Although Schnauzers are popular and endearing, their upkeep and maintenance is a lot more time consuming than some other dog breeds and it keeps owners and professional groomers alike constantly on their toes.
Their classic appearance is sure to melt the heart of any owner while the care behind that appearance requires more work than some may expect.
As well as covering grooming clippers suitable for Schnauzers, I have also included some videos that demonstrate each of the haircut styles.
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Clippers for Miniature Schnauzer Haircuts
It’s hard to beat watching an expert via a video in order to pick up the basics of grooming. And it is especially true of Miniature Schnauzer grooming.
The groomer in the following video demonstrates, step by step, how to approach clipping with respect to which parts of the body to tackle first and how to achieve the required style lines.
The clipper model used above has been very popular with groomers and dog owners alike. It is a Wahl Cordless Pet Clipper. There are other models equally popular, but the cordless version is so much easier to work with.
Wahl Professional Animal Arco Pet, Dog, Cat, and Horse Cordless Clipper Kit, Champagne (8786-452)
5 Schnauzer Haircut Styles
With Schnauzers, you have a number of styles to choose from, depending on the look that you are after. For example, you could go for:
1. A Pet Trim
Now here, in the following video, is one dog in need of a decent trim. Watch the groomer as she transforms this scruffy-looking Miniature Schnauzer into a beautifully styled dog, sporting a pet trim.
We have just seen the use of another popular dog grooming clipper: the Andis 2-speed clipper.
2. A Show Style
The Show Style requires a lot of work to achieve the required standard.
The Schnauzer’s very thick coat requires thinning out by hand or hand stripping.
For the Show Cut, the torso usually ends up with a coat length of about an inch with the hair on the legs a little longer. The facial hair has that distinctive look we are so used to, with the eyebrows and “beard” quite long.
As you would expect, this style requires ongoing maintenance.
Because the Show Cut is quite a tricky style to perfect, I have included a video to provide some guidance:
3. A Standard Schnauzer Cut
This is a more relaxed style, similar to the Show cut but not as detailed or exacting.
You don’t have to be as fussy. Therefore, it is a little easier to do and to maintain. It certainly helps to keep the coat healthier so that it is easier to comb and brush.
4. The Puppy Cut
For this cut, you remove more hair than in the styles above.
You can still keep that Schnauzer look but have less maintenance to do in the end.
The Puppy Cut is a popular choice for so many breeds, such as the Havanese, Shih Tzu and Cockapoo breeds.
5. A Natural Hair Style
This is, as the name suggests, a natural look. The coat is left to grow as it would naturally without clipping and of courser many prefer this. However, this style requires a lot of constant brushing and combing to keep it looking neat and tidy.
Schnauzer Clipping Basics
In order to groom a Schnauzer properly, some essential tools are required to be on-hand prior to beginning the process. Owners should be prepared with some dog clippers, a reliable brush, dog nail clippers and specialized trim clipper guards to accommodate the Schnauzer’s different hair lengths around the body. And of course, depending on the way your Schnauzer has been clipped, you can expect that there will be some hair to remove.
Schnauzer fur is thin and long in some areas and therefore is susceptible to matting. In order for your dog to maintain a healthy and attractive coat, trimming must be a regular part of your routine to keep the mats at bay.
Trimming the Schnauzer Face
The longer hair around the face of your Schnauzer should be carefully and regularly trimmed as a precaution against mats as well as visibility and care when eating or drinking.
In order to prevent possible infection, use blunt-tipped scissors or grooming clippers and cut with the grain of the hair itself and not against it.
A longer clipper guard like a 15 (affiliate link) can work to preserve the Schnauzer’s unique and beloved appearance while also seeming neat and tidy. The Schnauzer breed often exhibits longer eyebrows that can impair vision significantly so while trimming the facial area make sure to pay attention to the eyebrows as well as the longer strands of the hair framing the face in general.
Clipping the Schnauzer Body
The rest of the body apart from the face and tail can be clipped with a shorter clipper guard – most preferably around the 10 range (affiliate link). The body should be trimmed evenly beginning at the neck all the way through the back area to the tail.
In order to trim the longer hairs on the underside of the Schnauzer use a pair of scissors with caution to avoid accidental cuts.
Trimming the Schnauzer Tail
The tail can be clipped with a significantly shorter clipper guard to maintain a neat appearance. Snags in the Schnauzer fur are common and can lead to infection and pain so moving with the grain of the hair is essential for your dog’s comfort and health. The tail, once completed, should have no remaining curly hair.
Key Points in Summary
- There are at least 5 different Schnauzer haircut styles to choose from.
- Wahl and Andis clipper brands are very popular for this breed.
- Use different size clipper blades for different parts of the body.
And here is a grooming book to help you. This book, Notes from the Grooming Table (affiliate link) is an all time favorite with professional groomers and dog owners alike.
