Toy Schnauzer Guide: Size, Weight, Lifespan, Temperament etc.

Toy Schnauzers are one of the smallest sizes of Schnauzer, a purebred dog originating from Germany to be ratters or watchdogs. While an unofficial Schnauzer size, the Toy Schnauzer has become very popular due to their extraverted and playful temperament as well as the fact that they are more suited to city living than traditional Schnauzer sizes.

If you are interested in Toy Schnauzers keep reading this article to find out the all the answers to your questions about this dog breed!

Table of Contents

Are Toy Schnauzers Real?

Yes, Toy Schnauzers are real. While Miniature, Standard and Giant Schnauzers are much more common, Toy Schnauzers are becoming increasingly prevalent as breeders are starting to produce smaller and smaller sized Schnauzers. Breeders create the ‘toy’ size by breeding the runt of two unrelated Miniature Schnauzer litters together. They then continue this process until they consistently get the toy size. Some breeders even produce ‘teacup’ Schnauzers which are even smaller than Toy Schnauzers.

What Is A Toy Schnauzer?

A Toy Schnauzer is an even smaller version of the Miniature Schnauzer. The breeder takes the runt (the smallest size puppy) of two different Miniature Schnauzer litters and continues breeding smaller and smaller sized puppies until they consistently get the toy size.

What Does A Toy Schnauzer Look Like?

Toy Schnauzers have a very distinct look with a wiry coat that can come in three recognized colors including black & silver, solid black or salt & pepper. They usually have a rectangular shaped face with eyebrows and a bushy beard which gives them a human appearance. Most Toy Schnauzers have cropped ears so they are pointy and triangular in shape however some breeders leave their puppies ears uncropped so they fold over.

Toy Schnauzer Characteristics

Toy Schnauzer Characteristics
Size	Up to 10 inches (up to 25.4cm) tall at the shoulder.
Weight	8 to 12 pounds (3.6kg to 5.4kg).
Temperament	Alert, feisty and playful.
Activity Levels	Moderate.
Exercise Requirements	30 to 60 min per day.
Lifespan	10 to 15 years.
Coat	Wiry double coat.
Eyes	Brown or black.
Shedding	Low.
Apartment Adaptability	Can live in an apartment if given enough exercise daily.
Good with Children	Yes.

Toy Schnauzer Size

Toy Schnauzers get to a height of up to 10 inches (up to 25.4cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh between 8 and 12 pounds (3.6kg to 5.4kg). They are one of the smallest sizes of Schnauzer however it is not an official size. That said, the slightly larger Miniature Schnauzer is a recognized size.

Toy Schnauzer Lifespan

On average, Toy Schnauzers live for 10 to 15 years. There are many factors that may influence the lifespan of a Toy Schnauzer including genetics, health conditions, lifestyle and nutrition. If you want to give a Toy Schnauzer the best chance of living a long life, make sure you exercise them each day and also feed them a well balanced, healthy diet.

Toy Schnauzer Temperament

Toy Schnauzers have an alert, feisty and playful temperament. They are very extraverted despite their small size and love to be in the middle of the action at all times. Toy Schnauzers are super affectionate and love cuddling. Even though they are quite energetic, you’ll often find them wanting to sit on your lap or sleep right next to you. Toy Schnauzers are also very intelligent which makes training quite easy however they can be a bit stubborn and feisty at times.

group of toy schnauzers — Toy Schnauzers via @the_k_schnauzers

Toy Schnauzer Price

Toy Schnauzers cost between $3500USD and $5000USD. They are around the same price as Miniature Schnauzers but often sell for slightly higher prices as the toy size is rarer. The small size of a Toy Schnauzer paired with their great temperament makes them highly sought after, fetching high prices.

Are Toy Schnauzers Recognized By The AKC?

Toy Schnauzers are not recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC) because they are markedly smaller than their breed standards. That being said, the slightly larger Miniature Schnauzer is a recognized breed and has been recognized since 1926.

Are Toy Schnauzers Hypoallergenic?

Toy Schnauzers are hypoallergenic as they are a low shedding dog breed and therefore they don’t release much dander (dead skin cells) into their surroundings that can cause allergies.

Toy Schnauzers are just as hypoallergenic as Miniature Schnauzers. Miniature Schnauzers are thought to be even more hypoallergenic than Standard or Giant Schnauzers. This is because the Miniature size was originally created by breeding Affenpinschers into the lineage which is a very hypoallergenic dog breed. Therefore, Toy Schnauzers may be more hypoallergenic than Standard or Giant Schnauzers as they are bred from Miniature Schnauzers.

Do Toy Schnauzers Shed?

Toy Schnauzers do not shed much at all. They are classified as a light shedding breed and will only lose a few hairs here and there from their undercoat throughout the year. You can further reduce how much a Toy Schnauzer sheds by regularly brushing them with a slicker brush to remove loose fur.

Toy Schnauzer Grooming

Toy Schnauzers require grooming every 6 to 8 weeks. Their coats need to be clipped which can be done professionally at a groomer or you can learn how to do it yourself by watching YouTube videos and investing in a dog grooming kit. Between haircuts, Toy Schnauzers require regular brushing. This should be done at least two times a week as they have a double coat that is prone to tangles and matting.

toy schnauzer lying down — Toy Schnauzer via @mr_p_to_the_nut

Toy Schnauzer Colors

Black Toy Schnauzer

Black Toy Schnauzers feature a solid black coat. They have jet black eyes and black noses. Black is one of the most common coat colors as the genes responsible for the black coat are dominant for Toy Schnauzers.

Black & Silver Toy Schnauzer

Black and Silver Toy Schnauzers feature a bi-color coat that is manly black with grey or silver patches. The silver patches are located on the ends of their legs and paws, on their chest, their eye brows and under their muzzle. Another name for a Black and Silver Toy Schnauzer is a Phantom Toy Schnauzers.

Salt & Pepper Toy Schnauzer

Salt and Pepper Toy Schnauzers have a coat that features a mix of silver, grey, white and black hairs. As there are no distinct patches of color and all the hairs are randomly mixed through, the coat has the appearance of salt and pepper. That is how the coat got its name.

Toy Schnauzer Training

Toy Schnauzers are very intelligent so they respond very well to training. You should start teaching your Toy Schnauzer basic commands such as their name, sit, stay and come from the moment they arrive home. You can then progress to more difficult tricks and commands.

When training a Toy Schnauzer it is important to use positive reinforcement techniques. This is because dogs repeat good behavior that follows a reward like a treat or their favorite toy. Clicker training is another type of positive reinforcement training that is a good method for learning new tricks. You use a clicker device so your dog can associate a new behavior with a click and then a reward.

Toy Schnauzer Exercise Needs

Schnauzers were originally working dogs so they have moderate energy levels. They should get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day if not more. Toy Schnauzers enjoy going on walks, running and playing games. They also require mental exercise otherwise they will become bored and destructive. Toy Schnauzers do really well with a fenced off backyard where they can run around and play games with their family.

two toy schnauzers — Two Toy Schnauzers via @adventures_of_riotandcash

Toy Schnauzer Pros & Cons

Pros

Toy Schnauzers have wiry coats which don’t shed much.
Toy Schnauzers are intelligent and easy to train.
Toy Schnauzers are very affectionate towards their family.
Toy Schnauzers are small so city life suits them well.

Cons

Toy Schnauzers can be suspicious if not socialized properly at a young age.
Toy Schnauzers can have hunting and chasing instincts towards other animals.
Toy Schnauzers are high maintenance as they need brushing multiple times per week.
Toy Schnauzers bark a lot.

Toy Schnauzer vs Miniature Schnauzer

The main difference between a Toy Schnauzer and a Miniature Schnauzer is size. Toy Schnauzers are smaller than Miniature Schnauzers. Toy Schnauzers get to height of up to 10 inches (up to 25.4cm) and weigh between 8 and 12 pounds (3.6kg to 5.4kg). Miniature Schnauzers get to 12 to 14 inches (30.5cm to 35.6cm) tall and weigh between 12 and 20 pounds (5.4kg to 9.1kg).