Scottish Terrier vs Standard Schnauzer

A Scottish Terrier
Photo: Carlos Valenzuela
A Standard Schnauzer
Photo: Standardschnauzer1

Side by side

Scottish Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Adult weight
8.5–10.5 kg (19–23 lb)1
14–20 kg (31–44 lb)2
Lifespan
Median 12.7 years3
Median 13 years3
Fully grown
10 months, both sexes4
11 months, both sexes4
Group
Terriers1
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 moderate amount
Health
Toe melanoma (far more likely); Mouth melanoma (much more likely)5
No sourced figure
Class
Companion
Watchdog

Which suits you

Size
The Standard Schnauzer is much larger: about 17 kg (37 lb) as an adult, against 9.5 kg (21 lb) for the Scottish Terrier.
Temperament
They differ most on affection (Scottish Terrier: likes its own space; Standard Schnauzer: affectionate on its own terms) and on independence (Scottish Terrier: decides for itself; Standard Schnauzer: cooperative, with its own ideas).
Alike
Both are rated the same on loyalty: sticks close to its people.
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

Scottish Terrier
Terriers · Small

In temperament the breed is confident and independent, often reserved with strangers but loyal to its own household.

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 Scottish Terrier page →The Standard Schnauzer page →

Breed traits

Day to day
Scottish Terrier
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
Scottish Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Affection
Differs
Likes its own space
Affectionate on its own terms
Loyalty
Sticks close to its people
Sticks close to its people
Independence
Differs
Decides for itself
Cooperative, with its own ideas
Around the home
Scottish Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
Sensitivity
Average
Average
Voice
Barks to alert, then settles
Barks to alert, then settles
Prey drive
Differs
Likely to chase small pets
Chases; needs managing
Breed explains only about 9% of how individual dogs differ in behaviour6. Meet the dog. A good breeder breeds for temperament as well as health, and matches each puppy's personality to the right home7,8.

Puppy growth

Reference curves · both sexes
The Standard Schnauzer grows to the heavier adult, about 17 kg against the Scottish Terrier's 9.5 kg.
Scottish Terrier
Standard Schnauzer
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More comparisons

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

Sources

Parts of this page were written by AI ·