Place of Origin
The Miniature Schnauzer's place of origin is Germany.
FCI Classification
Group 2, Pinschers, Schnauzers – Molossoid breeds – Swiss Mountain and Cattle Dogs.
General Appearance
Small, strong, rather sturdy than slim, with a rough coat, elegant. Essentially a Giant Schnauzer in miniature form.
Important proportions:
- The body is squarely built, meaning the withers height is nearly equal to the body length.
- The length of the head (from the tip of the nose to the occiput) is equal to half the length of the topline (from the withers to the base of the tail).
Behavior, Temperament:
Its nature is similar to that of the Giant Schnauzer, but its temperament and behavior recall a small-sized dog. Due to its intelligence, boldness, endurance, and alertness, the Miniature Schnauzer is a pleasant household pet and companion, and also a guard dog. It can be excellently kept even in smaller apartments, provided that its exercise needs are properly met.
Body Structure:
Head
Skull: Strong, long, without a significantly prominent occiput. The head must be in harmony with the strength of the dog. The forehead is flat, without wrinkles, and 
parallel to the nasal bridge.
Stop: one characteristic feature of this breed is its eyebrows
Nose: always black.
Jaw/Teeth: Strong lower and upper jaw. The scissors bite (42 clean white teeth) is strongly developed and closes firmly. The chewing muscles are well developed; the shape of the head becomes square with the characteristic beard.
Eyes: Medium-sized, oval eyes, dark lively gaze, with eyelids fitting exactly.
Ears: Not too large, set high, lying close to the dog's cheeks.
Neck: The Miniature Schnauzer’s strong, muscular neck is nobly arched. There are one or two folds on the nape up to the skull, with tight skin at the throat area without wrinkles.
Body
Topline: slopes slightly downward from the withers backward.
Back: Strong, short and firm.
Loins: Short, strong and deep. The distance between the last rib and the hip is short, which is why the Miniature Schnauzer appears “compact” in my description.
Chest: Moderately broad.
Tail: There has been much debate among dog owners and breeders about whether the docked or natural tail is more attractive. In my personal opinion, a docked tail looks good, but there's no problem (I actually prefer this) if the tail is kept natural, as it is not too long and won’t knock over flowerpots :).
Limbs
Forelimbs: Viewed from the front, the front legs are strong, straight and not unnaturally close together. Viewed from the side, the front limbs are also straight.
Hind limbs: When viewed from the side, they are bent; from behind, they are parallel but not close together.
Posture and Movement
Three descriptors come to mind: supple, elegant, agile. While running, the front legs reach forward as far as possible, and the hind legs are quite flexible, so the Miniature Schnauzer is capable of surprisingly high speed. The movement is synchronized with one front leg moving alongside the opposite hind leg.
The Miniature Schnauzer’s Coat
Coat: Its coat is wiry, hard and dense. The dense undercoat is covered by a lush, medium-length topcoat. The topcoat is sufficiently coarse and long so the coat texture is clearly visible; it is not wavy, rather straight. The hair on the limbs is softer, and shorter around the forehead and ears. The characteristic facial hair is the already mentioned bushy eyebrows and beard.
Color Variants
- Solid black with black undercoat
- Salt and pepper
- Black and silver
- Pure white with undercoat
Measurements
- Withers: between 30-35 cm
- Weight: 4-8 kg
Undesirable Traits:
Any deviations from the above standard.
Particularly noting:
- Round, not square head
- Wrinkles on the forehead
- Short, pointed or narrow muzzle
- Poorly closing teeth
- Strongly protruding cheekbones
- Too large or round eyes
- Too long or unevenly ending ears
- Too long or short legs
- Too short neck
- Brown undercoat
- A dog taller or shorter than the standard
