Species: schnauzer

A Schnauzer is a dog breed type that originated in Germany from at least the 14th to 15th centuries. The name comes from the German word for "snout" and is a colloquial term for "moustache" or "whiskered snout", referring to its bearded snout. Its origins can be attributed to the German Pinscher, and it was initially called the Wire-Haired Pinscher until the term "Schnauzer" was adopted in 1879.

Schnauzers come in three different breeds separated by size: Standard, Miniature, and Giant. The Miniature and Giant breeds are crossbreeds of the Standard breed. Standard Schnauzers are around 1.5 ft (46 cm) tall at the shoulder and weigh 30-45 lb (14-20 kg). Giant Schnauzers are around 2 ft (61cm) and 55-80 lb (25-36 kg), and Miniature Schnauzers are around 1 foot (30 cm) and 14-20 lb (6.4-9.1 kg).

Schnauzers often had their ears cropped and tails docked to minimize the possibility of a rat being able to grab onto something. However, cropping and docking are now illegal in the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand, and are becoming less common in places where they are still legal.

Standard Schnauzers were rat-catchers and have been also used to carry messages during war, and as police dogs. Their lifespan averages between 13 and 16 years.

Giant Schnauzers were originally bred to drive livestock to market and guard farms, before being used as military and police dogs. They usually live for 10-12 years.

The Miniature Schnauzer is classified under the terrier group in North America due to its rat-catching background, despite not sharing common ancestry with terriers. Their lifespan is usually 12-14 years.

There are also "toy" and "teacup" varieties of Schnauzer, but these are not recognised as breeds, and are instead terms used to market undersized or ill-bred Miniature Schnauzers.