Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer -- Wire Fox Terrier X Miniature Schnauzer

		Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer
		He is not recognized by the F.C.I.


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

A brief presentation of the Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer

The Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer is a hybrid of the Miniature Schnauzer and the Wire Fox Terrier. This breed is small, standing no taller than 38 centimeters and weighing around 8 kilos. The Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer has a rough, stiff coat that comes in black, gray, red, silver, red, white, piebald, brindle or a mixture of any of these colors. They get on well with children, but need to be socialized early to get along with other pets and should always be supervised with young children. The breed is a hunter and will chase any wild animals they encounter, so be sure to keep them on a leash or fenced when outdoors.

History of the Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer

While the Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer hasn't been around long enough to have a history, the histories of parent breeds are able to tell their story.

	A little of the Wire Fox Terrier
	The Wire Fox Terrier originated in England in the 1700s from the Rough Coated Black and Tan Terrier for foxing and vermin hunting. The breed became a popular pet and even King Edward VII owned one named Caeser, who actually walked with the coffin at the King's funeral in 1910. The Wire Fox Terrier was officially accepted by the American Kennel Club in 1885 and has won Best in Show 13 times. They are the 101st most popular dog breed in America.

	Standard of the Wire Fox Terrier
	A little of the Miniature Schnauzer
	The Miniature Schnauzer is the smallest and most popular of the Schnauzer family and was originally developed in the 1800s in Germany. The breed began life as a small farm dog used to hunt and kill rats and other vermin. The breed is thought to have developed from the Standard Schnauzer, the Toy Poodle and the Affenpinscher. After the First World War, the Miniature Schnauzer became the third most popular breed in America, although it was known as the Wirehaired Pinscher of the Small Terrier Group. They were brought to the USA in 1924 and accepted by the American Kennel Club two years later, where they are now the 17th most popular dog breed. The name Schnauzer actually means little beard, and they do indeed have a beard that gives them the appearance of an old man. The breed was once available in many different colors, but is now generally only seen in black, silver and gray.

	Standard of the Miniature Schnauzer

Appearance of the Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer

The Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer is a small, square-shaped dog with triangular ears, a rectangular head, a long, thick muzzle with a black nose and large, round brown eyes. They have a beard like the wire-haired Fox Terrier, long bushy eyebrows and a rough, stiff coat of medium length. The tail curls over the back and the legs are long and straight with short, dense fur and round paws. Their coat is predominantly white with accent colors that can be black, gray, red, silver, red or brindle. Your Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer weighs around 8 kilos and stands around 38 centimeters tall as an adult.

Temperament of the Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer

These adorable dogs are full of courage and love, and make excellent pets. They're not only adorable, but cuddly too, and will protect you and the rest of the family from anyone or anything. The Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer is also susceptible to small dog syndrome, which can make them snotty and spoiled, so you need to remember to treat them like dogs, not little humans. They learn quickly and are eager to please so you can teach them tricks and train them to do just about anything. Although they get on well with children and pets, they still have a large prey drive and shouldn't be left alone with small animals like guinea pigs and hamsters.

Needs and activities of the Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer

The Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer needs at least an hour's exercise every day to avoid becoming anxious or bored. Good ideas for activities include swimming, running, hiking, going to the dog park or simply playing fetch in the garden for an hour. You should also walk your dog in the morning and evening, changing your route from time to time to keep him stimulated. Like people, dogs can get sick of the same old routine day after day. Just make sure you keep your dog on a leash when he's not in a fenced-in yard, as he loves to hunt local wildlife.

Maintenance of the Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer

Your Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer should be brushed once or twice a week with a pin brush and a smooth brush. Because of their stiff coats, they also need their coats stripped every two months to keep them healthy. You can do this by hand, plucking out dead hairs, or by using a stripping blade. Fortunately, they don't shed much, but you may need to wash them once a month to keep their coats fresh. Be sure to use a dog shampoo recommended by your vet so your dog's skin doesn't dry out. They also need their ears cleaned every week and their nails trimmed every six weeks.

Details: Written by: Francis Vandersteen; Also available:; Last Updated: 04 May 2024; Hits: 376

Mini Wire Hair Schnauzer -- Wire Fox Terrier X Miniature Schnauzer