Pomeranian vs Miniature Schnauzer - Breed Comparison

Pomeranian dog Known as the Pom and classified as a toy dog breed, the Pomeranian comes from the Spitz dog from the Arctic regions. It is thought that the dog is descended from larger Spitz-type dogs, and more specifically the German Spitz.

It appears to be an ancient dog breed because there are recordings of its existence from 1764 already. This little dog is thought to have got his name from the area known as Pomeranian in Northern Poland as well as along the Baltic Sea, Germany.

The first breed club for this dog was established in England in 1891. Not long afterwards the first breed standard was written. In the standard published in 1998, The Pomeranian Dog is categorized in the German Spitz standard.

Miniature Schnauzers were first bred in Germany in the 19th century being bred from Affenpinschers and Standard Schnauzers.

This dog was always used to control rats on farms, but these days he is more a companion. It is believed that the start of the modern Miniature Schnauzer in the United States was around 1924 when dogs were imported from Germany.

It was in 1933 that the Miniature Schnauzer was recognized by the AKC as a separate breed from the Standard Schnauzer.

This is such a sweet little dog, full of good cheer and with such a bright little face. He weighs between 1.5kg and 4kg and stands at anything between 17 and 28cm in height.

He is such a compact little fluff ball with sharp erect ears and a fox like appearance with a well feathered tail that curls up over the dog’s back.

The coat is thick and spritely, not lying flat but standing up around the dog. Coats can be nearly any color, but the most common is tan, reddish, orange or you get a mix of cream tan and black.

Temperament:

When you look into the bright little face of the Pomeranian Puppy, you can see that he is a true extrovert. He is social and has a huge personality. They’re bright, eager, feisty, loving and loyal.

Full of fun and very intelligent, they may be small and cute, but training and socialization will do him the world of good as it means you can take him anywhere with you and he’ll be well behaved. They grow attached to their owners and want to protect them.

They can be somewhat aloof with strangers and its this wariness around them that makes them good watchdogs. They get on well with children in the home and are prepared to make friends with other pets in the family too.

The Miniature Schnauzer is a small dog breed that stands between 30 to 36cm in height and weighs between 5 and 10kg.

He has a sturdy body with a dense, wiry coat which most people prefer to have stripped. Because stripping is quite tedious, many of these dog owners prefer to have the coat clipped which actually gives the coat a greyish look to it.

The coat is usually a mix of black and silver. Some people refer to the Miniature Schnauzer as having a salt-and-pepper coat – hairs that are a mix of black and white. The dog has a double coat with the outer coat being wiry and the undercoat being a lot softer.

This is a dog that will need to be groomed frequently to prevent matting. A noticeable feature with these dogs is the rectangular shaped head with alert slanted eyes and bushy eyebrows, mustache and beard. In fact the word ‘Schnauzer’ means beard or muzzle.

The ears have been traditionally cropped but these days they are left and then they tend to be half-erect, half-floppy.

Temperament:

This is a tough little dog, fearless, cheeky, arrogant, alert and also friendly. A draw-card with him is that he is considered as a low-shedder and being hypoallergenic.

They’re very intelligent dogs too and will learn quickly when you give him training and socialization. This is important for a dog like this as he can quickly show you that he is strong willed and independent. Training and socialization makes him much nicer as he becomes more balanced and obedient.

He is full of life and extroverted and you can count on him to join you wherever you are and whatever you’re doing. Whether watching TV, swimming or hiking, he’ll be there and turn every occasion into a festive event. He is a loving, loyal dog, making a splendid pet.

He's protective of his human family and tends to be suspicious of strangers, and this is what makes him such a great watchdog.

Pomeranians are such bright, friendly little dogs and they’re also active. These loving dogs are also intelligent so you can easily teach him some simple commands such as sit or lie down.

He won’t want to lie down for too long though because he’s full of beans.

He’s alert too so he makes a good watchdog. When you bring one of these dogs into your home as a pet and companion animal, you won’t be disappointed as he’s got a whole lot of love to give.

Miniature Schnauzers are such adaptable little dogs, quite happy to make a home with you in the city or in the countryside.

They’re sociable dogs, so just being with his human family wherever they are will suit him well. If he lives in the city however, he will need to have a walk everyday or taken to the park for a run.

He is also a dog that scarcely sheds, so he suits people battling with allergies. With an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years, if you nurture your Mini Schnauzer and give him the best food and exercise there is, as well as loving him, you’re going to have a loyal and devoted pet.

Your little Pomeranian Puppy is a sturdy dog who isn’t going to battle too much with health issues. With good care such as good food and exercise, the Pomeranian can reach 12 – 16 years of age.

Some of the most common health issues you might come across

Luxating Patella:

This problem comes about when the ridges which form the patella groove in the knee aren’t deep enough to allow the patella to sit securely. This causes the patella to move out of the groove. While the muscles are contracted, the patella isn’t able to return to the correct position.

Eye Problems:

Pomeranians Dogs are prone to quite a few eye problems such as tear duct problems and cataracts. As a responsible dog owner, take your pet to the vet if you suspect eye problems.

Collapsed Trachea: 

The trachea carries air to the lungs and it can collapse. Your dog will have a chronic, dry cough and this can be brought about when people tug on their dog's leash.

Dental Disease:

Every little dog battles with teeth and gum problems which can lead to early tooth loss. When you brush your Pomeranian, make a point of checking inside his mouth too, as a bad tooth can cause pain but also all kinds of health problems.

Your Miniature Schnauzer is pretty healthy and he isn’t likely to cost you much in terms of vet fees. There are however some common dog problems that you want to be aware of such as cataracts of the eye and hypothyroidism.

Cataract:

This a a problem in the lens of the eye. The lens should be clear, and when a dog has a cataract, it obscures the vision. The size of the cataract can lead to blindness.

Diabetes in a dog can bring on cataracts as can genetics or damage to the eye from exposure to ultraviolet light. Fortunately, dogs with cataracts can still see. Dogs with old cataracts can have surgery to remove them.

When a dog owner suspects a cataract in their pet’s eye it is best to treat it immediately with anti-inflammatory dog cataract eye drops. Cataracts never go away however without surgery.

Hypothyroidism:

The thyroid gland in the neck produces a hormone called thyroxine. It controls metabolism, but with hypothyroidism, enough of the hormone isn’t made. Its a common disease which affects all dog breeds.

Signs of hypothyroidism include hair loss, weight gain, intolerance to cold and a troublesome skin. To have the disease diagnosed, the vet will do a series of blood tests.

Grooming:

Pomeranians Dogs have a thick, double coat, so you will need to invest in a decent brush so that you can brush him. He is a shedder so this is an important part of grooming. Some people prefer to take the dog to the groomers and have the coat professionally cut.

Exercise:

Your cute little Pomeranian isn't the kind of dog to spend too much time asleep on the couch. He is energetic and full of beans and he will wait anxiously for you to take down his leash and take him on a walk. In indoors his bright little face will be watching yours to see if there’s any chance of a ball game.

Diet:

People never know if they should feed their dogs dry kibble, semi-moist or canned dog food. Homemade food is always good, but if you opt to also use commercially manufactured dog food, go for the good quality ones that have vitamins and minerals in them.

Every dog needs a good balance of protein, carbs, minerals, fats, vitamins and trace elements. People often get all worked up over feeding their pets when it can be so simple.

Use a high quality dry kibble, but now and then add some home-made cooked food into it as a treat – about once or twice a week. Boil some chicken, brown rice, sweet potato, carrots and spinach and add this in to the dry kibble.

Every now and then a little bit of raw meat will also do your pet the world of good. What could be more simple than this? Nutritious, tasty and healthy, and your pet will thrive on it.

Make sure he always has a bowl of fresh, cool water close by.

Let’s look at several ways you need to care for your Miniature Schnauzer -

Make sure you have his puppy injections on time. This means knowing which veterinarian you’ll use. Later on if you don’t want to go in for breeding, you will need to have your pet spayed or neutered.

Make sure you have a nice warm, dry spot for your dog to sleep. It can be a cardboard box, or you can buy a dog basket or sleeping platform. Make sure your pet loves it and knows he can retreat to it anytime he wants.

If he goes outside for a few hours, make sure that he has a place to lie in the shade and away from the elements.

Good food promotes good health and longevity. You can feed your pet one of the top quality commercially manufactured foods and give your pet some variety by adding in some boiled chicken, vegetables and brown rice. Some raw meat occasionally can also be excellent for your pet.