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Why the Standard Poodle is Better than the Standard Schnauzer as a Pet

Last Updated: Apr 30, 2022

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Standard Poodle Versus Standard Schnauzer: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Standard Poodle and for the Standard Schnauzer. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Standard Poodle or the Standard Schnauzer.

Note that there are 3 types of Poodles:

  • The Standard Poodle
  • The Miniature Poodle
  • The Toy Poodle


  • However, these 3 poodle `types` are basically the same. The only difference between them is size. Standard Poodles are big, toy poodles are small, and miniature poodles are medium-sized.

    See this article that compares the poodle (standard,miniature, and toy) to the Standard Schnauzer.

    Read more about the subtle differences between the standard poodle vs. miniature poodle here and the toy poodle versus miniature poodle here.

    Standard Poodle versus Standard Schnauzer: Overview

    A very important difference between the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Standard Poodle is a large-sized dog while the Standard Schnauzer is a medium-sized dog.

    Furthermore, the Standard Poodle belongs to the Companion Dogs group. Companion Dogs were bred to be companions for humans. Their main goal in life is to be with people, and they will be very sad if left to themselves for long hours day after day.

    On the other hand, the Standard Schnauzer belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

    Standard Poodle versus Standard Schnauzer: Comparison Table

    The table below compares the Standard Poodle to the Standard Schnauzer based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

    When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

    Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

    However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

    Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer

    FactorStandard PoodleStandard Schnauzer
    Tolerates Being Alone1/52/5
    Does NOT Shed5/55/5
    Does NOT Drool5/55/5
    Easy To Groom1/52/5
    Life Span12 to 15 years13 to 16 years
    General Health2/55/5
    Low Prey Drive4/51/5
    Does NOT Bark or Howl4/54/5
    Tolerates Cold Weather3/54/5
    Tendency NOT to Wander3/51/5
    Calmness/ Low Vigor3/53/5
    Weight35 to 70 pounds30 to 50 pounds
    Easygoing2/52/5
    Tolerates Hot Weather4/54/5
    Dog Friendly4/53/5
    Friendly Toward Strangers4/52/5
    Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/55/5
    Does NOT chew on things2/53/5
    NOT Rambunctious2/51/5
    Minimal Exercise Needs2/51/5
    Adapts Well To Apartment Living5/54/5
    Good For Novice Owners5/52/5
    Affectionate With Family5/54/5
    Kid-Friendly5/54/5
    Easy To Train5/53/5
    Intelligence5/55/5
    Potential For Playfulness5/55/5
    HeightFrom 10 to over 22 inches tall at the shoulder1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 8 inches tall at the s
    Average Lifespan13.5 years14.5 years
    Average Price$1980$1630
    Price Range$1400 – $2500$1200 – $2000
    Temperament Score87.2 percent71.1 percent
    Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 24 months, recommend every other year until age 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds691
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)218
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Standard Poodle in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Standard Schnauzer. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Standard Poodle is 88 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Standard Schnauzer is 80 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Standard Poodle is a better pet than the Standard Schnauzer. So, you should get a Standard Poodle!

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer

    Below is a list of where the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer are most different:

  • Standard Poodles have the tendency to develop certain health problems. However, Standard Schnauzers are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Standard Poodles have a very low prey drive. This means they get along well with other pets. However, Standard Schnauzers have a high prey drive. They do not get along well with other pets.
  • Standard Poodles gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them. However, Standard Schnauzers are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Standard Poodles are good for new dog owners. However, Standard Schnauzers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • The Similarities Between the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer

    The Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer are most similar:

  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer are not very vocal. They have very low tendency to bark and howl.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer get along well with other dogs.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer are prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Standard Poodle versus Standard Schnauzer

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer.

    The Standard Poodle weighs 35 to 70 pounds when fully grown. The Standard Poodle is From 10 to over 22 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Standard Schnauzer weighs 30 to 50 pounds when fully grown. The Standard Schnauzer is 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 8 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

    Size of Standard Poodle versus Size of Standard Schnauzer

    As mentioned earlier, Poodles come in three main size categories. These three size categories are referred to as the three varieties of the poodle. Poodles of different varieties are basically the same except for their size differences.

    Standard Poodles are the biggest of the poodle varieties. Adult Standard Poodles are 24 inches to 27 inches tall and weigh between 38 pounds and 70 pounds. To learn more about Standard Poodle Growth, Weight, and Height, check out our article on Standard Poodle growth, weight and height.

    Appearance (Colors) of the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer

    Standard Poodle Colors

    The Standard Poodle comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Black
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Apricot / Beige
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange
    • Bicolor
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Golden
    • Gray / Blue / Silver

    The Standard Poodle comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • Brown / Chocolate
    • White / Cream
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Black
    • Gray / Blue / Silver

    Standard Schnauzer Colors

    The Standard Schnauzer comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Black
    • Gray / Blue / Silver

    The Standard Schnauzer comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn

    Lifespan of Standard Poodle versus Standard Schnauzer

    The lifespan of the Standard Poodle is between 12 to 15 years. The average lifespan of the Standard Poodle is 13.5 years.

    The lifespan of the Standard Schnauzer is between 13 to 16 years. The average lifespan of the Standard Schnauzer is 14.5 years.

    The Standard Schnauzer live longer than the Standard Poodle.

    Temperament of the Standard Poodle Versus the Standard Schnauzer

    The Standard Poodle has a better temperament than the Standard Schnauzer.

    This is because the temperament score for the Standard Poodle is 87.2 percent while the temperament score for the Standard Schnauzer is 71.1 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 87.2 percent, the Standard Poodle has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 71.1 percent, the Standard Schnauzer has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer by measuring the temperaments of 266 Standard Poodles and 76 Standard Schnauzers.

    Price of Standard Poodle versus Price of Standard Schnauzer

    The average price of the Standard Poodle puppy is $1980. The price of the Standard Poodle typically ranges from $1400 – $2500. However, the price of a Standard Poodle can be as low as $200 and as high as $15000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 2524 Standard Poodle puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Standard Schnauzer puppy is $1630. The price of the Standard Schnauzer typically ranges from $1200 – $2000. However, the price of the Standard Schnauzer can be as low as $600 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 50 Standard Schnauzer puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Standard Poodle is more expensive than the Standard Schnauzer.

    Standard Poodle Standard Schnauzer
    Average Price $1980 $1630
    Price Range $1400 to $2500 $1200 to $2000

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Standard Poodle and Standard Schnauzer. For different price points, the charts show how many Standard Poodle puppies or how many Standard Schnauzer puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Standard Poodles. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Standard Poodles. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Standard Schnauzers

    A breakdown of the prices of Standard Schnauzers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Standard Poodle puppy or the Standard Schnauzer puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    To know about standard poodle prices and standard poodle buying advice, check out our article on standard poodle cost.

    Adopting the Standard Poodle versus Adopting the Standard Schnauzer

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Standard Poodles and many Standard Schnauzers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Standard Poodle named Breckin that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Standard Poodles like Breckin on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Standard Poodles, Standard Schnauzers are also available for adoption. For example, Mickey is a Male Standard Schnauzer that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Standard Schnauzers like Mickey that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Mason is the name of another Standard Poodle (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Standard Poodles and Standard Schnauzers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Standard Poodle versus the Intelligence of the Standard Schnauzer

    Standard Poodle Standard Schnauzer
    Intelligence Rank 2 out of 130 dog breeds 18 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After Fewer Than 5 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Standard Poodle has an obedience intelligence rank of 2 out of 130 dog breeds. The Standard Poodle belongs to the `Brightest Dogs` category. This means that Standard Poodles tend to learn new commands after fewer than 5 repetitions.

    The Standard Schnauzer has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The Standard Schnauzer belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Standard Schnauzers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Standard Poodle is more intelligent than the Standard Schnauzer.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Standard Poodle versus Popularity of Standard Schnauzer

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Standard Poodle is more popular with dog owners than the Standard Schnauzer. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Standard Poodle is 6 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Standard Schnauzer is 91 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Standard Poodle

    Popularity of Standard Poodle

    Popularity of Standard Schnauzer

    Popularity of Standard Schnauzer

    Year Standard Poodle Popularity Rank Standard Schnauzer Popularity Rank
    2013 8 90
    2014 7 90
    2015 8 91
    2016 7 85
    2017 7 90
    2018 7 89
    2019 6 97
    2020 6 92
    2021 5 96

    Health Problems of Standard Poodle versus Health Problems of Standard Schnauzer

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. There is nothing like a perfect dog breed.

    Both the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Standard Schnauzer is prone to more genetic health problems than the Standard Poodle.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Standard Schnauzer than for the Standard Poodle.

    4 health tests are recommended for Standard Poodle while 6 tests are recommended for the Standard Schnauzer.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Standard Poodles and in Standard Schnauzers.

    Standard Poodle Health Problems

    Standard Poodles are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Standard Poodle puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Standard Poodle puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Standard Poodle breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Standard Poodles for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) DNA Test

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Standard Poodles here.

    Standard Schnauzer Health Problems

    Standard Schnauzers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Standard Schnauzer puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Standard Schnauzer puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Standard Schnauzer breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Standard Schnauzers for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 24 months, recommend every other year until age 7
  • Hip Dysplasia

  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Standard Schnauzers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Standard Poodles and Standard Schnauzers

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Standard Poodle Breed is Basic Cardiac problems.

    This is because the Standard Poodle ranks 1 out of 16 dog breeds for Basic Cardiac problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 270 Standard Poodles, 2 of them had Basic Cardiac problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Standard Poodles, and how common these diseases are in Standard Poodles relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Basic Cardiac problems: Rank 1 out of 16 Dog Breeds
  • Neonatal Encephalopathy W/Seizures problems: Rank 1 out of 1 Dog Breeds
  • Sebaceous Adenitis problems: Rank 1 out of 2 Dog Breeds
  • Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems: Rank 3 out of 5 Dog Breeds
  • Rcd4 Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 4 out of 8 Dog Breeds
  • Von Willebrands problems: Rank 7 out of 15 Dog Breeds
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes problems: Rank 11 out of 40 Dog Breeds
  • Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems: Rank 14 out of 32 Dog Breeds
  • Dentition Database problems: Rank 21 out of 49 Dog Breeds
  • Advanced Cardiac problems: Rank 49 out of 71 Dog Breeds
  • Degenerative Myelopathy problems: Rank 57 out of 70 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 61 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Congenital Cardiac problems: Rank 73 out of 159 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 84 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 88 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 100 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 127 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Standard Schnauzer Breed is Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems.

    This is because the Standard Schnauzer ranks 2 out of 3 dog breeds for Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1749 Standard Schnauzers, 8 of them had Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Standard Schnauzers, and how common these diseases are in Standard Schnauzers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems: Rank 2 out of 3 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 40 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 54 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 103 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 128 out of 198 Dog Breeds

  • The table below lists the common health problems in Standard Poodle and in Standard Schnauzer and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer:

    Disease Standard Poodle Rank Standard Schnauzer Rank
    Basic Cardiac problems 1 out of 16 dog breeds Not Common
    Neonatal Encephalopathy W/Seizures problems 1 out of 1 dog breeds Not Common
    Sebaceous Adenitis problems 1 out of 2 dog breeds Not Common
    Chondrodystrophy (Cddy) problems 3 out of 5 dog breeds Not Common
    Rcd4 Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 4 out of 8 dog breeds Not Common
    Von Willebrands problems 7 out of 15 dog breeds Not Common
    Legg-Calve-Perthes problems 11 out of 40 dog breeds Not Common
    Progressive Retinal Atrophy problems 14 out of 32 dog breeds Not Common
    Dentition Database problems 21 out of 49 dog breeds Not Common
    Advanced Cardiac problems 49 out of 71 dog breeds Not Common
    Degenerative Myelopathy problems 57 out of 70 dog breeds Not Common
    Patella problems 61 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Congenital Cardiac problems 73 out of 159 dog breeds Not Common
    Thyroid problems 84 out of 115 dog breeds 40 out of 115 dog breeds
    Elbow problems 88 out of 144 dog breeds 54 out of 144 dog breeds
    Hips problems 100 out of 198 dog breeds 128 out of 198 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 127 out of 182 dog breeds 103 out of 182 dog breeds
    Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems Not Common 2 out of 3 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Standard Poodle versus Standard Schnauzer

    Standard Poodles do not like to be left alone.

    Poodles, by nature, are companion dogs. They like and thrive on human companionship more than most dog breeds. Poodles do not like to be left alone. Leaving a poodle alone for more than 4 hours day after day will cause separation anxiety and isolation distress in a poodle. If you plan to get a poodle, make sure you can be around your poodle most of the time, or arrange for a dog walker.

    See our article on how long you can leave a poodle alone.

    Standard Schnauzers do not like to be left alone.

    Do Standard Poodles shed more than Standard Schnauzers?

    Standard Poodles do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Although all dogs shed, and poodles are no different in this regard. But poodles shed less than many other breeds of dogs. However, if you own a poodle, you will not have the problem of having balls of dog hair on your couch and over your house. This is because the curly coat of the poodle traps the hair and other things that the poodle sheds. Therefore, people that are allergic to dogs tend to tolerate poodles better.

    Check out our articles to learn more on why poodles do not shed, and on standard poodle shedding.

    Standard Schnauzers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Standard Poodle or the Standard Schnauzer?

    Standard Poodles require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    To learn more about how to properly groom a poodle, check out our article on how to groom a poodle.

    Learn more on how to take care of a poodle here.

    Standard Schnauzers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Standard Poodle or the Standard Schnauzer?

    Standard Poodles get along very well with other dogs.

    Poodles get along very well with other dogs. Poodles are very friendly. However, it is up to the other dog to reciprocate the friendliness. Some dog breeds are just unfriendly and aggressive.

    Read this article to learn about the dog breeds that get along well with poodle and the dog breeds that do not along with poodles.

    Standard Schnauzers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Standard Poodles good family dogs? What about Standard Schnauzers?

    Standard Poodles are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Poodles make a good addition to a family. They love kids and kids love them.

    Learn about standard poodles as family dogs here.

    Standard Schnauzers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Standard Poodle Easier to Train than the Standard Schnauzer?

    Standard Poodles are very easy to train.

    Poodles are easy to train because they are intelligent and eager to please their owners. However, it is important that you begin training a poodle to make the most out of their natural intelligence. Moreover, training your Poodle should be based on positive reinforcement and repetition. Be sure to give your Poodle praise when he obeys a command and ignores your poodle`s bad behavior.

    To learn more, check out our article on how to train a poodle.

    Standard Schnauzers are fairly easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Standard Poodle or the Standard Schnauzer

    Standard Poodles do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Standard Schnauzers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Standard Poodles and Standard Schnauzers?

    Standard Poodles get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Standard Schnauzers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Does the Standard Poodle Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Standard Schnauzer?

    Standard Poodles have a very low prey drive. This means they get won`t chase after smaller pets. They tend to get along well with other pets.

    Standard Schnauzers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Standard Poodles Bark and Howl? What about Standard Schnauzers?

    Standard Poodles are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Standard Schnauzers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Can Standard Poodles Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Standard Schnauzers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Standard Poodles can moderately tolerate cold weather.

    Standard Schnauzers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Standard Poodle vs. Standard Schnauzer

    Standard Poodles have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Standard Schnauzers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Standard Poodles Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Standard Schnauzers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Standard Poodles can tolerate hot weather.

    Standard Schnauzers can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Standard Poodle Better for Apartment Owners than the Standard Schnauzer?

    Standard Poodles adapt very well to apartment living.

    Standard Schnauzers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Standard Poodle or the Standard Schnauzer?

    Standard Poodles are very good for new dog owners.

    Standard Schnauzers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Standard Poodle Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Standard Poodle compares to other breeds aside from the Standard Schnauzer. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Standard Poodle to other breeds:

    Standard Poodle versus Saint Bernard     Standard Poodle versus Australian Shepherd     Standard Poodle versus Labradoodle     Standard Poodle versus Jack Russell Terrier     Standard Poodle versus Alaskan Malamute     Standard Poodle versus Cocker Spaniel     Standard Poodle versus Airedale Terrier     Standard Poodle versus Irish Water Spaniel     Standard Poodle versus Great Dane     Standard Poodle versus Standard Schnauzer     Standard Poodle versus Giant Schnauzer     Standard Poodle versus Goldendoodle     Standard Poodle versus Bernese Mountain Dog     Standard Poodle versus Belgian Malinois     Standard Poodle versus Basset Hound     

    Conclusion: Standard Poodle versus Standard Schnauzer. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Standard Poodle and the Standard Schnauzer better suits you and your family.