How long does a Miniature Schnauzer live?

The listed lifespan for a Miniature Schnauzer is 12–15 years.

How tall is a Miniature Schnauzer?

The listed height for a Miniature Schnauzer is 12–14 in.

Is a Miniature Schnauzer good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Miniature Schnauzer is 5 out of 5.

When is a Miniature Schnauzer full grown?

The growth size band for a Miniature Schnauzer is 8–12 months.

Terrier Group

Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzer is a small dog in the Terrier Group. Adult weight is 11–20 lb, height is 12–14 in, and the listed lifespan is 12–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Friendly, Smart, Obedient.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Miniature Schnauzer dog — Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Hildehund assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan12–15 years

Weight11–20 lb

SizeSmall GroupTerrier Group

Height

12–14 in

Energy

3 / 5

Shedding

3 / 5

Grooming

4 / 5

Trainability

5 / 5

Good with kids

5 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 13.5 years is about the same as the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 15.5 lb is about the same as the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is Germany. The coat is described as double, wiry, medium. The AKC energy score is 3 out of 5, 0.6 points below the group average of 3.6 for the Terrier Group. Shedding scores 3 out of 5. Grooming scores 4 out of 5, so a professional schedule is realistic. Trainability scores 5 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 5 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 3 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 17 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Cardiac Exam and Ophthalmologist Evaluation. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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