7-14 lbs
5-7"
Unknown
The Schnau-Tzu is a Miniature Schnauzer and Shih Tzu mix. The hybrid is a small dog with shaggy fur and floppy ears. The Schnau-Tzu is usually very smart; he will be friendly towards people as well as other dogs. The Schnau-Tzu will do well with children and will love to spend time exercising and playing with his humans and other dogs. Usually fairly active, he will require regular activity for his physical and emotional health. This hybrid will require moderate maintenance and should be brushed regularly. The Schnau-Tzu will shed a lot; investing in a quality vacuum will be helpful.
The Schnau-Tzu is a relatively new hybrid, though the two breeds that make up this clever canine have long histories that we can look at. The Shih Tzu has been around for many years; though it has not been confirmed, experts think that the breed is a cross between the Lhasa Apso of Tibet and a small, Chinese dog, possibly the Pekingese. The Shih Tzu was popular among Chinese royalty as far back as the Tang dynasty from 618 to 907. Popularity of the dogs increased among the common folk during the Ming dynasty as well. Unfortunately, the breed nearly reached extinction during the Chinese revolution, where seven males and seven females were saved. The modern breed are all descendants of these fourteen dogs. The Shih Tzu made its way to other countries in the early 1900’s though were often called Apsos. Many World War II veterans brought these dogs with them from England upon their return and the breed was recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1969. It is thought that the Schnauzer dates back to the Middle Ages in Germany; the breed was often shown in wooden artwork carved by Albrecht Durer. The Schnauzer was initially bred to help on the farm and hunt, though the dogs also protected farmers on their way to market. The name of the Schnauzer is a literal German translation of “moustache” and it is believed that the breed is a mix of German Poodles, Wolf Spitz and Wire-haired Pinschers. The Miniature Schnauzer was developed in Germany in the 1800’s as a farm dog and became popular as a companion. The Miniature Schnauzer was brought to the United States in 1924 and accepted into the American Kennel Club in 1926.
The Schnau-Tzu will
inherit traits from both of his parent breeds; as with all mixed breeds, you
can anticipate that he may inherit more physical characteristics from one or
the other parent breeds, or a relatively equal combination of traits from each
breed. The Schnau-Tzu will be a small dog (typically weighing less than 15
pounds) with a curled tail. This spunky hybrid can be seen in black, black and white,
brown, tan and silver. His hair will usually be straight, soft and fine and
medium to long in length. You can anticipate that a Schnau-Tzu will have short
legs and floppy ears. Typically a very cute dog, the Schnau-Tzu will look like
a teddy bear or stuffed animal.
The Schnau-Tzu is a light to moderate shedder,
meaning you can focus your maintenance efforts on your dog more so than keeping
his hair off of your sofa. It is recommended that your dog be brushed several
times a week and/or taken to the groomer regularly to maintain his coat. As his
hair will be medium to long, his fur can easily become tangled or he can
develop mats. To maintain your dog’s long-term dental health, his teeth should
be brushed two to three times per week. As with any dog, you will want to keep
your eye on his nails and clip them when they become too long.
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The Schnau-Tzu will inherit his behavioral traits from his parent breeds, the Miniature Schnauzer and the Shih-Tzu. The Schnau-Tzu will usually be very bright and because of this and the desire to please their humans, the Schnau-Tzu will often be easy to train. Because the Schnau-Tzu is friendly toward other people and other dogs and does well with young children, the hybrid will make a great family pet. Most Schnau-Tzus will be very playful and will enjoy spending time with his humans engaging in physical activity. It is likely that the hybrid will be loving toward his humans and he will welcome the opportunity to be held. A very social breed, the Schnau-Tzu will love getting attention though on occasion, the Schnau-Tzu can be moody.
The activity requirements of the Schnau-Tzu will vary by the particular dog and the traits that he inherits from his parents. This hybrid is usually pretty active and will require regular exercise to ensure his physical and mental health. Daily exercise can include several walks per day, indoor play time and trips to the dog park. Since the Schna-Tzu is such a small dog, it is recommended that he be well supervised during playtimes with other dogs to ensure his safety. As the Schnau-Tzu is a small dog, he will be fine living in an apartment as long as you ensure he gets the exercise he requires. If you have a home with a yard, be sure to supervise him when outside as he may take joy in trying to dig his way under the fence.
Written by a Australian Shepherd lover Ilyssa Bozza
Published: 12/05/2017, edited: 12/20/2021
More articles by Ilyssa Bozza
We have a Schnau-Tzu (2 years old) and we’re having difficulty trying to figure out what he’s allergic to (diet) and because he’s a fussy eater, it makes it even harder to figure it out. Would you be able to assist?
