Hey everyone, I was going to post this under "Dog Breeds" but I don't think many people check there that often....

So my aunt is thinking about breeding "Toy" Schnauzers, german schnauzers weighing from 3-8 lbs, under 10" tall. I think they're so cute and I would love to get one from her!! What I have read on the internet is that there is no such recognized breed as a Toy Schnauzer, they are simply mini schnauzers under 10" tall. I am also wondering about little bits of information I have read on genetic defects/birth defects that can come with breeding a dog so small. Does anyone have any advice for me?

Here's some info on the "toy" schnauzer:

Here is a full grown toy schnauzer - 3 years old, 3.5 lbs.

This dog is 3 lbs., 7 inches.

http://www.toyschnauzer.com/toy.htm
You may ask, "How did the toy schnauzer come about?"

Many Schnauzer enthusiasts claim that more recently, unscrupulous breeders have introduced toy breeds into the schnauzer lines in order to bring down the size of the Miniature Schnauzer.

This is far from the truth.

Actually, the original American "CORRECT" size for the miniature schnauzer was 10 to 12 inches, which meant that the dogs were about 8-12 lbs. Maximum. That standard of perfection has been changed through the years, raised, raised, and raised again, so that the bigger dogs could win.......to its current 12-14" dogs weighing 16-22 lbs.

During the late 1800’s and early 1900’s when the Miniature Schnauzer breed was being established, the Standard Schnauzer was bred to the Affenpinscher, the Fox Terrier, and the Poodle, to bring down the size of the Standard Schnauzer.

These smaller breeds created a gene pool for a variety of size and color to surface from time to time.

By taking the small size minis and breeding back to the small size minis, breeders have reinforced the gene pool that brought the Toy Schnauzer about. These tiny bundles of joy are not dwarfs or defects in the breed as some would have you believe. They are just plain and simply a smaller size of the miniature schnauzer.

Schnauzer lovers, please enlighten me! This is the first I have heard of such a variety of schnauzer. Thanks!