Toy Schnauzers &
Our Breeding Standard
Hello, I’m Isabelle!
So that you may learn more to determine if the Miniature and Toy Schnauzers are the right breed for you, Shasha (Shawn Kent Hayashi) will share what you can expect from a Mini and Toy Schnauzer and our breeding standards for our SVCC Toy Schnauzers:
Our schnauzers are bred to go to homes where they will be adored and a blessing to those who love them. We breed and train both Miniature and Toy size schnauzers to be cherished family members.
What is a Mini Schnauzer? How is it different from a Toy Schnauzer?
The American Kennel Club (AKC) began to recognize Miniature Schnauzers in 1926. Miniature schnauzers are the smallest of the three Schnauzer breeds recognized by the AKC. Mini schnauzers are known for being healthy, long-lived, and non shedding. They are friendly, easy to travel with, and hypo allergenic which makes them an ideal family dog. Miniature Schnauzers were bred down from the larger varieties of Schnauzers. The schnauzer coat can be groomed with a traditional bushy beard and eyebrows which gives them a charming expression or they can be groomed to look like a teddy bear (we have examples of both styles of grooming in photos on this web site.) They were originally bred to be all-around family farm dogs, they are fearless without being aggressive. The Miniature Schnauzer is a bright, friendly, easy to train companion. They can live in any family setting from apartment life to suburban settings. Schnauzers are well known for getting along well with other animals and children. They make great alert dogs and can be trained as therapy dogs as well. The biggest differences between Toy Schnauzers and Mini Schnizers are the size and color varieties. Toy schnauzers are smaller than the Mini Schnauzer AKC standard in both height and weight and they come in a the rarer colors such as cream, red and chocolate and parti colors in addition to the standard colors of salt & pepper, black & silver, and black.
When we breed Schnauzers our first priority is great health!
Our schnauzer parents are 100% Mini Schnauzers that are DNA tested using Embark, to understand the 230+ known issues in dogs that Embark currently tests. (We do offer AKC registration on our puppies. AKC papers do not come automatically with the purchase of a puppy. Ask about this if AKC papers are important to you. The options for consideration are no registration, pet registration, or full AKC registration for breeders who we work with and there are extra costs for full breeding rights AKC registration papers.)
Next, we focus on temperament.
SVCC Schnauzers are highly socialized and have a loving, lighthearted, whimsical, childlike attitude because of the way we interact with them in their time with us. Our schnauzer puppies are neurologically stimulated with touch and sound each day. They are intentionally exposed to a diverse group of people, households sounds, and experiences. Bright and intelligent, they are easy to train, and obedient when taught properly. At 8 weeks old, many of our schnauzer puppies begin our Prep School for additional training and some go on to Therapy Dog Certification training before going home with their new families.
Our Schnauzers are loyal companions for all ages, and make friends with other animals easily, because they were well-socialized and trained as puppies and young adults.
SVCC Toy Schnauzer’s third criteria for breeding is size.
Breeding TOY schnauzer dads and moms weigh between 7-12 lbs and are smaller in size than the AKC Standard for Mini Schnauzers. The AKC standard for a Mini Schnauzer is 12+ inches at the shoulders so a Toy schnauzer is smaller than that. Both Mini and Toy size schnauzers can be born in the same litter.
Our fourth criteria is color and coat type
We can breed any color schnauzer, we specialize in the rarer white, cream, red and chocolate schnauzers. We intentional breed all our dogs using knowledge of DNA traits to produce the colors and coat types we love and what people are asking for when they request a puppy on our waiting list.
Here’s more about the Toy Schnauzer breed:
The body of our toy schnauzers is fine to medium boned. The SVCC Schnauzer is a terrier with a level back. The outline of the dog gives the appearance of a square, although the body length is slightly longer than the overall height. The tail is docked (or if the new owner requests before birth the tail may remain. If not docked, the tail is set high and carried over the body).
The coat is easy to comb, with a soft silky texture. The dog may be groomed in a Schnauzer cut or may have long flowing hair as a teddy bear or with a topknot on the head. (When long, the coat requires daily combing.)
Dewclaws are removed.
Nose is solid black or brown (not splotched or multi colored.)
This dog moves with confidence and pride. Its movement is graceful, smooth, and straightforward. Some say they even prance!
All Our Breeding Parents are
AKC Registered 100% Miniature Schnauzers
Click here to learn what it means to be a “Toy” Schnauzer, a naturally occurring size in the Miniature Schnauzer breed.
Disqualifications for breeding at SVCC Toys:
No DNA testing for the known issues in dogs
Too small for healthy breeding or too large for our program
Poor temperament or aloof with people and other animals
Not easily trained
Round back (roach back)
