Miniature Schnauzer vs Standard Schnauzer

A Miniature Schnauzer
Photo: Zorik07
A Standard Schnauzer
Photo: Standardschnauzer1

Side by side

Miniature Schnauzer
Standard Schnauzer
Adult weight
4–8 kg (8.8–18 lb)1
14–20 kg (31–44 lb)2
Height
Males 30–35 cm; females 30–35 cm1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 13.3 years3
Median 13 years3
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Pinschers & molossoids1
Pinschers & molossoids2
Coat
Wire or harsh coat1
Wire or harsh coat2
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Grooming
A brush once a week
Exercise
A modest amount
A moderate amount
Health
Adrenal gland tumour (much more likely); Dry eye (much more likely)5,6
No sourced figure
Class
Companion
Watchdog

Which suits you

Size
The Standard Schnauzer is far larger: about 17 kg (37 lb) as an adult, against 6 kg (13 lb) for the Miniature Schnauzer.
Exercise
Plan for a moderate amount of exercise with the Standard Schnauzer, and a modest amount with the Miniature Schnauzer.
Temperament
They differ most on loyalty (Miniature Schnauzer: bonded to its family; Standard Schnauzer: sticks close to its people) and on intelligence (Miniature Schnauzer: learns readily, likes games; Standard Schnauzer: needs daily brain work).
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

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.

Standard Schnauzer
Pinschers & molossoids · Medium

The breed is alert, intelligent and energetic, with a strong instinct to guard home and family. It tends to be reserved with strangers but devoted to its own people.

The Miniature Schnauzer page →The Standard Schnauzer page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Miniature Schnauzer
Standard Schnauzer
Activity
Differs
A good daily walk and play
Needs lots of exercise
Intelligence
Differs
Learns readily, likes games
Needs daily brain work
Handler demand
Differs
Needs steady training
Needs an experienced owner
With people
Miniature Schnauzer
Standard Schnauzer
Affection
Affectionate on its own terms
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Miniature Schnauzer
Standard Schnauzer
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Differs
Very vocal
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour7. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home8,9.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Standard Schnauzer grows to the heavier adult, about 17 kg against the Miniature Schnauzer's 6 kg.
Miniature Schnauzer
Standard Schnauzer
051015202m4m6m9m12m18m
051015202m3m4m6m9m12m18m

More comparisons

Compare the Miniature Schnauzer with
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Standard SchnauzerAiredale Terrier vs Standard SchnauzerKerry Blue Terrier vs Standard SchnauzerWire Fox Terrier vs Miniature SchnauzerGiant Schnauzer vs Standard SchnauzerStandard Schnauzer vs West Highland White TerrierAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·