Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1938-09-22
DOGGIE DOINGS
BY M. G. DENLINGER
ORIGIN OF THE SCHNAUZER

Of the three varieties of Schneuzer;
Miniature, Standard and Giant, all of
which are bred and registered as dis
tinct breeds, the standard is the most
popular and is the prototype.
He is the German breed of great
antiquity dating back to the four
teenth century. Albert Durer is known
to have owned one for at least twelve
years, as the same dog occurs several
times in works of that artist between
the years 1892 and 1904.
Rembrandt painted several Schnau-
ers and Lucas Cranach shows
one in tapestry dated 1901. In the
eighteenth century one appears on the
canvas of the English painter, Sir
Joshua Reynolds.
At Mechlinburg. Germany, in the
market place there is a statue of a
hunter with a Schnauzer at his feet
that dates back to the fourteenth CEN
fury.
In America this breed is classeda S
a terrier, in Germany he is regarded
as a working dog. The Schnauzer is
used to guard the carts of farmers i'll
the market places Of today. The olden
days they followed the caravans that
passed across Germany. They were
used by the army during the World
War as dispatch-carriers and Red
Cross aids; they are also employed in
Germany in police work.
To prevent this breed from deteri-
Grating into a mere show dog, fate
that his rapidly rising popularity
threatens, the (Verein Won Schnauz-
ern) the name of the German
Schnauzer clubs, hold rafting trials.
Rats are placed in a large ring
made of wire netting, the floor is
covered with brushwood. Two or more
dogs are turned into the ring, the
dog that kills the most rats in the
shortest time is the winner. Rafting
trials are held at the larger dog
shows in Germany and prove a great
attraction. They have also been win
ming the Obedience Tests which are
feature of all the present day dog
shows.
Schnauzers were first exhibited in
Germany in 1879. The first Schnuzer
Club was founded at Cologne, Ger
many, in 1895. The Bavarian Sch
nauzer Club was formed at Munich
in 1907, and in 1918 all clubs in
Germany united and formed what is
known as the Pinscher Schnauzel
Club which has over 1000 members
There are today official clubs devoted
to this breed in Holland, Austria
Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, England
and America.
! Schnauzers have only been known
in this country since the war, but one
was shown at Madison Square
Garden as early as 1899. The first
importation of record to America
was in 1905. The writer believes he
owned the first Schnauzer in Mary.
land which he purchased in 1924.
The first American Champion was
the Swiss bitch (Resy Patricia). The
first American bred Champion wa:
(Fracas Franconia). The first male
American Champion was Holm vor
Egelsee).
| All Schnauzers in Germany have
cropped ears, but as the different
states in this country have specia
laws against cropping, the American
Schnauzer Club permits both cropped
and natural ears.
The Schnauzer's nature combines
high spirited temperament and ex
IRENE reliability. He is a strong
rough-coated dog of a pepper and salt
color. There are few solid black:
near Chicago. The writer believes hi
owns the only black Schnauzer in the
eastern states.
Space does not permit me to go intC
a full description of this breed, ant
for those who are not familiar with
his general appearance / might ado
that he somewhat resembles the wire
hair fox terrier with the exception Of
color and size. His correct measure
ments should be from 16 to 10 inches
while the fox terrier should not ex
coed Is inches. Some excellent speci
mems of this breed may be seen at th'
Dog Hotel, olney, Nd, where dol
lovers and visitors are always wei
come.