Dear Tentatively: Coincidentally, I‘ve had a few questions recently regarding the grooming of the Miniature Schnauzer so I’ll give you a basic grooming overview as well as the nuts and bolts of trimming and scissoring.

Grooming Procedure

The Miniature Schnauzer comes from the American Kennel Club’s Terrier Group and as such requires the same basic coat care as the other harsh-coated terriers. This breed hails from Germany as a stable dog and ratter. His double coat is hard and wiry on top with a close undercoat. The hair on his head, neck and body must be short and his body coat must be of a coarse texture. This breed also has some longer hairs called “furnishings” which include the thick coat around the muzzle, eyebrows and legs.

This breed’s coat requires basic grooming to start, such as brushing, bathing, and blow-drying. Using a natural bristle brush or a specific brush for a terrier’s coat such as a hound glove or terrier palm pad is a great way to keep daily brushing an easy chore. But after the “three B’s” you will have to trim and even “strip” or clip the terrier’s coat to keep it in tip top shape that sculpts him into the traditional schnauzer silhouette.

Stripping v Clipping

There are two ways to keep the terrier’s coat in proper form. The best way is to strip and pluck the coat. This method is done by hand using a “stripping comb” to strip out the coat on the body or by “plucking” coat out directly with the fingers. This type of maintenance for the schnauzer’s coat is usually reserved for dogs going into the show ring. Not only can this method be time consuming for the pet owner, but expensive if one employs a professional to do the job.

The majority of pet owners opt for the clipping method. Using a pair of electric clippers and a variety of blade sizes which leave the hair in different lengths, one can mimic the hand stripping method somewhat. The drawbacks of clipping include changing the coat’s color and giving it a softer less desirable texture than stripping. When attempting to clip the dog yourself, remember you will need several sets of blades to get the desired length of coat on the various body parts. For example, the body will need a #8½ blade to leave the coat approximately ¼ inch long. Meanwhile, the ears will need a #10 and #15 blade for a closer cut.

You asked about the trim line for your dog. This trim line includes what you look at during a profile for the side and viewing the dog from the front and rear. Basically, you will want to trim down to the bottom of the chest in front, leaving a little hair hanging between the front legs and then leave about one inch or so hanging off the barrel or rib cage and taper it up to the stifle area. Then you want to follow the contour of the stifle down the rear leg to just above the hock. When viewing the dog from behind, his legs will look like they have two big fluffy mittens on or an arch with straight columns.

Scissoring

After all this precision stripping or clipping, you still need to address scissoring the furnishings around the muzzle, face and legs. Making that adorable schnauzer face takes a little practice. You first must comb the thick coat forward on his face and then fashion the proper eyebrows and beard. Also, you must “blend” the short coat of the clipped or stripped regions of the body and head with the longer furnishings around the legs and face.

My advice is to either have professional groomer of terriers show you the ropes and teach you how to do this or just have them do the job for you. It takes a skilled eye and a steady hand to create the beautiful picture you’d like to see that defines your favorite pet.

              

Lisa Peterson, a long-time breeder of Norwegian Elkhounds, is the Director of Club Communications at the American Kennel Club. Contact her at ask@lisa-peterson.com or Dogma Publishing, P.O. Box 307, Newtown, CT 06470.