r/MiniSchnauzer

Hi! Looking for some advice to help raise our 12 week old mini schnauzer puppy named Bowie. I can’t figure out how to post a pic.. probably bc this is my first post lol.

We just got our Bowie baby a few days ago. She is amazing so far - so sweet, snuggly, curious, and smart. We wanna make sure we give her the best possible diet as we are aware of their health issues and sensitive tummies.

She is currently on Royal Canin puppy dry food - which she seems to love! However, I wanted to add in some veggies by slowly introducing them. I’m curious about the safest/ most loved veggies that mini owners have noticed work well in their pup’s diet.

While training, we have bought Zuke’s mini natural chicken flavor soft baked treats. I cut them into thirds so that we don’t give her too many in a day while training. She also seems to like those a lot.

In terms of enrichment - we got her a few puzzle toys, a kong, lick mats, teething toys. But would also love more ideas! She will be left home alone a couple hours a day for 3x a week.

Any other suggestions / recs for treats during training or food suggestions?

I have a spayed 16 month old mini schnauzer who we’ve had since she was 10 weeks old. she is sweet and cuddly and really affectionate… except… she has some REALLY strong boundaries and she is very vocal about them. I just want to know if this is normal or if this is aggressive: she only likes being picked up if a) she requests it by jumping up or b) we have a treat/reward/positive enforcement alongside it. any other time she’ll growl/grumble. when she was younger she used to go into out right snap and bite mode if anyone tried to pick her up. after respecting her cues and space more over the last few months shes much better at being handled. i only really pick her up if I have to e.g emergency or at the vets or into a car or if she asks for it and that seems to be working. just now though she was clearly agitated and needing her pre bed time wee, but refusing to go out for it, so I thought I’d try carrying her off the bed and out to potty, she made the most intense growling snarling noise and tried to snap at me. i stepped away and she immediately came over to lick and cuddle me. is that normal???

we also just had a vet visit where the vet nurse was a student/trainee and he did a terrible job checking her temp (backside) and struggled to insert and also did an even worse job injecting her with her vaccine, jamming it into her hind leg and not fully inserting so causing her much more than just a ‘sharp scratch sensation) I was holding her steady and in her fear she tried to get free and because i wouldnt let her she bit me, quite hard. now, i dont blame her. I understand she was under a lot of stress plus she’s hated the vet ever since her spay at 11 months.

i just want to know if this kinda strong boundary setting is normal in a small dog as it seems so many people have very placid and easy going schnauzers.

she used to nuisance bark but we’ve basically eliminated that and she’s 90% unreactive and dare I say chill on walks! with guests in the house she is very inquisitive and will jump up till she’s properly assessed them but then will relax. She’s also trained to go into a different room whenever the doorbell rings and so she always takes herself away from the situation. which is super useful.

thanks !