In the United States, the Miniature Schnauzer is in the terrier group and indeed resembles some terrier breeds in its conformation and trimming. American Miniatures are usually larger and stronger, with narrow elongated terrier-type heads, heavy bone, steep shoulders and extremely well-angulated rear. The American coat is usually soft in texture and therefore extremely profuse on legs and beard.

The German type Miniature Schnauzer is extremely different from the American. It is smaller and more delicate, with light bones, less elongated head sometimes even heavy, extremely wiry coat with not very profuse feathering on legs and beard.

The trimming of both types is also quite different. Americans let coat on the legs grow quite long and back comb it for extra volume. The Germans remove most of the coat from the legs. Strangely enough, with the conformation differences one can also notice two types of temperament. The American dogs are more quiet and serene and less “hysterical” than German Miniatures.

The Germans deserve credit for being the breed’s country of origin, the breed standard being German. The Americans developed the original breed, turning it into what we currently see there, and have undoubtedly made it more attractive and therefore more popular. The question remains, what is the better type and which side should dominate? The Europeans have found the solution, initially in Scandinavia and then in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain and France. Breeding typical American dogs to the original German type, they arrived at a composite type that is definitely preferable.

The intermediate Miniature Schnauzer is within standard height, powerful but elegant and impressive, not as narrow in head as terriers but also not that heavy and wide. Its bones are strong and its coat conforms to standard requirements regarding wiry body coat, however has a balanced impressive rich beard and longer coat on the legs. This intermediate type has not brought the discussion of the perfect type to a conclusion and it shall probably continue forever.

In the United States, England and Australia, the American type continues to rule and no German dogs are allowed in. The Germans, for their part, continue to penalize American dogs that attend their show rings, claiming they belong to a different breed and a standard must be drawn up for the American Miniature Schnauzer completely separating the breed into two, while other Europeans continue to combine the two types and enjoy Miniature Schnauzers of excellent type and stable character.