Miniature Schnauzers must weigh between 12 – 24 pounds full grown and stand 12 – 15 inches tall to be qualified to enter the show ring. If a Miniature Schnauzer is smaller or larger then this requirement then it is considered a fault by the American Miniature Schnauzer Club. Which just means they can not enter the show ring for competition.
Toy and Teacup size Miniature Schnauzers should weigh between 2 – 11 pounds and stand 6-11 inches tall from shoulders to the floor. Evidently, they can not be “show dogs.” However, they can still enter other competitions such as agility, flyball and so on. Also, they can still have “champion bloodlines” in their pedigree if any of their past relatives met the requirements and completed the show competition with a championship title.
If your wondering where these smaller toy and teacup schnauzer sizes are coming from then you need to understand the history of Schnauzers. Early “Standard Schnauzers” (average adult weight 35 – 45 pounds) were likely derived by crossing gray spitzes and black poodles (which carry the smaller size DNA gene) and have existed as far back as the middle ages. In order to “up-size” this breed they crossed Great Danes & Rough-Haired Sheep Dogs to create “Giant Schnauzers” (average adult weight 65 – 90 pounds.) Whereas the Miniature Schnauzer (average adult weight 14 – 18 pounds) is the result of “downsizing” the breed back in the late 1880’s by crossing the Standard Schnauzers (that are already carrying the smaller DNA gene from their original cross with poodles) with the Affenpinschers and Poodles (which is introducing and strengthening the smaller size DNA gene again) into the Miniature Schnauzers. So clearly you can see that Miniature Schnauzers do carry the smaller size genes in their DNA from far back and therefore have the capacity to produce smaller size puppies, especially if bred to a smaller female or male.
How Big Will My Miniature Schnauzer Get?
Miniature Schnauzers were bred specifically to be smaller versions of the larger Schnauzer, which is quite a bit dog. They typically reach somewhere between 12 to 14 inches while weighing about 11 to 20 inches. Despite their smaller size, they are extremely sturdy, unlike many of the other toy dogs out there. There is not a significant size difference between males and females. A dog can fall at the bottom or top of the spectrum, no matter their size.
A dog’s overall weight is determined mostly by genes. Nutrition can play a role. However, you can’t make a dog be bigger or smaller based on what you feed them. It is possible for a dog to be underweight if not fed appropriately. A lack of nutrition can stunt their growth and make them smaller than they would be if fed correctly. Obviously, it is not recommended to feed your dog less in the hopes that they might be smaller.
What Does A 4-Month Miniature Schnauzer Weigh?
Schnauzers grow significant amounts in the first few months of life. In fact, they grow extremely fast after birth and slow down their growth as they get older. A newborn mini Schnauzer weighs about 4 to 9 ounces. However, they will double their weight a few times before they reach four months.
At four months, a Miniature Schnauzer’s weight can be anywhere from 6 to 10 pounds. Puppies have usually established their overall size by this point. Smaller puppies will stay small, while larger puppies will stay large.
It is pretty easy to guess what your dog’s adult weight will be at this point. Our calculator can help make an accurate prediction as to what your dog’s adult weight may be. Of course, this only applies to puppies that have been growing at a healthy weight. Those with underlying health conditions that cause them to grow slower will likely not line up with other puppies.
How Big Is A 6-Month-Old Miniature Schnauzer?
At six months old, a Miniature Schnauzer should be around 75% to 85% of their adult weight. Many will weigh anywhere from 8 to 17 pounds. As you can see, this is a huge range. Those on the smaller end will likely grow quite a bit more. However, those on the upper end will be nearly their adult size at this point and will likely not grow much at all.
All puppies grow at their own rate, which is why the range is so wide at this point. You can expect smaller puppies to have a growth spurt soon and nearly reach at least 11 pounds within the next six months. Larger puppies will likely only gain another pound or two – if anything.
With that said, smaller puppies will likely stay on the smaller side. An eight-pound puppy is likely not going to double their weight within the next six months. Instead, they’ll likely remain on the smaller side, even as an adult.
When Do Miniature Schnauzers Stop Growing?
Miniature schnauzers usually attain their full size at 12 months of age, which is around two months later than the average rate for dogs of that size. They should make the switch from puppy food to adult food at this time.
As their name suggests, miniature schnauzers are admittedly small, especially when compared to other schnauzers and other breeds.
Adult male and female miniature schnauzers normally weigh approximately 13 to 15 pounds and stand at 12 to 14 inches in height.
Miniature schnauzers usually have increased caloric needs as puppies. When they are about 12 months of age, their caloric should begin to match adult dogs.
How Big Do Miniature Schnauzers Get?
The best way to know how big do Miniature Schnauzers get is going to get is to consult with a Miniature Schnauzer size chart.
That way, you can follow what the growth trends look like for how big your dog is now compared to the average size.
Beyond the growth chart, if you know the dog’s parents, you can look at them and get a general idea of how big your dog is likely to get.
When Is A Miniature Schnauzer Fully Grown?
Most dogs are done growing by a year old. Most will only gain a few pounds during their last few months of growth. Many will reach their full height at around 10 to 12 months of age. However, they may need to gain some extra muscle and fat before they have reached their full adult weight. Some dogs may appear a bit skinny for a bit, especially if most of their calories seem to go toward height gain and not muscle mass. However, most will even out before 16 months.
While you can accurately predict your dog’s final adult weight at around four months, some dogs do surprise us. Some have a final growth spurt that sends them over what we were originally expecting, while others stop growing before we would have guessed. For this reason, we do not recommend focusing solely on the numbers on the scale or what you thought your dog’s size was going to be. Instead, keep an eye on their body condition when determining if they are a healthy weight or not.
How Big Is A Newborn Miniature Schnauzer?
When these dogs are first born, they weigh from 4 to 9 ounces usually. It is important to note that a puppy’s size at birth isn’t a predictor of how big they will get later. A dog’s growth while in the womb is based on their placement. Some puppies get better nutrition from others and will therefore be born larger.
On the other hand, all puppies get about the same nutrition after birth. Therefore, their growth is based more on genetics. The runt will likely not stay the runt, especially if their genes have coded for a larger dog. The largest puppy probably won’t stay the largest puppy for very long. Smaller puppies will quickly gain the few ounces they need to catch up to their littermates.