The Miniature Schnauzer is the smallest of the three Schnauzer dog breeds. But despite its small size, it has it all, including intelligence, affection, obedience, friendliness, and a personality twice its size. As soon as you see this Schnauzer, you’ll likely fall in love with his good looks and distinctive demeanor.
One crucial thing that people don’t pay much attention to when acquiring a new dog is their shedding. It can determine how much cleaning you do in your home, and for severe allergy sufferers, it can be a life-threatening situation. Let’s find out the Miniature Schnauzer shedding tendencies, so you can determine whether or not it’s the right breed for you.
Do Miniature Schnauzers shed? Yes, they do. Luckily, it’s so minimal that you won’t even think about it, while with some breeds, you will notice fur on your furniture, floors, clothes, and sometimes even in your food. The Miniature Schnauzer is one of the lowest shedding breeds out there, which is good news for allergy sufferers and those who can’t stand loose hair floating around.
Before you adopt this pup and bring them into your home, it’s important to learn everything about them to know if you’re truly the right owner for them. Many new dog owners don’t think about shedding/molting, but having dog hair around the house is unsightly and makes cleaning a hassle. And for those with allergies, living with breeds that shed a certain way can be life-threatening.
If you want a family companion that you can spend time with no itchy eyes, runny nose, or clean-up crew required, the Miniature Schnauzer is your best bet. Keep reading to learn when Miniature Schnauzers shed, how much, and what you can do to manage the situation.
How Much Do Miniature Schnauzers Shed?
All dogs shed, but there’s a difference in the amount of shedding; some are low, others are moderate, while others are high shedders. We’ve already established that the Miniature Schnauzer is a low-shedding breed. They shed only a few times a year, and if you take proper care of them, you will likely not see any fur on the couch, bed, or anywhere else the animal visits.
Their mustache and long hair might fool you, but rest assured that this breed has minimal to no shedding. Most of its shedding occurs from his undercoat but doesn’t get much further than the outer coat, assuming you’re regularly grooming him. Secondly, the Miniature Schnauzer is the smallest of the Schnauzers. And with their small surface area, there is less fur to lose.
This breed’s shedding is similar to human’s shedding, and excessive shedding may signal a health problem (more on this later). They may shed a bit more during certain times of the year to keep up with the changing seasons, but it’s still pretty low compared to other double-coated breeds.
Why Do Miniature Schnauzers Shed?
Dogs generally shed to get rid of dead, loose hairs and regrow new, healthy ones. Their hair growth cycle consists of three stages: anagen, catagen, and telogen. In the latter stage, the fur is in a resting phase until it finally falls out and new hairs grows in its place.
You may notice your puppy shedding more than the adults. That’s because they have delicate hairs that fall out easily. They will shed their entire puppy coat to grow an adult one with stronger fur that only sheds when necessary.
Aside from the natural shedding, several factors play a role in your Miniature Schnauzer’s shedding. The first one is genetics. If their parents didn’t shed much, they are likely to do the same. Other factors that could affect your pup’s shedding process include indoor temperature shifts, nutrition, and hormonal changes, to name a few.
Shedding Seasons and Frequency
When do Miniature Schnauzers shed? Expect minimal to no shedding throughout most of the year. But like most dogs, Schnauzers are double-coated and will shed more during certain times of the year to prepare for seasonal changes. Y
ou will notice more shedding in fall when they blow their coat to grow heavier, denser fur to help keep them warm in winter. But come spring, they no longer need the thick fur and shed it off to grow something much lighter that can keep them cool in summer. Although these dogs are double-coated and blow their coat in fall and spring, they still don’t shed as much as other dogs.
Unhealthy Shedding
Now that we’ve established that Miniature Schnauzers don’t shed much of their fur, you may be wondering why your own has recently started shedding much. These dogs can lose a lot of fur due to an underlying issue. You will need to consult with your vet to determine the full cause, but the most common reasons for excessive shedding are:
- Stress
- Poor nutrition
- Parasitic infection
- Fungal or bacterial infection
- Allergies
- Kidney, liver, thyroid illness
- Hormonal changes in pregnant or bitches in heat
As a low-shedder, it’s easy to tell if this dog is experiencing unhealthy shedding. They will not leave behind a lot of furs even during seasonal shedding. Unhealthy shedding doesn’t just include excessive shedding. If the shedding is accompanied by other symptoms such as open sores, scratching, skin irritation, bald spots, thinning of the coat, or dull and dry fur, you should bring your doggy to the vet as soon as possible.
What Type of Coat Does A Miniature Schnauzer Have?
The smallest Schnauzer is double-coated, meaning it has two layers of fur. The undercoat is soft and fluffy and acts as an insulator to keep the animal cool in summer and warm in winter. The outercoat is coarse and wiry and provides additional protection from the elements such as debris, sun, and rain.
Both coats are short, but the inner one sheds the most, although the fur doesn’t get to go past the topcoat, hence the minimal shedding. One of this breed’s defining features is their facial fur as they spot bold eyebrows and a wise beard. They also have longer hair around their legs.
A Miniature Schnauzer can have three different types of coats. The traditional one comes in a soft (smooth texture) or wiry (coarse texture). Then there’s the Super Coat, which has a little more volume and usually is soft. You’ll find others with Mega Coats, which is the thickest with the most volume and is usually soft.
How to Manage and Reduce Miniature Schnauzers Shedding?
You cannot stop a healthy Miniature Schnauzer from shedding since it’s a natural process that gets rid of dead fur to grow new, healthy fur. Luckily, this breed is a low shedder, and you may not even notice their shedding. But this is only possible if you take proper care of them. If you’re looking to manage and keep the shedding to a minimum, you only need to do two easy things: grooming and proper feeding.
Miniature Schnauzers Grooming
While they don’t shed much, these dogs’ coats still require regular grooming to stay healthy and encourage healthy shedding. You will need to brush them at least 3-5 times a week. Brushing allows you to capture loose, dead hairs before spreading all over your home during shedding.
It also removes debris, prevents mats and tangles, and evenly spreads the coat’s natural oils, all of which help keep the fur in good condition. Pay attention to the longer fur on their face and legs, and check the armpits since mats tend to form in this place.
These dogs may need help shedding their dead hairs. You have the option of hand stripping or using clippers to keep their coats well-maintained. Most owners prefer having professional groomers handle this part of grooming because it’s time-consuming and something novice owners shouldn’t attempt as they could damage the fur.
Miniature Schnauzers Diet
Nutrition is at the forefront of many shedding problems. For instance, if your Mini Schnauzer is consuming lots of human foods with high sugar and sodium content, their fur could fall out due to pancreatic issues. Canine’s digestive systems aren’t like ours and, therefore, can’t process food the way we do.
Secondly, some commercial dog foods contain fillers or by-products and can be packed full of chemicals, thus causing some bodily irritation and leading to excessive shedding.
Make sure your doggy is getting an age-appropriate and nutritious diet. By providing the correct balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates based on your pet’s health, activity level, age, and size, nutrients needed for hair growth and retention can reach the follicles. A healthy coat will look shiny and healthy and will cycle normally through the four stages of growth and loss, thus shedding only when necessary.
Dry skin can lead to skin and shedding issues, which is why you must always provide clean, fresh water to keep the animal hydrated.
Baths, Supplements…
Baths are also fantastic for managing and reducing shedding. Like brushing, bathing your pup allows you to remove dead, loose hairs before they fall onto your furniture, floors, clothes, etc. While you’re at it, ensure you use the correct products to match your pet’s skin. This includes using dog-friendly shampoo and not human shampoo. Before bathing, a good brush will help loosen the fur and any debris and dander from the dog’s skin.
As mentioned earlier, proper nutrition is a critical element for managing this breed’s shedding. But if for some reason, your doggy is unable to get all the necessary nutrients from its current diet, you can turn to supplements to help. Your Miniature Schnauzer will benefit from omega-3 fatty acids supplements, which encourage healthy fur and, therefore, healthy shedding. They can also take a multivitamin for overall health. But always ask your vet before offering any supplements to your pup or making any diet changes.
Are Miniature Schnauzers Hypoallergenic?
When asking do Miniature Schnauzers shed, you probably also want to know whether they are hypoallergenic. A common misconception is that double-coated dogs lead to a lot of shedding and, hence, are not suitable for people with allergies. While that may be true for some double-coated breeds, it’s clear that Miniature Schnauzers are pretty low shedders. In fact, they are classified as hypoallergenic.
Dogs carry some proteins in their dander, saliva, and urine that can cause an allergic reaction. These elements attach to the fur and are released into the environment through shedding. So, when a breed is a low shedder, chances are it carries fewer allergens, making it more allergy-friendly.
The Miniature Schnauzer is not only a low shedder but also drools very little and produces less dander. This makes it hypoallergenic in all ways and a good choice for people with COPD, allergies, or asthma. But getting a breed that is less likely to trigger allergies is just the first step. You’ll need to reduce further shedding through grooming and providing a proper diet. You can also remove the already existing allergens in your home through regular vacuuming, installing a HEPA air filter, and keeping the doggy out of your bedroom.