Do Miniature Schnauzers Shed? What You Should Know

Miniature Schnauzers shed a very low amount of hair.

This is definitely one of the lowest shedding breeds you will come across. Which is good for those of you who can’t stand loose hair floating around or if you suffer from allergies.

With that being said, no dog is completely non-shedding. And his coat requires a fair amount of work to keep clean and tangle free, more so than the majority of breeds.

So there are some things you should know about as we explain in this article.

About Miniature Schnauzers

The Miniature Schnauzer became a distinct breed in 1899 according to the American Kennel Club.

He is part of the terrier group, and was bred in the 19th century by German farmers. Primarily for the purpose of hunting rats, but also for guarding and herding. He stands 12 to 14 inches tall and is a mix of the Affenpinscher, small Standard Schnauzers and Poodle breeds.

The AKC describes him as “an overtly friendly dog, spirited but obedient and willing to please”. So it is no wonder he has become a consistent winner of many dog shows throughout the United States and abroad.

The fact that he is eager to please his owner, coupled with his responsive demeanor, means he is fairly easy to train. He’s also a fairly active breed, so daily exercise is beneficial to maintain his overall mental and physical well being.

This, in conjunction with a proper diet, can also help to keep his coat healthy and make grooming more manageable. Which means less shedding and less brushing.

The Miniature Schnauzers Coat

The Mini Schnauzer has a soft, fluffy undercoat and a wiry outer coat. The undercoat is what keeps him warm in winter and cooler in summer, but this is also the part of his coat that sheds the most and makes grooming more difficult.

Pure breed Mini Schnauzers come in three color variations: salt and pepper, black and silver and solid black. The latter essentially means a mix of black and white hairs which produce an overall shade of gray.

They are also found in pure white but these are not recognised by the AKC.

One of the defining characteristics of his coat is his beard and longer hair around his legs. Which resembles the Standard and Giant Schnauzer that come from the same lineage.

Miniature Schnauzer Shedding

As mentioned earlier, Miniature Schnauzers are a low shedding breed.

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Shedding Level

All dogs shed some amount of hair, but this in particular is a very low shedding breed. Which is great for allergy sufferers, since this is as close to a ‘hypoallergenic breed’ as you can get.

The majority of shedding that does occur, comes mostly from his soft undercoat. Which typically finds its way to the hard wiry outer coat and doesn’t get much further, assuming you groom him regularly.

It is also worth noting that you will notice more shedding at certain times of the year when he is blowing coat during summer and winter. But for the most part, throughout the year the amount of shedding is not noticeable.

Grooming Your Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzers require regular grooming and more than average effort.

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Grooming Effort

So while you won’t be spending too much time cleaning up loose hairs around your home, you will be spending a substantial amount of time keeping his coat in tip top shape.

You will want to be regularly brushing him at least 3-5 times per week, or daily is ideal. This will help spread the natural oils in his coat, remove debris and knots and generally keep his coat in good condition.

Some owners, especially those entering their dog into a dog show, prefer to hand strip his coat. Which is a very time consuming process of removing dead hairs and is not something novice owners should attempt.

Most owners prefer to just take him to a professional groomer once every 5-8 weeks to have him clipped. This is by far the easiest, safest and least time consuming method and will keep him looking good.

You do need to be careful if attempting to clip him yourself, especially because you do not want to remove his undercoat. Dogs with double coats need to keep their undercoat, since this is what helps to regulate their body temperature in both hot and cold climates.

Other than this, a bath once per month with a quality dog shampoo is enough to keep his coat healthy.

It may be a chore, but once you get into a good routine it is not that hard. And sticking to a good grooming regime, in conjunction with a good diet, is one of the best ways to reduce excessive shedding. So it’s well worth it for you and for your furry family member.

Bottom Line

Miniature Schnauzers are a low shedding breed with a double coat, that require above average grooming care. A regular slicker brush is all you need for the day to day brushing, but you will need to clip or hand strip his coat every 5-8 weeks.

All in all, he makes a great family companion and is especially suited to those who prefer a low shedding breed.

Do Miniature Schnauzers Shed? What You Should Know
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3 thoughts on “Do Miniature Schnauzers Shed? What You Should Know”

  1. My 6 month schnauzer had precious long black hair and under neath you could see gray fur. I took her to be groomed and the groomer said her long baby fur came out. Can this be true?

    Reply
    • Hi Edie. Each dog is unique, so I can’t say for sure what the case might be, nor can I speculate on what your groomer has said. However, what I can say is that Schnauzer’s have a double coat (outer protective coat and a soft, insulating undercoat), and undercoats tend to be gray in color. So the gray fur could easily be the undercoat, and if so, that is perfectly normal.

      You can learn more about single versus double coats on our FAQ page.

      Reply

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