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Dog
breed description
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The oldest of the three varieties,
the standard, or medium-sized, Schnauzer's origin remains obscure. One
account say it is a cross between two now extinct breeds, the Beaver
Dog of the Middle Ages and a rough-coated dog, perhaps a terrier, which
was used to rid vermin. Others believe it is descended entirely from
drover's dogs, including the Bouvier des Flandres to which it bears
a close resemblance. The schnauzer is the stock from which the other
miniature and giant breeds were derived. It is shown in paintings and
in a statue dating from the 15th and 16th centuries. Originally a guard
dog and ratter, it was highly valued for its intelligence and courage.
A robust dog, it is characterized by a blunt, heavily whiskered muzzle,
a squared body, and a hard, wiry coat of black or salt-and-pepper. The
standard schnauzer is most popular as a guard and companion; it has
been used as a dispatch carrier, Red Cross dog, and police dog.
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