How good are schnauzers with kids and family?

Question

are schnauzers good loving family pets?

Answer 1

Schnauzers tend to bond with one person or family.. but as long as socialized well, and trained from the beginning they are great with family.. Older schnauzers are tricky though.. as they get older they get a bit nippy.. and if not trained well, they will react badly to anything smaller than them.. (like babies).. They are however VERY smart, which is both good and bad.. good because even as they get older it is pretty easy to train them.. they grasp concepts quickly, bad because, they are so good at figuring things out that they will get into things you'd forgotten you had.. Mine can open locked doors (we have no idea how since they only do it when we are not present)..

Rescuing them is iffy.. if you choose this route, make sure you discuss the dog with them carefully.. an untrained or anti social schnauzer can make you miserable.. (one of ours was a "rescue".. basically the pound called and said if we didn't take him he would be put down due to aggression.. we had about 3 weeks of complete hell trying to work with him.. but, he settled down nicely after that.. )

Answer 2

All the schnauzers I have ever know have been wonderful family dogs. I would usually say that you need to go to a shelter and not think about breed but I have never met a mean schnauzer. They are quick learners and highly sociable. They do need to be groomed which can run about $50 every 6 weeks. They are also prone to prancriatitas so get them on a food with no corn, wheat, soy or by-products. I would still check with your local shelters and look for a breed rescue group. If you have kids you should adopt an adult dog (at least 2yo) this way they are done with the puppy problems and you can start training them to be a member of your family. Good luck!

Answer 3

I have raised and bred schnauzers for many years.and currently have two schnauzers. I have three children, ages 9, 11, 14 and all participate with puppy care and socializing when we have puppies in the house. It's been my experience that schnauzers are good with children if raised with them. We sell a lot of our puppies to homes with children and all have reported that everyone has gotten along wonderfully. As one person put it, if you want them to be good with children, raise them and socialize them with children or with cats etc.

Our children dress up our schnauzers, push them around in doll carriages, strollers and swings. Our dogs seek them out for cuddle and playtime and bring their leashes when they know it's time for a walk. The dogs will do anything for a treat including trying to all their tricks in under 30 seconds if the treat is something they really like. They greet friends with a smile and a wag of the tail but reserve their special hello for family and close friends only.

After having a schnauzer, I would never get any other breed of dog. They don't shed, aren't yappy, love people and are sooooooooo very clever.

The down side is that because schnauzers are very smart they need a very firm hand. They are like the strong-willed child. If you let them get away with being grumpy and aggressive they will learn to be that way. One of my schnauzers did not like to be picked up by people he didn't know. As I have a lot of people and strange children visiting our house, we worked with him on this specific situation until he no longer had a problem with it. If we had let him get away with that behaviour, it would have become a problem.

Reinforce the positive behaviours you want from your dog, no matter what the breed and you will be on your way to a great family pet.

Answer 4

I have to be honest... I have had 3 miniature schnauzers in my life, both growing up and now. None of them have been particularly good with kids.

If you have your kids before you get a schnauzer puppy, or while the schnauzer is still young, it'll probably do okay with your own kids. My parents had an older min. schn. when I was born and the thing HATED me. I knew not to drop anything around him or he'd bite when I went to reach for it.
We got another one when I was older and he was fine with the family kids, but is getting grumpier and now when I've gone to my parents' house, he has bitten my 20 m/o.

I have one at home, and he is good with my daughter (who was born when he was about 2), as in not biting or growling at her, but he is still afraid of her (runs away and doesn't let her pet him much). But he lets her dig in his food bowl and doesn't even growl! This same dog, however, will seek out and try to attack other children. I'm serious.

So, in conclusion, min. schn.'s seem to do the best with kids they have known from a young age. This way, they know the children are ABOVE themselves on the totem pole. They can be a quite anxious breed, and that can make them aggressive to the unknown.

I'm only speaking for miniature schnauzers. I don't know about the others.

Answer 5

I have a schnauzer/poodle and she is the most loving dog that I have ever had! She is great with everyone; she is more popular than me in the area. People just love to see her and spend time with her. I think the key is to socialize your pet as much as possible. I would caution to make sure you keep an eye on how the kids play with the dog...my dog had one little boy play very rough with her and now she's afraid of other little boys that look like him. Even though she is afraid she only hides, she doesn't bite. I think they're great dogs! Good luck.

Answer 6

As long as you bring it up right and make sure it knows its the lowest member of the pack then there shouldn't be a problem. A friend of mine had a giant schnauzer and it loved people and loved kids.

Answer 7

I have a miniature schnauzer and is excellent with both - but watch out - very very smart. He woudl have you trained in no time...lol

Answer 8

I am sure they are if you get them as a puppy and raise them around kids. However, my mother in law has one who was not raised with kids from a puppy and everytime she is around kids now she chases them and bites at them. But, this may not be as much an issue of her breed as much as it is an issue of my mother in law not disciplining her when she does it.

Answer 9

All dogs need to be trained and socialized around things you want them to be good around, and to be used to.. You want a dog that is good with kids, you socialize them with kids.. You want a good dog with cats, then you socialize them with cats.. You determine what the dog will like and will be used to... You want a good well trained dog, then you have to train your dog well....