How to Groom a Standard Schnauzer

Standard Schnauzers are medium sized, with long necks, high pointed ears and a half-docked tails. Their coats are short and wiry with dense undercoats and appear in either solid black or salt and pepper. Well known for their bushy beards, eyebrows and whiskers, these dogs shed require extensive grooming.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Short wire brush
• Dry dog shampoo
• Regular dog shampoo
• A pair of nail clippers
• Ear cleansing solution and ear powder
• Clippers, #10 blade
• Stripping comb

1. Brush your dog at least twice a week with a short wire brush to keep his undercoat from matting. Before brushing, cut out any knots in his hair. Pay careful attention to his beard and legs, where matting can be worse. Brush first with the grain and then against the grain.

2. Clean his whiskers after meals with a dry dog shampoo.

3. Trim hair around your dog's eyes, ears, and neck regularly using blunt-nosed clippers.

4. Bathe your Standard Schnauzer as often as necessary, but always comb him out before his bath. Bathe his beard and legs once a week.

5. Clip the nails regularly, only clipping the tips and avoiding the quick.

6. Clean your dog's ears regularly with an ear cleaning solution and ear powder to keep them dry. This will help prevent ear infections.

7. Clip or strip the entire coat every 4 to 6 months to a short, evened-out length. This process can be time consuming, so many choose to have it done professionally. You can learn to do it yourself, using a stripping comb and #10 blade clippers. The Standard Schnauzer Club of America website has a step-by-step video to help you learn to do it yourself.

Tips & Warnings

• When clipping hair, always clip with the grain.
• Call your veterinarian if you notice any bare patches in your dog's coat or skin rashes.
• Facial hair on a Standard Schnauzer should always be cut at a slant for the breed's optimal appearance.
• Avoid cutting your dog's nail beyond just the tip. If you do cut the quick, and your dog's nail begins to bleed, apply styptic powder to stop the bleeding.