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Where we all live.

Map to Cathy's House.

11225 Big Plain Circleville Rd.

London, Oh 43140

(614) 877-9808

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[email protected]

Our Miniature Schnauzer puppies have gone to several different states:

Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington D. C., West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Why we breed and raise purebred Miniature Schnauzers .
Hi, I am a housewife and my husband is a retired fireman (Medic) and we are old and retired now. In 1999, knowing that life was far from over (we hoped anyway) we decided to buy a dog. I guess, at the time, we were feeling a little lonely. We raised six kids, who are married or out on their own, and we found ourselves with no one to boss around.

At first, we didn't know what kind of dog we wanted. I wanted a housedog, one that was good with kids, didn't smell, shed or yap. I have always baby-sat our grandchildren and we had to consider; kid friendly.... non-allergenic dogs. So, we started going to dog pounds and looking up dogs on the Internet to get an idea of what was right for us. We had never had a housedog before and we weren't even sure if we would like a dog in the house. After a lot of searching, we found the Miniature Schnauzer to be the most perfect breed to accommodate my needs, anyway. My husband, on the other hand, wanted a big outside dog for himself.......a manly thing, I'm sure. (We live in the country.) Soon after, we happened to come across an ad in the local newspaper for Miniature Schnauzer puppies. One look was all it took for me. I couldn't resist buying the smallest female in the litter. The puppies where raised by a responsible breeder and were in excellent health, vet checked and from a good pedigree. It didn't take long for that little puppy to wind her way around both our hearts.

I'm glad we picked a Miniature Schnauzer when we got our first housedog........we have never been sorry.

It never gets mentioned and we still haven't gotten that big manly dog my husband said he wanted but guess who spoils our Schnauzers rotten!

Does this look like a man who only wanted big outdoor dogs?

History of The Miniature Schnauzer:
Most everybody knows that a Schnauzer's origin comes from Germany. The Miniature Schnauzer is derived from the Standard Schnauzer and is a dog classified in the terrier group. The word terrier means "go to the ground" to attack vermin. Schnauzers are smart, agile, naturally happy, fond of children and non-allergenic. Because they don't shed, schnauzers require grooming but don't have a doggy smell. Besides being a great housedog, Schnauzers are fast and make great ratters. A schnauzer is characterized by its stocky build, wiry coat, beard and leg furnishings. The most common color is Salt and Pepper, which is a result of dark banding of each hair strand. A great thing about Schnauzers is: they adapt easily to small places but will thrive just as well in the country.

Diseases Miniature Schnauzers are prone to:

Progressive Retinal Atrophy - P.R.A.
This causes the retina of the eye to deteriorate slowly. Symptoms may not show until the dog is three to seven years old, beginning with night blindness. P.R.A. eventually blinds the dog. It is incurable. An Electroretinograph can be used for early detection, but this tool is not available to most breeders. Annual eye certification of breeding stock is a must if breeders are to reduce the risk.

Urinary Tract Infections - Urolithiasis
This seems to occur at a higher rate in Miniature Schnauzers than other breeds. Clinical signs include frequent urination and blood may be present in the urine. Untreated, they can lead to bladder stones. If severe enough this may cause urinary blockage, which is a medical emergency. This problem can occur in dogs for reasons unrelated to heredity. Treatment involves prescription diets, antibiotics and/or surgery.

Pancreatitis
This occurs with increasing frequency in Miniature Schnauzers. The exact mechanism is poorly understood, but appears to be associated with the fact that many Miniature Schnauzers have high blood serum lipids (fats). Clinical signs generally include vomiting and diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy and depression. It is an emergency situation which warrants immediate veterinary care. Treatment includes intravenous fluids, antibiotics and dietary control. The dog will probably have to be on a low fat diet for the rest of his/her life.

Cushing's Disease
Cushings is also encountered with some frequency. Females are more affected than males and often fall within the six to eight year age group. Initial clinical signs are increased thirst and urination and an increase in body weight. Later observable is a change in body type, a pot bellied appearance, thinning of the dog's coat and other changes involving the skin. Sudden blindness is also associated with this (SARD). All of this is related to over production of adrenal cortex hormones. Various medications are available to counteract this over production.

Schnauzer Bumps
These bumps are blackheads or pimples on their back. This can be related to allergies, metabolic disorders, or genetics. This is not a real serious problem (not at all life-treatening). Some Schnauzers will develop one or two of these during a lifetime, others get them much more frequently.

Send E-Mail To: [email protected]
I would love to hear from you. Please let me know what you think of our schnauzers and kennel.

Finding a responsible breeder:

BREEDER PROVIDES A HEALTH GUARANTEE, A CONTRACT AND OFFICIAL PAPERS

A trustworthy, legitimate breeder should always provide you with a written contract and health guarantee before you purchase the dog. Lastly, they should provide you with your new puppy’s official papers and health records.

THEY ARE RECOGNIZED AS AN OFFICIAL BREEDER BY A TRUSTED SOURCE

When looking for a reputable dog breeder, start by checking with trusted sources like your veterinarian or national breed clubs. For example, if you are looking for a French Bulldog, the official French Bulldog Club of America keeps a directory of breeder members who have signed a code of ethics and have met a number of requirements, such as a health guarantee and a return policy. Additionally, the AKC’s web site provides a search engine for AKC breeders of merit.

THE DOGS HAVE A LARGE, COMFORTABLE AND CLEAN SPACE

If possible, try and visit the breeder’s home before agreeing to buy one of their puppies. The best kinds of breeders offer ample, comfortable living spaces for their dogs. It’s also important to note that their puppies are not being confined in cages or small spaces constantly, and that they get proper exercise and care. Dirty and overcrowded breeding spaces should be a red flag.

THE BREEDER MAKES SURE YOU'RE READY FOR A PUPPY

It may not seem necessary, but it’s a good sign when breeders question potential dog parents about their intentions for welcoming a puppy into the family. It’s almost like a human adoption process. They want to be very sure that you are ready for this big life change, and are qualified to raise and care for the dog. If you are purchasing a larger, active dog from an expert breeder, they will ask questions about how big your living space is and if you have a yard or are near a park. Questions that prove they care about their puppies show that they are responsible and trustworthy.

PUPPIES ARE NOT ALWAYS AVAILABLE

Responsible breeders do not always have litters of puppies available for purchase. Typically, breeders only have one or two litters per year. If you are speaking with a breeder that has multiple puppies available, this might indicate that you are dealing with a puppy mill.

Here are some general questions you may want to ask or know about my breeding:

Why do you breed your dogs? What is your motivation or philosophy as a breeder?
I love Miniature Schnauzers and my main goal is to breed healthy puppies not heartaches. We do this on a small scale out of our home. We don’t line breed or in-breed and would never abuse or over breed our dogs. We acquired some of our first dogs for breeding from vets. Sometimes we breed our females out to studs owned by show breeders who are careful about testing to weed out genetic health problems. With champion lines, we not only have healthy puppies but puppies who have sweet temperaments and of course, great confirmation.

How long have you been in this breed? Do you now, or have you in the past, bred other breeds?
We have been breeding Miniature Schnauzers since 1999. No, we have never bred any other breed. I don’t have the time to do right by another breed.

What characteristics are important to you in choosing to breed an adult?
First, we don’t breed dogs that have health problems or health issues in their pedigrees. We only breed females that are mature, ones that have sweet temperaments, good bites, healthy coats, and nice conformations.

How many adult dogs do you have, and how did you select them?
We have nine dogs, three are males. The number changes from year to year. We retire them at age 5. This way they are young enough to live a full life and enjoy being someone's spoiled pet. (grin)

Where do your adult dogs live? Describe their environment. (if you can't go visit, then ask for pictures!)
Our dogs live in the house with us. We have whelping pens in the basement for the mommies. We also have a heated attached garage for the boys when we need to separate doggies at breeding time. We have six grown children and seven grand children who socialize with our dogs and puppies.

How many litters did you have last year?
We have three maybe four litters a year.

What are some of the health issues, such as common genetic defects, present in the breed?
Bladder stones, cataracts, pancreatitis. Not one of our dogs, used for breeding, has ever turned up with a genetic problem.....not even Schnauzer bumps! (grin) I attribute this to healthy blood lines, good veterinary care, exercise and feeding them the right food and vitamins.

What health tests do you do on your adults before choosing to breed them?
We had our stud screened for cataracts.

What registry do you use? Why did you choose that registry?
AKC and I’ve used the CKC before.

What breed clubs are you active in?
I would love to be active in Breed clubs but have not had the time.

Do you exhibit/show your dogs or compete in trials of any sort?
Not at this time but plan to in the near future.

Do you have pictures of pups from previous litters, now all grown up?
Yes, lots of them. I stay in touch with most of the people that have bought my puppies. I invest a big part of my heart in each one of our puppies.

Can you provide me with a list of references... people who have pups from you? (CALL THEM!)
I will provide all the references that you want.

Can you provide at least one veterinary reference... the vet you currently use? (CALL HIM/HER!)
We have different vets for Cropping ears but for health we use Sheffield’s located in London, OH 43140 740-852-9151.

Tell me about the sire and dam, both the positives and negatives.
I can give you details about each and every one of our dogs. And I can guarantee you that the parents are sweet, great with kids and would never snap or bite.

Are they both on site where I can see them (if visiting is an option)?
Yes, we have both parents unless we breed our female out. You are more than welcome to visit. We are proud of our breeding and the conditions.

Where were the puppies born? Where are they being raised?
The puppies are born and raised in whelping pens located in our basement. We keep them warm with our wood burning stove. The pens are cleaned daily.

How do you evaluate the temperaments of the puppies?
The puppies all play and eat together. They wrestle, interact and play with toys that we provide. I handle them myself and never leave a puppy by itself.

What vaccinations, worming, etc. will the puppies have before they leave?
All puppies see the vet for the first time three days after birth to have their tails docked and dew claws removed. At six weeks of age the puppies are wormed again by the vet and given a thorough health check. No puppy leaves here unless found to be in perfect health. A veterinary health record comes with each puppy.

At what age do you let your puppies leave?
Most puppies leave here between 7-8 weeks of age. But some may leave earlier if it is more convenient for the new parents. And of course, if our vet agrees to let the puppy go.

What will you supply with your puppies?
Our puppies come with AKC registration papers, unless otherwise specified, starter food, starter vitamins, Mini Tips on how to care for your new puppy, veterinary health record and soft pad for the puppy’s crate.

And a few questions we believe to be CRITICAL, but are often forgotten, that we've saved for last...

What health guarantee does this puppy have? Please provide me with a copy.

We offer an initial three day health guarantee. We also offer a two year health guarantee with our puppies. First, we asked that you carefully read our guarantee before signing it. This guarantee will be null and void upon any abuse or neglect or if the contract is not followed. No Exceptions!

Read our extended Puppy Guarantee.

Send E-Mail To: [email protected]
I would love to hear from you.