Telomian vs Miniature Schnauzer - Breed Comparison

The Telomian, out of Malaysia is rare and the only dog bred in Malaysia that lives outside the country. The breed was originally called Village dog or Anjing Kampung in Malay. The Telo is still considered one of the rarest dogs in the world. They are considered as a possible missing link between the Australian Dingo and the African Basenji.

They were bred to kill vermin by indigenous people, the Orang Asli of Malasia. They have an amazing ability to climb bred into them because these indigenous people lived in stilt houses. Even as they kept the Theomian to hunt vermian, the Orang Asli believed dogs were evil spirits who would eventually turn on them.

In 1963, Dr. Orville Elliot, an anthropologist from the West, discovered the breed and named them the Telomian for the Telom River they lived near. He took a pair to the United States and by 1970 there was a Telomian Dog Club in the U.S. By 1973 another pair had been imported and it is thought that all the Telomians who live in the United States today are descendants of these two pairs.

Like the New Guinea Singing Dog and the Basenji, the Telo do not bark but rather have a unique howl. Being bred from wild dogs, the Telo is not fully domesticate and puppies need a lot of socialization. The Telomian is on the Dog Registry of America Inc and America’s Pet Registry but is not recognized by any pedigree registry.

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 a somewhat unique looking breed. They are small dogs, sturdy, athletic dogs with short coat, a square body and a long back. Their coat is smooth and sable and the ticking is white. They often have black masks and purple tongues. They are about 15-18 inches in height and weigh about 18-28 pounds. Their head is well proportioned and they have erect ears, almond shaped eyes and deep chests.

The Telo is still so undomesticated that the female only comes into estrus once a year in September to October. They have great command of their paws and can use them more like cats or racoons. They climb with them and hold toys, objects or food in them. This is related to their need to climb since homes were built on stilts in the jungles of Malaysia.

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.

1Childrn friendliness - yes but high energy

2.Special talents – climbing ability, use of their paws, able to hunt their own food.

3.Adaptability – they are not big so you would think apartment living would be ok but because of their energy and prey drive they really need a place to run.

4.Learning ability - Very intelligent, needs stimulation, and mental games

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.

This is a somewhat unique looking breed. They are small dogs, sturdy, athletic dogs with short coat, a square body and a long back. Their coat is smooth and sable and the ticking is white. They often have black masks and purple tongues. They are about 15-18 inches in height and weigh about 18-28 pounds. Their head is well proportioned and they have erect ears, almond shaped eyes and deep chests.

The Telo is still so undomesticated that the female only comes into estrus once a year in September to October. They have great command of their paws and can use them more like cats or racoons. They climb with them and hold toys, objects or food in them. This is related to their need to climb since homes were built on stilts in the jungles of Malaysia.

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.

This is an isolated, rare breed with very few known genetic health issues. They tend to be very healthy and athletic if well cared for and fed properly. The only issues they are known to have throughout the breed are hip and elbow dysplasia. Both of these issues we know can lead to arthritis and or lameness. Individual dogs may face other challenges such as allergies and obesity, but as a breed they are extremely healthy, much as the dingo and other wild dogs remain healthy.

Don’t overfeed them and watch what they might eat or try to eat when outside. They are used to feeding themselves in the wild and the domesticated dogs retain that prey drive and desire to eat what they catch.

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.