Miniature schnauzer, << SHNOW zuhr, >> is a breed of dog that originated in Germany in the 1800’s. Breeders developed the dog by mating the standard schnauzer with the affenpinscher. The dog’s high spirits and intelligence have helped make it popular in the United States. It is also a good watchdog and ratcatcher.
The dog’s coloring may be salt and pepper, black and silver, black and tan, or all black. It has a shaggy beard and long, bushy eyebrows. Most owners have the dog’s coat clipped short on top and the beard and eyebrows trimmed. The dog stands 12 to 14 inches (30 to 36 centimeters) tall at the shoulders and weighs about 15 pounds (7 kilograms).
