Finding a Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzers are excellent companion dogs. And because they are highly intelligent, they can be trained to perform and compete in any number of disciplines including:

• Conformation Dog Shows    • Obedience    • Agility    • Tracking    • Earthdog    • Freestyle Dancing    • Therapy

You'll want to learn all you can about Miniature Schnauzers before acquiring one, and what activities you plan on participating in may influence your selection. An excellent place to begin is the American Miniature Schnauzer Club (AMSC) website. In particular, be sure to visit these pages:

• The Miniature Schnauzer    • The Official Standard for the Miniature Schnauzer    • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Our club members will be glad to answer your questions and help you in your search for a Miniature Schnauzer that will be a perfect match for you and your needs. Our Contact Us page lists our members, describes their particular interests, and provides contact information.

Consider an Older Dog

Before looking for a puppy, give some thought to acquiring an older dog. They make wonderful pets, and are usually well socialized and already have their house manners. Older dogs are sometimes available from breeders, for example a dog that has been shown that the breeder would now like to have in a pet home. But most older dogs are ones which can no longer be kept by their owners, and are placed in new homes by our volunteer rescue group. See our Rescue page for more information.

What Is a Responsible Breeder?

Responsible breeders want to be sure that their puppies and dogs are placed in a home that is suited for them, and so will screen potential buyers carefully to be sure there is a good match. Because of this practice, responsible breeders never sell puppies to pet stores, since a pet store's only criteria for selling a dog is whether or not the buyer has the money to pay for it. Typically breeders who sell to pet stores are singularly focused on profit at the expense of the quality and health of the dog.

Responsible breeders love and care for the dogs they breed, and their puppies receive the same devoted attention. But it goes even beyond that, as responsible breeders feel they are responsible for the puppies they bring into this world. If a situation with a new owner doesn't work out, the breeder will take the puppy back and make sure it is placed in a more suitable home. They will also offer some type of guarantee on the health of the puppy.

And responsible breeders provide new owners with more than just a puppy. Most of them have years of experience with their breed, and can advise new owners on all aspects for raising a puppy including house manners, feeding, training and grooming. There is usually a "contract" between the breeder and the new owner, covering the future of the puppy, whether it be a conformation show dog, a co-owned dog, or a pet dog. If the puppy is to be spayed or neutered, the breeder may hold the AKC papers until the procedure has been performed.

While Miniature Schnauzers can live in good health for around 13-15 years, there are no guarantees in life, and health problems can affect all dogs, even mixed breeds. Responsible breeders have their dogs checked for inherited diseases to minimize the potential for health problems. The inherited problems that are of higher incidence in the Miniature Schnauzer include eye problems, bladder and kidney stones, hyperlipidemia and pancreatitis, skin problems and allergies. Responsible breeders do their best to eliminate these problems from their lines through thorough and extensive health testing and exams.

Disclaimer:  Portland Miniature Schnauzer Club (PMSC) members who are breeders make every effort to see that they are making a positive contribution to the Miniature Schnauzer breed. However, the PMSC is not liable for, nor will it guarantee the health, temperament, or any other aspect of, dogs purchased from a PMSC member.

The responsibility is with the breeder, and most offer some type of guarantee. Be sure to ask the breeder what they guarantee.

How to Find a Breeder

The following is a list of our club members who are breeders. You can click on their names to see their contact information, and to learn a little more about them. They will tell you if they have puppies available now, and if they don't, when they plan to have them available in the future.

• Cynthia Mulheron-Klein, Salem, OR    • Elizabeth "Buzzy" Alfano, Eagle Creek, OR    • Janie Tilton, Damascus, OR    • Jes Sothern, Sandy, OR    • Karen Michalski, Beaverton, OR    • Pat Wildman, Salem, OR    • Roz Shroyer, Woodland, WA    • Stella Van Cleave, Grants Pass, OR    • Theone Hutchman, Vancouver, WA    • Theresa Kaminski, Salem, OR    • Wyn Hagmaier, Lake Oswego, OR

Each of these members will also help you find out what other members have puppies available, or when they plan to have them available. And of course the same applies for older dogs should you be looking to start with a more mature Miniature Schnauzer.