How to Breed Miniature Schnauzers
The miniature schnauzer is the most popular of the three schnauzer breeds, bred from the standard in the 19th century. Though small, the schnauzer was bred to be a working guard dog on German farms and has a big personality. They were bred to kill rodents and alarm owners to trouble. As with most purebred dogs, miniature schnauzers are susceptible to certain illnesses, which must be considered when deciding whether to breed your dog.
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Instructions
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Breeding Miniature Schnauzers
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Run a complete health panel for the dog that you may breed. One of the most serious problems facing miniature schnauzers is myotonia, a muscle disease. DNA tests are available for early recognition. Miniature schnauzers are also more prone to allergies, diabetes, epilepsy, pancreatitis and bladder stones. Ensure the dog you are using as a mate also has a clean bill of health from a veterinarian.
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Allow your dog's personality to develop before deciding to breed. Miniature schnauzers can develop aggression, which often doesn't appear until 18 months of age.
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Make sure your female dog is up-to-date on vaccinations because she will pass that immunity to her puppies.
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Choose an experienced mate. Two inexperienced miniature schnauzers may not know what to do.
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Have your veterinarian run progesterone checks for the proper time to breed. During this time, allow the dogs to get to know one another. A female who is not quite ready to breed yet may be aggressive to an eager male, so supervise all interactions. The owner of the stud dog will usually board the female for up to two weeks, during which time all interactions must be supervised in case the mating starts to go awry.
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Tips & Warnings
If this will be your first breeding, find a mentor who has bred miniature schnauzers before and ask about potential problems. Even experienced breeders lose puppies and have seen difficult pregnancies, so they can give you advice on how to handle difficult situations.
References
- Photo Credit miniature schnauzer image by Alison Bowden from Fotolia.com
