Adult Miniature Schnauzer Care

This section contains information about the special care needs of adult Miniature Schnauzers. In brief it contains information about:

Feeding Your Adult Miniature Schnauzer

Once you Miniature Schnauzer has reach adulthood and has stopped growing it no longer needs as much food as he did when it was a puppy. It is however still just as important to keep your Miniature Schnauzer well fed in order for him to keep fit and healthy.

Some advocate always preparing fresh food for your Miniature Schnauzer, nothing less than the best quality meat from the butchers. But this can be time consuming and expensive as the meat will have to be mixed with other foods to give your dog the balanced diet he requires.

Others recommend that you only feed your dog a complete dog food as they provide your Miniature Schnauzer with everything he requires to stay fit and well and are cheaper and easier than fresh meat. But the quality of the complete dog food can vary depending on the quality of it's ingredients. It is always best to buy a well known brand even though it may cost a little extra.

How much and how often you feed your Miniature Schnauzer as an adult is not an exact science although 2 medium sized meals a day is always a good starting point. Most dog food containers have guidelines on the side of their packaging as to what you should be feeding but as the dog's owner you will know how your dog responds to both meal frequency and size of portions.

Whatever you feed him it is of the utmost importance to keep your dog's health in mind. Does he have a healthy looking coat and bright eyes? Is he putting on weight or is he lacking energy? Adjust your dogs food intake according to how he responds, but always make sure he stays healthy.

Exercising your Adult Miniature Schnauzer

Along with his diet, exercise plays a vital role in keeping your Miniature Schnauzer fit and healthy.

And, as with feeding your Miniature Schnauzer, exercising is not an exact science but should be tailored to suit your dog. If he is fit and healthy with a lot of energy he should be allowed to exercise more than a dog who has less vitality.

As a rule though, allow your dog 30 minutes of exercise where he can run free off the lead. This means that it must be somewhere that your dog safe from the traffic and ideally should only be done once your dog has been fully trained to respond to your vocal commands.

During the summer it is best not to take your Mini out in the hot midday sun. With their wiry coats they can overheat very quickly, so it is best to take him for walks early in the morning or once the day has cooled down in the evening.

Caring for an Older Miniature Schnauzer

Once you Miniature Schnauzer's reaches old age (anything over 10 years old) their care needs change. As your dog ages you will notice that he slows down a little or is a little bit stiff and he may start to lose weight. It is important that you do not over exercise your dog and as soon as you see him start to tire, take him home.

Older Miniature Schnauzers need a slightly different diet to younger adults. You should cut back on the amount of protein and fat that you feed your dog and start to give him more vitamins and minerals. You may also find that you have to change his meal pattern and start to feed him smaller portions more regularly.