THE WHITE MINIATURE SCHNAUZER

WHITE MINIATURE SCHNAUZER

If you’re a Schnauzer lover, you’ve probably noticed that they come in different sizes and color options. For the Standard Schnauzer, the only available color options are black or salt and pepper. In contrast, Miniature Schnauzers have a broader range of color options for you to choose from. The different colors available within the Miniature Schnauzer are cool and offer you the freedom to pick the one you fancy but there have been lots of debate about them, especially the White Miniature Schnauzer.

How the White Miniature Schnauzer emerged

The first step to truly appreciating the White Miniature Schnauzer is tracing its history to find out how it came into existence. In the beginning, Miniature Schnauzers were bred in Germany from the popular Standard Schnauzer. The goal was to develop a smaller version of the breed that retained all other characteristics of the Standard Schnauzer including appearance, personality, colors etc.

To achieve that goal, the Standard Schnauzer was crossed with other breeds like the Affenpinschers and Poodles and the result was the emergence of two new colors – white and black & silver. The breeders thought the black & silver color was the same salt and pepper variety, so they were readily accepted.

They did later discover that it was really a different color option as the Miniature Schnauzers retained their coloring whenever both parents were the silver and black color combination. At this point, it was too late to object to the new color variant as it was already widely accepted.

However, the White Miniature Schnauzer didn’t gain instant popularity like its sibling as breeders thought that the puppies were defective and so, destroyed many of them. Quite saddening but the cute White Miniature Schnauzers that have grown to be so popular were almost exterminated because breeders believed that they were the outcome of breeding practices that seem to stray from the approved standard. It is nice to know that there are some breeders who see past such rigid rules of breeding. To breed to the breed standards set out means as humans we miss out on some very wonderful, colorful and loving pets!

The White Miniature Schnauzer in the present

Today, White Miniature Schnauzers are fast becoming a favorite of dog lovers as they’re currently recognized by the World Canine Organization and the Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI). However, sadly, they are yet to gain the same amount of acceptance as the Standard Schnauzer, especially from the breed clubs of two countries: the American Kennel Club and Canadian Kennel Club for conformation showing.

Generally, a cross-breeding often results in a new breed but with the overall appearance and color combinations intact. The controversy around White Miniature Schnauzers stems from the fact that the color emerged from the crossing of other breeds that didn’t have the white color.

Consequently, many registries are reluctant to recognize the new color options as it is unclear whether the White Schnauzers are the result of intentional departure from the breed standard.

In the end – 

The White Miniature Schnauzers aren’t any different from other color options of the breed as they have the same appearance, temperament, grooming requirements and so on. And if the black and silver Miniature Schnauzers were accepted, the White Miniature Schnauzer should enjoy the same level of acceptance since they both have a similar history. But truly – who cares. We love ALL the Schnauzers, big or small and in any color!