Schnottie

The Schnottie mix is a recent hybridization between the Standard Schnauzer and the Rottweiler.  Sometimes, a Giant Schnauzer can be used, but this will significantly increase the standard size and weight on the Schnottie.  Currently, not much is known on the Schnottie, and there are no written standards for the breed.  Owners who wish to understand better their Schnottie can review the respective histories of both parent breeds. The Standard Schnauzer is the first and oldest of the Schnauzer breeds.  Its long history began in Germany around the 1500s where they were used to guard farms, herd livestock, and help with vermin control.  Before the 20th Century standards were finalized, the Standard Schnauzer went by the name Wirehair Pinscher, which described its coat qualities and Terrier-like roots; Pinscher is German for biter or Terrier.  The breed name shifted to Schnauzer in the 1900s; a German word used to describe a beard or moustache.  German immigrants brought the Schnauzer to the United States during the 1900s, but the breed's popularity did not increase until after World War I though the American Kennel Club had recognized the breed in 1904. The Rottweiler is also of German descent and is part of the Molossus family, also known as Mastiffs.  The predecessor of the Rottweiler moved to the region with the Roman invasions and interbred with dogs within the region for many years.  The Rottweiler gets its name from the type of red tile the Romans used on their rooves.  The red tile was rediscovered more than 600 years after the invading Romans left and became the inspiration for the town's name, Rote Wil.  The Rottweiler breed flourished in this region and borrowed the town's name for its own.  By the late 1800s, the Rottweiler had lost much of its popularity in Germany and was nearly extinct.  However, a surge of interest in the breed occurred in the early to mid 20th Century that allowed the breed to come back strong.  The Rottweiler did well in the United States and was a recognized breed in the American Kennel Club by 1931.  Today, the Rottweiler continues as a top ten most popular breed.