All About the Schnauzer Poodle Mix
A Schnauzer Poodle mix is yet another manufactured breed that will be hitting the “store shelves” soon. The Schnauzer Poodle mix, affectionately named the Schnoodle, is sure to win your heart by taking the traits of both these breeds throwing them into a blender and creating an attractive mish-mash. However, be careful, because along with all the positive qualities that you might get from this kind of a mix, you are likely to get a fair share of negative qualities as well.
Appearance
The Schnauzer is a German dog named after its distinctive nose (“Schnauzer” means “snoot” in German), while the Poodle is far more associated with France. Since the average size for the Poodle is 11 to 15 inches and the average height for a Schnauzer is 12 inches, you should expect that your Schnauzer Poodle mix will be about a foot high.
Temperament
Schnauzers are a very protective breed that sometimes can have a stubborn streak to them while Poodles tend to be very athletic but a little less prone to attachment. You may or may not know this, but breeders originally trained Poodles to ferret out truffles. For this reason, they are often considered quite intelligent and able to problem solve at a higher level than most of their fellow canines. In addition, Poodles take to water quite well. Their fur does especially well in water and they learn to swim quite readily. Schnauzers, on the other hand, were “ratters.” That is, since the beginnings of the Early Modern Period people used them to rid their homes and businesses of rats (an important task in plague-ravaged Europe). However, these skills were not as demanding as truffle hunting.
The combination of these two types of temperament means that you can get a widely divergent range of personality types for these dogs. On the one hand, your Schnauzer Poodle might be quite intelligent but very stubborn. On the other hand, your Schnauzer Poodle mix might be independent but not particularly intelligent.
Caring for a Schnauzer Poodle Mix
Caring for a Schnauzer Poodle mix depends a lot on what traits your particular dog ends up acquiring. If you dog is more like a Schnauzer in temperament, he may need attention but not a great deal of interaction. If he leans more toward the Poodle, he will need a lot of stimulation to keep him from getting bored.
In terms of physical maintenance, you might find that your Schnoodle requires quite a bit of coat care regardless of which side of the breeds he pushes towards. Therefore, expect to do a lot of grooming regardless of appearance. Both Schnauzers and Poodles are infamous for being high-maintenance dogs, so expect to spend a lot of time with your dog on your lap and a comb on hand.
Medical Considerations
Poodles suffer from a number of health conditions. Poodles have a particular susceptibility to Addison’s disease, a lack of adequate adrenal production. Like many small breeds, they are also prone to tracheal collapse. They will also often suffer from hip dysplasia and gastro-intestinal disorders. Schnauzers, on the other hand are prone to a series of dermatological disorders (including “Schnauzer bumps”), eye problems, and certain kinds of urinary infections. Both breeds are prone to cataracts, so you should be especially careful to get your Schnauzer Poodle mix checked for eye problems early in life (the disease is congenital).
Although it is a new type of mix with a wide range of possible outcomes, the combination of these two very popular dogs makes for a very handsome pet that is sure to catch like wild fire. If you are lucky, you can get the easy trainability of the Poodle with the loving attachment of the Schnauzer, making for a great household pet.