🐶 Miniature Schnauzer
Temperament
Alert, friendly, obedient, fearless. Mini Schnauzers can be barky (they're excellent watchdogs) and have higher prey drive than most toys.
Exercise
45–60 minutes of daily exercise plus play. They're terriers — they need a job.
Grooming
Wiry double coat. Hand-stripping every 8–12 weeks for show coat; most pet owners clip every 6 weeks. Brush 2–3× weekly. Beard needs daily wiping.
Health
Pancreatitis (high risk — keep diet low fat). Bladder stones. Hyperlipidaemia. Cataracts. Cushing's disease.
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🐩 Poodle (Standard)
Temperament
Highly intelligent (consistently rated #2 most trainable behind Border Collies), affectionate with family, dignified with strangers. Standards have a goofy, playful side and bond closely with their people. Reserved guard-dog instincts without aggression.
Exercise
60–90 minutes a day of mixed exercise. Poodles excel at agility, dock-diving, retrieving and obedience. They love water. Without enough mental stimulation, their intelligence turns into mischief — open cabinets, manipulate situations, bond-shop between household members.
Grooming
High commitment. The single curly coat doesn't shed but mats relentlessly without daily brushing. Most owners book a professional groom every 4–6 weeks for a "puppy clip" or short clip. Ear hair must be plucked or trimmed; ears need weekly cleaning to prevent infection.
Health
Generally healthy with proper breeding. Watch for: bloat / GDV (deep-chested), hip dysplasia, Addison's disease, sebaceous adenitis (skin condition), epilepsy in some lines. Cancer rates lower than most large breeds.
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