Standard for the Toy Schnauzer
Our Toy Schnauzer Breeding Standard
Our first goal is great health. Our breeding dogs are DNA tested using the EMBARK DNA test so that as breeders we do not pass genetic issues to puppies. We breed dogs that will produce genetically sound puppies.
Next, we focus on temperament. The Toy Schnauzer has a loving, lighthearted, whimsical, childlike attitude and loves to learn. Bright and intelligent, toy schnauzers are easy to train, obedient when taught properly, and they make a loyal companion for all ages. Toy Schnauzers make friends with animals of any origin, because they were well socialized and trained as puppies and young adults.
Our next criteria for our breeding parents is size. Our toy schnauzer breeding parents weigh being between 7 – 12 lbs. The body is fine to medium boned. The toy schnauzer is a terrier with a level back. The outline of the dog gives the appearance of a square, although the body length is slightly longer than the overall height.
The tail is docked or the tail is set high and carried over the body.
The coat is easy to comb, can be short or long, with a soft silky texture. The dog may be groomed in a schnauzer cut, or have long flowing hair as a teddy bear, or have a topknot on the head, or an Asian Fusion Cut. (When long, the coat requires daily combing.)
Nose is a black or brown solid color.
Toy Schnauzers move with confidence and pride. Movement is graceful, smooth and straightforward. Some even prance when moving fast.
Toy Schnauzer breeding parents are AKC registered and / or 100% Mini Schnauzers on the Embark DNA test.
Disqualifications for Breeding Toy Schnauzers:
· No DNA testing confirming clear for the known issues in dogs
· Poor temperament
· Not easily trained
· Round back (roach back) or too high in front or rear – not level
· A dog that was the result of in-breeding – (must have confirmation of COI)
Like all types of Schnauzers, Toy Schnauzers are hypoallergenic, don’t shed, and are super smart, so they love to learn. All Schnauzers make great family pets because they are good with children, other pets, are easy to train, and they are not aggressive but will be protective of family members when needed. These are a few of the reasons why the schnauzer breed consistently scores very high on the best dogs for families and people with multiple animals.
Miniature Schnauzers were originally bred in Germany to be fearless ratters. Toy Schnauzers are bred to be smaller versions that are home and family oriented. Toy Schnauzers make great alert dogs because they will let you know when someone is at the front door or in the back yard and then will cuddle in your lap.
Schnauzers have a great sense of humor because they love to entertain their family. Toy Schnauzers can be silly and amusing loving to learn tricks.
Our Toys Schnauzers are AKC Registered Miniature Schnauzers OR have DNA Testing that shows they are Mini Schnauzers. Some people will say there is no such thing as a “Toy Schnauzer,” but we can show our Embark DNA tests that reveal these dogs are are 100% Miniature Schnauzers even though they are smaller than the traditional AKC standard.
Breeding Members of the Toy Schnauzer Club of America breed DNA Health Tested dogs which produce puppies that are clear of the currently known issues and are a representation of this Toy Schnauzer Standard.
Our toy schnauzers are bred to go to homes where they will be adored and a blessing to those who love them.
We breed and train toy size schnauzers to be cherished family members.
What is a Mini Schnauzer? How is it different from a Toy Schnauzer?
The American Kennel Club (AKC) began to recognize Miniature Schnauzers in 1926. Miniature schnauzers are the smallest of the three Schnauzer breeds recognized by the AKC. Mini schnauzers are known for being healthy, long-lived, and non shedding. They are friendly, easy to travel with, and hypo allergenic which makes them an ideal family dog. Miniature Schnauzers were bred down from the larger varieties of Schnauzers. The schnauzer coat can be groomed with a traditional bushy beard and eyebrows which gives them a charming expression or they can be groomed to look like a teddy bear (we have examples of both styles of grooming on this web site in the Members only How to Grooming Guides.) They were originally bred to be all-around family farm dogs, they are fearless without being aggressive. The Miniature Schnauzer is a bright, friendly, easy to train companion. They can live in any family setting from apartment life to suburban settings. All Schnauzers are known for getting along with other animals and children. They make great alert dogs and can easily be trained as therapy dogs as well. The biggest differences between Toy Schnauzers and Mini Schnizers are the size and color varieties. Toy schnauzers are smaller than the Mini Schnauzer AKC standard in both height and weight and they come in a the rarer colors such as cream, red and chocolate and parti colors in addition to the standard colors of salt & pepper, black & silver, and black.
When breeding, we focus on temperament.
Our Toy Schnauzers are highly socialized and have a loving, lighthearted, whimsical, childlike attitude because of the way we interact when they are puppies. Our schnauzer puppies are neurologically stimulated with touch and sound each day.
Schnauzers are loyal companions for all ages, and make friends with other animals easily, when they are well-socialized and trained as puppies and young adults. You can see examples by viewing this YouTube Channel: SVCC Toy Schnauzers.
Toy Schnauzer’s size.
Breeding TOY schnauzer dads and moms weigh between 7-12 lbs and are smaller in size than the AKC Standard for Mini Schnauzers. The AKC standard for a Mini Schnauzer is 12+ inches at the shoulders so a Toy Schnauzer is smaller than that. Both Mini and Toy size schnauzers can be born in the same litter.
Breeding for color and coat type
You can see all the colors and coat types on this YouTube Channel: SVCC Toy SchnWe can breed any color schnauzer, some of us who breed toy schnauzers specialize in the rarer white, cream, red, and chocolate schnauzer colors. We intentionally breed all our dogs using knowledge of DNA traits to produce the colors and coat types we love and what people are asking for when they request a puppy on our waiting list.
Here’s more about the Toy Schnauzer breed:
The body of our toy schnauzers is fine to medium boned. The Toy Schnauzer is a terrier with a level back. The outline of the dog gives the appearance of a square, although the body length is slightly longer than the overall height. The tail is docked (or if the new owner requests before birth the tail may remain. If not docked, the tail is set high and carried over the body).
The coat is easy to comb, with a soft silky texture. The dog may be groomed in a Schnauzer cut or may have long flowing hair as a teddy bear or with a topknot on the head. (When long, the coat requires daily combing.)
Dewclaws are removed.
Nose is solid black or brown (not splotched or multi colored.)
This dog moves with confidence and pride. Its movement is graceful, smooth, and straightforward. Some say they even prance!
All Our Breeding Parents are
DNA Tested 100% Miniature Schnauzers
