Locating a Puppy

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Responsible Breeders and Healthy Puppies

The best place to find a quality dog is from a responsible breeder. This breeder seeks to breed sound, healthy, well-adjusted dogs free from genetic problems. These breeders devote much time learning about the breed & study pedigree, temperament, health, genes, color and size before deciding which animals are likely to produce the best offspring. Responsible breeders try to conform as closely as possible to the official Breed Standard adopted by the American Miniature Schnauzer Club and the American Kennel Club.

A breeder may decide to keep some of the litter for show. The rest of the litter will be available as nice pets. All of the pups in the litter receive the same love, care, feeding and medical attention - unlike commercially raised pups (which have been kept in deplorable conditions & shipped from hundreds of miles away).

Responsible breeders are concerned about the welfare of the dogs they breed and will be available if you need advice or help in the years to come. Don't be surprised if the breeder questions YOU closely about who will care for the dog, whether it will be left alone all day, whether your yard is fenced, etc. and even tells you what food to buy. Responsible breeders want to be sure you will care for the dog as well as they do.

If you'd like an older dog, ask around. Breeders are limited in number of animals they can keep and occasionally need to find a home for an adult dog they have shown or bred. Expect breeders to be just as choosy about finding good homes for such dogs as they are for puppies.

Buying a Puppy

We strongly urge all buyers of puppies or adult dogs of any breed to become knowledgeable before buying. Visit some dog shows, talk to a number of breeders, and visit the premises of a few before buying, so that you will know what your choices are and the prices and terms available. Be sure to ask if the breeder has experienced any serious health problems in any of their puppies in the past few years.

Be aware that young puppies (like human babies) are very susceptible to diseases before their immunity is fully developed. For that reason, it is important not to expose them to other animals until they have received their full series of vaccinations. Your veterinarian can give you further advice in that regard.

Points to Consider Before Buying a Miniature Schnauzer

A dog is a commitment for its entire life. It requires a well-balanced diet, regular vaccinations, brushing & toenail clipping, ear cleaning, regular dental care, adequate exercise, shelter from the elements, and lots of love and attention. Miniature Schnauzers must be combed and brushed frequently and also need periodic clipping or hand-stripping.

Young children must be supervised around this breed. If a child hurts or frightens the dog, it may retaliate in the only way it can - by biting - with potentially serious injury to the child.

This breed tends to be quite healthy, but medical treatment can be expensive, just as for humans. Diseases like parvovirus can require hospitalization and intensive care. Hereditary disorders, broken bones, and swallowed objects can require major surgery. If you will balk at spending several hundred dollars in the event of a medical emergency, reconsider getting a dog.

Dogs must be supervised. Leaving a dog outside all day unattended, will likely result in barking, and complaints by neighbors, possibly fines and civil penalties. Also, someone may deliberately injure or poison the dog. Miniature Schuzners are an indoor breed and need companionship.

Should I get a puppy, an adolescent, or an adult - and which sex?

Each age range has its advantages and disadvantages.

Puppies are the cutest & the most appealing, but are the most expensive and the most work. They also tend to be the most destructive: they dig and chew. Just like babies, they must be watched to be sure they don't ingest things that will harm them & that they don't destroy valuables. They also need inoculations every two or three weeks until they are about four months old. Don't buy a pup that has been separated from its mother before eight weeks of age. Early separation can deprive a pup of the very critical period of emotional development.

Adolescents (5 to 12 months old) tend to look awkward but they have completed their shots & worming and they are mature enough to begin training. It's also easier to evaluate what the adult personality may be like at this time.

With adults, what you see is what you get. Adult Mini Schnauzers generally bond well with new owners who give them love & care. Even those who are aloof or timid at first usually bond well within two-three weeks. Adults from shelters or rescue programs often respond well to just a little love and care, but be cautious about adopting an animal that shows aggressive tendencies unless you have had dogs before and are confident in your ability to handle a difficult dog.

Whether to buy a male or female is a matter of personal preference. Personality differs much more from animal to animal than it does by sex.

Puppy Referral and Rescue

We will be happy to provide you with names and phone numbers of responsible breeders in your area who may have pups for sale. Another option is to adopt a Mini-Schnauzer, which has been rescued from an animal shelter or from a person who is no longer able to keep the dog. The rescue service should make sure that the animals are in reasonably good health, have them neutered, and groom them before placing them. The rescue service should help you choose a dog that fits your family and should advise you on training and adjustment. Refer to the Rescue page to learn more.

Prices and Terms

There are no fixed prices. Each breeder sets his/her own prices and terms. Shop around to make sure you get the dog you want at a fair price.

It is not uncommon for a breeder to withhold the AKC papers until you present evidence of having had the animal neutered. You may request a photocopy of the registration to assure the litter has been properly registered. Then you may obtain the original when the neutering is completed. They may give you a "limited registration" which certifies that the animal is registered with the American Kennel Club but which will not allow you to register offspring of the animal you buy. Both procedures are designed to avoid having pet quality animals bred, thus adding to the animal overpopulation problem. Occasionally, a breeder may ask you to sign a contract by which you agree to breed the animal and return some or all of the puppies to the seller. Think carefully and get advice before signing any such contract.

Newspaper adds

Many people refer to the newspaper to find a puppy.� Occasionally you might find a reputable person, however, more then likely you will not.�You will find Back Yard Breeders and sometimes Brokers. The people that advertise in the newspapers generally charge less for their puppies but have no experience concerning the health of their dogs. They breed to anyone�s dog that is willing, and do not know the health history of their dog or the dogs they breed to.� They normally sell the puppies too young and do not have the experience to properly socialize them. They generally cannot give you any guarantees because they do not have the information to do so and do not care. They will advertise �AKC Registered Puppies�; AKC is only a registering Organization and no way implies to the quality of the puppy you are purchasing.�� It is better to pay a little more for the puppy that will share your life for many years and know exactly what its health history is. Regardless of how wonderful the people are you are taking a chance by purchasing from a Back Yard Breeder or a Broker.

Pet Shops

Absolutely NO responsible and reputable breeder will ever sell or place their puppies in a pet shop.

The puppies in pet shops are from Puppy Mills.� The Mills are located all over the country and keep their dogs in deplorable conditions.� The puppies are sold to the pet shops for a fraction of the cost they charge you.� One of the reasons is because they loose many of them to illness.� By purchasing from a pet shop you are sentencing the mother of these puppies to life in a cage, being bred cycle after cycle to make money for the owners.� Most of the people that work in these types of shops are inexperienced and have no idea how to care for a pet.� They will never be of any help to you should you have questions. DO NOT ever consider this an option as a place to obtain a healthy puppy.�

Please read Prisoners for Profit by Rachel A. Lamb, Director for Companion Animal Care at The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) in Washington, DC.