Miniature Irish Wolf Schnauzer

The great hound of Ireland has a long history dating back to 301 AD where the Romans soon learned to view him with wonder. The Irish Wolfhound has been a war dog, trained to pull men from horses or chariots. They were also used to hunt elk, boar and wolves. Irish law stated that only kings and nobles could own these dogs, and the number owned by an individual was a sign of his wealth.

These noble dogs have had an almost magical history, surrounded by tales and folk lore. When the elk and wolf in Ireland were hunted to extinction, it seemed that the Wolfhound might be next, but Major H.D Richardson became interested in them in the mid-1800s. He began to breed them with the Highland Deerhound who were very similar in breed. Other breeders initiated their own breeding programs, and soon a Captain George Augustus Graham revitalized the breed.

The first Irish Wolfhounds recognized by the American Kennel Club occurred in 1897. Today, the breed continues its quiet dignified progress and is winning hearts for its gentle companionship. The way the Miniature Schnauzer acts you would think that he too came from noble descent. But this feisty small dog was bred to hunt the rats that infested homes and stables around the mid-19th century.

They were developed from the Standard Schnauzer and kept the character and integrity of the breed. While historical data is limited, the first recorded birth of the breed was in October 1888, when a black female named Findel was born.

The World Wars were hard on dogs and some breeds were almost lost. But dedicated breeders prevailed, and the Miniature Schnauzer's popularity skyrocketed in the after years. While the coat color has changed from red, black and tan and yellow to a distinguished silver and black, the small dog with the big attitude has remained a popular breed.