The internet is full of breeders who are breeding substandard Miniature Schnauzers and trying to pass them off as being true to the breed. Trying to find a reputable breeder is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The only defense we have is to educate the general public as to what a well-bred Miniature Schnauzer is supposed to be. I believe there is a direct correlation between the backyard breeder and the decline of the Miniature Schnauzer rankings with the American Kennel Club. The reason for this decline is simple. People who buy a Miniature Schnauzer from a backyard breeder do not get a true Miniature Schnauzer as the breed was initially intended to be. Many of these people who have bought a Miniature Schnauzer will never do so again, because they were initially misled in the beginning of their search into the Miniature Schnauzer breed. Simply put, the dog they purchased did not live up to their expectations of what they interpreted a well-bred Miniature Schnauzer to be. This has led to the decline of registrations for the Miniature Schnauzer with the the American Kennel Club. The fault lies with the backyard breeder for putting out misleading information, as well as the purchaser for not doing extensive research into the breed prior to adopting a miniature schnauzer puppy.

The reason for this article is an attempt to educate the average buyer who has heard great things about the Miniature Schnauzer breed, and is contemplating to adopt a Miniature Schnauzer puppy. Please be advised the vast majority of the breeders you will find on the internet are substandard breeders, and are what reputable breeders would label as backyard breeders. Below are signs of a backyard breeder and should be avoided without question. These breeders are doing great harm to the Miniature Schnauzer breed. People who buy from these backyard breeders are condoning these actions which allow these breeders to continue their unethical breeding practices. I sincerely love the Miniature Schnauzer breed, which is why I am trying my best to put a stop to these backyard breeders and the misleading information they put on the internet. This misleading information and unethical breeding practices affect all reputable Miniature Schnauzer breeders.

Signs To Watch Out For Which Indicates A Backyard Breeder:

Breeds for unrecognized colors of the Miniature Schnauzer. The only recognized colors approved by the American Miniature Schnauzer Club and the American Kennel Club are; Salt and Pepper, Black and Silver, and Black. Breeders who breed for unrecognized colors are most certainly backyard breeders. It is completely laughable and disheartening at the same time, some of the colors these backyard breeders try to pass of as legitimate Miniature Schnauzer colors. Chocolate, White, Liver, Liver/Pepper, Liver/Tan, Merle, Platinum Silver and every Parti-Color combination imaginable. What these breeders fail to mention to the public, these off colors were an early by product in the beginning stages of development of the Miniature Schnauzer. Once the desired gene pool was achieved, these off colors quickly disappeared from reputable lines of lineage. A reputable breeder would NEVER introduce into their line or produce a miniature schnauzer that carried an undesirable color gene.

Miniature Schnauzer breeders who label their puppies as toys or micro Miniature schnauzers. There is no such breed of Miniature Schnauzer labeled as a toy or micro Miniature Schnauzer. The Miniature Schnauzer breed standard states that the Miniature Schnauzer is NOT supposed to have any suggestion of toyishness. It also states that the Miniature Schnauzer must be 12 to 14 inches in height at the wither. The only motivation behind breeding toy Miniature Schnauzers is money. I do not understand why someone looking to buy a Miniature Schnauzer puppy would even consider a toy size. as it is such an obvious flaw in this breed. If you are looking to buy a toy sized dog find a different breed to buy. There are many wonderful toy breeds. However, the Miniature Schnauzer is not one of them. Many times you will find special instructions to care for a toy sized Miniature Schnauzer puppy, as they are delicate and for the most part unhealthy. The Miniature Schnauzer is a very robust dog, and is not to be delicate in any way. Most of the time you will find that breeders of toy sized Miniature Schnauzer puppies do not offer an extensive health guarantee on their puppies. Run don’t walk when a breeder offers toy sized Miniature Schnauzer puppies, as they are certainly with a doubt an unethical breeder.

Breeders who refuse to dock the tails or crop the ears on their Miniature Schnauzer puppies. The Miniature Schnauzer ear type is simply a personal preference and should be left up to the new puppy owner. All Miniature Schnauzer breeders should have a reliable source to crop the ears of the Miniature Schnauzer correctly. Breeders who refuse to crop the ears upon request are breeders that should be avoided. Many breeders who refuse to crop the Miniature Schnauzer ear, simply do so because it is expensive and cuts into their profits from the sale of their puppies.

It is extremely important to deal with a reputable breeder of the Miniature Schnauzer breed as opposed to a backyard breeder. People who purchase their puppy from a backyard breeder are promoting unethical breeding and this desperately needs to be stopped. The Miniature Schnauzer is a wonderful breed of dog as is, and to try and change this is detrimental to the breed we all love.