Miniature Schnauzer is a small dog breed that is characterized by its small, square shaped furry body. It is basically a mix dog breed of Standard Schnauzer and small dog breeds like Poodle and Affenpinscher. Dogs of this breed are usually 12 to 14 inches in height and weigh up to 14 to 18 pounds.

These dogs are known for their intelligence and loving nature. They blend well with all the members of the family, including the younger and the elder. If this dog is socialized properly, it gets along well with other dogs also. Because of the double furry coat on the skin, the Miniature Schnauzer needs special attention when it comes to grooming. Let us take a look at the different steps of grooming this breed of dog.

How to Groom a Miniature Schnauzer

Grooming Supplies
Grooming of any dog cannot be accomplished without the pet supplies. Pet combs, brushes, nail clippers, thinning shears, grooming table, scissors, stripping knives, electric clippers, etc., are some of the important grooming tools. You can easily get these supplies in a pet shop near your house. Apart from these, you will also require pet shampoo and toothpaste.

Brushing
Brushing of the dog coat is a very important part of grooming a Miniature Schnauzer, since it is a non shedding dog breed and is hypoallergenic. It is recommended that you brush your Miniature Schnauzer on a daily basis or at least once in a week. Though the coat is not so hard to maintain, you need to brush it regularly to avoid matting. Brush your dog before bathing and clipping.

Start with brushing the front legs from top to bottom. Then use a pin brush and work in the opposite direction. Repeat the same for the back legs and then move towards the armpits. Brush the eyebrows by moving the brush from the head towards the nose and then brush the beard. Ensure that you do not miss out any part of the dog's body while brushing. In case, you come across a matt while combing, then place your free hand between the skin and the matt to avoid the discomfort caused to the dog while pulling the hair on the skin. Brush the teeth of the dog on a daily basis to avoid any dental problems.

Clipping
Always oil your blades before you start clipping the dog. This will avoid blades getting hot while clipping. For a closer cut, always clip against the grain. But this may cause razor cuts if you do not handle the clipper properly. While clipping, hold the skin and make smooth strokes. You should start clipping the dog from the eyebrows and move towards the neck portion. Clip the hair in the throat region by moving the clipper in the opposite direction of the hair growth. Similarly clip the hair on other parts of the body. By cutting the body hair with different lengths, you can come up with different grooming styles for your Miniature Schnauzer. You should clip the overgrown nails after the bath, since they become soft and can be cut easily. Ensure that you do not cut the quick while clipping the nail. Quick is the nail region with nerves and can bleed when cut. Thus, it is recommended that you should take help of a professional for clipping your Miniature Schnauzer, since you can injure the dog if you do not handle the clipper properly.

Bathing
It is recommended that you bathe your Miniature Schnauzer as often as you can. But see that you do not overdo bathing and bathe the dog whenever you feel it is too dirty. Use veterinarian recommended mild pet shampoo for bathing your dog. See that the shampoo does not enter the mouth, eyes or the ears while bathing. You should use lukewarm water to bathe your dog. Ensure that you use cotton balls to cover the ear holes while bathing. This will prevent the entry of water into the ear canal. Rinse the dog thoroughly and ensure that all the shampoo over the dog's body is removed. Else it will cause the dog skin to become flaky and dry. While drying the dog, squeeze the water from the dog coat and do not rub with towel.

Miniature Schnauzer is a cute dog breed and needs proper grooming in order to maintain its adorable looks. So, use the Miniature Schnauzer grooming methods given above, and take good care of your new family member. All the best!