Schnauzers, an ancient German breed, have so many distinguishing characteristics, from their short tails to their unique ears, to the mustachioed face that gives them their name. They are medium-sized dogs with medium energy.
History
Although schnauzers weren’t recognized by the American Kennel Club until 1904, they were popular in Germany, their country of origin, for hundreds of years before. A fourteenth-century statue in Mecklenburg, Germany depicts a hunter with what appears to be a schnauzer at his feet, setting a very early date for this breed’s appearance. Another statue, this one in Stuttgart Germany and dating to 1620, also features a schnauzer. The dogs were most likely bred as terriers and workers, helping families by keeping rats at bay and assisting farmers with their tasks. The breed name comes from the German schnauze, meaning snout, a clear reference to their distinguished whiskers.