Is this a common thing with schnauzers?

[Anonymous]

I was walking in my neighborhood yesterday, listening to an audiobook and not really paying much attention to my surroundings. I was startled by rapid movement in my periphery, and looked up to see a large schnauzer-looking dog coming toward me very quickly. Bizarrely, it wasn’t running, but rather hopping. Great big hops just like an enormous rabbit. It stopped a few feet away (presumably the yard had an electric fence) and just stared at me. No barking and no aggressive movement.

When I carried on with walking, it hopped along parallel to me until it got to the end of its yard. When I looked back, it was still staring at me, and I had the strong sense that it was hoping we could strike up a conversation.

Is it normal for schnauzers to hop? Do you think it was being quietly aggressive and defending its territory? Or maybe just bored and looking for company? The whole thing was so freaky—half terrifying and half funny. I wish I knew the neighbors so I could get the story on this dog.

[Anonymous]

Agree..sounds cute AND scary.

[Anonymous]

We used to have a schnauzer-mix that did this. She was being playful, probably wanted to make a friend. Schnauzers are just delightfully weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We used to have a schnauzer-mix that did this. She was being playful, probably wanted to make a friend. Schnauzers are just delightfully weird.

Interesting—delightfully weird definitely fits the bill. If it had been a mini-schnauzer, it would have been straight up adorable, but it was shocking to have such a huge beast bounding up like that. But then its expression was so very calm and thoughtful. My fight/flight/chitchat instincts were all at war.

[Anonymous]

Schnauzers can be weird in that they are not only extremely intelligent, they also can act like people and mimic them.

[Anonymous]

Yes, my friend has one that I've dogsit a few times I call this her "bunny hops". She usually throws a few in when she's running fast.

[Anonymous]

I would like a delightfully weird dog that is smart, playful, and enjoys hopping like a bunny. I wonder why there aren’t a lot of schnauzers around, at least in my neighborhood. Are there downsides to the breed in general?

[Anonymous]

I have a standard poodle that bunny hops when I send him to "place" while I prepare his meal (he knows when it's meal time and he knows the drill, so he's super excited to hear "place". His ears flop around in the cutest way. lol

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would like a delightfully weird dog that is smart, playful, and enjoys hopping like a bunny. I wonder why there aren’t a lot of schnauzers around, at least in my neighborhood. Are there downsides to the breed in general?

It's working protective dog, intelligent, but a bit stubborn
In general, I don't see a lot of protective dogs in US, I guess because they are viewed as liability (rightfully so). How often do you see dobermans or rottweilers, cane Corso or even German shepherds? Giant schnauzers are in the same group - large powerful guard dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like a delightfully weird dog that is smart, playful, and enjoys hopping like a bunny. I wonder why there aren’t a lot of schnauzers around, at least in my neighborhood. Are there downsides to the breed in general?

It's working protective dog, intelligent, but a bit stubborn
In general, I don't see a lot of protective dogs in US, I guess because they are viewed as liability (rightfully so). How often do you see dobermans or rottweilers, cane Corso or even German shepherds? Giant schnauzers are in the same group - large powerful guard dog.

OP here. We have a fair number of German Shepherds in our neighborhood (Bethesda), but you’re right about the other breeds. I feel like I don’t see standard or mini schnauzers often either though. Just an endless stream of doodle mixes. Not sure if it’s the same everywhere around here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like a delightfully weird dog that is smart, playful, and enjoys hopping like a bunny. I wonder why there aren’t a lot of schnauzers around, at least in my neighborhood. Are there downsides to the breed in general?

It's working protective dog, intelligent, but a bit stubborn
In general, I don't see a lot of protective dogs in US, I guess because they are viewed as liability (rightfully so). How often do you see dobermans or rottweilers, cane Corso or even German shepherds? Giant schnauzers are in the same group - large powerful guard dog.

OP here. We have a fair number of German Shepherds in our neighborhood (Bethesda), but you’re right about the other breeds. I feel like I don’t see standard or mini schnauzers often either though. Just an endless stream of doodle mixes. Not sure if it’s the same everywhere around here.

Yeah, it's quite interesting why doodles became a thing, and not expansions on various schnauzers, they're mostly considered hypoallergenic (main appeal of doodles). Probably, because schnauzers are terriers after all, hunting/working breeds while poodles are seen more of companion dogs (and they were once retrievers to begin with)

PS in my neighborhood I see a lot of huskies, labs and doodles. Just couple of German shepherds

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We used to have a schnauzer-mix that did this. She was being playful, probably wanted to make a friend. Schnauzers are just delightfully weird.

Interesting—delightfully weird definitely fits the bill. If it had been a mini-schnauzer, it would have been straight up adorable, but it was shocking to have such a huge beast bounding up like that. But then its expression was so very calm and thoughtful. My fight/flight/chitchat instincts were all at war.

I have a big goofy dog. She’s a big 100lb goober. (Total mutt no pitt). Folks respond to her differently than a smaller dog doing exactly the same thing. I get it but they’re really no different in temperament. Just a lot bigger!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like a delightfully weird dog that is smart, playful, and enjoys hopping like a bunny. I wonder why there aren’t a lot of schnauzers around, at least in my neighborhood. Are there downsides to the breed in general?

It's working protective dog, intelligent, but a bit stubborn
In general, I don't see a lot of protective dogs in US, I guess because they are viewed as liability (rightfully so). How often do you see dobermans or rottweilers, cane Corso or even German shepherds? Giant schnauzers are in the same group - large powerful guard dog.

They're...tough dogs, especially the giant schnauzers, and can be pretty scary in the wrong hands.theyre very protective, which can turn aggressive quickly, and they don't have the working dog mentality something like a Shepherd to make them a bit more biddable. I'm not surprised we don't see more because they're definitely advanced level in terms of ownership and can go bad quickly. I do think they're gorgeous but I've trained (many!) Large dogs including Shepherds, Dobies, and a Corso and a giant Schnauzer would give me pause...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would like a delightfully weird dog that is smart, playful, and enjoys hopping like a bunny. I wonder why there aren’t a lot of schnauzers around, at least in my neighborhood. Are there downsides to the breed in general?

It's working protective dog, intelligent, but a bit stubborn
In general, I don't see a lot of protective dogs in US, I guess because they are viewed as liability (rightfully so). How often do you see dobermans or rottweilers, cane Corso or even German shepherds? Giant schnauzers are in the same group - large powerful guard dog.

They're...tough dogs, especially the giant schnauzers, and can be pretty scary in the wrong hands.theyre very protective, which can turn aggressive quickly, and they don't have the working dog mentality something like a Shepherd to make them a bit more biddable. I'm not surprised we don't see more because they're definitely advanced level in terms of ownership and can go bad quickly. I do think they're gorgeous but I've trained (many!) Large dogs including Shepherds, Dobies, and a Corso and a giant Schnauzer would give me pause...

Are the standards and minis hard to train/for experienced owners as well?

[Anonymous]

My siblings both have mini schnauzers and they're both sweet dogs but they can both be a bit loud even with a lot of training. Schnauzers will straight up scream sometimes. However both are very good with kids.