On Schnauzer Hair, Part 2

This is Part 2 of a series on schnauzer hair.  Read Part 1 here.

We were told that miniature schnauzers do not shed.  We read that miniature schnauzers do not shed.  But we didn’t fully believe that they don’t shed until we had our first mini schnauzer for a few months.  With all their hair, one would think they must leave some behind on clothes and furniture, but they don’t.  The other day I had a moment of panic when I found a lone white hair on my clothes after holding Cocoa.  Then I remembered she had a hair cut just a few hours before I was holding her.  So, yes, after a haircut, you may find a stray hair or two, but, other than that, schnauzers don’t shed!  (Good news for the one who does the cleaning in your house!)

I’m going to attempt to answer some of the common questions we here about schnauzer hair.  I’m answering from our experience, which is not representative of all mini schnauzers.

In case you haven’t read all about us on our website, we have two mini schnauzers – Jolly & Cocoa.  Jolly has a traditional coat, and Cocoa has a super coat.

1) What is the difference between traditional, super, & mega coated?

There are two basic differences – the amount of hair and the texture of hair.  Traditional has the least amount of hair, then super, then mega.  Traditional hair tends to be more wiry, and super & mega are more soft. 

As to the difference between super and mega, I’ve never been able to find much information on this topic.  Basically, the mega coat is even thicker than the super.  I suppose breeders who specialize in these coats and see many of them in a year develop an “eye” for it.  (Cocoa’s mom was super coated, and her father was mega coated.  From looking at pictures of Cocoa, her breeder felt she may have inherited her father’s mega coat.  We know she is at least super coated; so we have chosen to call her super coated.)

2) What are the pros/cons of the traditional coat versus the super or mega coated?

Pros of Traditional

-Less hair to comb and clip
-Easier to maintain
-Fewer mats and tangles

Cons of Traditional

-More wiry feel
-Not as showy or stylish

Pros of Super or Mega

-Tends to be softer
-Beautiful when groomed properly

Cons of Super or Mega

-Requires more brushing
-Mats easily if not brushed weekly

3) How often do you brush your mini schnauzers?  

Ok, confession time, I rarely brush our mini schnauzers.  I brush them about once a month.  Jolly’s traditional coat is fine with once a month brushing.  Cocoa’s super coat could use weekly brushing.  (If I were diligent with brushing Cocoa weekly, I feel we wouldn’t reach the point where we need to clip her entirely and start her coat over, as I discussed in my first post.)

4) How often do they need to be groomed or clipped?  

We do our grooming here at Russell Homestead.  Mr. Russell is our self-taught groomer.  We clip them every other month.  Over winter, we allow their coats to grow longer.

5) Which type of coat – traditional or super – do you prefer?

We like both of our miniature schnauzers, and it feels a bit disloyal to say we like one’s coat over the other.  But, if I had to choose between the coats, I would choose traditional.  Yes, the super and mega coats can be soft and beautiful, but with our outdoor-loving family and homestead environment, Cocoa’s super coat needs more attention.  That’s just our opinion.  We still love our little Cocoa, but must admit that her coat isn’t our first preference.

On a lighter note, no matter what kind of coat you have, sometimes you just need a nap with a buddy…

Cocoa & Jolly napping under our kitchen table (maybe it was wash day for their beds). I chose this photo because it was cute, and it also shows the difference in their hair on their tummies.

I know many of my blog readers are mini schnauzer fans, and I’d love to hear from you!  How often do you groom and brush?  Which type of coat do you prefer?  If you are reading this and considering a schnauzer, I’d love to hear any questions you have about their care.

Thanks for stopping by!