Schnauzers Of Taylor

Welcome to Schnauzers Of Taylor

2019-04-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

*~*~*~*~Welcome*~*~**~

I'm very happy that you have found the homepage. Maybe you are interested in the breed or maybe you are looking for the proper puppy for you. Maybe you already have a miniature schnauzer. You might be my relative or friend or maybe someone just gave you my link. In every case, you are warmly welcome to my website!

We are a Christian family that loves schnauzers. Loves the breed and sleeps with one nightly.
I breed black miniature schnauzers and sometimes have I may have a salt/pepper or a parti. I guarantee everyone of my babies for 5 years. If you haven't got health and a breeder you can count on, it doesn't matter how beautiful or friendly a miniature schnauzer puppy is. Schnauzers can have many genetic conditions that are often un-foreseen. My goal is to produce the best quality, not quantity. A high quality miniature schnauzer is the combination of the steadfast health, the character with right temperament and the look of a schnauzer.

One misconception about a mini schnauzer is that they should be small. Breeders are selling these undersized schnauzers as teacups. This is not right. A undersized mini schnauzer is NOT a desirable characteristic that should NOT be passed on to offspring.
A breeder should compliment the breed standard and they should look like a schnauzer.

The Mini Schnauzer was originally bred in Germany as a working dog, the miniature schnauzer is a breed known for its fearlessness as well as its fitness. Facing tasks in both sport and as a watch dog, the schnauzer is versatile breed that responds no matter what the calling may be. Today in the U.S., most schnauzers have taken on the role of companion, and just like their ancestors, they excel in their purpose. They are a very tough and sturdy dog which makes them wonderful for children.

Because the miniature schnauzer was originally used as a working dog, its appearance should be strong and stocky, but not overweight.

The miniature schnauzer was bred to work at many types of jobs. Many of the characteristics that were highly desirable for work still remain today. They are fearless guard dogs with a keen sense of alertness and superior level of fitness.
Although no longer employed solely as working dogs, miniature schnauzers are a unique breed that has taken the role of a wonderful family companion.

Here you have a good chance to get to know my breeding principles, my health testing, beloved dogs and other activity. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail me for quickest response at schnauzersoftaylor@hotmail.com

****Please note that Schnauzers Of Taylor reserves the right to first pick in any litter regardless of deposits.

******Close To Perfect, Far From Ordinary****

About Us

2019-01-01T07:03:00.000-08:00

Purchasing a puppy is a long term commitment. Schnauzers of Taylor knows that you may have a lot of questions that need answering. This list is by no means meant to be complete, but maybe will give you ideas for your own questions or maybe answers to ones you already have.
About Us:
It’s not the income or is it financially lucrative to raise pups, it’s actually very expensive to raise a litter properly. We breed a few litters every year with a holistic approuch. We usually operate in the red; it’s just a great big hobby. I have many times wanted to stop, as it can also be heart breaking. Puppies get sick, and despite vaccinations and all the best veterinarian care, they can die. Moms may have problems whelping, low calcium and caesarians are necessary, all kinds of things can go wrong when you take care of live animals. But there are so many wonderful people who love their dogs, more than anything in their lives. These dogs provide companionship to sick children, the elderly, the lonely. They give joy and excitement to young people and adults who enter them in dog shows, trials and train them. Many of our pups are trained and are used with children and sick people in hospitals and retirement centers. There is no end to how much love, pleasure, excitement and plain old companionship these dogs can offer. So, as long as I can help to provide joy to any family, I will continue to breed the best pet possible and educate the puppy buyer how to feed, raise and train his new pup.

About our Lines:
My lines were picked for temperament and health. We specialize in companion pets only. What I want is for anyone to be able to own a beautiful, healthy Mini schnauzer as a pet (homes must be approved). Our Mini schnauzers are in the AKC standard of a Mini. Mini's are 12x12 to 14x14 (measured from shoulder to start of tail). We can not guarantee size and color but know that our pups will be healthy and lovable. We will have classic colors with our newest parti for some variation. Our schnauzers are not hyperactive but can be protective. They do not bite but do bark when appropriate. The lines are clean from knee or eye problems (CERF certified. Yes, my lines do have grand champions in them but that does guarantee a good pet. When I researched my parents I wanted good, long, and sound lines without health issues. We do regular blood test on our dogs, DNA testing and all pups are Vet checked at 3 days, 3 1/2 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks. Our dogs are played with and walked usually every other day. The dogs live in our house, outside and are a part of our family. We do not have kennels because we do not have many dogs in our home. Mentally and physically the lines are excellent. These pups are not to be sold as show quality but are perfect enough to be trained.

About the Fur Babies:
All puppies will have been de-wormed at 1,2,4,6 and 8 weeks and raised in our in home nursery. We also use preventative at 2,4,6 and 8 weeks to prevent coccidia. Puppies are started on a "Super Dog" program on day 3 to day 16. This is a Neuro stimulation that helps build stronger puppies and smarter adults. We proudly have been using this program for over 5 years where many breeders are just beginning. Shots are given at 6 weeks and we recommend titers for next series from you vet. Tails and dewclaws are docked (we will leave tails intact but puppy must have deposit paid in full by their 3 day old birthday). Ears are always left natural. Schnauzers of Taylor does not advocate the cropping of ears. Most vets will not do puppies until 4 months of age and therefore most puppies sold with ears done are being done by the breeders themselves. They either do not stand right or fall early in life. The puppies are raised in our puppy nursery just located off our living room that is temp controlled. They are played with, cuddled, dressed up in doll clothes and occasionally are slept with. Sorry, but we can not be responsible for spoiling your new fur baby. A 5 yr year health guarantee is available for such health problems that can be unseen and would prevent a long healthy life with you (genetic defects). All puppies will receive a new puppy packet. We also can include lots of bonus material, blankie, special toy and litter box training and me......a breeder who cares about my puppies for a lifetime.
Pups are raised on fresh fruits, meat and vegis upon weaning and a high quality kibble.

Schnauzers of Taylor also request that our dogs never be placed in a dog pound or shelter. If for some reason you can not keep them, we need to know. We will assist in placement or help with approval of new home. Our babies are an important part of our family and place them with them becoming the same with yours.We have a be-back open door policy and they are always welcome back to our home.

We will do everything we can to try and reduce any risk that could cause un-forseen health issues in your new puppy. Just as with children, there are no guarantees as to a perfect and healthy life. We can only try and predict a new puppies health based on past litters. Sadly, sometimes that doesn't always work but I will guarantee that I will be a breeder that will stand by my guarantee and help you obtain a new puppy if the time should ever arise.

My first schnauzer Pepper was such a joy and blessing for me in my teenage years. I don't think I would of survived them without him. Pepper was bought from a pet store and I remember my parents pulling every last penny they had to buy me this $300 dollar puppy. Little did we know how in love we would be with the schnauzer breed after that. Pepper lived to be 14 yrs old.

Local Pick Up ONLY: We want to meet each of our parents face to face so we welcome visits. If you are in another state, a option is for you is to fly into Austin and return your Miniature Schnauzer puppy with you in the plane's cabin. Schnauzer puppies are small and can ride in a carrier that fits under your seat. There is a $75 service fee, which covers my expense for the trip to the airport to deliver the pup to you. We also have lots of people drive to our home to pick up their Schnauzer Puppies from other Texas cities such as Dallas, Ft. Worth, Plano and Corpus Christi, and also from surrounding states such as Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas.

Deposits and Visits:
Before birth:
We do not just allow home visits without a approved questionnaire and vet reference. This is for our safety and our dogs safety.
At birth:
A deposit of $400 to hold your puppy at time of birth and finial payment at pick up. You are welcome to come and visit when your puppy 6 weeks old. In the event that something un-forseen happens here I will gladly refund your deposit. By placing a deposit on your puppy you and I are agreeing upon the contract and health guarantee.
If puppy is 6 weeks or older you will be required to purchase in full. If you want the puppy's tail left intact you will be required to pay the full balance for the puppy before their 3 day old birthday. This will require you to have first pick.

We hope that we can help you find that special new family member. They are ours for such a short time but yours for a lifetime......

Info/Waitlist/Deposits/Visiting Us

2018-04-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

To be considered for one of our puppies a application is required.
Click here for the
Application

What comes with my new puppy???

1. A well adjusted, socialized, genetically sound, veterinarian checked and certified healthy Mini Schnauzer puppy

2. Age appropriate vaccinations and de-wormings at 2,4,6 lbs and 8 weeks of age

3. Detailed shot record with dates of de-worming and High Neo-par and Neo-Vac vaccinations

4. Dew claw removal and tail docking

5. Fresh frozen plasma at birth.

6. 2-3 year genetic health warranty. (see our Health Guarantee section) and includes a 5 yr discounted replacement.

7. Early Neuro Stimulation program(same as used by our military for produce a better adjusted dog)

8. SMART Puppy Program (additional Boot Camp training program for additional fee)

9. A Blanket and a Collar

10. Litterbox trained puppy

11. A Puppy toy that has your puppy's litter mates scent on it

12. Free 1 month of Trupanion insurance

13.LA Puppy Food and sample treats

14.Birth certificate including parents AKC info*

Lifetime support from Schnauzers Of Taylor

15. Lifetime re-home if needed

16. Happiness Guarantee

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We do not base pricing on gender, Bitch purchase and stud expense. We do have to calculate though into our puppy pricing the following:

Organic and raw feeding for moms

Health Testing

Stud fees

Ai procedures

Progesterone testing

Brucellosis test

CERF eye certifications

DNA testing

Supplements for bitch

Increased food for bitch

Whelping supplies

Fresh Frozen Plasma for puppy's

Tail docking/removal, Food and vitamins for babies

De-wormings

Items for puppies

Puppy packet

Hi Titer Neo-Par and Neo-Vac 2 vaccinations

Wellness exams x 3

Unpaid time off from work

Increased utilities

Transportation and gas.

WAITLIST and DEPOSITS***

BEFORE BIRTH WAIT LIST

By being placed on our waitlist you are agreeing to wait for one of our special babies in any future litter. Litter wait times can be up to 8-12 months. We will not take a deposit until we have a puppy in hand for you. You will be asked to fill out our pre-questionnaire and you will be contacted in the order of receiving.

AFTER BIRTH

Once your puppy is born then a $500 deposit is required. You must also be approved with a vet reference before a deposit request will be sent.

Puppy pick day will be offered at 6 weeks of age. We will offer a Facetime appointment.

We will make recommendations as to which puppy would be the best fit based on our observation.

Because we are so confident in the way we hand raise our puppies that we stand behind them 100% and know you will be just thrilled with your baby.

***Deposits/payments are non-refundable.

Once you place a deposit, I stop advertising for that puppy. It takes me a lot of time to relist and resale a older puppy. Some things happen that are unforeseen and beyond our control. If you have placed a deposit on a puppy and the puppy dies, you may choose another puppy if available or I will refund your deposit.....these are things of nature that happen beyond our control.

FINAL BALANCE

Final balance is due by 6 weeks. Checks can be accepted but need to clear before pick up date. (There is a $25 returned check fee)

Pickup date will be set by me when I feel that puppies are ready to leave. If a puppy

stays with me longer due to you not being able to pickup a $30 fee per day will be added and must be paid upon pick up (this will be enforced). Your puppy is welcome to stay and complete 1-2 weeks of puppy Boot Camp if you choose.

If you fail to pick up your puppy any money paid will not be refunded.

I will not hold a puppy without a deposit. I will not hold a puppy for you to decide to purchase without a deposit. Pups are sold to approved homes on a first come first serve basis. Thank you for understanding our rules. Because our waitlist are long please make sure you are prepared for a puppy before contacting me and placing a deposit.

Visiting Us

What is your visitor's policy? The health of our dogs and puppies is important to us so we take every precaution to protect them.

Unfortunately young puppies don’t have fully developed immune systems and are susceptible to life threatening illnesses, including Parvo.

PARVO AND DISTEMPER IS HORRIBLE THIS YEAR!!!

When diseases like Parvo strike, they can kill a whole litter in a matter of hours. Disease germs can be carried on people’s clothing and shoes and even your car tires.

For this reason, we ask that you “visit” us online rather than in person, so that you may safely see our dogs and watch our puppies grow. I just can not take the risk of losing my litters and take this very seriously.

We do photograph our puppies regularly, and post the photos on Facebook or send them by email.

We love to facetime and can show you your baby anytime.

Pictures are taken at birth, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks and 8 weeks to the people on our reserve list with little updates on how puppies are doing. Sometimes we share a sweet story or two about them.

At pick up you will be invited to our home. When you come that day to pick up your puppy we ask that you do not visit other litters on the same day, or go places where there may have been dogs who you don’t know (pet stores, parks, rest areas, vet clinics, etc). We also ask that you remove your shoes before entering our home and wear clean clothing. We will ask that you use hand sanitizer and remove your shoes. If there is more than one puppy for you to choose from we will facetime so this may happen.

The positive side is that you can be assured that when YOUR puppy is born here, we will do everything possible to minimize his/her exposure to deadly diseases.

All sales transactions are done face to face and in my home; puppies are no longer allowed to be shipped.

Please note that the support never stops here. We are more than willing to answer any questions at any time regarding your dog. Please never hesitate to call or email. And we would love to get updates and pictures of your puppy with their new family!

Thank you for helping us protect the health of our puppies.

I guarantee that you will be completely satisfied with your new puppy at pick up 100%, if not I will gladly give you Your deposit back before the puppy leaves.

Refunds

Occasionally circumstances are such that a puppy does not work out in his or her new home for various different reasons or maybe later on circumstances arise where the person can no longer care for their dog, in these or other similar situations we are more than happy to take the puppy or dog back until a new home can be found, but we do not offer exchanges or refunds.

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Schnauzers Of Taylor Reserves the right to have first pick on any litters.

****************Shipping Options

We do not ship our babies. We will gladly meet you at Austin Bergstrom Airport for a $75 fee.

~~PUPPY BOOT CAMP~~

2017-07-03T08:54:00.004-07:00

Do you have or want a puppy but don’t have the time or knowledge to start to train them?

Have a Puppy Who Needs Training?

If you think you’ll have the time and the environment to get them through puppyhood successfully then I recommend you take them home at 8 weeks. If you’re afraid you’re not going to have the time or the skills to do it then we recommend basic training and socialization here. It’s well worth it..

This is a great program for new and first time puppy owners who have a new puppy at home but don’t have the experience or the extra time it takes to properly start to train and socialize a new puppy. At Schnauzers Of Taylor “Puppy Boot Camp” your new puppy will get a start on what they need during this very important stage of development. Puppy socialization start, Potty Training start, introduction to the leash, car rides, strangers, little kids, teenagers, big scary men, loud noises, other dogs, packs of dogs, house rules as well as an introduction to hearing the very basics like sit, down, back, leave it etc.

We offer 1 or 3 spots in each one of our litters for our 1-4 week puppy training program to our puppies only. This program includes potty training and very basic obedience and more importantly extensive socialization. After all you can easily teach a 1 year old dog with limited training to go outside but you can not so easily socialize them to like kids or car rides if they’ve had little to no experience with these things as puppies. EARLY Socialization is key to a happy, healthy family dog. (

Early socialization not only helps to build up their confidence but it helps to eliminate the chances of phobias and even aggression developing as adults. The most common cause of unprovoked dog aggression is the lack of proper early socialization during the most crucial time of a dogs life.. the first 3 months of age.

Window of Opportunity

Puppies are most accepting of new experiences between 3 and 12 weeks old. After that age, they become much more cautious of anything they haven’t yet encountered. From about 12 to 18 weeks old the opportunity to easily socialize the puppy ends-and with each passing week it becomes harder to get a young dog to accept and enjoy something that he’s initially wary of. After 18 weeks old, it’s extremely difficult, and sometimes impossible, to teach a dog to like something new, or help him become comfortable with something he finds frightening.

We use Dr. Sophia Yin’s Socialization in our program in order to make sure that your puppy is introduced to all kinds of new experiences in a positive way. At the end of the program we provide you with a printout of all the new exposures we introduced them to and how they reacted to them, this is meant to help you to learn what your puppy might need to work on more in their future.
All puppies are different.

Perhaps surprisingly, failure to properly expose a young puppy to certain situations or types of people during this brief period can result in his being forever fearful of them as an adult. Early socialization—or the lack of it—is a vital determinant of a dog’s lifelong behaviors. Without proper socialization, it is unlikely that a pup will become the adult dog he could have been, whether as a competitor in canine events or as a happy, well-adjusted family pet.

“Basically, an adult dog’s temperament and behavior habits, both good and bad, are shaped during puppyhood—very early puppyhood,” says veterinarian and leading animal behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar, author of Before & After Getting Your Puppy. Further, Dunbar notes that behavior issues are the number-one cause of dogs being relinquished to shelters.

If you have a new puppy but not the time.. then you should sign them up for some sort of puppy training ASAP or puppy play dates with all kinds of different people and dogs.. do it either with us or with another program either way… just do it. As a dog lover and dog breeder I can not express the importance of this..it really is worth the investment in the long run. Picking the perfect puppy is just step one.

If you have a new puppy in need of training and socialization..

In regards to training we begin the sit, down and leave it commands as well as basic puppy manners in our home and family atmosphere.

We can not guarantee at what level of training your puppy will leave here but we do begin the training process for you. The older pups get the easier they retain what they learn.

Basic Puppy Boot Camp is either 1 or 2 weeks which includes basic crate training, socialization and head start potty training. $250 per week

Max training is for 4 weeks of crate training, house manners, socialization and basic obedience training. The 4 week program costs $1000 for the full 4 weeks.

Puppy Boot Camp Max is $1000 for 4 weeks of house training, socialization, vet checks and required vaccinations

Our Training List

Below is my training list of things I will be working on with your puppy.

Training Tools

Collar
6 ft leash
Treat

Beginning Obedience Commands

Sit
Down
Stay
Leave it
Off

Home and Community Training

Basic Potty Training
Crate Training
Driving in a car

Socialization

The goal is to remain calm and confident in new situations..

Meeting strangers
Public places – People with hoods, hats, umbrellas, loud noises..etc
Meeting new dogs in a controlled setting
Kids
Men
Teenagers

**We can not guarantee that your puppy will be potty trained or completely trained. Your puppy will get a head start on these basic skills.

~~Fresh Frozen Plasma In Newborns~

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Using Fresh Frozen Plasma in Newborns

Learning Program at SOT

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Schnauzers Of Taylor is proud to incorporate all of these for our puppies and moms.

Prenatal Care: We take care in providing a non-stressful and loving environment for our expecting moms. Stress can be passed on to puppies. We offer a good balanced diet, holistic supplementation, exercise and attention to help ensure puppies a better start in life.

Prenatal Massage: Studies show that expectant moms who receive massage during pregnancy are more docile. Pups who come from moms that are never petted are scared and receive human attention by being scared. We also offer aromatherapy and soothing music in the nursery.

Puppy Observation:By observing pups from birth we get a better feel of their personality. I have proven right over the years by watching how pups suckled will help determine their personality.

Early Neuro Stimulation Exercises: The “Super Dog” Program. Based on years of research, the military learned that early neurological stimulation exercises could have important and lasting effects. Their studies confirmed that there are specific time periods early in life when neurological stimulation has optimum results. The first period involves a window of time that begins at the third day of life and lasts until the sixteenth day. It is believed that because this interval of time is a period of rapid neurological growth and development, and therefore is of great importance to the puppy.

There are 5 specific exercises. These exercises impact the neurological system by kicking it into action earlier than would be normally expected. The result being an increased capacity that later will help to make the difference in the dogs performance. These include: Improved cardio vascular performance (heart rate), Stronger heart beats, Stronger adrenal glands, More tolerance to stress, and Greater resistance to disease and cancer.

Touch: Babies are handled from the moment they are born until the moment I hand them to you. We believe that the more human touch the more your puppy will want it from you. Their eyes and ears are closed until about day 10. We use this time to stimulation them with our exercises and touch.

Sounds/Smells/Textures: We introduce your puppy to different sights, sounds and smells. Getting them used to them early helps them not be frightful as a adult. The vacuum cleaner is a big one for dogs. The hair dryer and the cooking smells of food. These are things that they should be introduced early to desensitize.

Field Trips: Pups have the opportunity to visit the vet several times and we use this time as a way for them to have outside socialization. The big black magic bucket can be carried into the vet office and after people sanitize their hands are asked to pet the puppies. A trip by our local feed store also offer stimulation.

Litterbox Training:No puppy wants to have to go potty in the area they are being raised. We introduce the litterbox at 3 weeks of age. They are so smart and take to it. It makes raising a litter of pups much healthier than allowing them to walk all over their feces.

~Homemade Food/Treats~

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Satin Balls

Satin Balls Half Recipe --
5 lbs cheap hamburger (for high fat %)
1/2 large box Total cereal (about 6 cups cereal)
1/2 large box uncooked oatmeal (about 7.5 cups oats)
5 raw eggs(shell and all)
1/2 of 15oz jar wheat germ (about 2 cups)
5 packages Knox unflavored gelatin
5/8 cup vegetable oil (this is pretty close to 2/3 cup) or Flaxseed oil
5/8 cup unsulphered molasses
pinch of salt

I roll into 1 inch balls and freeze.
The half recipe, using hamburger that is 20% fat calories, has 12,400 calories. This is great for putting on weight or for coats. Show dogs get this just before show to fatten them up and shine!

Poochie Cooked Meat Cakes

1 1/2 cups brown rice
3 cups water
2 large potatoes and or sweet potatoes, grated fine
4 large carrots, grated fine
2 large celery stalks, chopped fine
6 pounds ground beef or ground turkey, lamb, fish, rabbit, venison or any combination to = 6 lbs
8 eggs
1 dash salt
1/4 cup olive oil
1 1/2 cups regular rolled oats and/or Total Cereal to = 1 and 1/2 cups
1 cup blueberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degrees C).

In a medium saucepan, combine the rice with water. Bring to a boil over high heat, uncovered, and cook 10 minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 20 minutes. Remove from heat, let cool several minutes, then fluff with a fork and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the potatoes, carrots, celery, ground beef, and eggs. Mix ingredients together using your hands or a sturdy spoon. Add salt, olive oil, rolled oats, blueberries and rice; mix well.

I pick what size measuring cup size I want to make and fill and them dump on a foil lined cookie sheet. Bake 30 minutes, or until surface feels set. Cool on a rack 10 minutes or longer.

Refrigerate or freeze in sealed plastic bags. NOTE: Do not feed to dogs while still hot.
I alternate this or mix with dry for feedings or my homemade kibble.
If I am in a pinch for vegis I have thrown in a bag of mixed frozen vegis also. Be creative!!
Add every other day a 1 tbls of cottage cheese or yogurt, organ meats, chicken necks (older dogs).
and a multi vitamin daily.

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Dog Gone Bones
3 cup flour (can use wheat)
1/2 cup non-fat dry milk
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup beef or chicken bouillon pwd*
1 cup warm water

Combine all dry ingredients. Beat eggs and mix with bouillon pwd and warm water.
Pour into dry ingredients and mix well. Roll out to desired thickness and cut with favorite dog bone cutter.
(*Instead of bouillon you can make sweet treats by adding 1 cup peanut butter, 1 tbls. honey and 1/2 cup quick oats)
Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Turn off oven and allow to sit over night.

~~~Yummy for doggies tummy~~~

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Peanut Butter Treats

3 cups oat flour**
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 large egg
water, enough to moisten

Mix ingredients together well. Form into a ball, roll out to 1/4 inch thickness with a rolling pin. Cut into desired shapes, place on cookie sheets and bake in 325 oven for 30 minutes, or until browned. Turn off oven, leaving biscuits in the oven until cooled. These biscuits may be frozen, but keep well for a couple of weeks if they are very dry and crisp.

**I make my own oat flour by mixed rolled oats in the blender until it makes a powder

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Schnauzers Of Taylor Kibble
The kibble was so easy to make.
I used left over turkey :0)

My basic recipe was:

4 cups of wheat flour (or mixed flours)
2 cups rolled oats
3 cups of cooked brown rice
2 cup powderd milk
4 whole eggs
1/3 cup olive oil
3 cups of liquid (so I pureed the turkey and a can of mixed vegis and added some pumpkin and fresh rosemary with 1 can of chicken broth)
I also added some salt

Mix dry into wet ingredients. Should be stiff like bread dough. Spread between 2 greased cookies sheets.
Cooked at 350 for 1 hr. Let cool and then broke into small kibble pieces. Left in the oven over night with light on. Can be stored in freezer.

GUARDIAN HOME~~Foster Program

2014-01-01T13:04:00.000-08:00

Tannon-from past"Majic of Christmas Litter"

*~*~**~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~~
GUARDIAN Home Program:

Because we are a hobby breeder who lives in a regular family household without full-time kenneled dogs, we do need puppy foster homes. In order for a breeder to build up their own bloodline, it is necessary to breed several litters each year. The best prospects (puppies) are kept back to develop and train to see if they will eventually fit into the breeding program. The way the foster program works is, I place my "pick of the litter" females in foster homes. The dogs live in these homes for their entire life. The foster parents do not pay for the dog, we give the dog to them.
Anyone who owns or has been owned by a schnauzer knows that schnauzers are people dogs. Schnauzers crave human companionship. They do not do well in kennels as their need for people is so strong that a kennel atmosphere can make them destructive, yappy and withdrawn. Those characteristics do not translate into a good pet or parent.We are a family of four who loves dogs and chooses to carefully and selectively breed a few females each year. Since we have no desire to have dozens of dogs running rampant in our household, but we want to breed more than one litter a year, we developed the Foster Family Program.

HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS:

We place our breeding females in selected foster homes between the ages of 8-12 weeks of age. These females are either bitches that have been purchased or they are "pick of the litter" female puppies that we select to keep back to see if they are good enough to enter our breeding program.

The foster family pays nothing for the puppy. They do agree that the dog will live as a house dog and in the family unit. Placing dogs in foster homes results in a far better life for a dog than living in a kennel. The foster family program is a good deal for the dog, a good deal for the foster family and a good deal for my breeding program. In my opinion, it is one of those "win-win" situations for everyone involved.

We are very selective in who we choose to become a foster family. The foster parents go through a detailed selection process. The ideal person is one who has just had a 10 or 11-year-old dog that has died of old age. This is a person who knows how to take care of a dog. We do not give dogs to people that want farm dogs, nor do we give people dogs that are going to keep them in an outside dog kennel. We also do not give dogs to people who have just had a dog that was accidentally killed (if it happened once it can happen again).

We try to make sure none of the dogs are placed in homes further than 2-3 hours away; however, exceptions are made.

Should the people spay the dog or refuse to allow us to breed the dog they agree to pay $2000

When we no longer wish to breed the dog the foster parents are required to spay the dog and provide a letter from their Vet confirming the spay was complete.

In addition if the foster parents do not tell us when a bitch comes in season (even if we do not plan on breeding it) they are liable for the price of a litter.

We track the females heat cycles. By knowing every heat cycle we can anticipate which bitches are going to come in season in which month. This allows us to plan a breeding season. That is the reason we threaten to take a bitch away if the foster parent does not tell me about a heat cycle. We also feel that this rule forces people to be more aware of what is going on with their dogs. They end up noticing other problems that come up besides heat cycles. Often we will decide not to breed on a heat cycle.

As a puppy grows up we monitor their temperament. We either go to the foster home or ask that the pups be brought to us occasionally. We will give free yearly booster shots to the foster dogs if they are brought back to our home. There is no charge for this. This is incentive for the foster parents to stop by every now and then.

If it is determined that a bitch is suitable for breeding, it will get bred here. She will come here, get breed and then go home again. She then comes back to us (5 days before whelping) to have the puppies. When we wean the pups (usually at 6 weeks) it goes back to the foster home. It is important to make sure the female stays with us for 4 or 5 days after it is taken off the litter. Some bitches go through extreme separation problems and would run away from the foster home if they were allowed to go home right after they come off of the litter.

The most we breed a female is twice year with a skip in-between. The most we breed in a lifetime is 5 litters. We will gladly pay a stipend per puppy per litter of $250 pet puppy to help cover cost of food and vet care to be determined at the time of breeding.

When we reach a point where the qualities of puppies from a particular foster dog is not as good as the majority of the breeding stock we will drop the female from the breed list and ask the foster parents to get the dog spade and it then becomes their dog.

By constantly adding and subtracting dogs from the breed list we are continually able to improve the bloodline. Usually we will breed a bitch 2 times to 2 different stud dogs before we would drop it off the list. The decision to drop a bitch would be made on the quality of the puppies she produced. The problem is you need to wait awhile to monitor the development of a litter before deciding if the litter is "Very Good" - "Good" or "Could be Better."

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE FOSTER HOME:
• Own their own home or rent with landlord's written permission that it is okay to keep a dog
• Have their own car
• Prior experience with schnauzers is a plus but not necessarily required - but prior dog ownership is a must.
• Be prepared to have their own vet listed as a reference
• Fenced backyard - or large enough property
• Be available to drive dog to and from our home come time for whelping and/or breeding. Some cases I can meet you half way.
* Be willing to crate train and housebreak.
* Afford to feed good food and vitamins as recommended .
* Children over the age of 6 years old with no babies in the house. (This is not because of any danger, but rather that homes with babies tend not to have time to devote to a dog, in spite of good intentions.)
• Capable of moderate exercise
• Keep us updated on the puppy at least once a month, and when in heat, we must be notified so that we may keep track of the dog's cycles, with pictures every 1-2 months for us to follow the puppy's progress.
• Be willing to socialize the puppy by taking it everywhere possible and showing her life in general • Be willing to at the minimum take the puppy for obedience training
* Keep the dog groomed
*Provide dental care or necessary extra care as deemed needed.
*Provide medical attention in case of emergency.

The foster parents are required to keep the dogs current on rabies, heartworm. The reason for this is that the state of Texas does not allow us to give Rabies shots or administer heartworm medication. We ask that the dogs be put on once a month heartworm pills during the mosquito season.

Foster Parents will be expected to have a dog crate of some kind in their home. Dog crates are used to housebreak dogs. We do not place dogs in homes where the dogs are allowed to run loose. That is just asking to have accidents and valuable articles chewed up. Our dogs are not meant to be kept as outside dogs.

If at any time something changes in a foster home and they are no longer able to keep a foster dog there is no problem with them returning the dog back to me. When this happens we will either place the dog in a new foster home or we will sell the dog, depending on the quality of her and her pups.

When people ask if we split the litters with foster parents, the answer is usually "NO." The only way we would ever consider splitting a litter with a foster parent is if the person puts a title on the dog. That is a rule that is cast in stone. Most foster parents find the pups cute, but they don't want more dogs. The kinds of people that take these dogs are not interested in breeding. If they are good foster parents and want another dog, we will give them a second one.

Any negative comments we have ever heard about not splitting litters have come from people that are not in the program. These people think it is not fair to let another person raise a dog and then we take all the pups from "the dog". Our position is that there are a lot of people in the world that have no interest in breeding, that make absolutely great pet owners (foster parents), that would never in their life consider paying $2000 for a puppy. For many they cannot afford it, for the rest, a $2,000 pet is not a priority for them. These people appreciate having a quality pet live in their home and the fact that we occasionally take a litter is of no concern to them, especially when they see the quality of my operation. They know the dog is well taken care of when it comes here.

If a person is interested in breeding then this is not a program for them. They should purchase a dog and get into the business.

We also get asked by an occasional foster parent if they can whelp a litter at their home. The answer is "NO". There is too much that can go wrong during a delivery.

From a breeder's standpoint, the only negative aspect of this program is the fact that you give up the sale of a puppy at the time that you place it in a home. You also do not have the option to sell the foster dogs if and when people call and want to buy older females.

It is our opinion that more people in this country should start programs like this. If we are to improve the breed of dogs (and it does not matter what breed we are talking about) we need to improve the way we breed. This program works.

Questions and Answers?

Who qualifies for a foster dog?

We are very selective in who we choose to become foster families. We want to make sure that our dogs go to safe homes where they will be well cared for and not allowed to escape and get lost or get run over by a car. We expect the dogs to be house dogs. We look for people who have had dogs before. The ideal person is one who has had a dog die of old age. This is a person who knows how to take care of a dog and is willing to make a commitment for life to one of our dogs.

We do not give dogs to people that want a watch dog, farm dog or to someone who wants to have them as a kennel dog. We will also not place a dog in a home where a dog has been accidentally killed (if it happened once, it can happen again.)

Foster families need to fill out an application form and be willing to provide references that can be contacted during the approval process.

We require in home visits to make sure the dog is being well taken care of.

How often does a female come into heat?

Females come into season twice a year. We typically only breed a female once a year. As we have more females than we need for breeding, not all of our females are bred every year. Since I am always on the look out for the "perfect mom", if I find her, I will breed her once a year. A female will generally be retired on or before her seventh birthday. Occasionally a "perfect mom" will be bred longer. The fact is that if a female is in good health, having a litter keeps her hormones flowing and she stays in excellent condition as a result. How many litters she will have in her lifetime is determined by her overall condition, the quality of her pups, her attitude and temperament as a mother, the ease of labor and delivery for her and how quickly she recovers optimum health after a litter.

Can I be there when puppies are being born?

When a female comes to us to have her puppies, we encourage visits and involvement from the foster family. We prefer to deliver the pups alone, as it can be very demanding and time consuming. After puppies are born, foster families can stop by as often as they want to take mom for a walk or play with puppies. The interactions benefits everyone.

A family is not expected to be involved with the care of puppies, but that option is available for those who are interested in it.

What about grooming my Schnauzer?

You are responsible for grooming. However, if a bitch needs grooming before leaving me after having babies, I will groom her.

What if I already have a dog in my home?

Depending on the personality and age of the dog already in a home, a dog may or may not be placed where there already is another dog. We will never place a female in a home where there is an un-neutered male (must provide proof). We will also not place a female in a home where there is another large female. Females fight with females. We try to eliminate bad situations by limiting the environment our dogs are placed in.

How far away do you place your dogs?

I prefer not to place my foster dogs in homes that are more than a 2 hour drive. In some cases, where we have an "ideal" family, we will make an exception.

Do we ever place older dogs in foster homes?

Some people know how much work it is to raise a puppy and would prefer not to go through the house breaking and chewing stages of a puppy. An older dog is a perfect solution.

Occasionally we have a young adult (and sometimes an older female) that we would like to place in a foster home. These are dogs that have been in foster homes and find themselves back in our home due to a divorce, relocation or sudden and severe family illness. Sometime people simply decide they can't carry on with the program and the dog finds its way back to us.

What about Medical Issues and the dog?

The foster family is required to keep the female current on rabies and heartworm medication (we can provide yearly boosters if needed at time of breeding). Flea prevention is at the discretion of the family however, if a female comes to us for breeding or whelping with fleas, the family will be charged for the cost of treating her. We strongly recommend treating your pet with Activyl monthly during the warmer months.

If there are any medical expenses as a result of a breeding or litters, this is taken care of by us.

What if something happens that causes the death of the dog that is beyond my control?

While we all try to make sure that everything is done to prevent harm or things by accident happening to our dogs, things can happen. We understand that. We would require a vet letter stating that the accident which resulted in a death was something that could not be prevented and that you were not at fault. If the bitch has not had a litter yet and you were negligent, you would be responsible for the purchase value of the dog as if you had purchased it. If the bitch has already had a litter, we will would not hold you responsible for repayment but would not place another puppy in your home.

How do I know when a dog should be bred?

We track a females heat cycles on our computer so we can anticipate when she will come in season next. We plan our breeding's based on the information that the foster family provides to us. This is why it is important that the information be accurate and delivered in a timely fashion.

We will be happy to go into detail with foster families regarding the signs of an impending heat and what to look for.

What if we decide that we don't want to be a part of the program anymore?

If at any time something changes in a foster home and they are no longer able to keep a foster dog, there is no problem with them returning the dog to us. When this happens, we will either place the dog in a new foster home or sell it depending on her quality and that of her pups.

Do we ever foster male dogs?

No, I do not foster out male dogs.

How much is the stipend? We pay $100 per puppy per litter for you to be able to afford vet care, food and grooming.

Under what circumstances do we take a dog out of a foster home?

There are only a few reasons that we would take a female out of a foster home:

1. If we find out they are allowing the dog to run loose without supervision.
2. If the female gets accidentally bred.
3. If the foster parents do not tell us when a female comes into season (even if we don't plan on breeding it). We will warn the foster family once and take it away if it happens again.
4. If someone is arrested for a criminal offense.
5. If someone moves without informing us that they have moved.
6. If someone allows a dog to become way, over weight and does not take steps to correct this.
7. General health and appearance of the dog is not good and dog is over weight*
8. If the dog is neglected or abused in any way.
9. If the dog is not kept current on rabies and heartworm medication.
10. If you do not feed Life's Abundance food.

Also, if the bitch dies, either from careless accident or neglect on the part of the Foster Family, they must pay Schnauers Of Taylor the current worth of the bitch. This will be stipulated in the contract.

Also, it should be noted that the process of whelping is not always perfect. Things can and do go wrong, and when you are whelping a litter, this thought it always in the back of your mind. Worst case scenario, you could lose your dog in the process, though more often than not - things do go smoothly. However, it is important that you fully understand this risk prior to being a part of our foster program.

*If you allow the bitch to become over weight and not healthy at time of breeding and we can not breed, we will allow one heat to get her weight under control. If it is not where we would like to see on next he it you will be asked to pay current rate of a puppy as price of your bitch. If you will not pay me that amount then I will have no other option than to take the bitch back into my care.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please contact me if you feel this is a program that you qualify for. I will have the perfect babies to place in 2020

Is Yogurt Good For Your Dog???

2014-01-01T11:28:00.000-08:00

As with us humans, there has been an increasing interest in the use of natural foods and supplements to enhance nutritional balance in dogs. One food that comes up often is yogurt, and there are many who sing the praises of yogurt as a nutritional supplement.

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~~Armani's KING Thorin ~~*

2013-09-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

Meet Harley, this is Thorins dad. He is a beautiful black and silver out of some wonderful Mexico lines.

Meet our AKC DNA tested Armani's Thorin.Thank you Kim M. for this awesome guy. He weighs about 12 lbs and 12x12. He has a very german build and will add some stockiness into the lines. His dad comes from New Mexico lines with 14 grand champions first few lines. His babies will vary between a more classic coat to a super coat. This means some pups in the litter can be classic coated or super coated. He is not a barker even when somebody comes through the front door and is very very very laid back. He is our big baby Huey.

Water: An Essential Nutrient

2013-06-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

By Jocelynn Jacobs, DVM

As owners of performance dogs, we know how important nutrition can be for both health and performance. We take time evaluating pet food labels, talking about nutrition with other competitors, and seeing how well our dogs actually do on various foods. However, there is one nutrient that dog food alone can’t supply enough of—water!

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Beginners Guide To Feeding A Raw Diet

2013-06-10T09:22:00.000-07:00

Feeding your dog a meat-based diet has never been easier. NUTRITION or a machine to work properly, it requires the manufacturer's recommended fuel, lubrication, and maintenance. The same is true for our dogs (and ourselves). In the wild, every creature will find and choose the foods most suitable for its evolutionary development. Our dogs evolved to eat - mostly - other animals. Their strong jaws were designed to crush bones, and their sharp teeth to tear raw meat. So say the innovators who developed so-called " BARF " diets for dogs. BARF is an acronym that stands for either Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, or Bones And Raw Food; the terms are used interchangeably. There are thousands of dog guardians who feed their dogs homemade BARF -based diets, buying all the ingredients and preparing their dogs' meals from scratch. People who utilize home-prepared diets are happy to discuss the many benefits of this feeding method for their dogs, including clean, tartar-free teeth; fresh breath; strong bones, muscles, and joints; a glossy coat; a healthy amount of energy and a balanced temperament;and overall vibrant good health. For all the people who have made the leap to a homemade, meat-based diet for their dogs, however, there are many more who would like to make the change, but who are intimidated by the challenge of "getting it just right." Some are afraid of failing to present their dogs with a balanced array of nutrients; others fear bacterial contamination from handling raw meats.

Schnauzers Of Taylor is in the process of feeding a parital raw diet to our adults. They love RMB (raw meaty bones). We feed morning meals of chicken necks or backs and in the afternoon a muscles meat or fish with organ meat. More info to follow.

http://www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm

Letters Of Recommendation

2012-10-02T08:41:00.000-07:00

"Do you realize that your expertise and attention to the high quality of your doggie care is actually a ministry that blesses the rest of us? Excellence! Thank you for the snaps - I've kept every one." Alison

" My name is Verlener Allen and we are the owner of Jada. How do I begin? Miss Jada is a jewel. I did not grow up with animals but married a dog lover. My husband always brought home pit bulls because that is what he always owned. The last one we had grew too big and we could no longer enjoy our backyard. Knowing that we “had” to have a dog, I researched breeds and then breeders. I found Schnauzers of Taylor and found a jewel. The Irizarry’s produce quality Miniature Schnauzers. When we first went to Taylor to meet Jada, I fell in love. I must admit that I still love her. She has blended into my family and she is treated as though she is human. My parents, who are not dog lovers, are smitten by Jada as well.

"She has the best temperament of any dog that I have ever seen and she is super smart. All of the qualities that you are looking for can be found in the litter that you are considering. Jada knows the sound of my daughters school bus when it stops at the stop sign. She lets us know when someone is in the driveway and even if the neighbors are outside late at night making too much noise. She barks just long enough to get your attention. She is laid back and very independent. " Verlener

"Yes indeed our Lilly Belle is from an earlier litter of Tessa and Armani. We are so crazy about Lilly Belle that we are just down right silly.She's beautiful, loving, funny, healthy and is in charge of our family" Terri

Enzo (Pausha x Armani litter April 2011)

(In Loving Memory of Barb (1948-2011), she passed away 10/6/11, Enzo was blessed to have her as a loving mommy for almost 4 months. Now he is spoiled rotten now by daddy! Glad to of known you Barb, I sure enjoyed our skype visits and the lotion you brought me)

"Decided in the Spring that I wanted to get a mini black schnauzer puppy. I searched online for sites who had black minature schnauzers. We found Quality Dogs.com who had several breeders in Texas. The one that impressed me the most was Schnauzers of Taylor. I was most impressed by their website. I sent an e-mail, put in an application, and was approved for one of their Babies. The puppies were born April 8, 2011. I asked for the runt, who was a male, and that is the one we chose. The following weekend we had our first Skype meeting with Donna and our Enzo. Love at first site. We again Skyped the following weekend to see his progress.Then at 3 weeks of age we got to meet Enzo when Donna opened her home to us. Donna kept us updated on his progress and development through pics, Skype and updates on her website.

We picked up Enzo when he was 8 weeks old. He has won us over completely. He is smart, loving and just plain adorable.

Our entire experience was very positive. Donna was and is available for any of our questions. She provided us with all the necessities to having a new puppy. We can reach her anytime if we have questions. Her website also has many excellent tips for raising a puppy. I have never met any breeder who loves her dogs as much as Donna"

Thank you,

The Kapela Family

We have 3 Schnauzers of Taylor babies. These are the healthiest, sweetest & happiest Schnauzers in the USA! Donna and her family put a lot of love in their dogs.

I had interviewed several breeders, before I talked to Donna. She stood out among them all. I was most impressed with how protected she was of her babies. They are part of their family. We were so excited when we found out our family had been approved for a Schnauzers of Taylor baby!

When our extremely anticipated wait was over and we could finally bring Sammy home, Donna made it easy. She made sure we had everything we needed. Sammy had everything he needed to make his transition. He still has his blanket and toy he brought with him, from his momma!

Today, we have Sammy, Tucker & Annie. We have never had an health issue. They were all easy to potty train. It's amazing how they share toys, bones, even food bowls.

Thank you Donna for your dedication and love for your dogs. Thanks for sharing them with our family!

The Thorpe Family

Beaumont, Texas

Chicken jerky treats linked to mystery illnesses, deaths in dogs

2011-11-22T14:10:00.000-08:00

Chicken jerky treats linked to mystery illnesses, deaths in dogs

Berry Good Treats

2011-11-08T11:16:00.000-08:00

Cranberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and strawberries are very good for you dog. They are full of vitamins, natural sugars, good fiber and are loaded with antioxidants. They are also a very low in calories and a good alternative to dog treats. Being small in size they also are great for training treats for puppies.
If you dog is having trouble being hungry between meals, consider this as a alternative. Be careful to balance the quantity given due to the fiber which could cause diarrhea. Nothing is harmful about berries and they love so let them enjoy all the wonderful benefits of tasty antioxidants!

Mine personally love frozen blueberries as treats.

How Your Puppy Develops

2011-02-19T08:48:00.000-08:00

*~How We Develop**

Stage 2: 2 - 4 Weeks

The puppy's eyes will open at or around the beginning of this second stage of development. His new sense of sight will be limited and very sensitive, so to avoid eye damage, care must be taken to protect him from bright lights. Despite these limitations, the puppy will now begin to recognize and interact with things in his environment, including (most importantly!) his mother and littermates. Many experts consider this the "toddler" stage of development as the puppy becomes more alert and learns to crawl, stand, and ultimately walk. With this new mobility, he will also begin to attempt to better explore his surroundings.

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Wall Of Fame

2010-10-08T18:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Thanksgiving season - giving thanks in all things, always!

I think of you often as Laney grows and thrives - She is the sweetest little dog we've ever had . . sweet, sweet, sweet! She and Kelsy are absolutely inseparable to the point that Kelsy goes out for a potty, Laney presses her nose in the door, fretting until Kelsy returns - Kelsy's story is the same . . they adore each other and entertain each other non-stop.

Thank you for a blood line of sweet, beautiful babies.

Alison

Lily here (on the right with the white spot). I'm sorry that we have not written but we are very busy. We are still very happy here in Dallas b/c our moms are finally trained. We have our own pet door which means we run in and out whenever we want. Our favorite tasks are to chase squirrels and a BIG possum that comes around at night. We love to catch things that crawl, fly, or scamper but we normally don't get to enjoy them long before they are taken from us. We also have a country house where we see cows and listen to all types of animal sounds. We also have a pet door to go out to a screened porch. Mommy Linda is trying to get us to use some type of artificial green thing as our bathroom but we don't like it. We don't get to roam free but we do have a huge fenced playground complete with an umbrella. We love grasshoppers.

I caused excitement when I jumped off a second floor balcony last week chasing a squirrel. Lola encouraged me to do it. I fell onto some shrubbery so I didn't hurt anything. I wanted to go again but there were many no, no, no's. I mostly liked the kisses and hugs that I got after they felt around on my body.

Lola still has "attitude." I like her but b/c she is smaller and quicker she always gets the laps first. I have to work harder for attention. I get in a lot more trouble than Lola. I have to guard the house which means I am constantly on the go yapping at high volume. I get in trouble for too much noise. We both like to chew. I mostly choose wood and hard things (the deck). Lola likes pillows and expensive rugs. There seem to be lots of repairs around here.

Most of all, we like to cuddle and give kisses. We love to take naps on the sofa preferably in someone's lap. Anyway, life is grand. We would like to come back to Taylor for a visit b/c we suspect that everyone wants to see us again. Take care and tell everyone hello. Lily & Lola

Linda Thomas
Chief Justice (Ret.)

I have meant to tell you that she lays on my tummy with her chin on my chest between her big paws and looks up at me with Armani's eyes - I look into her face and clearly see Armani - that photo of him as your web site opens is simply priceless. You must have it enlarged and framed. I've shown it so often at the office to punctuate how truly beautiful this "child" of ours is - I sincerely hope to get a photo of Laney just like that - we'll have to do it outside to get those awesome brown eyes just right - I've NEVER seen such warm, full of love, beautiful eyes in a dog like that. As soon as I saw Armani on your web site, I knew we should have one of his puppies - he's truly a one of a kind. Everyone who lays eyes on Laney is aghast at her beauty. We're soooo proud to show her off.

Attached a cute photo - she and Kelsy were playing "rowdy" with their ball and made a mess - they're busy "cleaning" it up - bless 'em. Another note: Boy!! Were you right about that super coat - I couldn't be more pleased - we haven't experienced one solitary mat knot and we don't brush her regularly - WOW. (Always feel free to quote me on your web site if you like - I'm perfectly delighted with our little girl) Ray advised the staff at the Vet that he'd BETTER get HIS puppy back when he returned or there'd be trouble - tee hee, smile ; )More later.Alison

************************************

10/11
Hi Donna and Jose

Just looked at your website and decided I would let you know about our 3 year old!. She is a living doll! I know even if she is BLAcK!!! She is so neat and every day we are so proud that you made it possible for us to have her. She is the most lovable little dog. Our twins Dorie and David said they would love to take her home with them. I recently spent few days with Dorie (in Houston) and I was afraid she wouldn't let me bring her back home. Dorie said she is so sweet because Donna started her out with LOVE!
Hope all is well with you and your family.
Stop by sometime. We would love for you to see OUR LITTLE LOVE GIRL!
Dorothy Switzer.
****************************

Norman from Mia x Armani litter 2010 update 10/12/11

Hi Donna:

We are finally settled into our home in Ath, Belgium. We have been on many adventures with Norman. Attached is a photo of all of us riding in a carriage in Brugge, Belgium. That same day, Norman also had a ride on a boat through the canals! He is such a wonderful pup, so smart, playful, and loving. He has about 30 toys and knows each one by name. He still has "Blue" the toy he came home with and is one of his favorites. He is in an obedience class but would rather talk to his "girlfriend" a little Yorkie, than pay attention to the teacher and his parents!

Thank you for such a great pup! We just love him so very, very much.

Blessings,
Wendy Mora

Jake and his sleeping buddy Ziva.

Hello G'ma Donna, Baxter ck'g in here. Sorry we haven't been "popping" in like we should. Summers are always busy (and HOT). Finally hitting the parks again so we thought we would share a current picture. Baxter grew up to be such a handsome boy. Just the right size and ohhhh, his tail. No regrets on keeping that wonderful tail; it has SO much expression. Baxter still loves carrots; still loves to cuddle & is still spoiled ... so really not much to report LOL. Thank you again for sharing this bundle of love with us; he makes our lives complete.
love, Baxter's mommy

Princess Magit "Maggie" owned by B&B

Lucy owned by her girl in Newfoundland

Tannon and Mya owned by their little girl Maddie in FL

6/11 Hope all is well. Wanted to let you know that we’re very happy with Thor. He is an excellent addition to our family. He has a wonderful personality and got many compliments on the traditional schnauzer clip you gave him. Priscila

Lola and Lily-Dog tired after too much company. Owned by
Linda Thomas Chief Justice (Ret) and
Dr. Janet Coplin

3/11 Molly visits us. She lives in Texas and owns Dr. Pursley and his wife.

Donna, I am so happy to have her. Soo smart, Goes to the door and barks to go out and potty, yeah!! Mindy is doing well with her and is starting to play.Ralph, Mindy and Molly from AZ

Raven will be entering her first EARTHDOG trials Feb 26 and 27.
The Tx DFW dachsund club is hosting a trial at Prospering Farms in Prosper Tx.
It is a two day event.
Raven will enter INTRO TO QUARRY first. It is a ten foot tunnel with 1 right angle. She has to be released 10 ft from entrance and has 2 minutes to get to end of tunnel and begin to "WORK" the quarry which are two rats in a cage behind bars so she cant get them. She has to work them for a full 30 seconds.
she can bark, dig, scratch, whine, whatever it takes to tell me they are there.

If she does this successfully, then she can enter Junior earthdog. That is a 30ft tunnel with 3 -90 degree turns and she only has 30 sec to reach quarry and work it for 60seconds.

I know she can do the INTRO test no problem. John is building me a tunnel right now and I have a rat im working her with...YEW>>>>>>
oh well gotta do what ya gotta do.....LOL
at least this one she wont get to kill..

lets hope she likes to chase the cages ones as much as she likes the ones under the shed.

I will keep you all updated on her outcome....
congrats to tessa and armani on the new additions......we love knowing Raven has an extended family....

Kimberli Mikkelson
www.CROWNEDSCHNAUZERS.blogspot.com

3 years ago today our little Lizzie was born :) She has been an absolute joy and I just wanted to thank you again for allowing us to bring her into our home! Two years ago we adopted a salt-and-pepper mini schnauzer from my brother-in-law and he has been a blessing as well. The two of them are inseperable and are so much fun to watch, play, and cuddle with! Now we have a new addition to our family on the way and I am so excited for this next big change in our family. I'm sending some pictures of Lizzie's life so far and I will send more later once the new baby comes in January.

Thanks again!

Betsy & Tim Bowers

Newton from Texas (Holly x Armani)

Kyzer from Texas (Holly x Armani)

Baxter 7 months Texas (Holly x Armani)

Simon and Sophie live in CA July 2010

Bailey out of Holly Berry and Armani lives in CA-July 2010

Lilly, Tx

Raven relaxing July 2010

Big Girl Raven!

Theo in LA says "Donna, this is Leigh-Ann's mom- Lydia, aka LALA , for grandchildren. Leigh-Ann is so busy that I have decided to brag on this babies. Theo has to be the most loving and cuddley pup I have never seen. He is a Lover!! Theo looks up to his big sister Nola. She has been so good with him and teaching him the ropes, both good and bad. I will say , Nola occasionally get a wee bit weary of his happiness and energy. I have a gaint schnauzer named Sadie and Theo thinks he is as BIG as she. They play very well together also. My Sadie is 7 mos old. Thank you so much for touching us with a wonderful pup, Theo. He is all they hope he would be and more." Lydia

Hi Donna. I hope this email finds you doing well.
Just wanted to send you a picture of Jada and tell you that she is doing well. We just LOVE her! She has brought so much joy to our entire family. Even our extended family have fallen in love with her.Take care,Verlener

5/10: Aggie loves to bird watch!

Murphy Marcello 7 months

The Thorpe Family and their collection of schnauzers from Schnauzers Of Taylor. Annie in the pink hat. Tucker in the yellow hat. Sammy in front.

(as shown in the Taylor Daily Press
Taylor resident and former radio announcer Fred Switzer, 84, cuddles his Schnauzer ( Noelle from Gabby/Cooper)at his home Monday afternoon. Switzer headed the effort to establish a senior center in Taylor.

Einstein proudly owns Val Heart a Expert Animal Communicator & Behaviorist, Master Healer and Author.
Einstein says "Around Christmas time last year I started to let Val know that I was coming into her life through dreams and visions. I wanted to be with a human that would understand me and be a partner with me in helping people get balanced and happy. You all have to admit that Val is exactly the right person for that! Val understood my mission right away because she shares that vision with me."

Thank you Val for allowing me to be part of this journey......Donna Irizarry

http://www.valheart.com/blog/category/einstein-dog-genius

3/4/10: Aggie, big boy haircut!

Hi Donna,
I was checking out your blog a bit ago and still enjoy it so much! It's great to see that you have been busy and that you have quite the family now.

I had to write to tell you that not a day goes by when someone in this house doesn't say that Shadow is the nicest dog or the best dog ever. Even Kristina's friends love him. One of her friends asked, "How do you get him to do all of that stuff? My dog won't do that!" He's in my lap now (with Kristina rubbing him and hanging on my arm) and I'm not sure how I'm actually typing. :)

We are still loving on him daily and the vet is always delighted to see him, too. He knows when he's coming because Shadow still announces himself at the door.

Thanks Donna for breeding the best dogs! We are convinced that we have the best one out of the bunch! You probably get that a lot, hunh? Laughing.....

Hugs,
Karen
(latest picture of Shadow and the kids attached)

Here is Mattie and Bert playing in the snow in Dallas Texas!!!!! Mattie has the pick collar. They had a ball! Ken

Christmas 2009 Rhonie and Kyzaar in CA

Hi Donna,
Realize you have had several dogs since Jasper, but wanted to send you an updated picture of her and her little sister, Gracyn. Jasper is doing really good and the happiest dog. She wants to play all the time and is obsessed with her toys, primarily with a tennis ball. She will sit in the back yard and just crunch the ball and cry until someone comes out and plays. Quite dramatic.
Gracyn was acquired about a year and half ago from someone that found her wandering the streets in Conroe. No tags or chip. She is 10 lbs and when I heard about her, I took her immediately. She is the funniest dog... An alpha with all dogs. She was already spayed and when I got her you could tell she had been out and lost for a couple of days. She got comfortable with Jasper and myself really quick and is now my shadow. Really sweet and full of personality. Half the size of Jasper, but they get along fine. Hope you and family are doing well... Dogs and puppies are so adorable! Happy holidays!Cristy

"I've attached a couple of recent pictures of Bear. He weighs 25 pounds! He's a sweetie...he sleeps at the end of our bed at night. A couple of nights ago I found him sleeping at the end of Cameron's bed. He LOVES our boys!!!"

Kendra

Bella Roo and her brother Stanley

Sophie and Simon in FL.

"Hi Donna,
just checking in..its been awhile...Spice is doing well......she's still all puppy it seems..hard to believe she'll be 2 in Dec...
She loves to go swimming with us....our friends just love watching her jump in and play with us in the pool..
She has to wait at the door before being invited into the house..and her bottom cant sit still....she'll sit..with her bottom waving like a flag on the ground..hahah...but she stays until told "ok" to come in...
She loves...LOVES to tease her sister...she'll get a toy.....shake it in her sisters face...then run like the wind...its very cute to watch...
One of my favorite things to watch her do is: she'll stand at the edge of the hall way..and when her sister comes around the corner...she JUMPS at her...like she's trying to scare her..it something i wouldnt believe if i didnt see it happening....
She loves to be close to us...and follows me around the house...which i'm please with..cuz other wise she's into something or up to something...we have to keep a close eye on her..
I've attached two pics...I just love the one of both of them sleeping with Sadies leg across Spice..Hope this email finds you and your family doing well!!
Linda (Rich, Sadie and Spice)

This was the first day we got Mya, I thought you would like this.

Here is the latest Mattie Pics, Ken D.

Hi Donna,I hope you and your family are doing well and had a wonderful summer.
I just wanted to send you some pictures of Black jack :>
He is a wonderful boy, he looks like his dad !
He is a wonderful addition to the family.
Ded and Ben.

"Hey Donna,
The babies go into the pool on the large first step especially for them all on their own. We have a fence around with a gate but they really like to come in the water.
Great news did I tell when I hired some dog 1:1 one training for the kids we discovered the vet was wrong Girl Baby is not Deaf. She acted Autistic for a long time but I never gave up kept trying with her. Now she is my very special Girl Baby which is her chosen name and finally gave it up, where Charlie just loves with no reservations. Deb works alot and they are my precious little friends and have added so much to my life. They have many antlers, beef bully sticks and toys and drive Heidi crazy sometimes but they all snuggle down under the bed and sleep. I will send more pic's looking at new camera's. Hope all is well with you and your family."
Kris

"Bailey is doing fine in AZ!" Dan

"Just wanted you to know that Nellie is 100% spoiled and living with my parents. She really has become my dad's puppy. So well behaved, full of energy and enjoying everything here in Florida. She does love the mountains in North Carolina best-and they will be heading to their place in the Sugar Mountains after the boys and I leave on the 4th of July. Just wanted you to see how well she is doing. Leanne"

"Hi! Sorry it has been so long! I'm the pits. Just super busy. Here are some belated photos of Daisy and Shadow that I just took this morning. Daisy is the one with red collor and tag (sitting on the sofa). Shadow is the one on the beige carpet. The shot of them together - Daisy is in the front and Shadow is in the background! We are enjoying them so much. They are awesome dogs!
Thanks for our awesome dogs!!!!! We love them!!!!! " Jenny and Family Texas

Here are some pictures of Mr. Muttley taken after his haircut last week. He is doing well and has decided that he must get constant attention" Jean and Doug, AK

Rhonie and Kyzer in CA
Just a quick update to say "Hi" and to let you know our fur kids are wonderful. A few minutes before I took these photos they were running and playing, then they just crashed side by side like this and slept for an hour. They really have become 'best friends'!

I hope that all is well with you and your family. Sebastian is the greatest dog ever. I swear that he is human, reallly! He has been the best dog I have ever had. He is well behaved and potty training him was as simple as 123. Now my mother wants to get a new puppy from you, so we shall be seeing you again. I have attatched some puppy pictures and "he's all gorwn up" pictures as well. Thanks again and God bless....

Candace, TX

I just love this photo!! This if Tannon "Here Comes Christmas" Litter with his sissy Maddie of FL. This just shows the true love that schnauzers have for kids.
6/09

"Hello! I just wanted to send a quick note to let you know that Nari ishappy and healthy and wonderful. She spends a few days a week with hersister, Nina, and sees her best friend Angel (a standard poodle) everyday. Sometimes the three of them run and play together -- it's a riot. Most days, Nari situates herself near the bike trail behind our housewhere she barks at all the people passing by. Everyone loves her!!!!She is the most loving and well behaved baby in the world. I hope you and your family are well." God's Best, Andrea

"Hey Donna hope you and the whole family are well. We are having a blast with Rex, he is a wonderful baby. My baby listens to our commands and always steals the show when he is out and about with his fabulous personality. What’s amazing is that he knows when its bedtime and he grabs his blanket a chooses a bed. His choose varies from day to day lol. I am wondering about Coco babies and I might be interested in a Salt and Pepper. Can you give me more info on their size and if the same care will be provided. My Rex is slightly bigger than a mini and is a perfect fit for our family. I am wondering if I should add an addition to our amazing family again..lol"Jessica

Kyzer in FL. Sister to our retired Rhonie....Easter 2009

Tannon 2/23/09 He lives in Florida!

12/29/08:"Giada and I went walking around Town Lake and found this great spot for a picture! Thought you would enjoy!"
~Sarah

11/9/08:"Hey Donna!

Betsy and Tim here, updating you on Lizzie. I can't believe she's already a year old! So much has happened in the last year, including our wedding!

Having a puppy has been a very rewarding challenge. I read a lot of training books and thought I knew what I was doing, but Lizzie always seemed to be a step ahead of me :). We made it through with the help of a 6-week puppy training course and what a wonderful dog Lizzie has become! She is the best running buddy and curl-up-in-a-chair-and-nap buddy! My favorite thing to do with her though is take her to the dog park that is a few miles away. It is a wonderful park with separate small and big dog sections. It has a lake, obstacle course, and even mini fire hydrants! Lizzie will run around there for hours. She loves running with the other dogs and greeting every owner. Lizzie has always been well-behaved when playing with the other dogs and I thank you for her wonderful early upbringing experience.
Last weekend (on Lizzie's birthday) we brought Lizzie to visit her "grandparents" and "cousins" and we had a really fun time. Tim's brother just got an 8-week old salt and pepper schnauzer for his 2 kids and it was so much fun to watch the two puppies together. Lizzie really wanted to play with the new puppy, but he was just too small for more than just sniffing. I can't wait till they are older and can really play together. I'm attaching some pictures from that day. I'm also attaching a few other fun pictures. Thank you so much for such a wonderful puppy and companion. We absolutely love her and look forward to many more years of fun."Betsy & Tim

"We took Bailey to Guadalupe River State Park today…she had a blast and wanted to play with everyone she saw, both human and canine! She absolutely loved the water, which really surprised us…she kept trying to pull us into the river with her. J The vet said she’s in excellent health, 11.2 lbs, now. Talk to you soon!" Karyn

10/14/08 "Makensie will enjoy her retirement -- she brought some sweet babies into this world -- she deserves her rest. Hershey and ReeCee are just soooo different. ReeCee is all about play -- such a sweetheart. Poor Hershey just worries too much! Hard to get her to relax -- always on alert, but such a doll baby! Wants to be so close to me all the time, or at least closer than ReeCee :-) My babies! Basically, I just want one from every litter" -- Carol

Sophie
Simon
"It's so funny how different they turned out in size and personality, even though they're from the same litter. Simon is SO laid back and Sophie is a little spunky thing. Simon has his little pillow that he carries around with him so he'll have something to lie on when he moves from room to room. It's so adorable. And Sophie would spend her whole life in the back yard if we let her. She's definitely our little tomboy.Anyway, thank you again for breeding and providing such great dogs! They are the best puppies I've ever had. And I've had a few! lol" Andrea

This is Bishop. Bishop came to visit yesterday and is from Isabella's last litter. His mom Heather and Cynthia (Ava's mommy) are best friends. I thought you would like to see a photo of him. He really loved the babies and helped pick Ava for them.

"Sophie is doing very well. She believes she is our human child, I am sure of it! Her food and water bowls are in the kitchen beside our dinner table, so she only eats when we sit down to eat. At night I put each child to bed and then tell Sophie it is time for night night and she trots off to her crate… everyone in their place!
She is incredibly sweet and lovable!
Christi

Ok, like I promised pics of the boy! He's amazing, and too smart by half and he has a ton of fun playing with everyone. He'll be flying with David and I to Arizona for the Christmas holidays. He is still very much a puppy but at 13" tall he's all grown up. He still has some filling out to do as he still looks very much like a puppy but we got to hear his adult bark a couple of days ago and can't wait till his voice settles down into maturity. Training wise he's where he should be, he is excellent on the poles though he detests the tunnels unless I put treats in them. He's convinced the teeter totter is a see saw he can play with and we have not done any jumps yet and won't until after he's a year old. Down stay is no longer an issue but back up is. We'll get it all and do it well. I am having so much fun with him and he's exactly what I wanted.

"
Hope you're having a great summer. I am looking forward to seeing puppies on your site soon - it seems like such a long time since the last litter . . .I thought you might like to see this photo of my little surfin dude - he loves chillin by the pool!" Debbi and Kyzaar
"Hi Donna,
This is Ruben and Rosa in Fort Forth Texas, we were blessed with Simon. Just dropping you a note on how he is doing. He has really done well in adjusting with the rest of the pack. Sasha, Shakira both schnauzers and Lucy the basset. He goes for a 11/2 mile run every morning with shakira he loves chasing birds and they love bothering him. We are planning on putting him in an agility sport so he can run some more. He brings a smile to my face everyday he truly has completed our family and we are so happy we got him."
Take care,
Ruben and Rosa

5/28/08:"My baby turned 3 yesterday so I thought I'd send along his 'birthday photo' so you can see how beautiful he is!!!" Debbie and Kyzaar
**Kyzaar is the brother to our Rhonie!!
5/20/08:"Donna, sorry it's been so very long since we've written you! So much has happened! Lucy's doing great. She's completely potty trained. She's very obedient (when she's up for it). We moved to a new apartment in Norman a few months ago, which is about 20 minutes south of OKC. There is a really fun dog park out here which we go to every Sunday! We've gone on a couple trips to Dallas (about three hours), and she does great in the car and everything. I got a couch recently, and she immediately broke that thing in by napping on it for hours... pretty funny. Here are some pictures. One of them is Lucy with my brother.. it turned out REALLY good!! Enjoy! Lucy says hi and that she misses you!" Justin and Lucy

5/4/08:"Donna - here are some pics I took today. Shadow needs a face trim - but they sure are the cutest dogs ever!!!!
We love them to bits! Daisy is smaller than Shadow (and i think she will not ever catch him - but we will see) but she can really stand on her own. Interesting too - I just gave the dogs a bath - so the brown on Shadow's legs isnt dirt - he is actually turning a little brown. He also is black - but almost changing a little bit so a pewter color all over. He is definitely lightening up a bit. My vet told me (and I didnt know this) that Schnauzers are notorious for changing colors on their coats several times over. She told me when he was a puppy, that I shouldnt be suprised if he changes color.
Have a good evening. I'll talk to you this week."
Jenny

Shadow and Daisy
"Have I ever told you that Shadow can really jump. He leaps and jumps over flower beds and shrubs etc. It is quite a sight to see. I think it must be due to his long legs. Sometimes we call him "Springs" because it looks like he has springs when he jumps. I snapped some of the kids running with the dogs and you can see he is a little airborne. But next time that I have my camera out I will take a photo of him l"eaping".
Have a great Easter Sunday.
Love to all.
Jenny

:"Hi Donna~ Here are few pictures of Max and Roxie. They've grown so muchand get along well together. I love them both and love how they play witheach other. Max has become the 'wise' teenage brother; while Roxie is thefeisty little playful sister. She's always in the mood to play with Max.They are ready for the holidays as Max has a birthday coming up! They areboth soooo adorable. We're working on barking at other dogs and people, butthey are such loveable puppies that we take it one walk at a time! Hope you are doing well and that you and your family have wonderful holidayand happy new year!" All the best, Toni Wilson

:Jessie came to visit. Jim and Jane live in Ohio and are snow birds that come to Texas for the winter. They promised to stop by on their way through so I could see her every year. She will be one year old in Jan.
Thanks guys, great to see her!

:Hello and Merry Christmas! Nari and Nina went to the groomer together yesterday. They were two sisters getting their hair and nails done...

I took some pictures of Nari today and decided to send two of them to you - She lives on my bed, the couch, or her other favorite spot - on the rug in the kitchen.

I hope you guys have a fun holiday season.

--
God's Best, Andrea

This is Grace. Grace lived in New York but has been transplanted to Georgia. Thanks to Rex's wonderful mom for the rescue from her owner and for finding her a new home.

Max from "Little Bits Of Texas"

"My friend took some pictures of Luca playing with her puppy Beemer. She is a neighbor and every day at 5:00 (on the dot....cause Luca waits by the door) we go to the park and they play for hours. Luca likes to wrestle and Beemer likes to chase Luca around.

Anyway, these pics are certainly not as cute as yours but I wanted you to see what my little guy looks like. He just had a haircut so he isn't all that full. He is 23 pounds and very strong. EVERYONE thinks he is just the cutest and I have even given out your name to several people who might be interested.

Have a great day and we hope all is well with you."
Courtney and Luca
7/15/07 Kyzer is wonderful!!! He is the best little guy, we can't believe how smart he is, and how loveable!!! You have spoiled Rhonie you know - I have Kyzer 'help' pick up his toys and take them back to his toy box - now he only takes one thing out at a time!!

6/4
Sabrina is doing excellent. I took her to the vet. 2 weeks ago, very healthy 20lbs. She is well trained, she can sit, dance, kiss mommy, stay, lay down(just by touching the tip of my nose haha). we have a new dog park in town, very very nice, they put a lot of money into it. The park is privatly owned, but is for anyone..
All the dog owners who come here take care of their dogs like family. There are rules to abide by, such as pick up poop, if a dog fights he has to leave.
they range in all sizes from 3lb shitzu to rottwellers. Sabrina loves to play with them all. she is very social. she has to say hello to all the people before playing.
The first time we went, it was funny, because I didn't know just how fast she can run. hahaha. She thinks she rules the house, because she loves getting into trouble, i have to keep bathroom door closed or the toliet paper will be all over the place, She is still crated during the day, but i come home about every 4 hours and she has the run of the house at night. she sleeps with me sometimes, and some times in her crate. She loves the outdoors, she will stay at the patio doors in the apartment and just watch the world. She loves to bark, when ever someone goes by. thank goodness, the neighbors say it doesn't bother them. I have yet to get her to be quiet. any tips will help.
i know this is long, but i haven't written in some time. She is the love of my life. we have fun, she does funny things all the time. I'm so glad I got her.
right now she is watching tv. and it's storming out side, she likes to watch thunder most of the time and rain. it's weird.
hope all is well.
love,
Wanda and Sabrina,

5/07
Hi Donna,
Looks like you have another beautiful litter... you are going to go into "puppy withdraw" once you place these new pups in their homes... but, I am sure you will enjoy (and need) your trip/cruise that you have planned.

Wanted to send you a couple of pics of Jasper. She is the sweetest little dog and is doing so well. I have a trip planned in a couple of wks and once I get back, I plan on taking her to get fixed. I did finally get a Fuji digital and am really pleased with it. Thanks for the recommendation.

Hope things going well for all of you and Jose and kids are enjoying their start of summer break.
Take care,
cristy

5/07
Ok Donna~ Here are a 'few' shots of ; Maxwell in action! He has been
to the groomers (two weeks ago) for the first time and looks 'grown up'!
He's over 11lbs. now and quite active. I hope these pictures come through
and bring a smile to your face. He has lots of toys and enjoys playing
fetch 'everyday'. I've enrolled him in another puppy training class and
we'll see how it goes. We've been to several puppy happy hours, but he's
still a little slow in getting into the action. I may also try puppy day
care to see how this works for him. We go walking, but it's pretty windy
sometimes and he doesn't like walking in the wind. He's chasing birds and
likes running on the baseball field. Leash training is coming along and I'm
trying to take him somewhere different more and more. Litter training is
coming along also, but when he's playing he'd rather go where he is rather
than to the litter box, but this is seldom. He loves to race up and down the
stairs with me and is curious, bordering on 'noisy' :-).

He sleeps in his carrier at night rather than the crate, so I'm hoping as he
grows he'll adjust to the crate. He's my little 'puppy boy'! Everyone loves
him and I think he thinks he's a big person rather than a puppy. When we go
to puppy happy hour, all the parents love him! He seems more interested in
their attention than the other puppies who can play a little rough for Max.
We're going to try puppy day care tomorrow and I'll let you know how it
goes. He's on FFR now and I'm feeding him 3 times a day (1/4 cup each
feeding). He's almost 5 months now and I don't know when I should increase
him to two feedings (1/2 cup each) let me know your thoughts.

Thanks so much for the coaching re: the last puppy training. I lost my $$
but it's worth it to maintain his temperament and 'charm' :-).

That's it for the Max update. I'll keep you posted! Your new litter looks
great....I'm tempted to get a companion; I'm just not sure how this would
impact Max. What do you think?

Congratulations on your new litter! I can’t decide whether to get Porsche’a a playmate or to let her have a litter. She is so sweet but two may be too many. I can’t decide. Here are some pictures of Porsche’a back around Christmas time. She is now 12.7 pounds and about 14” if she sits still long enough for me to measure her. We just started puppy training classes last week. We love her so much! I will try and take some new pictures and send them to you soon.

Just wanted to say Hi and to send you an adorable picture of little man. He is such a character. I'm pretty sure he believes he is a giant schnauzer!
In fact our baby boy is a 19lb muscle. He is solid and tough as nails. He rules the roost.
Jack is the best little man we could have asked for. He and Tucker are best buds and are inseparable. Take good care and have a great day:o)

Happy Halloween!!!! Steph (CO)

Malorie loves to watch dogs on television so I showed her the video you have of your babies on the website. She watches it so carefully, turning her head at the sounds of the pups. Its really cute. Just thought I would share a picture:)

Renee

Donna,

I just wanted to send you this note on Luca's first birthday and give you an update..Luca loves everybody and every animal we encounter on our daily walks. He is playful (still kinda of nibbles on my hands) and full of energy. His two best friends are Oliva (my adorable little niece) and Lulu (my best friend's dog). He even knows them by name. Luca is an early bird, getting up between 4:45-5:30 every day. I don't even have to set an alarm anymore. He loves going to doggie daycare expending all his puppy energy with all sorts of furry friends. He loves toys, shoes, socks and telephones. He snuggles every morning and gets his belly rubbed and scratched. He isn't yappy yet knows when he needs to bark and stops when I tell him. He loves to chase birds and play ball at our nearby park. He was house trained until he had his little snip snip surgery and now messes up on occasion (less frequently so hopefully we are at the end of that phase). He LOVES people watching and whenever we are out and he sees people or other dogs and just stops and stares. He loves sitting on top of his crate, checking out the world outside. He gets lots and lots of exercise and is a strong little guy.

I LOVE LUCA SOOOOOOO MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR GIVING HIM TO ME!!!!!!

Courtney

Kyzaar as Santa Pup in CA sending his wishes for a Happy Holiday.

This is Ebony with her brother and sister. She lives in Mississippi.

Hello and Merry Christmas to you guys. We just got our first big snow fall up here and Nari is loving it. At first, she wouldn't go outside. I used a broom to sweep a path out to her morning spot in the grass. Once she got out there she started to investigate the snow and now we can hardly keep her in the house. She eats the snow and runs around in huge circles flipping it all over the place. We are cracking up. I attached a picture of her with a face full of it, you can see she is as cute as ever. She is so much fun! Thanks again for a perfect pet. Andrea (Ohio)

This is Mike and Barbara. Just wanted to update you that we are now stationed in Maryland. Bommel is doing wonderfully. The Base here has woods, trails and fields that Bommel loves to play in and on. Just saw your new puppies on your website and they look really cute. They have the same eyes as Bommel. I have attached some pictures of Bommel and his Texas buddy Figaro. I hope you have a wonderful holiday.

Hi Donna,
I just wanted to drop you a note and send you a picture or two of Guinness. He is doing great in obedience classes, and is still growing like a weed. I no longer need an alarm clock, he wakes me up no later than 7am every day. It is difficult to see in the pictures, but he has really long legs and is a pretty big boy at 25 pounds. Anyway, thank you for such a great addition to the family. I am also interested in being put on the list for your next litter of puppies, I think that Guinness would like a playmate.
Jennifer (Arizona)

I just wanted to let you know, Nari is better than ever. We just had her "fixed". I hated doing that to her, but she was in perfect shape the next day. She'll have her stitches taken out a week from tomorrow. Thank you again for such a wonderful pet. My husband and I keep asking each other if we're dreaming. I've never known of a nicer dog. She knows tricks and she was easy to house train. She stays in our yard unless we take her to play with her best friend, a standard poodle named Angel, who lives across the street. The groomer loves her, too. A PERFECT PET. That's all I can say. She loves to ride in the car and wait for the kids to get off of the bus. We took her to soccer games and people were telling us how super nice she was and several people commented on how quiet she was. She's smart, and cute, and funny; just full of personality. We absolutely love her. I've attached a few pictures just for fun. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Andrea (Ohio)
9/06
We have been crazy busy, but wanted to send you some updated pics. of Romeo and Valentino. They are doing great and have so much personality and my wife and son feel so safe with the boys looking out for them since I have recently started to work in the evenings. Valentino is extremely protective. We can actually say that they make life alot more enjoyable. They are family.
Sincerely,
Jerry and Family

This is ReeCee and Hershey, they live in LA.

Rhonie's person she has fallen in love with is my youngest daughter, Kathryne. Kathryne tells me that she's Rhonie's mom and I'm the grandma. I had a friend over on the 4th of July who used to show mini shnauzers (I didn't know this before then) and she told me that Rhonie was a "looker" and had some great potential for show. Brenda (CA)

This is Jack, he celebrated his first birthday with his own cake. He lives in Colorado!
We live in Maine!

Ginger and Tatiana in FL!
Nico in OH also!
Nari and Nina in OH!
We deliver cold noses!

Luca Playing and having fun in CA!
Guinness in AZ!Guiness 12 wks!

Bo in Tx!

The great Photo Wall of Fame! Photos of what we think of as our famous fur babies that have joined their homes.These are photos sent to us by parents so we can see how much they have grown and comments about them as well. Thank you and keep those photos coming.

To Micro-Chip or to NOT micro-chip?????

2010-06-28T10:51:00.000-07:00

This was published on March 29th, 2010 and I thank Val Heart my puppy parent for sending it to me. All of my dogs are micro-chipped and my pups that have left me are micro-chipped. Although I have not had any issues nor have my previous parents, the chance is still out there as with anything. Concerns over the chip increasing chances of cancer are up for debate.
Nobody ever wants to think about their pet getting lost and to not be able to find their way home. I will look into other options like tattoos. Maybe just making sure our pets always have on a secure collar with well printed tags would be a just as good option. There also is a GPS collar for dogs so you can track exactly where they are at but it is quite expensive.

I have to say I am on the fence with this still. If it means not putting a chip into a puppy to maybe have a longer life, that works just fine for me. I will no longer micro-chip. Please ask your vet upon your first visit.
Here is a link with info on micro-chipping.
http://healthfreedoms.org/2010/03/29/chipped-pets-develop-fast-growing-tumors/
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/implanted-microchips-cause-cancer/#sthash.1pQwk2h2.dpbs
http://www.wnd.com/2010/03/131533/

Health and Genetics

2010-05-05T08:35:00.000-07:00

Miniature Schnauzer Health & Genetics

The following information and articles are intended to raise awareness, not to prescribe medical treatment or offer self-diagnostics. If you have encountered any medical condition described here, we encourage you to discuss it and/or print out the information and take it to your Veterinarian. The Miniature Schnauzer Club of Canada assumes no responsibility for your failure to obtain proper Veterinary care.Please address any comments related to this section of our website to webmaster@mscc.ca

Litter "StarStruck" 3/13/10

2010-03-10T19:25:00.000-08:00

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HOLLY BERRY X ARMANI MARCH 13, 2010 "STARSTRUCK"

NO puppies available from this litter, see our "Gone with the Wind" litter!

Holly Berry we produced from our Gabriella and Cooper and is a very joyous girl. She is a beautiful mini that weighs 18 lbs and is 13x13. Holly was the first pup that Megan used in 4H and trained for agility. She loves it.
These babies will be fabulous thick coated babies weighing about 14-18 lbs full grown based on her previous litters. She has blessed us with blacks, and very dark salt/peppers (not silver full grown). See her last litter with Armani the "Birthday Surprise". Fabulous size for families with kids also. The temperaments will be very loving and very smart and easy to train. You won't want to miss out on this one. Theses very thick lush coats that feel like your most favorite stuffed animal.
Included with each puppy is our 3 yr health guarantee.

This litters theme name is "StarStruck" .............you get the picture. Because they are our little stars.

Our STAR LineUp:

Black Male "Baxter" (natural tail): Austin family, TX (no chip)
5/9/10:"You raised one amazing dog. Baxter went to bed at 11pm (our time); we put him in a fenced area in our master bath (3 steps from our bed) that included just his bed & his litter box. He woke us ONCE; at 2:45am; Steve stroked him; talked to him & he crashed. He got up at 7am this morning ... but once he wants to get up ... that's when we heard him LOL. Tail wagging; yips; excitement. I think we all needed a good nights sleep after all the adventures of yesterday. Tonite might be different. Other than our episode on the way home; he uses the litter box EVERY time (Steve thinks that is the most incredible thing he has ever seen). Baxter has his whimpers & we are s l o w l y learning what each one means (not batting 100% in that dept) but happy to report he DOES like scrambled eggs & also frozen carrots :) I told Steve w/ a new grandbaby on the horizon; & after the Sheriff Bart issues; we really have to stay on top of his "biting" which is cute now but that won't last so I make sure to have appropriate substitutes on hand to dissuade his nibbling tendencies (all things I learned from you).
Donna, I have never seen such a well adjusted, content puppy. He is such a happy spirit; has Steve rolling around on the floor & wrapped around his little paw.
Happy Mother's day to you & to Holly (and thank you soooooooooooooooo much for Baxter)"
*~*~**~*~**~*~*~
Black Male "Georgie": N. DeMaio, NJ (no chip)
5/9/10:"Happy Mothers Day to you also!! It's especially wonderful with Georgie here!!!! He is doing great, eating, slept all
night for me and woke a joyful little boy. My family is just crazy about him too. My other pups accepted him with of course lots of barking, but I keep them separate unless we're holding him because he's just too young yet.
Thanks Donna, enjoy your day!" Nancy
*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~~*
S/P Male Orange string"Theo": Washer Family, LA (no chip)
5/4/10: "Hi Donna,I just wanted to drop you a note and let you know that Theo is doingso great in his new home! He was such a great car rider! He met Nola Saturday and they have been playing ever since. He keeps wants to snuggle with her to sleep but she makes him lay about 6 inches away-hahah! Pretty soon they will be snuggle bunnies... What an answer to prayer! He is afraid to be alone which has made for some sleepless nights but that will not last too much longer (hopefully :) ) - Nola has been hiding under the bed because of his howling so I think she might teach him some tricks to speed up the process!I will send pics soon!" Leigh-Ann
*~*~*~*~~*~*~
S/P Male No string"Bailey":A. Carson, MI (chip)
5/10/10 "I could'nt be more happy. He is the sweetest little guy. We named him Bailey. He snuggled and played all day yesterday. He did better than I expected the first night, cried a little but then settled down. Now is adjusting quite well in his new home. He loves to sleep on my husband's chest. :)" Amy
*~*~*~~*~*~*~*~~
S/P Male Blue string"Newton": P. Reeh Family, TX (chip)
"Hi Donna-
Hope you had a great Mother's Day. Newton is adjusting wonderfully to his new surroundings. He is so fun to watch and play with. Yesterday, Stella and Newton were playing tug-a-war with a little towel toy. It was so fun to watch. Stella would dangle the toy in front of Newton and he would grab it and try to pull it away (Stella is a 75 pound lab). She would then let it go and Newton would take off running with the toy and then turn to see if Stella was chasing him. They are going to be great friends. Pictures to follow soon.later" Patty
*~*~*~*~~*~*
Black Female "Courtney": Matti & Susan, Tx (no chip)
5/9/10:Courtney is adapting wonderfully. She slept most of the way home and only shrieked for a little while when we put her in the crate while we ate dinner. The plan was to put her in the crate last night, but we decided that we were all too tired to try that. Therefore, she got what she had planned all along--to sleep in the bed. In exchange, she was a very good girl and only asked to get up and go out once. She is still looking for her little brothers (not to mention her grandma) and can't figure out why the cat is so grumpy, but other than that she's relatively unfazed by the change. She's already looking forward to the trip back to Taylor to visit and to pick up Sasha. Susan and Mattie

Babies joined their new homes on Mothers Day weekend, May 8th, 2010

VIDEO:

4/25/10: First playtime outside!

New Puppy Education Info Section/Feeding

2009-12-25T07:14:00.005-08:00

EDUCATION INFO SECTION:
Bringing your new friend home tips
Food and Feedings:
Your puppy will be started on on a good quality food. Your puppy will be eating Royal Caninr small breed puppy.
DOG-PROOF YOUR HOME
Whether your new friend is a puppy or adult dog, here are important tips to help keep him out of harm’s way:
Keep household cleaners and chemicals out of his reach.
Restrict access to plants that are dangerous to dogs: poinsettias, azaleas, rhododendrons, dumb cane, Japanese yew, oleander and English ivy.
Store breakable items safely out of the way.
Hide or cover electrical cords so he won’t chew on them.
Safely store antifreeze, engine oil, laundry detergents and lawn chemicals.
Keep kids’ toys off the floor—since some parts may be small enough for your puppy or dog to swallow.
Use a cover and/or protective fencing if you have a pool or hot tub.

CHOOSING A NAME
Here are a few tips to consider before naming your new dog:
Names should be short. A two-syllable name is best because it’s brief and won’t be confused with one-syllable commands such as “No” or “Sit.”
Be consistent. All family members should use the same name—don’t use confusing nicknames or variations.
Reward your dog’s recognition of his name with lots of praise and play.

WELCOME HOME
As the “parent” of a puppy or new adult dog, it’s important for you to help him get used to his new surroundings. Think of him more as an infant than a pet: He’ll need plenty of patience, supervision and love. Here’s how you can help him adjust.
Bring him home when it’s quiet and you don’t have company. Also, choose a time when your routine is normal.
Show him the area of your yard that will be his bathroom before bringing him inside. Then take him there whenever he goes outside.
Give your dog his own room where you can keep his crate, complete with bedding and chew toys (leave the crate’s door open). He’ll feel safe in his “den.” Put down newspaper for accidents.
Supervise your puppy at all times, and play with him several times a day. You’ll help establish yourself as the pack leader.
Give him bathroom breaks every few hours and right after eating, drinking, sleeping and playing (watch for signals like sniffing or circling). Never punish your dog for accidents; instead, praise him when he goes in his outdoor spot.

GETTING EXERCISE
An appropriate amount of exercise will help promote your new dog’s good behavior and assist you in training him. Talk with your veterinarian about how much daily exercise your breed typically needs. Some dogs are just naturally more high-energy, and need more exercise than others. Schedule family members to exercise your dog throughout the day. I do not recommend outside walking until all shots have been completed which is 12 weeks of age.

MEETING CHILDREN
You should have no trouble at all encouraging your children to play with your new dog. Still, you’ll want to supervise his first interactions with your kids and set playtime limits—15-20 minutes two or three times a day. Here are still more ground rules to explain:
No rough teasing or playing. Tell your kids that tail-pulling and teasing can lead to bad habits like jumping up.
Be gentle. Tell kids never to shout at the dog, even if he does something wrong. Explain that dogs can be startled by loud noises.

INTRODUCING OTHER PETS
Here’s how to help him meet your resident animals:
Do it gradually. Keep them separated for the first few days.
Keep him safely in his crate (or behind an expandable doorway gate) as you supervise their first meeting.
After several days of sniffing each other out, let your resident pet enter the den while your new dog is out of his crate.
Giving your new dog the appropriate amount of exercise.
Supplies you’ll need
Have these supplies on hand before you bring your dog home with you.
Your puppy will be eating Royal Canine Small puppy.
Biscuits
Teething toys
Stainless-steel non-tipping food and water bowls
ID tags with the contact information for yourself and your veterinarian
Collar size xsmall and a 6-foot leather or nylon leash
Wire Crate 24x36 (this is great for when they first get home because the cat pan will fit along with a bed)
Baby shampoo (we love Baby Majic) and human Bed Head after party
Brushes and combs
Cleanup supplies such as a stain remover, paper towels, and deodorizing spray
Washable bed and blankets (I use old towels that I don't mind washing a lot)
Large cat pan
Pee pads to fit inside of your litterpan,
You will come home with a puppy packet for your puppy. It will include Shot record, Food information, treat sample, Free health insurance, CPR pet paperwork, toy and blankie.
ONLINE DOG OWNERS MANUAL:
www.dogster.com/guides/dog_health_and_care

Your first veterinarian visit
In addition to providing your new dog optimum nutrition, scheduling regular visits to the veterinarian is key to ensuring his health and
happiness. Here’s how to prepare.

GETTING READY
If you have time, introduce your dog to his new veterinarian by scheduling
an orientation-only visit. Let the veterinarian’s staff pet him and offer treats. If you project a calm, upbeat attitude, your dog will likely remain calm, too. Some experts recommend scheduling these “just dropping in” visits on a regular basis.

THE FIRST APPOINTMENT
At your dog’s first appointment, you’ll be asked basic information, and a staff member may weigh your pet. Keeping track of his weight can help identify problems associated with weight loss or gain.
Then you’ll meet the veterinarian. You’ll be asked about your dog’s diet and lifestyle. Next you’ll get to ask about your dog’s care. Then the veterinarian will examine him and may administer his first vaccinations. Ask about heart worm prevention and flea control products.

THE VACCINATION SCHEDULE
The information you provided will help the veterinarian determine the kinds of diseases your dog may be exposed to and plan an appropriate vaccination schedule.
Schedules vary, but it’s important for puppies to get a series of vaccinations to provide optimal protection against infectious diseases like the ones listed at right. The series is begun as early as 6 weeks old, with boosters given 3 to 4 weeks apart (6 WK, 8 WK AND 15WK) and yearly until they are 12 to 16 years old. If your vet would do yearly titers instead of automatically vaccinating this would be grest. Rabies vaccine given after 16 weeks
Canine Distemper
Adenovirus-2
Canine Parainfluenza (DA2P)
Canine Parvovirus (CPV)

SPAYING AND NEUTERING
To help your dog live a longer, healthier life (and control pet overpopulation), spaying or neutering is important. Your veterinarian will recommend the appropriate age, generally around 5-6 months.

BATHING YOUR PUPPY
A brushing each week will keep your pup’s coat in good condition, but if he gets really dirty or has acquired an odor, use these steps to bathe your dog:
Step 1: Brush your pup and then gently plug each ear with a cotton ball. Place him in a tub or basin with a nonskid surface. Hold the collar firmly, then pour lukewarm water over his body, being careful to leave his head dry.Cold water will chill your dog and make bathing an unpleasant experience.
Step 2: Use a baby shampoo to soap the body. Work up a lather, talking to your puppy and praising him as you work. When he’s well lathered, move to his head, being careful to keep shampoo out of his eyes, ears and mouth.
Step 3: Rinse and dry the head, then rinse the body. When the water runs clear, rinse one more time. Dry your pup with towels and then remove the cotton plugs from his ears. If your dog has healthy skin, you can dry him further with a hair dryer set on low or warm.

Things to work on once home:
Once home please work on these things.
First week= 10 new sounds,
Second week = 10 new people and
Third week = 10 new places. On the places that doesn't mean they have to go on the ground but even the drive through at the bank counts or in the shopping cart at Petsmart. Just try to be careful of public places until the full series of shots are completed.
Let me know what questions you have and I will post here.

Question 1: My puppys stools look to soft?
If stools looks too soft, use yogurt and pumpkin. Are you over feeding?
Mix 1 tsp with each feed and it helps. Do this until stools look normal. Pumpkin is great of loose stools or for constipation.

Question 2: Have you started them going potty outside? No, you puppy is used to using a litterbox and tofu pellets from Amazon. We also began then with a pee pad inside of a litter pan.

Question 3: How do I keep my puppy from crying all night long? If your new dog is a young puppy, keep the crate close to your bed at night, and when you feel the need to reassure him, just poke your fingers through the bars of the door to allow him to smell you, but do not let him out if he starts to whine (this is where the earplugs come in). If he does not settle down after a short period of time, take him out (yes contradicting, but you should be able to tell the difference) and take him to his potty spot to relieve his bladder. Do not play with him, or cuddle him too much, just out to go pee, then right back in again. He needs to learn that night time is not play time. If you need to, set your alarm for about three hours into the night and get up and take him out to avoid accidents in the crate.

Once you are past the first two or three nights, both you and your puppy should be comfortable with the crate, and your nights will be easier. It won't be long before your pup is noticeably alerting you that he has to go outside, and the length between trips will expand, allowing all to get better rest at night.

Taken from :http://dogs.about.com/cs/basictraining/p/crate_training.htm

He is not finishing all of his food, do I leave it or pick it up?

Pick up what he does not eat. If he keeps coming back to finish it will keep his stools soft from over eating. He should know when he is full. If he continues to not finish at a meal time you may have to add back in a lunch time feed also. He should almost eat a cup of food per day.

He is biting my fingers, what can I do?http://schnauzersoftaylor.blogspot.com/2007/06/what-to-do-about-those-mouthy-pups.html
Here is some info I have up on Mouthy Pups.
My best advice is to yell OUCH as loud as you can and let him know he is hurting you. Replace something like a toy
into his mouth at that point. Plus remove all attention also so he learns that you will not play until he can be nice.
http://www.perfectpaws.com/pupstuff.html

My Vet recommends a parasite screen for like $23.00 do you think they need to do that? NO, he doesn't need parasite screen. He has been dewormed for hooks/rounds at 2,4,6 and just before he left. He also was de-wormed for tapes. That is why his stools were so yucky for a couple of days. I know that the dogs do not have any parasites :0)

Can you give me some hints as to how to stop the dog from marking?
He is too young to be marking!!! They will not mark until they are older and have hormones.
Puppys will not relieve themselves all the way and then will have small accidents.
This is part of potty training. Call your vet and he will confirm that this is true. A pup that was just 8 weeks old yesterday can not be marking.

You are going to have to working on potty training and not let him into those areas.
Confinement or constant supervision. Pick up the area rug for now and remove it. Put down a pee pad there.

Laying The Groundwork For Training Success

2009-11-13T10:03:00.000-08:00

By Suzanne La Croix, MS

Suzanne La Croix is an ethologist and animal behavior counselor researching the ontogeny of behavior in canids at Michigan State University.*

“Timing is everything,”…the mantra of every dog trainer, regardless of training method. When training canines, critical timing can mean moments—the moment of reinforcement for a task successfully accomplished, and periods—specific periods of growth and development during puppyhood. Like humans, puppies and dogs learn different levels of skills more easily during specific developmental periods. To properly lay the groundwork for successful puppy training, it’s important to understand the growth and development periods that puppies go through.

Puppies begin learning by making simple associations that provide their foundation for learning. Next, they learn “how to learn” from their breeder, mother, and littermates. Finally, as they mature, their ability to perform more complex thought processes permits them to make decisions and solve problems. During puppies’ physical, neurological and behavioral development periods, breeders and new owners can schedule specific association and training tasks to achieve the behaviors and skills they desire in their adult companion animals.

Over the past 50 years, comprehensive scientific research (conducted by scientists including Scott, Fuller, Pfaffenberger and Fox) has directed much attention to the socialization of puppies. Today, we continue to draw conclusions from their experiments on developmentally “sensitive” periods and combine them with an advanced understanding of neurological development and the ontogeny of learning. When considering your training program, keep in mind that individual puppies, as well as different breeds, will proceed through development stages according to their own rate of growth.

Neonate Period (0-3 weeks)
Although the mother does most of the work during this stage, it is important that breeders hold and pet each puppy daily. Significant physical and neurological changes are occurring and stimulation is important for the development of neural pathways. Human touch is qualitatively different than the touch of the bitch, and may predispose the puppy to human handling. Exposure to human scent, through stroking and warmth, helps puppies form positive associations with humans.

Transition Period (3-4 weeks)
As the puppies’ senses of sight and hearing enter operational mode, they begin exploring. This period presents the prime opportunity to build positive associations with “all things human.”

Breeders can direct puppies’ perceptions of their world by introducing: background noises like human voices, nail grinders and the garbage truck; background scents like potpourri, shampoo and dinner cooking in the kitchen; and background visual stimuli like the grooming table, wheelchairs and children or other pets moving through the area.
While continuing to handle each puppy daily, gently introduce the command for the puppy to hold “still.”
Socialization Period (3-12 weeks)
Beginning at 3 weeks, breeders should set the foundation of positive associations for the desired adult dog behaviors. General and specialized skill areas can also be introduced.

Provide safe, positive, and repeated (once a week) exposure to pre-school children, older children, adults (male and female) and senior adults including their sounds, smells and touches.
Create positive crate associations: place several puppies with their nesting blankets in a crate for five-minute periods and leave the room during this time.
Expose puppies to different ground surfaces. This helps teach the difference between “bedding” and “potty areas.” Provide transition to outdoor elimination habits with a litter box or designated gravel indoor potty area.
Begin leash work: get puppies used to wearing a collar, work up to short informal jaunts on a leash, and restraint on a grooming table.
Begin exposure to travel in a car with short car rides around the block or to safe destinations (other than the veterinarian!)
Teach a general “Come” command: call “Puppy, puppy, puppy!” as you enter the room with their food dishes.
Begin supervised exposure to desired adult dog activities: introduce pheasant wings, retrieving bumpers, solid agility obstacles like the tunnel, dog sleds and carts, show ring fencing, stuffed bunnies for chasing, and household furniture.
Permit puppies to observe the mother exhibiting good dog behavior and performing commanded tasks.
Fear Period (8-10 weeks)
Just when socializing is proceeding with great success, many puppies will suddenly exhibit fear and avoidance of familiar stimuli. During this natural stage of hypersensitivity, breeders should avoid introducing novel stimuli and traumatic experiences.

Take a few days off from socializing, as needed and keep the pups together in their protective litter environment with positive visits from the mother and breeder.
Juvenile Period (12 weeks – puberty—up to 18 months in large breeds)
Following the above steps helps you set the stage for your puppies to develop strong bonds with their new humans and to confidently expand their skills as they adjust to their new homes.

From the puppies’ first day in their new homes, new owners should reinforce perceptions of “who’s the boss” by consistently asking for and reinforcing desired behaviors.
Generalized “Come” and “Heel” commands are easy, since the puppy is naturally inclined to follow owners on walks and explorations. Expect more precise behavior as he matures.
“Sit” and “Down” commands are easy to introduce, since the puppy is inclined to allow owners to be dominant. His diminutive size at this stage negates the need for wrestling matches that may occur if the new owner waits several months to begin skills training!
“Fetch and Retrieve” should be introduced as games and will be easily understood when a veteran dog demonstrates the tasks, or if the thrown item has a string attached.
New owners should continue providing positive experiences with new people, places, sights, and sounds to maintain optimal socialization of the growing puppy.
Recent research supports the value of observational learning, too. In this type of learning, a puppy creates positive associations and learns portions of tasks by observing other dogs displaying these skills. This comes as little surprise to multiple-dog owners who routinely “apprentice” their younger pups in the field or in a new situation with a veteran dog who will display the desired behaviors. Training a puppy in obedience alongside well-behaved older dogs provides a behavior model for the unruly puppy.

The success of a puppy’s future trainability takes shape during the formative experiences with the breeder. Even so, much work remains for new owners who want to develop high performance dogs and loving companions. Working with your puppies during their physical, neurological and behavioral development periods, will help lead to enriching, lifelong relationships and will help you reach your goals of successful, lifelong placements.

Your First Vet Visit

2009-11-13T09:55:00.000-08:00

In addition to providing your new dog optimum nutrition, scheduling regular visits to the veterinarian is key to ensuring his health and
happiness. Here’s how to prepare.

GETTING READY

If you have time, introduce your dog to his new veterinarian by scheduling
an orientation-only visit. Let the veterinarian’s staff pet him and offer treats. If you project a calm, upbeat attitude, your dog will likely remain calm, too. Some experts recommend scheduling these “just dropping in” visits on a regular basis.

THE FIRST APPOINTMENT

At your dog’s first appointment, you’ll be asked basic information, and a staff member may weigh your pet. Keeping track of his weight can help identify problems associated with weight loss or gain.
Then you’ll meet the veterinarian. You’ll be asked about your dog’s diet and lifestyle. Next you’ll get to ask about your dog’s care. Then the veterinarian will examine him and may administer his first vaccinations.

THE VACCINATION SCHEDULE

The information you provided will help the veterinarian determine the kinds of diseases your dog may be exposed to and plan an appropriate vaccination schedule.
Schedules vary, but it’s important for puppies to get a series of vaccinations to provide optimal protection against infectious diseases like the ones listed at right. The series is begun as early as 6 weeks old, with boosters given 3 to 4 weeks apart until they are 12 to 16 years old.

Canine Distemper
Adenovirus-2
Canine Parainfluenza (DA2P)
Canine Parvovirus (CPV)
SPAYING AND NEUTERING

To help your dog live a longer, healthier life (and control pet overpopulation), spaying or neutering is important. Your veterinarian will recommend the appropriate age, generally around 6 months.

BATHING YOUR DOG

A brushing each week will keep your dog’s coat in good condition, but if he gets really dirty or has acquired an odor, use these steps to bathe your dog:

Step 1: Brush your dog and then gently plug each ear with a cotton ball. Place him in a tub or basin with a nonskid surface. Hold the collar firmly, then pour lukewarm water over his body, being careful to leave his head dry. If bathing your dog outdoors, don’t use water from the garden hose. Cold water will chill your dog and make bathing an unpleasant experience.
Step 2: Use baby shampoo(not as harsh as dog formulas) to soap the body. Work up a lather, talking to your dog and praising him as you work. When he’s well lathered, move to his head, being careful to keep shampoo out of his eyes, ears and mouth.
Step 3: Rinse and dry the head, then rinse the body. When the water runs clear, rinse one more time. Dry your dog with towels and then remove the cotton plugs from his ears. If your dog has healthy skin, you can dry him further with a hair dryer set on low or warm.

How To Choose Between Male and Female Dogs

2009-09-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

By Mary Stasiewicz

In some ways, choosing between male and female dogs is a matter of personal preference. However, there are some characteristics which are common in bitches and other characteristics which are common in male dogs. It is important to evaluate these characteristics and determine which sex would fit in best with your home situation. Additionally, choosing between male and female dogs is important if you already have another bitch or male dog and are choosing an additional dog. This article will list a few characteristics of bitches, a few characteristics of male dogs, and how to choose between male and female dogs when considering a second or third dog.

Read more »

Thicker Coat "What is it"???

2009-09-21T08:58:00.000-07:00

Schnauzers, have different types of Schnauzer hair. Hair types vary from
the coarse German bristle terrier type hair (seen in the show ring) to the
ultra soft sheltie/type hair. Somewhere in the middle is the cotton
candy type hair that gets those really yucky mats. Because the
Schnauzer is a mix of the Affenpincher and the Poodle, you also
find Schnauzers with straight hair, others with dense curly poodle
type hair, and every other variation in between.

We have pups now with the thicker soft straight type hair
that almost never mats. Many people are breeding "Designer Dogs" by crossing several different breeds. We know at Schnauzes Of Taylor, mixing several breeds can be problematic from a health standpoint. We recommend sticking to a purebred AKC schnauzer and getting the coat that fits your lifestyle.