Black Miniature Schnauzer

Learn more about the black Miniature Schnauzer.

What Does A Black Miniature Schnauzer Look Like?

Black Miniature Schnauzers are solid black.

Most of them have a dominant black pattern, but recessive black is also in this breed. Both patterns instruct pigment cells to produce only eumelanin which gives a solid black coat color.

It is normal for ” broken down pigment” or older puppy coat to show reddish shades in some areas. A small number of black Miniature Schnauzers might have a seal pattern or show graying.

The AKC allows for a small white spot on the chest while the FCI does not tolerate residual white.

Black Miniature Schnauzer Nose Color

A dog’s nose gets its color only from its eumelanin pigment.

Dogs with a black-based pattern will always have a black nose. Also, any visible skin pigment like eye rims and lips and even the nails and paw pads will be black.

Black Miniature Schnauzer Eye Color

Eye color is determined by eumelanin color and pigment density.

A black Miniature Schnauzer with its black eumelanin typically has dark brown eyes.

Black Miniature Schnauzer Coat Type

Miniature Schnauzers are double-coated with a wire-haired coat type.

Their topcoat is harsh and wiry with their leg furnishings a little longer and softer.

All Schnauzers are fixed for furnishings (F/F), they always have a beard and bushy eyebrows.

Some Miniature Schnauzers seem to be long-haired (l/l). And a few even have a curly variant (Cu/-).

Black Miniature Schnauzer Genetics

Black Miniature Schnauzers typically have a black-based dominant black pattern.

But recessive black also occurs in this breed.

Basic Pattern

The A, K and E locus combined are responsible for a dog’s basic pattern. They tell pigment cells when and where to produce either eumelanin or phaeomelanin.

Most black Miniature Schnauzers have a dominant black pattern (E/- K^B/-) .

But some of them are recessive black (E/- k^y/k^y a/a).

• • E/-
    • ky/ky
      • aw/-
        • agouti
"pepper & salt"
      • at/-
        • tan points
"black & silver"
      • a/a
        • recessive black
"black"
    • KB/-
      • dominant black
"black"
  • e/e
    • recessive red
" white"

A Locus (Dominant Black)

Most traditional Mini Schnauzers have a a^w/- or a^t/a^t genotype at their A locus.

However, dogs with dominant black do not express their A locus pattern so it doesn’t matter.

K Locus (Dominant Black)

A dominant black dog has at least one copy of K^B.

K locus overrides a dog’s A locus pattern since it makes all pigment cells produce only eumelanin.

E Locus (Dominant Black)

At the E locus, there is either a wild-type E or sometimes a mask E^m allele.

Both do not further affect a black dog’s color. What matters is that black Mini Schnuazers are never e/e.

A Locus (Recessive Black)

Miniature Schnauzers with a recessive black pattern are a/a at their A locus.

K Locus (Recessive Black)

A recessive black dog can express his pattern (k^y/k^y).

E Locus (Recessive Black)

Both an E and E^m do not affect a recessive black pattern.

What matters is that dogs are not e/e since this would override their solid black pattern.

Pigment Colors

Black Miniature Schnauzers have black eumelanin.

Phaeomelanin

A solid black dog does not produce phaeomelanin.

Eumelanin

Dogs with a B/- D/D genotype will produce black eumelanin.

Other Traits

Traditionally, Miniature Schnauzers do not have white markings or merle.

White Markings

Solid Miniature Schnauzers have a solid coat (S/S).

If they had piebald spotting (s^P), they would be Parti Black & White.

Still, some black Schnauzers can have residual white markings.

Merle

Purebred black Miniature Schnauzers do not come in merle.

Seal

The FCI standards mentions “brown undercoat” as an off-color. Maybe this not only means rusting or sunbleaching but maybe refers to a seal pattern in black dogs?

Graying

Some Schnauzers in the US have progressive graying. This can produce an off-color in black dogs.

More Miniature Schnauzer Colors

Purebred Miniature Schnauzers come in other colors than black:

Learn More