How To Choose A Healthy Well Bred Miniature Schnauzer

Are you considering bringing home a Miniature Schnauzer? These loving and friendly little dogs make excellent pets, whether you are an individual or a family looking for a new puppy. No matter what your situation might be, it is important to find out how to choose a healthy well bred Miniature Schnauzer.

When deciding whether you are ready to bring home a Miniature Schnauzer, there are first a few questions you need to ask yourself as you learn more about this breed.

The Miniature Schnauzer is well-known as being a loving and loyal companion with a strong desire to be with its owner. This dog breed is playful and intelligent. While they are small and typically will not reach more than fifteen pounds, they do require daily exercise.

In addition, they also have moderate grooming needs and can sometimes experience some health issues.

For all of these reasons you need to carefully consider whether everyone in the household is ready to accept the responsibilities and needs related to properly caring for this dog.

Consider how often you are at home. This dog does not usually fare well when it is left along for long periods of time. If you do not have the time to devote to properly caring for and socializing the toy Miniature Schnauzer, it might not be the right breed for you.

How many hours per day can you devote to it? If you are considering a puppy, carefully think about whether you are able to puppy-proof your home. Are you willing and able to provide the necessary training and socialization your Miniature Schnauzer will need to become a well-bred and behaved dog in the future?

The typical lifespan of this breed is between 12 and 15 years, so you should also consider whether you are able to commit to providing the care this dog will need for its entire life. Consider what will happen if you should need to relocate in the future or if something unexpected should happen.

Once you have decided you are ready and able to properly care for this dog, the next step is to learn how to choose a healthy and well bred Miniature Schnauzer. The best way to do this is to carefully select the right breeder. If you are a member of a Miniature Schnauzer club or organization you may be able to easily locate many different breeders. Selecting the right breeder is imperative to ensure you choose a dog that will become a loving member of your family and that will also be free from serious health problems.

When contacting breeders; do not hesitate to ask questions to help you choose a healthy and well breed Miniature Schnauzer. Ask questions, such as the following:

• Are the parents of this puppy onsite? May I see them?
• Have the parents of this puppy been checked for health problems specific to this breed?
• Have the parents and the puppies been vaccinated?
• Are the puppies you offer socialized? Do they live inside or outside?
• Can you provide references I may contact?
• What is the name and telephone number of your veterinarian?

Take care not to overlook any prospective health problems. This breed can experience problems with eye health. A quality health care program and breeding program can help to eliminate such issues.

Two of the more common health problems include Congenital Juvenile Cataracts. This is an issue that is present from birth. While it can be corrected with surgery, medical intervention can be expensive and also may not completely resolve the problem. Progressive Retinal Atrophy or PRA is another issue that causes the eye to slowly deteriorate. This problem is usually not apparent until about age three, but can progress to blindness. There is no cure. Testing can help to detect this problem and avoid having it passed on to a litter of puppies.

Keep in mind that while you might feel somewhat uncomfortable asking such questions, it is imperative that you do not overlook this step. A caring and quality breeder will be quite happy to answer any questions you might have. They will also be concerned that their puppy is going to a good home. Quality breeders are always in the business because they love the Miniature Schnauzer breed, not solely to make money.

For more information we recommend the Miniature Schnauzer Insider's Guide ebook and audio.