How do you groom a Miniature Schnauzer?

What kind of coat does a Miniature Schnauzer have?

A double coat, hard and wiry on the outside with a close undercoat beneath. The beard and the longer hair on the legs and chest are called furnishings, and they should be fairly thick but not silky. A coat that's too soft, or too smooth and slick, isn't what the breed is meant to have.

The coat is wiry and of medium length, and it needs more grooming than most breeds. The thick whiskers set off the rectangular shape of the head, and every Schnauzer is groomed to show off its eyebrows and beard, which makes sense for a breed whose German name, Zwergschnauzer, means dwarf mustached one. With a name like that, the mustache comes with the job.

What is hand stripping?

It's the way a show Schnauzer keeps its wiry texture. Show dogs have the coat on the head, neck, ears, chest, tail and body plucked by hand, either stripped or rolled.

Stripping means pulling the dead outer hairs out by hand, a few strands at a time and in the direction they grow, which makes room for new, wiry hair. It takes a lot of time, and done correctly it shouldn't bother a healthy dog, with clipping just fine around the face and underbelly. Rolling spreads the job out, teasing a little dead coat free between thumb and forefinger whenever you have a spare few minutes.

Most pet Schnauzers go without it. Hand stripping is generally kept for show dogs, and most pets do well with a clipper trim plus carding, which pulls the soft, dead undercoat out with a blade edged like a comb.

Why are most pet Schnauzers clipped?

Because it's the easier way to keep the look. The pet trim follows the same outline as the show trim, kept up with clippers instead of by hand, and it's the easiest way to keep a Mini looking great. Most owners have their pet's coat clipped, usually by a professional groomer.

The tradeoff is texture. The wiry topcoat goes away with clipping, and over time a clipped wire coat turns softer. Clipping can shift the color as well, which our Schnauzer color guide explains. If you'd like to keep some of that wiry feel on a pet, ask your groomer about carding, or ask them to show you how to roll the coat at home.

What is the classic Schnauzer cut, and what other styles are there?

The classic cut is short on the body and full on the face and legs. The neck, back and sides are clipped with the grain down to the elbow, with a line that runs to the bend of the hind leg and curves back toward the heel. The throat, cheeks and top of the head are clipped up to the eyebrows, the front legs are scissored into columns, and the underbelly tapers up toward the back legs. The eyebrows are combed forward and cut on a line from just behind the outside corner of each eye, with a V between them, so the head reads as a rectangle.

The length is yours to choose. Most owners have the body clipped to an even length, usually about one to two inches, with the face left longer, and a longer blade leaves more coat for a thin-coated dog or for winter. Names like puppy cut and teddy bear cut mean different things to different groomers, so bring your groomer a photograph instead. Whatever the style, don't cut away the top of the beard or the hair under the eyes, which leaves a hollowed-out, owl-like look.

How often does a Schnauzer need a groomer, and what do you do in between?

Plan on a professional groom every five to eight weeks. What those visits cost is covered in our Miniature Schnauzer price guide. For the weeks in between, a metal comb and a small slicker brush with soft pins are the basic tools.

• Brush and comb the beard and leg hair at least weekly, which keeps mats from forming. Brush the legs upward, against the lay of the hair, and check the underarms and between the toes, where knots hide.
• Wash the beard more often than the rest of the dog when it needs it, and anyone who has watched a Schnauzer drink from its water bowl will understand why. Once it's dry, comb the beard and eyebrows forward and down.
• Trim the nails monthly with clippers or a grinder, and keep styptic powder nearby in case you nick the quick.
• Check the ears weekly for dirt or extra wax. Some owners pull a few hairs at a time from inside the ear so it can breathe, and your vet can tell you whether your dog's ears need that.

When should a Schnauzer puppy have its first groom?

Start at home right away, and book the groomer once your vet says the vaccines allow it. Your puppy comes home at 9 weeks, partway through its shots, and the core puppy shots run to about 16 weeks. For a small breed with a coat to keep up, the first grooming appointment usually comes at about 16 to 20 weeks, once the puppy is fully vaccinated, and it should last an hour or less. Pick a groomer that asks every pet for proof of vaccination.

The weeks before that are for practice. Keep early sessions short, a few brush strokes with a treat, stopping on a high note. Teaching a puppy to stand still for grooming pays off for years, and a non-skid mat on the washer or dryer can serve as a table, with a second person holding the puppy's head until it learns. Our Miniature Schnauzer puppies are listed on the breed page, and your vet can tell you at the first checkup when yours is ready for a groomer.