Miniature Schnauzer Feeding Guide – Australia

The Miniature Schnauzer is one of the funniest little dogs around. They are the smallest of the Schnauzer breed, but they certainly aren’t delicate – from their quirky personalities, to their adorable bearded faces, a Miniature Schnauzer will give your family a lot of laughs and a lot of love. Minis are incredibly intelligent, fiercely loyal, and often protective dogs, making them great family and guard dogs with a lot of capacity to learn tricks and compete in events and trials. With all that personality and cleverness does come some stubbornness, so first time dog owners should be ready for a bit of a handful when adopting your own Miniature Schnauzer.

There are a lot of decisions to make when bringing a Mini into your home, but some of the most crucial ones are about feeding their new companion. What do you feed a Miniature Schnauzer? How much do you feed a Miniature Schnauzer puppy, adult, or senior dog? In this Miniature Schnauzer feeding guide, Hypro Premium will go through all the information you need to know when it comes to feeding your Miniature Schnauzer. 

From food amounts, the right food choices for your dog, and details on feeding schedules, take the mystery out of feeding your Miniature Schnauzer with this guide. 

How Much Should You Feed a Miniature Schnauzer Puppy?

Before 8 weeks old, your Miniature Schnauzer puppies should only be consuming specially formulated puppy milk, or milk from their mother. Milk feeding is not something you should be expecting when you bring home your Mini puppy, as the youngest age recommended when adopting out puppies is 8 weeks. This is a job usually left to your dog’s breeder. However, if you need to wean a Miniature Schnauzer puppy, this process can start once your pup is around 4 weeks old. 

You can begin to wean your Miniature Schnauzer puppy by adding their puppy milk to a small amount of dry food. This will form a soft mixture, which you can begin to feed to your puppy up to four times a day. Once your puppy gets used to eating this mixture, you can slowly decrease the amount of milk you add to their meals. Over time, they will be able to eat dry food on its own without any issues.  

By the age of 2 months old, your dog should be eating solids exclusively. At this point, you can refer to the feeding guide on your chosen dog food for accurate portions.

4 Months – 10 Months

During the first 10 months of your dog’s life, they will experience a lot of new things and changes to their body. Your curious little puppy will need to begin the socialisation process nice and early, to make sure they can grow into a social and happy older dog. You should also try to get them comfortable with grooming, as your Miniature Schnauzer will need to deal with a lot of brushing during its lifetime. All this psychological development comes with physical growth too. 

During this time period, your Miniature Schnauzer will weigh between 5kg – 8kg, with male Minis sometimes weighing up to 8.8 kg. As mentioned before, consult with the specific feeding guide on your brand of dog food to determine how much to feed your pup, as different foods have different caloric values.

10 Months – 12 Months

Unlike other small breed dogs, you Miniature Schnauzer is considered an adult by the time they hit their first birthday. The last few months of your Mini’s puppyhood will bring a little more growth, with Miniature Schnauzer puppies usually gaining around 200g. The difference between male and female Miniature Schnauzers become more apparent at this point, as male dogs may start looking taller and wider than female dogs. You may also notice their activity level decrease very slightly – of course, your terrier will still be quite an energetic dog compared to most! 

The amount of food your dog needs is largely determined by their weight. You can adjust this amount depending on your dog’s activity levels and size, but always consult with your vet if you aren’t sure. 

What Should You Feed Miniature Schnauzer Puppies?

Little Miniature Schnauzer puppies have different dietary needs to adult dogs. These puppies, like all terrier breeds, are very high energy, and so need healthy fats and proteins in their diet to fuel hours of running and playing with your family. Miniature Schnauzers can also benefit from specially formulated small breed puppy food. These foods are filled with all the nutrients and calories your growing puppy needs, including amino acids to support and repair healthy tissues and joints. The pieces of kibble in small breed puppy food are a lot smaller in size when compared to regular dry dog food. This makes it a lot easier for your puppy to chew and swallow their food safely. 

It is important to note that, even though puppies need a lot of energy, they still need a pretty small amount of high quality pet food. Your Miniature Schnauzer’s stomach is a lot smaller when they are a puppy, which means that it will fill up very quickly. Your Mini, however, may be an impulsive eater, and their big appetite can get them into trouble if they overfill their stomachs. Monitor your puppy’s feeding to make sure they are eating in a healthy way, and consult your vet if you have any concerns. 

How Much Should You Feed a Miniature Schnauzer Adult Dog?

There are a few factors that determine how much to feed a Miniature Schnauzer. Their size, weight, activity level, and age all play a role in the amount of food your pup needs on a daily basis to stay fit and healthy. On average, your adult Miniature Schnauzer will need between 370- 600 calories a day, provided they weigh between 5 kg – 9 kg. This may not seem like a lot of food, but remember that Minis are particularly susceptible to overfeeding. They are small breed dogs, so a few calories go a long way. You can check if your dog is overweight by feeling their side – if you can feel their ribs, then they are probably getting the right amount of food. If you can’t you may be overfeeding them, and if you can see their ribs then you should consider feeding them more. 

Adult Miniature Schnauzers should be fed two to three times a day at evenly spaced intervals. Your male Miniature Schnauzer may need more food compared to a female Mini, but always consult with your vet if you aren’t sure. You can use a Miniature Schnauzer feeding chart to organise not only your dog’s diet, but also their potty training and exercise. 

Special Considerations

Over your dog’s lifetime, you’ll undoubtedly need to make adjustments to the amounts and types of food you feed them. For Miniature Schnauzers, it’s important to consider how their diet can help prevent conditions that this breed is most susceptible to developing. 

One of the more common and serious conditions that Minis are at risk for is bladder disease. Miniature Schnauzers account for over 25% of all cases of bladder stones, which are calcium oxalate or struvite stones that can cause bladder infection. Your vet may recommend avoiding oxalate rich foods like offal and spinach if your dog is at risk. You should also be wary of the amounts of fats in your dog’s diet. While some amount is healthy, too much fat in the bloodstream can cause hyperlipidemia, which can trigger liver disease and seizures in Miniature Schnauzers.

Minis can also develop myotonia congenita, which is an overstretching of the muscles. Foods packed with muscles supporting nutrients like fatty acids and protein can help avoid this condition. Fatty acids, particularly omega-3s, can also help your dog avoid cataracts and other eye issues.

Best Food to Feed Miniature Schnauzer

Miniature Schnauzers can have a reputation for stubbornness, particularly when it comes to feeding. With allergies and special breed considerations on your mind, a picky eater can make figuring out what to feed your Miniature Schnauzer even harder. Your Mini needs high quality, naturally sourced dog food to stay healthy, so here are some of the major options to consider. 

Wet food is often a great choice for picky eaters, so your Miniature Schnauzer might benefit from some wet food in their diet. It can also help keep your fussy dog hydrated. However, wet foods can often be high in fat, which is not ideal for a Mini who can suffer from health issues like obesity, pancreatitis, or diabetes. Wet foods also don’t keep as well, and can cause a real mess in your Miniature Schnauzer’s fuzzy beard!

Miniature Schnauzers need some healthy fats and carbohydrates in their diet to get all the energy they need, so your dog could benefit from a raw diet. Preparing your dog’s meals using raw ingredients like raw meat, fruits and veggies means you have total control over your dog’s diet. However, this option can be time consuming, done incorrectly and difficult to maintain. Pathogen contamination is also problematic. 

Dry dog food is often recommended for Miniature Schnauzers, as chewing on pieces of dry food can help keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy. However, low-quality dog foods can contain lots of fillers and low-quality ingredients. 

How To Make Sure Your Miniature Schnauzer Stays Healthy and Fit

Miniature Schnauzers, like all dogs, need the right combination of exercise and diet to be happy, fit and healthy. Terriers like Miniature Schnauzers need at least an hour of exercise each day to stay physically fit and healthy. Not only that, but Miniature Schnauzers need the mental and social stimulation that a run in the park can give them, to avoid becoming anxious or bored. 

Aside from exercise, your little dog is also going to need a balance of nutrients in every meal. Every breed needs the right amount of high quality dog food to get the dietary support they need to succeed in each stage of their life, so your happy puppy can grow into a healthy senior dog. Adjust your dog’s diet as needed to suit their activity levels and size. You’ll also need to be careful to avoid foods that, while delicious to humans, can be extremely dangerous to your dog’s health. These include any alcohol, nuts, cooked bones, artificial sweeteners, and onions. Overfeeding can be a real problem for Miniature Schnauzers, likely due to their large appetites and convincing puppy-dog eyes, so always monitor your dog’s food intake and don’t overindulge them.

How Often Should I Feed My Miniature Schnauzer?

As your Miniature Schnauzer grows up, the amount of food you give them changes. With their smaller bodies becoming more developed, it is better for their digestive systems to reduce the number of times a day you are feeding them. However, unlike most breeds, these little dogs should be fed three times a day until they are at least 12 months old, as shown in this Miniature Schnauzer puppy feeding chart:

Once your dog has fully developed, it’s ideal to feed them twice a day.

The best way to stay on top of your Miniature Schnauzer’s dietary needs and changes is to adopt a consistent feeding scheduling. You can use your own meal times to plan your dog’s exercise and toilet routine – not only does it help you fit your pup into your busy life, but it also helps your dog’s obedience when it comes to feeding, exercise, and toileting. A schedule also means you can monitor how your dog is behaving around food. You can better spot signs of food aggression or guarding, or notice if they are suffering any symptoms of physical or psychological illness, like loss of appetite. 

How Many Treats Should I Feed My Miniature Schnauzer?

Miniature Schnauzers are smart and high energy, which means they can be a handful for new dog owners. A dog that is clever and easily bored is also a dog capable of displaying some unfortunate behaviours. They can get overly excited, anxious when separated from their families, or even aggressive around strangers. A training routine based on positive reinforcement can be a great solution to your Mini’s bad habits, with treats playing a major role in helping your dog to understand how to behave in a productive and safe way. Miniature Schnauzer are athletic and clever, which also makes them great candidates for agility competitions. 

Treats not only help your dog when it comes to obedience – they taste great, and are a lovely way for you to show affection to your Mini! However, treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s caloric intake on a daily basis. 

Hypro Premium for Adult Dogs

Hypro Premium offers a wide range of grain-free dry dog foods that are specially formulated to provide your pup with delicious, nutritious foods made of natural, locally sourced ingredients. These high quality kibbles are gluten free and allergy friendly, so you can be confident that your Mini won’t be eating any fillers or low-quality ingredients. These delicious dog foods are made with real meat, providing your dog with a rich source of protein. They are also packed with fibre and carbohydrates derived from real fruits and veggies, which support immune and digestive system health. 

Active dogs need muscle and joint support, as well as plenty of energy – try Grain Free Kangaroo & Lamb for a low fat, high energy dog food that will support your dog’s wellbeing. Kangaroo is naturally high in iron and zinc, which are micronutrients that boost cell health and can maintain your dog’s metabolism. You can also try Grain Free Chicken & Duck, which is packed with vitamin B3 and B6 for cardiovascular and thyroid help. Poultry is another great source of low fat protein, containing naturally high levels of potassium and phosphor. These nutrients will support your dog’s dental health.