Collection: Personalised Schnauzer Gifts

The Schnauzer is a dog with an illustrious history, an all-round working breed, the Schnauzer has featured in works by Rembrandt and Durer and is an excellent family pet. So popular is the breed that it comes in three sizes, the Standard, the Giant and the Miniature.

The name of the breed is thought to come from their unique looking muzzles the German word for which is ‘Schnauze’ and what was an affectionate term has rather stuck. Schnauzers are excellent companions and are often described as the dog with a human brain.

Schnauzers originate from Germany and date back to around the 15th century where they are recorded in art and a famous tapestry by Lucas Cranach the Elder in 1501. They were bred to kill vermin, mainly rats but also doubled up as guard dogs, livestock drivers and herders and some were even used to pull small carts.

In the 1800s, the breed was standardised and around this time, Grey Wolf Spitz and black German Poodle bloodlines were introduced which is what gives the breed its distinctive coat and colour today. The name, ‘Schnauzer’, didn’t go into common usage until the 1900s and what started as something of a nickname, has stuck; originally they were known as Wirehaired Pinschers. A breed standard was introduced in 1880 and the first all Schnauzer breed show ten years later.

During the First World War, the Schnauzer was used as a messenger dog and also as an assistant to first-aid workers. Later they were used for police work. After the Great War, the breed was exported to America and other parts of the world where they quickly became very popular. Their trainability and intelligence coupled with their physical prowess make them a common choice for search and rescue teams.

The Schnauzer has always been highly prized for its temperament and they make excellent family pets. They are intelligent, loyal and generous. Agile and athletic, they are a fearless breed and thrive on exercise and mental stimulation. They are good with children and other animals but very small furry creatures like hamsters are best avoided due to the Schnauzers’ innate ratting ability.