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Of the
three Schnauzers: Miniature, Standard, and Giant, all of which are bred
and registered as distinct breeds, the medium, or Standard, is the
prototype. He is a German breed of great antiquity, which in the 15th and
16th centuries must have been in high favor as a household companion, for
his portrait appears in many paintings of the period. Rembrandt painted
several Schnauzers, Lucas Cranach the Elder shows one in a tapestry dated
1501, and in the 18th century one appears in a canvas of the English
painter Sir Joshua Reynolds. 593 Standard Schnauzers were registered with the AKC in 1985, 526 in 1986, 560 in 1987, 507 in 1988, 558 in 1989, 556 in 1990, 569 in 1991, 599 in 1992, 527 in 1993, 484 in 1994, and 500 in 1995. Schnauzers were first exhibited in Germany as Wire-Haired Pinschers in 1879 at the Third German International Show at Hanover. The breed in America was originally classed as a terrier, whereas German breeders have always regarded the Schnauzer principally as a working dog. His principal vocation was that of rat catcher, yard dog, and guard. Before World War I in Germany, fully 90% of the dogs used to guard the carts of farm produce in the market places while the farmers rested themselves and their teams at the inns, were of strong Schnauzer blood. The Schnauzer Club of America was formed in 1925. The first Schnauzer to become an American champion was the Swiss bitch, Resy Patricia, imported by Mrs. Maurice Newton, who bred from her the first American-bred champion, Fracas Franconia. The first dog to make the American title was Holm von Egelsee, which was also the first Sieger to come to this country. He was imported by William D. Goff. |
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