Hello
I'm looking for a Mini Schnauzer puppy (boy or girl) hopefully ready for the end of June/ beginning of July.
I really want to avoid puppy farms and puppies brought in from puppy farms in Ireland.
Does anyone know of any reputable breeders who breed for good temperament etc. and where parents can be seen ?
Many thanks ~ Fi

you'll be able to get the breed clubs off of google very easily and your best bet would be to start there. breed clubs will be able to advise you of breeders that meet their ethical guidelines (and what those guidelines are- usually health test requirements etc), they should also have a list of who's expecting when

you'll also be able to find breeders through the breeder search facillity on this site. there are a few schnauzer people on the forum so hopefully you can get a more direct post shortly.

word of warning, i'd be a bit wary if both parents can be seen. its more likely that the breeding will have been done for ease and cheapness rather than for good quality in both parents. this is not a definate! it could be that the breeder has very specifically purchased these dogs from lines they want to breed or just really feel they compliment each other. it's still a wee red flag though, just ask and if they can explain the reasons then all good (if their reasons are good ones they'll 0probably have trouble stopping talking!). do expect to at least see pics of the father though as well as obviously meeting mum.

out of interest why the schnauzer? there is a mini that i've seen walking about recently and she's really sweet! let us know how your hunt goes!

Hi,
Mini's are wonderful, but then I'm bias.

If you are going for a mini - make sure both parents have current eye certificates ( within 12 months) and you should be shown them. Pups should be eye tested at 6 to 8 weeks, you should be given a copy of the litter screening.
Check out the Kennel Club puppy register. But word of warning the KC don't insist on eye testin Minis
http://www.the-miniature-schnauzer-club.co.uk
Good Luck,
Chris
Ps: Make sure you see Mum. Not all breeders keep stud dogs.

Hi  Astarte and thanks for replying
Great advice about the parents will keep that in mind ~ thanks !
I've done a Google search and came up with quite a few links .... there seems to be lot of puppies coming up on the epupz website so will keep an eye there for breeders who meet an ethical criteria ...
I would be happy with any puppy but Mini Schnauzers are coming top of my list because of their general temperamant, lack of moulting and size, plus a co-worker has one and I kind of melted when she visited with him ... awww He was so sweet tilting his head to listen ~ loved his beard and eyebrows !!

Cheers ~ Fi

Hi Chrisy .... I think I spoke with you on the phone over a week ago ~ My co-worker Sandra got 'Cole' from you ...
Thanks for the advice re eye certs and litter screening ... I emailed the Mini Club Schnauzer requesting their list of breeders so hopefully I'll hear from them soon
Cheers ~ Fi

they are a sweet little breed, i must say i like their lovely gait and movement. i think what everyone on here would advise would be to take a good long look at the breeders your thinking of getting your pup from. these people are effectively your pups parents, they've had massive influence not only over the biology of the pups (by picking the parents) but over the temprements the babies have. when you get a pup at 8 weeks or so that puppies equivilent to a toddler- a lot of formation happens in that 8 weeks! your pups personality will be showing, and a breeder should be able to reccommend different temprements for you (e.g. if you wanted a bold and chalenging type they'd know which of the pups that one was). are you thinking of showing or anything? they should be able to help you pick the best pup for that as well. a good breeder will want to keep in touch from the minute you arrive home but won't crowd you. if it;s your first dog, or even your first schnauzer you'll need experienced advice so you want a breeder willing to be on hand 24/7 (by phone or in person if your close) to help with the unavoidable moments of stress and confusion.

best of luck and let us know how the hunts going! 

Hi Fi, owning 2 of these little lovelies myself I can highly recommend them.  They are fabulously spirited and loving dogs and definitely a large dog in a small body.  Chrisy and Astarte have given some good advice on finding reputable breeders - I wish I had known of this site when I got my first boy - I didn't realise at the time but I ended up buying him from a "back-yard breeder" and the pedigree papers they gave me were made up (they seem to have a few champion Labradors on there!?!).  Luckily he has had no problems so far but I have no guarantee that he won't suffer eye problems when he is older

Best of luck with your new family member when he/she arrives!

Hello again This is just a wee update ... we are going to meet with a breeder on Sunday ... She has 2 girl puppies left from her litter ~ ready on the 9th of May ... so fingers crossed and we will be taking our new wee pal home sooner than we thought !!

Hi Fi McD,
Hope they are lovely.
Make sure you are shown parent current ( within 12 months) eye certificates, and if the puppies are 8 weeks on 9th May they should be eye tested by now. You should be shown the litter certificate when you go and given a copy of this when you pick your puppy up.
Fingers Crossed.

Hi there - so have you booked a mini girl then?  Please let us know!

Woohoo !!!

Yes, we were picked by one of the wee girl puppies ... she was adorable !!

Everything checked out and we go back down to Blackpool on Sunday to pick her up. Only 4 sleeps now.... LOL ...it's almost like waiting for Santa !!

We have called her Bonnie

cheers ~ Fi

aww, many congrats fi, you'll need to get her pic up once she arrives

Congratulations!  Bonnie is a great name... and gives you the opportunity to get a Clyde in a few years time lol!

Hello again .... just a wee quick update ... she's here and fast asleep,ZZZZzzzzZZZZ, in her crate after a couple of wee pitiful whimpers ... We're chuffed to bits with our affectionate 'into-everything' puppy !!!
I'll need to figure out how to post pics ..???

Glad you are having fun with Bonnie!

To add a photo, you go into options and then pick Avatar from the tabs at the top and download a photo from your computer.  I have tried this but all my files are too large and I don't know how to make them any smaller.... can anyone help on this?

Please continue this via pm or Idle Chat as this forum is for Searching only

Many thanks