet can perceive the treatment of the wound surface with indignation, but all his yapping can be safely ignored.

For the most part, this is just an attempt to scare away enemies. Caring for cropped ears does not provoke any unbearable pain. If the ears are not cropped, they will still have to be looked after. It will be necessary to assess their condition more often and carry out preventive cleaning. Raising and laying the ears back is eliminated with massage and gluing.

The maintenance of the mittel schnauzer should be as comfortable as possible for him. The animal needs in a sufficiently large free space. There it will be able to show its physical activity without hindrance. Experts and professional dog handlers note that washing of the paws should be done after any walk. At the same time, small specks are selected at the same time.

When the Schnauzer eats, the hair that adorns its face inevitably gets dirty. Therefore, after each meal, this part of the wool will have to be wiped and cleaned. Bathing is carried out monthly, while shampoos and balms for coarse hair must be used. To maximize the effect, the detergents are diluted with water in a ratio of 1 to 1. The washed dog is soaked with a cotton towel and dried with a hairdryer.

You will have to walk an average schnauzer twice a day. They walk once, when there is a fenced land plot near the house. The first going outside can take place 14 days after the first vaccination. Animals that have been kept within four walls for too long are not sufficiently socialized and do not get used to the outdoors well.

Even long-term veterinary studies have not allowed to establish unequivocally what is better for the mittel schnauzer - homemade food or factory feed. The final choice will have to be made by the owners themselves. Pets respond equally well to any food, as long as they are of high quality. Natural food is selected in such a way as to saturate the dog's body with vital amino acids.In addition, you will need to spend more money on supplements of vitamins and minerals.

The optimal diet for schnauzers contains:

• lean meats;
• offal;
• sea ​​fish;
• cereal porridge;
• greens;
• vegetables;
• boiled eggs (once a week);
• dairy products.

Meat can only be given raw, after cutting it into pieces. For puppies, cut it into smaller pieces. It is strictly forbidden to grind it into minced meat. Bird bones are also useless. At the same time, calf brain bones will definitely delight pets and benefit them.

It is quite possible to feed the dog with one dry food. You can add food to it only after a certain interval of time. After a meal, 2.5-3 hours should pass before the apple or carrot is dispensed. Excess plant foods can negatively affect the dog's body. Do not give out the same fruit every day.

In the assessments of the owners of mittelschnauzers, it is often noted that they look original. It is difficult to confuse this dog with other breeds. Other positive qualities that are commonly referred to are intelligence and extraordinary courage. But from the reviews of dog handlers and breeders, some negative points should be mentioned. Among them, particular attention is paid to waywardness and fastidiousness in food.

The high activity of animals can cause inconvenience to those who are very limited in time, get tired at work, or often travel on business trips. However, there is also a positive side - there are mentions that such dogs can become the center of attraction in the company.

It is also often mentioned about multifunctionality of the breed... And keeping medium schnauzers is not too difficult compared to other dogs.

When choosing puppies, you can pay attention to the general compliance of the external appearance and the requirements of the standard. Any other nuances do not really matter. The unpredictability of schnauzers lies in the fact that even experienced professionals rarely guess the prospects of two-month-old puppies. Success is achieved by those owners who pay attention to the reactions of animals. The best are those individuals who immediately behave boldly and inquisitively, show a desire to make contact.

See the following video for the features of the Schnauzer breed.