Do Schnauzers Shed?

Written by Katelynn Sobus
Published: September 30, 2022
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Schnauzers have gorgeous and distinct coats, cute little beards, and fluffy legs! I certainly can’t resist their charm—but as you might expect, their coats take some upkeep.

Schnauzers shed very little and are considered a hypoallergenic dog breed. However, their double coat takes a fair amount of grooming to maintain. It should be hand-stripped every 4-6 months and brushed weekly. The longer fur on their legs and face should be washed weekly to keep it free of debris.

Continue reading to learn all about Schauzers’ coats, from how to groom them to how much Schnauzers shed.

Schnauzer Coat Characteristics

Close-up portrait of the dog. Giant Schnauzer. Service dog.

Schnauzers shed very little and are considered a hypoallergenic dog breed.

©iStock.com/Voltgroup

Coat LengthMedium
Shedding LevelLow
Grooming NeedsHand-strip once every 4-6 months, brush coat weekly
Fur or Hair?Hair
Hypoallergenic?Yes

 

Are Schnauzers Hypoallergenic?

Schnauzers are considered a hypoallergenic dog breed, but it’s important to know what this means before adopting one.

Hypoallergenic dogs have long, human-like hair rather than fur. They shed less and may produce fewer allergens.

No dog is truly allergen-free, and sometimes hypoallergenic dogs will still set off someone’s allergies. Especially if your allergies are severe, it’s important to meet the Schnauzer you’ll adopt before committing to them.

Pet them, bring them near your face, and spend an adequate amount of time together so that you know exactly how you’ll react once you bring them home.

It’s also important to hand strip your Schnauzer rather than clipping their fur. Clipping can cause them to shed more, and their coat texture, functions, and color will also change.

Do Schnauzers Drool?

Schnauzers drool moderately. This means you might find drool on their dog bed, around the water dish, or even on yourself while your Schnauzer snoozes on your lap or begs for treats.

Although they don’t drool excessively, contact with the drool can trigger allergy symptoms—so be aware of this before adoption.

Do Miniature Schnauzers Shed?

While you can have your Schnauzer trimmed, this will affect their coat.

©Liliya Kulianionak/Shutterstock.com

Standard Schnauzers and Miniature Schnauzers are two of the lowest shedding breeds if their fur is cared for correctly. It’s important to hire a groomer to hand-strip their coat once every 4-6 months.

While you can have either Schnauzer trimmed, this will affect their coat. The undercoat will be damaged, and the coat will no longer be dirt-resistant or waterproof. Your dog’s coat will also become softer and lighten in color.

How to Groom a Schnauzer

Grooming your Schnauzer includes the following steps:

  • Hand-stripping the coat
  • Brushing the coat
  • Bathing your Schnauzer
  • Cleaning their ears
  • Trimming their nails
  • Brushing their teeth

Hand-Strip the Coat Every 4-6 Months

Three Giant Schnauzer puppies sitting on the lawn

It is preferable to hand-strip your Schnauzer rather than having them shaved.

©Rita_Kochmarjova/Shutterstock.com

Hand-stripping is usually best done by a groomer, as it can hurt if done incorrectly. This is because it requires pulling out the old fur by hand. When the fur is ready to come out, it shouldn’t hurt your pup.

Hand-stripping is more expensive than having your Schnauzer shaved because it takes more time and effort. However, it keeps their coat intact and only needs to be done 2-3 times a year.

Brush Your Schnauzer Weekly

Once the coat has been hand-stripped, a weekly brushing will keep it maintained. This will prevent mats and stop shed fur from accumulating on your dog’s body.

Use a brush or comb meant for long-haired dogs and brush down to the skin. Otherwise, you might miss mats hiding beneath the outer coat.

While brushing your Schnauzer, it’s a good time to check over their body for anything abnormal. This includes any lumps, swelling, skin irritation, or pests hidden in the fur.

Bathe them Regularly

Giant Schnauzer dog running in the water

When bathing your Schnauzer, you must thoroughly wet their entire coat.

©Rita_Kochmarjova/Shutterstock.com

Schnauzer’s coats need plenty of upkeep, including baths every 4-6 weeks. Some people choose to bathe their Schnauzer more frequently, while others wait a bit longer—it depends on your preference and your dog’s hygiene.

To bathe your Schnauzer, thoroughly wet their entire coat. Ensure you get beneath the overcoat, which is water-resistant, all the way down to the skin.

Then, lather some dog shampoo into the fur and skin all over your dog’s body. Rinse it away thoroughly, again minding that you rinse down to the skin to remove all of the soap.

Follow this up with a dog conditioner if you’d like, or use coconut oil to moisturize your Schnauzer’s coat and skin.

If you need to give your pup a touch-up before their next bath, dry shampoo is an excellent option. You’ll also want to wash their beards, the hair on their legs, and between their toes once a week to keep these areas free of debris. 

Trim Your Schnauzer’s Nails Weekly

Schnauzer’s nails grow quickly, so a weekly trimming is recommended. This is also a good time to check your dog’s paw pads and the fur between their toes for splinters, injury, or debris.

If you don’t know how to trim your Schnauzer’s nails, here are some tips:

  • Train your Schnauzer to accept handling. The easiest way to do this is to touch their feet periodically while petting them. Keep some treats on hand and reward them for allowing this. As they get used to it, begin picking their feet up, separating the toes, and touching the nails.
  • Introduce the nail trimmers slowly. Touch them gently to your Schnauzer’s feet, let them sniff them on the ground, and when you begin, only cut one nail at a time.
  • Reward good behavior. Always keep treats on hand when training your pup and praise them heavily for a job well done.
  • Know where the quick is located. In Schnauzers with light nails, the quick is the pink part at the base of the nail. The quick is filled with blood and will hurt your Schnauzer if you cut into it, so you want to avoid that!
    If your Schnauzer has all-black nails, look at pictures online or dogs with lighter claws in real life to get an idea of where to find the quick.
  • Trim only the sharp tips of the nails. You can cut shorter over time, but when you’re first learning, I recommend trimming off only the smallest amount. This way, you know you won’t cut into the quick and hurt your pup.
  • If you cut the quick, stop the bleeding with flour or cornstarch. Dab it on the tip of the nail where the blood is coming from, and the bleeding should stop within a few minutes. If it doesn’t, see a veterinarian, as this may indicate a more serious injury.

Clean their Ears Monthly

Never stick anything into your Schnauzer’s ear canal, as this can push wax further inside or rupture the ear drum.

©Oakland Images/Shutterstock.com

Clean your Schnauzer’s ears monthly to prevent debris and wax from building up on the outer ear. This will also help to prevent ear infections.

If your dog is prone to ear infections or has allergies, your veterinarian may recommend more frequent ear cleanings—for instance, I had to clean my dog’s ears once weekly, and this stopped his ear infections from occurring.

Cleaning your Schnauzer’s ears is simple:

  • Use a dog ear cleaning solution or a small amount of baby oil.
  • Put your cleaning solution on a paper towel, cotton pad, cotton ball, or q-tip.
  • Lift your Schnauzer’s ear and gently clean the underside, avoiding the ear canal.
  • Never stick anything into your Schnauzer’s ear canal, as this can push wax further inside or rupture the ear drum. If there’s excess wax in the inner ear, see a veterinarian for a professional cleaning.

This is also a good time to check over your dog’s ears for any redness, swelling, unusual odor, or abnormal discharge. These can indicate an ear infection, ear mites, or other health problems.

Brush their Teeth

Schnauzers are small dogs, meaning they’re more susceptible to dental disease than larger breeds. It’s important to care for their teeth as this will help prevent dental problems.

Your Schnauzer’s teeth should be brushed at least once weekly, though daily is preferable. Here are some tips to help you do so successfully:

  • Train your Schnauzer to accept their mouth being handled. Wait until they’re relaxed and you have treats on hand. Then, begin to lift your Schnauzer’s lips, touch their teeth and gums, and open their mouth. Take this slowly and offer plenty of treats!
  • Introduce the toothbrush slowly. Let your pup taste the toothpaste and feel the brush against their gums for short amounts of time, slowly working up as they grow used to this.
  • Try different types of toothbrushes. Every person and dog will have their own preference. Some toothbrushes look identical to those made for humans, ones that curve all around the teeth, electric toothbrushes, and ones that go on your finger.
  • Only use dog toothpaste, never one made for humans! Our toothpaste isn’t meant to be swallowed and can harm your dog.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © everydoghasastory/Shutterstock.com

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About the Author

Katelynn Sobus is a writer at A-Z Animals where her primary focus is on pets including dogs, cats, and exotics. She has been writing about pet care for over five years. Katelynn currently lives in Michigan with her seven senior rescue cats.

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Sources
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