Schnese (Mini Schnauzer & Havanese) Mixed Dog Breed: Info, Pictures & Care

The Schnese is a designer dog that combines the miniature Schnauzer and Havanese breeds. Both breeds are, independently, energetic dogs that are loving and loyal to their families. The Schnese often combines many of the good qualities of both parent breeds, but as with all designer dog breeds, you never know what combination of the parent breeds you might get.

Breed Overview

Overall, though, the Schnese tends to be an intuitive dog that excels at dog sports like agility, obedience, and even search and rescue. These smart puppies can be fantastic companions in many types of households. Read on for more information about the designer dog breed, the Schnese.

Schnese Characteristics

Schnese Puppies

Since these dogs are a mixed breed, you may be able to find one in a shelter or rescue near you, depending on the area you live in and the availability of puppies. Use caution in purchasing a Schnese puppy from a breeder or a pet shop. Pet shops tend to purchase puppies from puppy mills, and a large number of breeders who breed designer breeds are backyard breeders and puppy mills. If purchasing from a breeder, make sure to ask them all the necessary questions to make sure they practice ethical breeding and always ask to visit their facilities before paying anything.

When you bring a Schenese puppy into your home, be ready for a playful and energetic puppy that you can easily train and socialize from a young age.

Temperament & Intelligence of the Schnese 🧠

Are These Dogs Good for Families?🏡

The Schnese can be a great family dog due to its loving, playful nature. The miniature Schnauzer can be a little bit of a touchy breed and they are not always the best dog to have around children. This means that your Schnese may be touchy and intolerant of children, especially young children and children who haven’t learned proper boundaries with dogs. Early socialization to children and teaching your children proper treatment and handling of dogs is the best way to make sure your Schnese is happy and comfortable in family life.

Does This Breed Get Along with Other Pets?

Havanese tend to be a little more accepting of other dogs than miniature Schnauzers. Both parent breeds can be good companions to other pets if they are properly socialized. The Schnese can be a good companion to other dogs and household pets if socialized early and introduced slowly. Use caution allowing your Schnese to be around small animals, like rodents. Most dogs are likely to harm small animals, whether on accident or on purpose, when not closely monitored.

Things to Know When Owning a Schnese:

Food & Diet Requirements

Miniature Schnauzers are more prone to obesity than many other small dog breeds. This means that the Schnese can be prone to obesity as well. Providing a high-quality diet in proper portions will help keep your Schnese at a healthy weight. Maintaining a quality, properly portioned diet is necessary to ensuring the health of your Schnese’s joints and internal organs. Your vet can help you know how much to feed your Schnese based on its age and current weight. Portioning can be done with a measuring cup or via weight of the serving, but if you use a measuring cup, it needs to be an actual measuring cup with accurate markings, as opposed to a random drinking cup you grabbed from the kitchen.

Exercise

To maintain your Schnese’s health, daily exercise is also necessary. Both parent breeds are relatively high energy, so the Schnese is usually a high energy dog. They will happily participate in dog sports, but your Schnese will also enjoy basic daily activity. A brisk walk once or twice daily may be enough to burn any excess energy your dog might have. Keep in mind that the Schnese is a small dog, so it won’t require long distance walks like a large breed dog might. However, a dog that isn’t receiving enough exercise is likely to become bored and destructive or yappy.

Training

The Schnese is typically a dog that aims to please and is intuitive, making it pretty easy to train. Their excitable nature can make getting and maintaining their attention difficult, though. Positive reinforcement training and using games and play as training tools are likely to be effective ways to train your Schnese. As with any dog, everyone in the household should be a part of the dog’s training regimen. This ensures your dog learns how to listen to multiple people and obey the rules of the household.

Grooming ✂️

If you plan to get a Schnese, you must understand the grooming needs of these dogs. The parent breeds both require regular brushing and may need routine groomer visits as well. The Schnese requires near daily brushing to prevent tangles and mats thanks to the silky coat of the Havanese. Since this is a cross breed, it’s difficult to know what type of coat your Schnese may have. Miniature Schnauzers have shorter, coarser coats than the Havanese, so your Schnese’s coat could go either way. You may also see a combination coat that is long and coarse or shorter and finer.

Health and Conditions

Male vs Female

Your female Schnese is like to be trainable from a young age but also independent and protective. Female dogs in general are more likely than males to be suspicious of strangers. Your male Schnese may be more difficult to train, especially when still in the early stages of puppyhood. He is likely to be less independent than a female, but also more loving, playful, and accepting of strangers.

3 Little-Known Facts About the Schnese

1. The Havanese is named for Havana.

The Havanese is a breed that originated in Cuba, so it acquired its name from the city of Havana. The breed is also called the “Havana Silk Dog” and is the national dog of Cuba. In the 1400s, the Spanish arrived in modern day Cuba with small dogs from Europe in tow. These dogs interbred with the local dogs, creating the early Havanese. By the early 1800s, this breed had become popular with wealthy people in Europe and Cuba, but by the end of the century, the breed was exceedingly rare. In the 20th century, the breed began being reintroduced to Europe and Cuba, and it was introduced to other parts of North America. By the end of the 20th century, the Havanese was a well-established breed.

2. The miniature Schnauzer is a much newer breed.

The miniature Schnauzer is a younger breed than the Havanese. While the Havanese has existed in some form since the 1400–1500s, the miniature Schnauzer didn’t become established until the late 1800s. The breed came to be when farmers needed small dogs to function as pest control in agricultural areas. Miniature Schnauzers are great ratters and aren’t afraid to go into caves and burrows after vermin.

3. Be ready to hear some barking!

The Schnese is the product of two dog breeds that love to bark, so be prepared for a dog that will alert you to its every concern. That’s not to say that you’ll have a dog that seems to never stop barking, though. Your Schnese is likely to bark more if bored and under-exercised, so keep your dog physically and mentally fit and active. The Schnese can be a great dog for apartments and condos, but it’s important to recognize that your dog may become a barking nuisance without proper training and exercise.

Conclusion

The Schnese is a cute, playful dog that can be rewarding to add to your family. However, they are a designer breed and not an established breed, which means you can get any combination of parent breed traits. These dogs are also regularly advertised as being hypoallergenic. However, this is a misunderstanding of what causes allergies to dogs. Most people with allergies to dogs are allergic to dander, which is present on all dogs regardless of breed and coat. A Schnese may be less likely to irritate the allergies of someone allergic to dogs, but it’s not guaranteed, so that should be a serious consideration before bringing a Schnese home. Overall, these dogs are lovely, fun dogs that can be a lively addition to your home.

See Also:

• Cairland Terrier (Cairn Terrier & Westie Mix): Pictures, Guide, Info, & Care
• Will A Corgi Get Along With Other Dogs?

Featured Image Credit: Bianca Grueneberg, Shutterstock