The Miniature Schnauzer is a variation of the breed with a compact size, but that does not lose its personality at all. The small dog with a square head and a muzzle with so much hair that it looks like a big mustache is an extremely playful and sociable breed - perfect for those who want a good company in smaller environments. But did you know that despite being so small, this dog was a hunter?in the old days? O Home Paws tells you this and some more curiosities about the Mini Schnauzer for those who want to know a little more about the breed.

1. the Miniature Schnauzer arose from the cross between the Standard and smaller breeds

The Schnauzer breed has three variations: Miniature Schnauzer, Standard Schnauzer and Giant Schnauzer. The Miniature Schnauzer came from the cross between the Standard Schnauzer and the Affenpinscher breed. However, it is believed that some smaller breeds, such as Poodle and Pinscher, were also used in the cross until arriving at the Small Schnauzer. The little dog appeared in Germany in 1800 and was taken to the United States in 1910.1924 - After the Second World War, the Schnauzer mini dog became much loved in the country, being the third most popular breed in the USA at the beginning of the 20th century.

2. the Schnauzer Mini dog officially got its name after a competition

The German name "Schnauzer" means "bearded muzzle." There is no more appropriate name for this dog with such distinctive hair. But the origin of the name has a funny story. Until the late 1800s, the Mini Schnauzer was known as the "hard-haired Pinscher." It was given this name because it was often compared to the breed and had rough hair. However, in 1987 there was a competition ofdog in Germany and a dog of the breed was the winner. His name was Schnauzer! After that, this became the official name of the breed.

3. size is no document: the Mini Schnauzer was a guard dog and hunter

The Miniature Schnauzer is usually between 30 and 35 centimetres tall. But did you know that they used to be hunters? In the old days, the Mini Schnauzer was a guard dog for the peasants and its main function was to hunt small rodents. One advantage is exactly its furry muzzle, which prevents bruises that the prey could try to make. To this day, the hunting instinct exists in the mini schnauzer dog.Even though he is docile and playful, he has a defensive temperament, especially when he needs to protect someone in the family.

4. white, black or mixed Miniature Schnauzer: breed can have several shades of coat.

There are four possible coat colors for the miniature Schnauzer. While the white miniature Schnauzer and the black miniature Schnauzer have all one color coat, those that are black and silver or salt and pepper have mixed tones. In black and silver, the mixture is made up of black tones with white hair on the paws, beard and near the eyes. The salt and pepper coloration mixesshades of gray, from the darkest to the most silvery.

5. the miniature schnauzer is very sociable with people and other pets

The small Schnauzer dog is extremely affectionate and docile. He is also very playful and always likes to be outdoors. On the other hand, it is also a great dog breed for an apartment, as it is very attached to the family. The miniature Schnauzer is sociable with humans and with dogs as well. As it is a fearless little dog, it gets along well even with larger dogs. So if you want to have aMiniature Schnauzer, know that you must always take him outdoors to play. He will simply love it!

6. the great intelligence of the small Schnauzer is an advantage in training

The Miniature Schnauzer is one of the most intelligent dogs in existence. It is among the 12 most intelligent dog breeds, according to the ranking published in the book "The Intelligence of Dogs". The mini Schnauzer is super intelligent and has a great ability to learn. That is, the tutor will succeed in the training process. But the Schnauzer mini dog is also very independent and stubborn.So, although it is easy to learn, the tutor needs patience, especially at the beginning of the training, when the dog can resist more. The ideal is that the training is done when the dog is still a puppy to learn to obey from an early age.

7 - The Miniature Schnauzer inspired one of the most famous characters in children's literature.

Did you know that one of the most popular dogs in Brazilian literature is a miniature Schnauzer? This is the breed of Bidu, the most famous dog in the Turma da Mônica comic books and in all children's literature in the country. He was inspired by the miniature Schnauzer that author Maurício de Sousa had when he was a child. That's why Bidu has that characteristic beard, makingreference to the beards of Schnauzers. Just don't think you'll find a blue Mini Schnauzer around!

8. how much does a Miniature Schnauzer cost? Price can vary greatly

If you are looking to get a Schnauzer mini, know that the prices change, especially if you take into account the purity of the lineage. The price of the breed can vary between R$700 and R$5000. For a miniature Schnauzer, the price is usually one of the most expensive, so know that you will probably spend more.