Miniature French Schnauzer -- French Bulldog X Miniature Schnauzer

		Miniature French Schnauzer
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


Origin			France <> Germany -> U.S.A.
Translation			Francis Vandersteen

A brief presentation of the Miniature French Schnauzer

The Miniature French Schnauzer is a specific cross between the French Bulldog, a friendly, entertaining little pet descended from the English Bulldog, and the Miniature Schnauzer, a determined Terrier-type dog developed to hunt rats in Germany. This particular cross can vary considerably from dog to dog, but will generally be a playful, family dog with moderate to low exercise requirements that can adapt quite well to a larger home or smaller space, such as an apartment. Grooming can vary from dog to dog, and some of these hybrids will only require brushing once a week or so, while others may require daily brushing and regular clipping or scissoring.

History of the Miniature French Schnauzer

The Miniature French Schnauzer is a deliberate hybrid between the Miniature Schnauzer, a competent German Terrier, and the French Bulldog, a small pet descended from the English Bulldog and favored by craftsmen and lacemakers in England and France.

	A little of the French Bulldog
	The French Bulldog was originally developed in England sometime in the 1800s, a descendant of the English Bulldog that was intended as a pet and guard dog. It was a smaller, lighter dog that found a niche as a pet for the craftsmen of the day, particularly lace makers. When many of the craftsmen who owned these small dogs moved to northern France, they brought their dogs with them, and enthusiasts began to unify the breed's appearance and temperament, characterizing them by a compact body, straight, sturdy legs, and a large, square head with a lower jaw. Until the French Bulldog Club of America drew up a new breed standard around the one that specified that this breed was characterized as having bat-like ears in the late 1800s, pink ears and bat-like ears were common.

	Standard of the French Bulldog
	A little of the Miniature Schnauzer
	The original Standard Schnauzer can be traced back in one form or another to the Middle Ages, but the distinctive stiff coat that characterizes the breed didn't come about until the mid-1800s, when German breeders added genetic stock from both the Standard Poodle and the Keeshond, then known as the Grey Wolfspitz. The Dwarf Schnauzer is genetically quite different from the Standard and Giant Schnauzer varieties, as additional dog types were used to create the different sizes. Whereas Standard Schnauzers were mixed with larger dogs such as the Great Dane to create the Giant Schnauzer, the Miniature was developed by including genetic contributions from other small German Terriers and Pinschers, such as the Affenpinscher and Wire Fox Terrier, giving them a similar appearance, but very different temperaments and medical susceptibilities. In 1888, the first official Miniature Schnauzer was registered in a German herd book, and they were accepted as a separate breed by the American Kennel Club in 1926.

	Standard of the Miniature Schnauzer

Appearance of the Miniature French Schnauzer

The Miniature French Schnauzer is a small to medium-sized dog with compact muscles, straight legs, dark brown eyes and a square outline. Beyond that, however, there can be a wide range of characteristics, as the French Bulldog and Miniature French Schnauzer are often quite different in structure, appearance and temperament. The Miniature French Schnauzer may take on some or all of the traits of the French Bulldog, a sturdy little dog with a large, square head, round eyes, a short, broad muzzle and large, upright ears known as bat ears, or the Miniature Schnauzer, a sturdy Terrier-type dog with a more rectangular head shape, a strong, blunt muzzle of medium length, oval eyes and small, V-shaped ears that fold back close to the skull. While many of these hybrids will inherit the wiry, double-coated coat of the Miniature Schnauzer, inheriting the shiny, single-coated coat of the French Bulldog is just as possible.

Temperament of the Miniature French Schnauzer

The temperament of this hybrid can also vary considerably from dog to dog, often even within the same litter. The traits that the French Bulldog can pass on to the Miniature French Schnauzer are generally fairly consistent. This breed is generally a comical animal that tends to be friendly with almost everyone, although rodents can be unsafe and quarrels can occur between males. However, the inherited personality traits of the Miniature Schnauzer can be more erratic, as there can be great variation in the temperaments of individual Miniature Schnauzers. Within this breed, you can find individuals who are clownish, serious, nervous, sweet, rambunctious or even suspicious, and it can be difficult to determine what an adult dog's personality will look like from puppyhood. The way any Miniature French Schnauzer will react to new experiences, people and other animals can be as varied as its personality. The best way to ensure a stable, good-tempered dog is to provide plenty of opportunities for positive socialization, especially when your dog is young.

Needs and activities of the Miniature French Schnauzer

The Miniature French Schnauzer is a Terrier breed and, as such, they are generally rather active and energetic dogs, however, this is counterbalanced by the more peaceful and calm behavior of the French Bulldog. Between 45 minutes and an hour of vigorous exercise spread throughout the day, each day will generally meet the exercise requirements for this crossbreed. The Miniature French Schnauzer is a highly trainable animal and most of these dogs will also do very well in obedience training, perhaps enjoying and even excelling in advanced obedience and rally or agility sports for dogs. In many cases, this hybrid will work quite well in a larger house or apartment, although some may be a little too noisy for an apartment.

Maintenance of the Miniature French Schnauzer

The grooming regime for this dog can vary considerably, depending on the coat the Miniature French Schnauzer has inherited. Those who have inherited the short, single-ply coat of the French Bulldog will only really need brushing once a week or so to remove dead hairs and ensure it retains its glossy sheen. Those with the wirey, double-layered coat of the Miniature Schnauzer will need daily brushing to prevent matting in the dense, soft fur that makes up the first layer of their coat. They may also require regular clipping or trimming, perhaps as often as every five to eight weeks. Hybrids' teeth and nails should also be cared for, brushing several times a week and checking nail length every two weeks, taking care not to let them become too long.