How Many Puppies Can a Miniature Schnauzer Have? [Details]

Zack Keithy, our author, is a certified veterinarian technician (UC Blue Ash) for over 6 years (contact him here). The articles written here are based on his expertise and experience, combined with a review by our expert vet reviewers including Dr M. Tarantino. Learn more about us here.

The miniature schnauzer is a breed of dog that originated in Germany.

They have been around since the 1800s and they were originally used as ratters on farms because they were able to kill rats without harming other livestock or pets.

Schnauzers actually come in a few sizes, standard, miniature, and giant, and are very intelligent and energetic, well known for their loyalty and make great family pets.

When it comes to offsprings, how many puppies can a miniature Schnauzer have? What is the litter size of a miniature Schnauzer?

A miniature Schnauzer will have on average 4 or 5 puppies per litter, but this number can extend to as little as 2 to as many as 9. Although they are capable of having 2 litters a year, it is most common to breed them only once a year.

In this post, let’s take a closer look at the enigmatic Schnauzer and learn more about it.

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What Two Breeds Make a Miniature Schnauzer?

What Two Breeds Make a Miniature Schnauzer?

Back in the 19th century, there were only standard Schnauzers, but they were bred to become smaller to help farmers with rat catching duties.

Its lineage includes the Standard Schnauzer and other smaller breeds such as the Miniature Pinscher, Affenpinscher, and perhaps the Poodle or Pomeranian.

In Germany, he’s known as the Zwergschnauzer (zwerg means “dwarf”).

Wanna know more about your dog? Try out this DNA test!

What Age Do Schnauzers Go in Heat?

Sexual maturation typically occurs in miniature schnauzers before they reach full size.

Around 7 months of age is when female miniature schnauzers often experience their first estrus or heat cycles.

Male miniature schnauzers usually reach sexual maturity between the ages of 5 and 6 months.

During this period, you will likely observe signs such as anxiousness in female dogs, and increased marking, roaming, and aggression in male minis.

The heat cycle will repeat every 6 to 7 months, during which they can be bred.

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How Do You Know if Your Miniature Schnauzer is in Heat?

There are several signs that your miniature Schnauzer is in heat, characterized by the following:

  • Swollen vulva
  • Discharge from the vulva
  • Receptive to male dogs
  • Change in appetite
  • Excessive licking of the genital area
  • Agitated, anxious, or aggressive behavior
  • Urinating more frequently
  • Holding tail close to body

This period of time is also known as the estrus phase that is part of a dog’s heat cycle. The heat cycle is defined as follows:

  • Phase 1: Proestrus (~7 to 10 days)
  • Phase 2: Estrus (~5 to 10 days)
  • Phase 3: Diestrus (~10 to 140 days)
  • Phase 4: Anestrus (~6 months)

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How Often Do Miniature Schnauzers Go Into Heat?

A miniature Schnauzer will go into heat twice a year, and this period is known as the estrus phase, commonly referred to as mating season.

This does not mean that your dog is fertile right away, so you need to wait till there is reduced or no more bleeding, and a clear discharge.

This fertile phase will last for around 5 to 10 days.

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How Long Do Miniature Schnauzers Stay in Heat?

How Long Do Miniature Schnauzers Stay in Heat?

Typically, heat lasts for two to four weeks.

A female dog may not be receptive to male dogs early in the cycle, while others remain receptive the entire cycle.

You’ll know the cycle is ended when all of her vulva returns to its normal size and there is no more bleeding or discharge—it could be shorter or longer.

Your dog’s fertile window during the heat cycle is rather brief; it may start approximately nine or ten days after she goes into heat and last for about five days.

At What Age Can You Breed a Miniature Schnauzer?

It is not advised to breed a miniature Schnauzer on their first heat cycle, but rather to wait for the next one.

This is because their heat cycle may sometimes come as early as 6 months old, and at this time, they are not suitable for breeding.

Responsible breeders will usually wait till the dog is over 2 years old before they breed them as they would have cleared all their health checks by now (hip certification only can be done above 24 months old).

What Determines Number of Puppies in a Litter?

It is good to know that litter sizes are different from breed to breed, and even within the same breed.

The number of puppies in a litter is determined by a few factors, namely:

  • Size
  • Health
  • Age
  • Breed
  • Type of breeding

Labradors seem to be very productive, usually giving birth to up to 10 puppies in a litter, while Yorkies can only reach up to 5 puppies each time.

How Long Do Mini Schnauzers Stay Pregnant?

Dogs, no matter the breed, are usually pregnant for 56-64 days, or about 2 months.

There won’t be many, if any, obvious indicators of pregnancy in the first two weeks in your dog as the changes are currently taking place internally within the uterus.

However, your miniature Schnauzer will soon start to lose hair around the breasts, develop larger, darker nipples, and develop darker nipples at around 3 weeks of pregnancy.

How Big Do Miniature Schnauzers Get?

According to the AKC, adult miniature Schnauzers will grow to a height of between 12 to 14 inches (30.48 cm to 35.56 cm, measured from its front foot to withers).

They will grow to weigh about 11 to 20 pounds (5kg to 9kg).

Miniature Schnauzer Puppy Growth Chart

AgeMaleFemale
3 months5.3 lbs – 8.7 lbs5.3 lbs – 7.9 lbs
4 months7 lbs – 10.4 lbs7 lbs – 11.8 lbs
5 months8.5 lbs – 13.9 lbs8.6 lbs – 12.7 lbs
6 months9.5 lbs – 15.7 lbs9.5 lbs – 14.1 lbs
7 months10.5 lbs – 17.2 lbs10.3 lbs – 15.5 lbs
8 months10.8 lbs – 18.1 lbs10.8 lbs – 16.4 lbs
9 months11.2 lbs – 18.9 lbs11.2 lbs – 17.1 lbs
10 months11.5 lbs – 19.5 lbs11.6 lbs – 17.5 lbs
11 months11.5 lbs – 19.9 lbs11.6 lbs – 17.9 lbs
12 months11.9 lbs – 18.1lbs11.9 lbs – 20.1 lbs
estimated miniature Schnauzer weight by age only

What is a Miniature Schnauzer’s Temperament Like?

Typically well-behaved and playful dogs, miniature Schnauzers are wonderful additions to most homes.

They are devoted friends who enjoy being the center of attention and are playful, inquisitive, and alert.

They will want to be involved in everything you and your family do because of their large personalities and need to be busy.

A miniature Schnauzer will always want to be with you and will follow you around the house.

This breed must constantly be aware of your activities.

Not only that, miniature Schnauzers are also extremely intelligent and have been known to cause trouble when given the chance.

Don’t be surprised to find it hiding a few of your shoes or opening up cabinets!

How Long do Miniature Schnauzers Live?

Miniature Schnauzers have an average lifespan of 12 years, with some living up to 14 years of age.

A lot depends on the care given to it and ensuring they are in good health.

This can be sometimes be difficult as the miniature Schnauzer is prone to diseases such as mycobacterium avium infection, cataract and retinal dysplasia.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many healthy litters can a miniature Schnauzer have in their lifetime?

A miniature Schnauzer is capable of 3 to 5 healthy litters in her lifetime. Some countries actually has laws that prevent a dam from having more than 4 or 5 litters. More important is the health of the dog. If a litter size reduces drastically, this is the time to retire.

How much do miniature Schnauzers cost?

This of course differs from country to country, but as a reference, miniature Schnauzers can be purchased for between $600 to $2,000 in the United States. Adopting one from an animal rescue will be a lot less!

Do miniature Schnauzers need C sections to give birth?

Cesarean sections are not commonly performed in dogs, usually happening only if there are complications with delivery such as an excessively small pelvis, or potential issues that can arise from natural birth.

How many puppies do standard Schnauzers have?

Standard Schnauzers can give birth to an average of 7 puppies. Additionally, the Standard Schnauzer can have litters with as few as 2 puppies or as many as 11 puppies.

How many puppies do giant Schnauzers have?

Giant Schnauzers are capable of having an average of 7 puppies. Additionally, the Giant Schnauzer can have litters with as little as 1 puppies or as many as 14 puppies.

How many litters can a mini Schnauzer have in a year?

A miniature Schnauzer can have up to 2 litters a year, but it is consider ethical to only breed them once a year.

In Conclusion: How Many Puppies Can a Miniature Schnauzer Have?

As you now know, a miniature Schnauzer is likely to have 4 to 5 puppies per litter, and it is best to breed them only once a year.

Hopefully, this article has helped inform you more about this special dog breed.

If you are searching for litter information on other dog breeds, click here.

Check out other dog articles such as basenji bite force, are poodles ugly, can sibling dogs be bred together, and many more on our site!

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Zack Keithy
Zack Keithy

Hey, I'm Zack, the Chief Editor here. I was formerly a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) for a good 6 years before moving on to greener pastures. Right now, I am still heavily involved in dog parenting duties, and it is my desire to share all our knowledge with fellow dog owners out there! Connect with me on LinkedIn, or read more about Canine Care Central!

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