I blogged about health certifications once last year and wont repeat myself here. However, there are some recent changes in the recommended health certifications for standard schnauzers as per the latest issue of the Pepper and Salt newsletter.
The SSCA has recently joined together with CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) which is a joint project between the AKC and OFA. CHIC will be a cross referenced public database to help breeders and owners easily locate health data for their breed. SSCA is participating in this project and encouraging members to obtain CHIC certification for all standard schnauzers (pets, breeding stock, performance dogs, etc).
CHIC certification requires the following tests, all completed after the age of two:
1) OFA Hip test
2) CERF test
and at least one of the following:
1) Thyroid test by approved OFA lab
2) Cardiac test read by boarded cardiologist and/or
3) blood sample to CHIC DNA repository
SSCA is also recommending re-testing for CERF and Thyroid after seven years of age for breeding stock.
As noted elsewhere, Kord passed his cardiac, petella luxation and eye exams at 12mths. He is registered with CERF and OFA for these tests and we will undertake the additional recommended tests when he attains the recommended age.
I personally believe that good health is one of the characteristics that sets standard schnauzers apart from all other dogs, making them desirable as both pets and performance animals. I am glad that our parent organization and the many concerned breeders in this fancy are all doing their part to ensure that good health continues to be a defining characteristic of our breed in the future!
Ch. Stahlkrieger's Southern Light, CGC
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Grooming
People familiar with our breed will already know but folks considering acquiring a standard schnauzer may not be aware of the grooming requirements. Standard schnauzers require a good deal of grooming whether they are kept in a pet or show coat.
Dogs who are kept as pets may be clippered on the jacket with scissoring of the head piece and furnishings (this can be done by a professional groomer every 6-8 weeks depending on the growth rate of your dog's coat) but also require brushing at least twice a week (to prevent mats) and bathing once a week or every other week depending on their living arrangements (dogs who spend more time out of doors require more frequent routine grooming). Those who are experienced in grooming or just feeling adventuresome may wish to address grooming on their own and there are a variety of tools that you will find helpful. For a detailed list of some of my favorites, please see below.
Dogs who are involved in conformation must be kept in what is referred to as a show coat. Show coats are "hand stripped" using stripping knives and other implements which can generally only be purchased from a show grooming pet supply vendor or an online pet supply source such as Pet Edge (see below for suggestions).
I work with a handler who usually manages the more difficult grooming tasks for me. But when Kord finished his championship last fall, I got brave and decided to try it myself (my friends are still laugh :-)). I have fully stripped him one time (am in the second round now) and have since done coat maintenance and clipper/scissor work. I took a weekend seminar style grooming course and have been working with a professional for several months before trying this. I would recommend that you do the same if you are trying to keep your dog in show coat without the assistance of a professional.
I believe hand stripping to be a labor intensive process regardless of coat type. After the initial stripping process, the jacket must be raked often with multiple sizes of stripping knives (this removes loose undercoat) then stoned to remove loose outer coat). The length of time between full stripping varies. Some dogs have coats that roll easily and may only require full stripping infrequently. Others do not roll easily and may require stripping every 4-6 months. If the stripping goes to the skin it may take 6-8 weeks for the jacket to grow out adequately for the dog to be shown after intensive grooming. Obviously dogs with coats that roll easily can be shown more often because they don't require "time off" between groomings to allow the coat to grow back to an acceptable length.
When I stripped Kord myself, I found that it took me approximately 8-9 hours to complete the job. I did it over two days. I stripped the body of the jacket and most of the legs on the first day (some areas are sensitive and you may need to go slowly or take breaks). Then stripped the head and rest of the legs on the second day. I saved clipper and scissor work for the following weekend (Kord and I were both to tired to do the job properly after the stripping exercise). I also found that I had several blisters on my fingers when I finished and have since learned that "secretary fingers" which can be bought at an office supply place will be helpful in preventing this in the future (you may need multiple sizes for different fingers).
I just completed round two now, which went a lot faster. I would estimate 4-6 hours for stripping, scissoring and clipping. However, I didn't take the jacket to the skin as I did the first time and I used blending shears on a couple of places where scissoring would not be allowed on a show coat. He definitely does not look as perfectly put together as when our friend grooms him. But I think that this is a coat I can live with between professional groomings until we decide whether he will return to the show ring in the future.
I'll try to post more details on the grooming process here in the future but for now, will suggest that you consider contacting the SSCA to request their grooming materials as a place to start.
http://www.standardschnauzer.org/
Just look for the publications page and you will find several different resources for grooming.
Best wishes!
Suggested Supplies
1) Mane and Tail shampoo and conditioner
2) Pin brush (I have greyhound and like it alot but others may be less expensive)
3) metal comb (with 2 widths of teeth)
4) soft cat slicker brush (mine is from Safari and I LOVE it, very soft and super comfortable in my hand)
1) Grooming table with adjustable arm and grooming noose
2) Electric clippers (I have Andis Ultraedge and think that they work well but everybody has their favorites)
3) #10 clipper blade (usually comes with the clippers but others prefer the #8.5 clipper blade)
4) #40 clipper blade
5) can of clipper cool
6) jar of clipper cleaner
7) container of clipper oil (usually comes with the clippers)
8) 10 inch straight scissors (you can buy inexpensive scissor that work well enough for a pet from Amazon or Pet Edge)
9) 8-10 curved scissors
10) blending shears (worth investing some money in up front because they are more comfortable and last longer)
11) medium and fine stripping knives (I started with Classic knives)
12) grill stone
13) ear powder (or rosin which may be less expensive/easier to find)
14) hair drier (friends like Yellow Bird because the vents are on the sides and you can tuck the drier in a belt or apron for hands free operation but I am still using my personal travel dryer and it seems to work fine)
15) grooming jacket or grooming apron (might like to have a couple different choices for different activities
Advanced
1) additional stripping knives
2) grooming bag
3) scissor case
4) clipper case
5) mat cutter
6) whitening shampoo (for Pepper salt coat) or color safe
shampoo (for black coats)
7) cholesterol and chalk (for pepper salt coat)
8) moose (for black coat)
9) small soft bristle brush (for driving chalk)
10) pan large enough to hold dog (when chalking)
11) small pan and sponge (for sponge bathing)
12) old towels
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Agility
Agility is a newer sport to the dog fancy. Introduced at AKC events in the 1990's it has a strong history here in the state of Texas and Kord and I recently joined the ranks of agility enthusiasts.
As we have learned, agility capitalizes on the athletic ability and partnership skills of a team composed of one dog and one handler. Teams progress through an obstacle course composed of a combination of A-frames, dog walks, teeter-totters, crossovers, tunnels, shoots, weave poles and jumps, interspersed with tables or other marks for static exercises like sitting, lying or standing. The obstacles themselves are difficult enough but to increase the difficulty level they also throw in the element of time management with each team racing against a clock and the other competitors in their class. The dog with the highest score in the shortest amount of time is High In Trial. Though other dogs can also earn qualifying scores toward various agility titles by completing the course with few errors and good time.
Standard schnauzer owners are generally encouraged to wait until their dogs are at least two years of age before beginning agility training and as with anyone contemplating a truly athletic endeavor, should be examined by a veterinarian (or medical doctor ;-)) prior to initiation of a training regimen.
As our boy is a little under the recommended starting age, we will likely take it slow and work on agility as we have time between obedience courses for now. But stay tuned for photo's and videos of this and other dog sports in the coming year.
As we have learned, agility capitalizes on the athletic ability and partnership skills of a team composed of one dog and one handler. Teams progress through an obstacle course composed of a combination of A-frames, dog walks, teeter-totters, crossovers, tunnels, shoots, weave poles and jumps, interspersed with tables or other marks for static exercises like sitting, lying or standing. The obstacles themselves are difficult enough but to increase the difficulty level they also throw in the element of time management with each team racing against a clock and the other competitors in their class. The dog with the highest score in the shortest amount of time is High In Trial. Though other dogs can also earn qualifying scores toward various agility titles by completing the course with few errors and good time.
Standard schnauzer owners are generally encouraged to wait until their dogs are at least two years of age before beginning agility training and as with anyone contemplating a truly athletic endeavor, should be examined by a veterinarian (or medical doctor ;-)) prior to initiation of a training regimen.
As our boy is a little under the recommended starting age, we will likely take it slow and work on agility as we have time between obedience courses for now. But stay tuned for photo's and videos of this and other dog sports in the coming year.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Obedience
Obedience training is ESSENTIAL for standard schnauzers. Many will say that its strongly encouraged but in our house we believe that it is a requirement for happy co-habitation.
Standard schnauzer are very intelligent, high energy dogs who will make their own fun if you don't find a job for them to do.
We started Kord in a basic obedience class three days after he arrived in our home. He was 14 weeks old at the time. Although I grew up with lots of dogs, my husband's family re-homed their small dog shortly after he was born and didn't get another until he was in college. So we decided to take the basic obedience class together and get our small family off to a good start. We LOVED it. It was something that we did together and because we both went to class, we both learned the skills at the same time, in the same way, and were able to be consistent in teaching and reinforcing our dog. Kord graduated from that first class in about 6 weeks. Then he was off to a Cainine Good Citizenship class for another 6 weeks and earned his CGC certificate at about 7 months old.
Even though my husband no longer attends class with us, obedience is still very much an activity that we enjoy as a family. Kord and I have continued on in a series of courses designed to prepare us for obedience competition and my husband and son help with weekly homework and proofing practice (our two year old really excels at distraction :-)).
Kord and I wont enter our first obedience competition until sometime next year but this has been a great way for our whole family to enjoy spending time together.
If you haven't thought of it before please consider enrolling in a class of some sort with your family dog. There are all sorts of programs, for all different levels of experience and you are sure to find something that you and your family will all enjoy... With the added benefit that training will help to make your family pet happier, healthier and even more pleasant to live with.
Standard schnauzer are very intelligent, high energy dogs who will make their own fun if you don't find a job for them to do.
We started Kord in a basic obedience class three days after he arrived in our home. He was 14 weeks old at the time. Although I grew up with lots of dogs, my husband's family re-homed their small dog shortly after he was born and didn't get another until he was in college. So we decided to take the basic obedience class together and get our small family off to a good start. We LOVED it. It was something that we did together and because we both went to class, we both learned the skills at the same time, in the same way, and were able to be consistent in teaching and reinforcing our dog. Kord graduated from that first class in about 6 weeks. Then he was off to a Cainine Good Citizenship class for another 6 weeks and earned his CGC certificate at about 7 months old.
Even though my husband no longer attends class with us, obedience is still very much an activity that we enjoy as a family. Kord and I have continued on in a series of courses designed to prepare us for obedience competition and my husband and son help with weekly homework and proofing practice (our two year old really excels at distraction :-)).
Kord and I wont enter our first obedience competition until sometime next year but this has been a great way for our whole family to enjoy spending time together.
If you haven't thought of it before please consider enrolling in a class of some sort with your family dog. There are all sorts of programs, for all different levels of experience and you are sure to find something that you and your family will all enjoy... With the added benefit that training will help to make your family pet happier, healthier and even more pleasant to live with.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Herding Instinct Test
Although this is old news to some we decided to add it to our new blog anyway.
Despite the weather and the distraction of an overtired toddler, Kord didn't disappoint us. He passed his herding instinct test, chasing sheep till his little heart was content and looked like he was having a blast doing it.
**
It was incredibly hot this Labor Day weekend and the weather report warned that storms were brewing but we packed up our little band and trekked out to the "wilds" of Hempstead, Texas for the Houston Herding Association's annual Labor Day Fun Day/Work Day. Joy Sebastian-Hall (Roux Crew) was nice enough to invite us and we looked forward to this event for weeks before the big day arrived.**
I am attaching a link to the video we shot below. Please excuse the quality... it was the first time that we used the camera.Monday, November 1, 2010
Health Checks
Health checks are an interesting topic... but not one that is covered in any of the books or other websites that I have personally read.
Members of the SSCA and other reputable breeders will often elect to have the health of their breeding stock checked by a veterinarian with expertise in a particular area. Health certifications can cover most any organ system. However, standard schnauzers are most often tested for hip/joint health and vision. The two primary certification bodies for these are the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (among other things they maintain a registries for hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, cardiac diseases, thyroid disorders, and congenital deafness) and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation which maintains a registry of potentially inheritable eye diseases. Links to their websites can be found in our Favorite Links Section on the right hand side of this page.
The timing of these tests is very important. Preliminary examinations of hips may be conducted anytime after the age of one but a formally recorded exam may not be conducted until the dog is at least 2 years of age. Eye certifications may be completed any time after one year of age. All tests should be repeated annually if the animal is to be used as part of a breeding program.
These tests require special training and not all veterinarians will be able to conduct all tests. If your personal veterinarian is unable to conduct the test, there may be special certification clinics held through local kennel and breed clubs in your area. These events are often held in conjunction with major shows (we had some of Kord's testing done through a clinic offered by the Houston Boston Terrier club in conjunction with the Reliant World Series of Dog Shows event this summer).
Its important to know that even if you have the testing done through one of the special clinics, you are still personally responsible for mailing the exam form to the appropriate registry. The form will have to be submitted with the appropriate registration fee. (It took me a couple of months to realize that Kord's name hadn't yet appeared in the registry because I hadn't mailed the form :-) But I will know for next time.)
Whether you plan to show/breed your dog or not, I believe it is a good idea to have the animal tested and registered. The registries are an important tool for ensuring the health and longevity of our breeds but they don't work if we don't participate.
Members of the SSCA and other reputable breeders will often elect to have the health of their breeding stock checked by a veterinarian with expertise in a particular area. Health certifications can cover most any organ system. However, standard schnauzers are most often tested for hip/joint health and vision. The two primary certification bodies for these are the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (among other things they maintain a registries for hip and elbow dysplasia, patellar luxation, cardiac diseases, thyroid disorders, and congenital deafness) and the Canine Eye Registration Foundation which maintains a registry of potentially inheritable eye diseases. Links to their websites can be found in our Favorite Links Section on the right hand side of this page.
The timing of these tests is very important. Preliminary examinations of hips may be conducted anytime after the age of one but a formally recorded exam may not be conducted until the dog is at least 2 years of age. Eye certifications may be completed any time after one year of age. All tests should be repeated annually if the animal is to be used as part of a breeding program.
These tests require special training and not all veterinarians will be able to conduct all tests. If your personal veterinarian is unable to conduct the test, there may be special certification clinics held through local kennel and breed clubs in your area. These events are often held in conjunction with major shows (we had some of Kord's testing done through a clinic offered by the Houston Boston Terrier club in conjunction with the Reliant World Series of Dog Shows event this summer).
Its important to know that even if you have the testing done through one of the special clinics, you are still personally responsible for mailing the exam form to the appropriate registry. The form will have to be submitted with the appropriate registration fee. (It took me a couple of months to realize that Kord's name hadn't yet appeared in the registry because I hadn't mailed the form :-) But I will know for next time.)
Whether you plan to show/breed your dog or not, I believe it is a good idea to have the animal tested and registered. The registries are an important tool for ensuring the health and longevity of our breeds but they don't work if we don't participate.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
What is a Standard Schnauzer?
There are many different ways to answer this question but I will start with the basics.
The standard schnauzer is the middle and oldest of the three breeds of schnauzer. All three originate from the areas in and around modern day Germany. While the exact origin of the breed is unknown, it appears most likely that the dogs were first developed in the 1400's, used for a variety of farming related tasks including herding and guarding live stock, hunting rodents, pulling small carts and serving as guard dogs to the farmers who owned them. Because of the diverse purposes that these dogs served, they had to be small and wiry, powerful enough to protect, but gentle enough to live peacefully with live stock and families.
Although our dogs may live and work in very different environments than the ones for which they were originally bred, they still serve many of the same purposes... guardian, partner, and friend. These dogs excel at obedience, agility, herding, tracking, therapy work and numerous other activities. They are true "working dogs" in every sense.
That's why the standard schnauzer as we know it today is a powerful, high energy, medium sized dog with a strong sense of independence and remarkable intelligence.
They are as different in temperament from their miniature and giant cousins as they are alike in looks. This is very different than other breeds where dogs sharing the same name are merely different sizes of the same breed and it can be quite confusing at first. Although all three Schnauzer breeds share the same name and certain physical qualities, they are actually three distinct breeds with very different genetic heritages. Each breed was intended to serve a different purpose and that breed heritage while difficult to describe in words is nonetheless very distinct on closer association.
Some of our friends have described miniature schnauzers as the "gateway" dog. Many standard schnauzer owners, including our family, have also owned minis. They are phenomenal little dogs with many wonderful qualities to recommend them. However, if that is the reason you are considering a standard, please reconsider. Standards are more similar in temperament to other working group dogs (German Shepard's, Rottweilers, Boxers, etc) than to miniature schnauzers.
Because they are very independent and intelligent, standard schnauzers require a strong and assertive owner who is willing to spend time exercising, training and playing with their dog. If I make it sound like its a lot of work to own one of these guys, its because it is... but the rewards are totally worth the investment if this is the right kind of dog for you and your family.
Our own boy filled a void in our lives we hadn't even realized was there and now we can't imagine life without him.
For additional information about the development of standard schnauzers as a breed or about the modern accomplishments of these great dogs, please try the link for the Standard Schnauzer Club of America which can be found in the Favorite Links section on the right side of this page.
The standard schnauzer is the middle and oldest of the three breeds of schnauzer. All three originate from the areas in and around modern day Germany. While the exact origin of the breed is unknown, it appears most likely that the dogs were first developed in the 1400's, used for a variety of farming related tasks including herding and guarding live stock, hunting rodents, pulling small carts and serving as guard dogs to the farmers who owned them. Because of the diverse purposes that these dogs served, they had to be small and wiry, powerful enough to protect, but gentle enough to live peacefully with live stock and families.
Although our dogs may live and work in very different environments than the ones for which they were originally bred, they still serve many of the same purposes... guardian, partner, and friend. These dogs excel at obedience, agility, herding, tracking, therapy work and numerous other activities. They are true "working dogs" in every sense.
That's why the standard schnauzer as we know it today is a powerful, high energy, medium sized dog with a strong sense of independence and remarkable intelligence.
They are as different in temperament from their miniature and giant cousins as they are alike in looks. This is very different than other breeds where dogs sharing the same name are merely different sizes of the same breed and it can be quite confusing at first. Although all three Schnauzer breeds share the same name and certain physical qualities, they are actually three distinct breeds with very different genetic heritages. Each breed was intended to serve a different purpose and that breed heritage while difficult to describe in words is nonetheless very distinct on closer association.
Some of our friends have described miniature schnauzers as the "gateway" dog. Many standard schnauzer owners, including our family, have also owned minis. They are phenomenal little dogs with many wonderful qualities to recommend them. However, if that is the reason you are considering a standard, please reconsider. Standards are more similar in temperament to other working group dogs (German Shepard's, Rottweilers, Boxers, etc) than to miniature schnauzers.
Because they are very independent and intelligent, standard schnauzers require a strong and assertive owner who is willing to spend time exercising, training and playing with their dog. If I make it sound like its a lot of work to own one of these guys, its because it is... but the rewards are totally worth the investment if this is the right kind of dog for you and your family.
Our own boy filled a void in our lives we hadn't even realized was there and now we can't imagine life without him.
For additional information about the development of standard schnauzers as a breed or about the modern accomplishments of these great dogs, please try the link for the Standard Schnauzer Club of America which can be found in the Favorite Links section on the right side of this page.
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