Miniature Schnauzer vs Yorkshire Terrier

A Miniature Schnauzer
Photo: Zorik07
A Yorkshire Terrier
Photo: Joselodos

Side by side

Miniature Schnauzer
Yorkshire Terrier
Adult weight
4–8 kg (8.8–18 lb)1
Males 4.1–7 kg (9.1–15 lb); females 3.6–5.9 kg (7.8–13 lb) (measured in UK vet records, n = 28,032, middle 50%)2
Height
Males 30–35 cm; females 30–35 cm1
No sourced figure
Lifespan
Median 13.3 years3
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
Group
Pinschers & molossoids1
Terriers5
Coat
Wire or harsh coat1
Long coat5
Shedding
Holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out
Sheds through the year
Grooming
A brush once a week
Daily brushing
Exercise
A modest amount
A moderate amount
Health
Adrenal gland tumour (much more likely); Dry eye (much more likely)6,7
Dry eye (much more likely); Kneecap slipping out of place (much more likely)7,8
Class
Companion
Lap dog

Which suits you

Size
The Miniature Schnauzer is a little larger on average: about 6 kg (13 lb) as an adult, against 5.1 kg (11 lb) for the Yorkshire Terrier.
Shedding
Their coats shed differently: the Miniature Schnauzer holds loose hair until it is brushed or clipped out, the Yorkshire Terrier sheds through the year.
Grooming
The Yorkshire Terrier needs more grooming, daily brushing, where the Miniature Schnauzer needs a brush once a week.
Exercise
Plan for a moderate amount of exercise with the Yorkshire Terrier, and a modest amount with the Miniature Schnauzer.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Miniature Schnauzer: affectionate on its own terms; Yorkshire Terrier: a lap or leaning dog) and on independence (Miniature Schnauzer: cooperative, with its own ideas; Yorkshire Terrier: decides for itself).
Alike
Both are rated the same on voice: very vocal.
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.

Yorkshire Terrier
Terriers · Small

In temperament the breed keeps much of the terrier in a small frame: alert, bold and quick to bark at strangers, yet affectionate with its household.

The Miniature Schnauzer page →The Yorkshire Terrier page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Miniature Schnauzer
Yorkshire Terrier
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
Miniature Schnauzer
Yorkshire Terrier
Affection
Differs
Affectionate on its own terms
A lap or leaning dog
Loyalty
Differs
Bonded to its family
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Decides for itself
Around the home
Miniature Schnauzer
Yorkshire Terrier
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Very vocal
Very vocal
Prey drive
Chases; needs managing
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour9. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home10,11.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Miniature Schnauzer grows to the heavier adult, about 6 kg against the Yorkshire Terrier's 5.3 kg.
Miniature Schnauzer
Yorkshire Terrier
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More comparisons

Compare the Miniature Schnauzer with
Miniature Schnauzer vs Standard SchnauzerAustralian Terrier vs Yorkshire TerrierWest Highland White Terrier vs Yorkshire TerrierWire Fox Terrier vs Miniature SchnauzerMiniature Schnauzer vs West Highland White TerrierBorder Terrier vs Miniature SchnauzerAll breed comparisons →

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·