Schnese (Havanese x Miniature Schnauzer Mix): All You Need to Know

The Schnese is a wonderful, relatively new hybrid breed that is a mixture of the Miniature Schnauzer and the Havanese. It is a wonderful pet and could be the perfect addition to your family.

Before you decide to bring a Schnese home with you, though, it’s important that you know everything there is to know about this wonderful crossbreed.

Schnese (Havanese x Miniature Schnauzer Mix) History

The Schnese is a curious crossbreed, in that its origins are not really known. There is very little information out there about when or even where the Schnese first appeared. All we do know is its current personality and traits, and those of its parent breeds, the Miniature Schnauzer and the Havanese. It is sometimes called the Schneser, or the Mini Schnese.

We know that the Miniature Schnauzer, for example, is a very old breed. Experts have traced its origins back to Germany, where it is thought that the breed developed around the 1400s, and then became officially recognized as a distinct breed to the Schnauzer in the 1800s. It is thought that the breed’s heritage involved not only the Schnauzer but other similar breeds like the Affenpinscher and the Poodle.

At first, the Miniature Schnauzer was developed to hunt rats and vermin on German farms. Then, when the breed came to the US in 1924, it became much more of a companion breed. In 1926, the Miniature Schnauzer was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club.

The other parent breed, the Havanese, is a breed that originated in Cuba. It is thought that it descended from the Bichon Frise, and is often referred to as the ‘Bichon Havanais’ or the Havana Silk Dog. The breed was always kept as a companion and found its way to the US in 1970 when a large number of Cubans began to travel to the United States.

The breed was eventually recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1996, and is still a popular breed in the US today, even though breeders of the Havanese are not particularly common.

Schnese Appearance, Coat, Size, and Weight

As a new-ish hybrid breed, there is not yet a breed standard for the Schnese. Some dogs will look more like the Miniature Schnauzer and some will look more like the Havanese. Typically, though, the breed will have a medium coat that may be brown, black, gray, or silver. The breed’s coat will be straight with a normal thickness, and it will have brown eyes and a black nose.

Size-wise, the breed can weigh anywhere between 7 and 15 lbs and will measure between 9” and 14” tall. It will grow to its full size relatively quickly, usually reaching it around the one-year mark.

Schnese Maintenance, Activity, and Space Requirements

Below, we’ll look at some of the requirements for keeping this breed.

Schnese Maintenance

The Schnese is not a low-maintenance dog breed, largely because its parent breeds aren’t. The breed will require brushing on a daily basis unless the coat is kept very short. Unlike the Havanese and the Miniature Schnauzer, the Schnese is a moderate shedder and will require its owners to vacuum regularly. On average, the breed will need washing once every month or so, or when visibly dirty.

In addition to coat maintenance, owners will need to check the Schnese’s ears weekly and clean them with a dog-friendly ear wash. Owners may also find that they need to trim the breed’s claws regularly, but there is a chance that the Schnese will do this naturally. Teeth brushing will be required at least twice a week, too, to help to prevent periodontitis.

Schnese Activity Requirements

The Schnese is an excitable dog with plenty of energy, and as such, the breed does require a fair amount of exercise on a daily basis. You will need to provide a couple of daily walks, likely one in the morning and one in the afternoon. On average, the Schnese will be happy with around 45 minutes of exercise each day.

This does not have to just be provided as walks, though. You can exercise a Schnese by doing agility training, swimming, jogging, or even by playing high-activity games like frisbee or fetch. Exercising with your Schnese is a great way to keep the breed healthy and solidify the bond between you both.

If you’re unable to reach these exercise requirements, it is worth considering a different breed of dog. Not meeting the activity requirements of a breed can be really detrimental to their mental and physical health, so it is essential that you only bring home a dog breed that you are able to commit to the exercise requirements.

Schnese Living Requirements

While the Schnese is an active little dog, so long as its activity requirements are met, owners have found that the breed is surprisingly adaptable. Just like its parent breeds, the Schnese is able to live in a variety of environments. It does not specifically require anything like a yard or outside space and can get on just fine in an apartment or condo.

This is, however, assuming that you are able to regularly play and provide the Schnese with enough exercise. You should also aim to provide the breed with sufficient mental enrichment alongside physical exercise, which can be done through training and puzzle toys. This will be key to getting your Schnese to adapt to a smaller or solely indoor living space.

Schnese Temperament and Intelligence

Just as with the appearance of the Schnese, the breed’s temperament can go one of two ways as well. The breed can be more similar to its Miniature Schnauzer parent or its Havanese parent, it all depends on how the traits line up.

Breeders who have experience with the breed, however, have described it as affectionate, loving, and incredibly friendly. The breed, owing to the Havanese’s sensitivity, is really intuitive to its owner’s needs and as a result, makes a wonderful companion. The Schnese is lively and loyal, and will often have adapted the ‘velcro’ trait of its Havanese parent, and will do all it can to hang out with you at every opportunity.

However, also due to the Havanese genetics, the breed does suffer a little from over-sensitivity. It is prone to separation anxiety, and cannot be left alone for too long or too often without developing low mood, poor behavior, and depression.

The breed also has inherited one of the less popular traits of the Miniature Schnauzer, too, and has a high prey drive that makes it a breed that is not well-suited for a household with small pets. Larger pets, though, should be completely fine.

Generally speaking, the Schnese will get on with anyone. It is happy and playful and enjoys being the center of attention. Owners should consider, though, that the breed is very small and, as a result, may be vulnerable around small clumsy children.

When it comes to intelligence, the breed is moderately intelligent. The Havanese and the Miniature Schnauzer are the same, so this should come as no surprise. The breed is, however, very easy to train due to its eager-to-please nature. The breed will easily learn most commands given to it, but if it seems that the breed is struggling, positive reinforcement will go a long way.

Schnese Health and Lifespan

With any dog breed, there are certain health conditions that the breed is prone to. Crossbreeds are usually safer than their parent breeds when it comes to health conditions, as they have a broader genetic background and are less vulnerable to genetic predispositions. That is not to say, though, that the Schnese has no possible health conditions. The breed is prone to:

• Urolithiasis
• Von Willebrand’s Disease
• Portosystemic Shunt
• Sick Sinus Syndrome
• Myotonia Congenita
• Patellar Luxation
• Deafness
• Megaesophagus
• Heart Conditions
• Legg-Calve Perthes Disease
• Liver Problems
• Joint Dysplasia
• Eye Conditions
• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
• Familial Nephropathy

Generally speaking, though, many of these conditions can be caught early on and treated in order to prevent the Schnese from developing complications or suffering for any length of time. By working closely with veterinarians, owners can help to prolong the life of their Schnese, even with these conditions.

As with any dog breed, if owners ever notice sudden changes in their Schnese, a trip to the vet should always be booked. Even small changes like a change in appetite or sleep schedule can be a sign of a more insidious illness or condition. These things are usually treatable, but catching a disease or condition early is key to safely removing any risk.

In fact, despite its predispositions to the above health conditions, the Schnese actually has an average life expectancy of around 12 to 15 years. This can be reached with proper exercise, regular veterinary checkups, mental enrichment, and the right amount and type of food.

To correctly feed a Schnese, owners should aim to feed the breed a cup or so of food each day. The food should have high-quality ingredients and meat-based items listed first and second on their ingredient list. Owners should avoid any ingredients like wheat, corn, and soy, or at least avoid foods high in those ingredients.

Is the Schnese the Right Breed for You?

Deciding whether a dog breed is right for you can be a long and hard process. Not only do you have to decide what it is that you’re looking for, but you also need to determine what parts of your lifestyle you’d be willing to change in order to fit a furry friend in. Adjustments will always need to be made, but it is a matter of finding a dog breed that you like and that requires the least amount of change on your part to allow you to adapt easily to your new family member.

When it comes to the Schnese, the breed is perfect for anyone looking for a happy-go-lucky excitable small breed that will stick to them like glue and do all that it can to spend time with its owners. The breed is incredibly loyal and loving, so it suits anyone who would describe themselves as the same.

In terms of children and other pets, the Schnese gets on well with large animals and children who are taught how to act around small dogs. Around younger children, owners may find that the breed is a little skittish purely because of how unaware and clumsy younger children can be.

To help ease this, there are a number of things that you can do, including crate training the Schnese and teaching your child boundaries. Alternatively, if you have smaller children, it may be worth opting for a different breed.

However, when it comes to small animals such as rodents or cats, the breed may have an issue as it does still have quite a high prey drive due to its Miniature Schnauzer parentage. This can be trained away but is an important thing to consider when choosing a dog.

It’s also really important to note that the Schnese suffers quite badly from separation anxiety. As a result, it can develop destructive behavior, depression, disinterest in food or play, and poor behavior. To avoid this, owners should try their best to minimize time spent away from their Schnese. The breed can handle a few hours here and there, but anything more than a morning or afternoon is likely to cause them to become distressed.