Schnauzer's were originally bred in Germany (Bavaria), and were known back then as a wire haired pincher. The Standard Schnauzer (known as a Schnauzer) is the original dog and this medium size dog was then bred smaller and larger for different purposes. The Miniature Schnauzer is thought to have evolved by crossing the Schnauzer with the Poodle, Wolf Spitz and Affenpincher.The Giant Schnauzer is thought to have been created by crossing the Schnauzer with Great Danes, Rottweiler's and maybe Bouvier Des Flandres.The Standard (Schnauzer) was originally bred to pull farmers carts to market and then guard the stalls and money when there. The Miniature was mainly bred for companionship and ratting and the Giant for cattle droving and guarding. The giant is used as a police and army dog today, but mainly in European countries.
The Miniature is available in solid black, pepper and salt, black and silver and sold white, while the Standard (Schnauzer) and Giant is available in pepper and salt and sold black only. They all have harsh, wirey coats that require clipping or hand stripping to keep their Schnauzer look.They do not moult and Miniatures do not have that "doggy" smell.(cant speak for the other sizes).
All three sizes make wonderful companions, although it is beleived the Standard (Shnauzer) is said to be the most willful of all. They can however all be willful!. They are fun loving dogs and fit well into most families providing them with an interesting and energetic homelife.
The Miniature Schnauzer is an ideal dog for agility and some do very well. They are nippy in the ring and normally quite obedient. Having said that, they do bore easy and repetative training will switch them off and make their concentration wander. They will not tolerate doing the same thing over and over like some breeds will. Standards(Schnauzers) are seen competing in the agility ring too but they have a tougher time as most are now in with the border collies in the Large sizer group. Miniature Schnauzers either compete in Small or Medium. Due to recent height changes, both the Miniature and Standard have found themselves on the edge of the height limits between the groups and this has disadvantaged some dogs. My dog was a Small when he started training but had to move to the Medium group once he started competing, he adapted well as he loves jumping and clears the large jumps no hesitation, but I have also seen others not cope so well with the increase in height. The Standards would have been Medium or Large previously but now all seem to end up in the Large group which has made life alot harder.I have never seen a Giant Schnauzer doing agility although I believe there are some around!
I love all size Schnauzers but after falling in love with my first Miniature Schnauzer dog Alfie, I just had to have another, and another, and no doubt in the future another..........................!