Border Terrier vs Miniature Schnauzer

A Border Terrier
Photo: Samuel Cockman
A Miniature Schnauzer
Photo: Zorik07

Side by side

Border Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Adult weight
Males 9.6–12.3 kg (21–27 lb); females 8.2–10.3 kg (18–23 lb) (measured in UK vet records, n = 1,161, middle 50%)1
4–8 kg (8.8–18 lb)2
Height
Males 30.5–38.1 cm; females 30.5–38.1 cm (breed club figure)3
Males 30–35 cm; females 30–35 cm2
Lifespan
Median 14.2 years4
Median 13.3 years4
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes5
Group
Terriers6
Pinschers & molossoids2
Coat
Wire or harsh coat6
Wire or harsh coat2
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A moderate amount
A modest amount
Health
Cushing's syndrome (much more likely); Corneal ulcers (more likely)7,8
Adrenal gland tumour (much more likely); Dry eye (much more likely)9,10
Class
Family
Companion

Which suits you

Size
The Border Terrier is much larger: about 10 kg (22 lb) as an adult, against 6 kg (13 lb) for the Miniature Schnauzer.
Exercise
Plan for a moderate amount of exercise with the Border Terrier, and a modest amount with the Miniature Schnauzer.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Border Terrier: friendly with everyone; Miniature Schnauzer: bonded to its family) and on sensitivity (Border Terrier: hardy, takes a busy home in its stride; Miniature Schnauzer: average).
Neither is the better dog in general. Which suits you depends on your home, your days and the care you can give.
Take the breed matcher

What they're like

Border Terrier
Terriers · Small

In temperament the Border is good-natured and determined, with a strong urge to chase small animals. It is often described as less quarrelsome with other dogs than many terriers.

Miniature Schnauzer
Pinschers & molossoids · Small

The Miniature Schnauzer is alert, lively and quick to learn, and closely attached to its household. It tends to bark at strangers and unfamiliar sounds, which suits its old role as a watchdog.

The Border Terrier page →The Miniature Schnauzer page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Border Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Activity
A good daily walk and play
A good daily walk and play
Intelligence
Learns readily, likes games
Learns readily, likes games
Handler demand
Needs steady training
Needs steady training
With people
Border Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Friendly with everyone
Bonded to its family
Independence
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Border Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
Sensitivity
Differs
Hardy, takes a busy home in its stride
Average
Voice
Differs
Barks to alert, then settles
Very vocal
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour11. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home12,13.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Border Terrier grows to the heavier adult, about 10 kg against the Miniature Schnauzer's 6 kg.
Border Terrier
Miniature Schnauzer
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More comparisons

Compare the Border Terrier with
Miniature Schnauzer vs Standard SchnauzerBorder Terrier vs Parson Russell TerrierWire Fox Terrier vs Miniature SchnauzerBorder Terrier vs Cairn TerrierBorder Terrier vs Jack Russell TerrierBorder Terrier vs Norfolk TerrierAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·