Miniature and Toy Schnauzer colors

Understanding Schnauzer Colors

According to breed standard in Canada and the USA, there are only three recognized colors for the Miniature Schnauzer. There are many more colors that exist but since they are recessive to the three standard colors, they occur very rarely in the breed. Because the original Miniature Schnauzers were a result of breeding the Standard Schnauzers with Miniature Pinchers, Affenpinsers, Miniature Poodles, etc. a gene pool for colors other than the three recognized colors was created. Some breeders have selectively bred their dogs to encourage these "rare" colors. Below are some examples of the colors schnauzers come in. Some are my dogs and some are dogs owned by friends or family. They are listed here as examples of schnauzer colors. They are NOT for sale.

BLACK

Solid black all over with some white on the chest

BLACK AND SILVER

Black body with silvery white legs, chest band, eyebrows and beard

SALT AND PEPPER

Varying shades of grey body with silvery white legs, chest band, eyebrows, butt and beard

BLACK PARTI

White coat with black color overlay in a variety of patterns. May have ticking or be without ticking (black spots on the white coat)

SALT AND PEPPER PARTI

White coat with grey color overlay in a variety of patterns. May have ticking or be without ticking (grey spots on the white coat)

LIVER PARTI

White coat with brown color overlay in a variety of patterns. May have ticking or be without ticking (brown spots on the white coat). Also have brown noses, pads of feet, eyelids and green eyes.

WHITE

Solid White body with black nose, pads and brown eyes.

This is a Jetta/Cooper puppy

LIVER

Solid brown body with brown nose, pads and green eyes

Thanks to Nicole at Parti Paws for the use of the photo.

LIVER/TAN PARTI

White body with chocolate color overlay in a variety of patterns. Has tan eyebrows, beard and butt. Also has brown nose, pads and green eyes

Thanks to Denise at Schnauzertime for the use of the photo.

BLACK AND SILVER PARTI

White body with black color overlay in a variety of patterns. Has white eyebrows, beard and butt.

This is a Cooper/Oreo puppy

LIVER TAN

Solid brown body with tan eyebrows, beard, legs, butt and brown nose, pads and green eyes

Thanks to Jesi at Kanine Kisses for the use of the photo

LIVER PEPPER

Thanks to Pat from Alpats Miniature Schnauzers for the photo.

Of the three regular schnauzer colors, black is the most dominant, followed by salt and pepper and then by black and silver. Black and silver is the most recessive of the three regular colors.

Black and silver is a recessive pattern. This pattern can show up as salt and pepper, black and silver or chocolate and tan depending on the color influence behind the pattern. Parti is also a recessive pattern that is even more recessive than the black/silver pattern. Parti also comes in a variety of color options.

With all of these "recessive" colors, both parents must carry the gene for the "recessive" color in order to produce puppies with that color.

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Understanding Schnauzer Colors According to breed standard in Canada and the USA, there are only three recognized colors for the Miniature Schnauzer. There are many more colors that exist but since they are recessive to the three standard colors, they occur very rarely in the breed. Because the original Miniature Schnauzers were a result of breeding the Standard Schnauzers with Miniature Pinchers, Affenpinsers, Miniature Poodles, etc. a gene pool for colors other than the three recognized colors was created. Some breeders have selectively bred their dogs to encourage these "rare" colors. Below are some examples of the colors schnauzers come in. Some are my dogs and some are dogs owned by friends or family. They are listed here as examples of schnauzer colors. They are NOT for sale.
BLACK Solid black all over with some white on the chest	BLACK AND SILVER Black body with silvery white legs, chest band, eyebrows and beard	SALT AND PEPPER Varying shades of grey body with silvery white legs, chest band, eyebrows, butt and beard
BLACK PARTI White coat with black color overlay in a variety of patterns. May have ticking or be without ticking (black spots on the white coat)	SALT AND PEPPER PARTI White coat with grey color overlay in a variety of patterns. May have ticking or be without ticking (grey spots on the white coat)	LIVER PARTI White coat with brown color overlay in a variety of patterns. May have ticking or be without ticking (brown spots on the white coat). Also have brown noses, pads of feet, eyelids and green eyes.
WHITE Solid White body with black nose, pads and brown eyes. This is a Jetta/Cooper puppy	LIVER Solid brown body with brown nose, pads and green eyes Thanks to Nicole at Parti Paws for the use of the photo.	LIVER/TAN PARTI White body with chocolate color overlay in a variety of patterns. Has tan eyebrows, beard and butt. Also has brown nose, pads and green eyes Thanks to Denise at Schnauzertime for the use of the photo.
BLACK AND SILVER PARTI White body with black color overlay in a variety of patterns. Has white eyebrows, beard and butt. This is a Cooper/Oreo puppy	LIVER TAN Solid brown body with tan eyebrows, beard, legs, butt and brown nose, pads and green eyes Thanks to Jesi at Kanine Kisses for the use of the photo	LIVER PEPPER Thanks to Pat from Alpats Miniature Schnauzers for the photo.
Of the three regular schnauzer colors, black is the most dominant, followed by salt and pepper and then by black and silver. Black and silver is the most recessive of the three regular colors. Black and silver is a recessive pattern. This pattern can show up as salt and pepper, black and silver or chocolate and tan depending on the color influence behind the pattern. Parti is also a recessive pattern that is even more recessive than the black/silver pattern. Parti also comes in a variety of color options. With all of these "recessive" colors, both parents must carry the gene for the "recessive" color in order to produce puppies with that color. Back to Home Page