Grooming your Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzers are adorable small dogs with a good temperament. They are popular show dogs because of their coats and their banded or salt and pepper coloring. However, their coat makes them tricky to groom, especially for people new to the idea of grooming their dog. Miniature Schnauzers have a double coat; the outer layer is wiry and hard and the undercoat is softer. Furthermore, this breed of dog has a coat which, in order to maintain the correct appearance, requires a lot of combing, clipping and stripping in order to achieve the ideal appearance.

Miniature Schnauzers need to be both combed with a metal comb with very fine teeth and one with sharper teeth to comb both the overcoat and the undercoat. You’ll also want to use a brush and a slicker brush for daily brushing to keep your dog’s appearance looking nice every day, though certainly not show quality.

Miniature Schnauzers needs Carefull Clipping

The most important grooming needs of a Miniature Schnauzer though is the clipping aspect. Your Miniature Schnauzer has to be carefully clipped and if you intend to show your dog, you will have to hand strip and pluck your dog before the exhibition. You have to clip your dog starting at the skull and working against the grain of the coat. The lighter your touch is while clipping, the more hair will be left on your dog, so decide how long you want your dog’s coat to be beforehand. It’s also best to give your dog a quick wash before clipping; dirty hair is harder to cut than clean hair. It’s also easier to get rid of mats when the hair is wet. You also have to trim your dog’s beard and the fur around his paws routinely to prevent matting and keep the hair clean as these areas better attract dirt.

Professional Grooming

If you intend to put up your Miniature Schnauzer for show, then simply using electric clips will not be enough. Instead, you’ll have to use a stripping knife and plucking to get rid of longer hairs and make sure your dog’s coloring and appearance is perfect. This is a long process and one which requires a lot of practice, but when done properly, you’ll have a very nicely groomed dog. If you are nervous about doing this properly, then take your dog to a professional groomer to have the work done for you, but be certain that the groomer is able to do the job right otherwise you probably won’t get what you want.

Miniature Schnauzers may not be easy to groom, but it’s well worth it as they are handsome dogs and they are also friendly pets.