Taigan vs Miniature Schnauzer - Breed Comparison | MyDogBreeds

Known also as the Kyrgyzdyn Taighany, the Taigan is a sighthound dog from Kyrgyzstan. Today the dog is recognized by a number of kennel clubs,and more recently by the FCI.

It was after 1991, when Kyrgyzstan became independent, that the role of the dog changed and t became a working dog again.

It was about in 1995 that a new breed standard was adopted, and since 2005 a national kennel club has existed in Kyrgyzstan.

Miniature Schnauzers were first bred in Germany in the 19th century being bred from Affenpinschers and Standard Schnauzers.

This dog was always used to control rats on farms, but these days he is more a companion. It is believed that the start of the modern Miniature Schnauzer in the United States was around 1924 when dogs were imported from Germany.

It was in 1933 that the Miniature Schnauzer was recognized by the AKC as a separate breed from the Standard Schnauzer.

The Taigan is a large dog, looking much like a Grehound. He stands at between 55 and 82cm in height and weighs about 25 - 34kg.

He has that typical slender body and slender head of the greyhound. The coat of the dog is medium length and somewhat curly and can be many colours, sometimes even bi-colored – cream, black and white, brown, grey or yellow.

During the Winter the coat can become long and thick. The ears are floppy and covered with wavy fur. The tail is long and a distinguishing mark of the dog is the way the end of the tail coils up into a ring.

These dogs can’t be kept in small city properties – they are used to wide open spaces.

Temperament:

An intelligent breed, the Taigan will readily learn some basic commands to make him well mannered and obedient. He is strong willed and independent, so it will be beneficial to have him trained.

He also makes a good watchdog. He is an even-tempered dog and he enjoys human companionship although he is somewhat reserved with strangers. Even so, he will still need a strong, firm owner as he is strong-willed and independent and likes to go his own way.

He is able to get along well with children in the home and other pets. Being a fairly large dog, and one that likes to run, he is better suited to large properties in the countryside as opposed to living in the city.

The Miniature Schnauzer is a small dog breed that stands between 30 to 36cm in height and weighs between 5 and 10kg.

He has a sturdy body with a dense, wiry coat which most people prefer to have stripped. Because stripping is quite tedious, many of these dog owners prefer to have the coat clipped which actually gives the coat a greyish look to it.

The coat is usually a mix of black and silver. Some people refer to the Miniature Schnauzer as having a salt-and-pepper coat – hairs that are a mix of black and white. The dog has a double coat with the outer coat being wiry and the undercoat being a lot softer.

This is a dog that will need to be groomed frequently to prevent matting. A noticeable feature with these dogs is the rectangular shaped head with alert slanted eyes and bushy eyebrows, mustache and beard. In fact the word ‘Schnauzer’ means beard or muzzle.

The ears have been traditionally cropped but these days they are left and then they tend to be half-erect, half-floppy.

Temperament:

This is a tough little dog, fearless, cheeky, arrogant, alert and also friendly. A draw-card with him is that he is considered as a low-shedder and being hypoallergenic.

They’re very intelligent dogs too and will learn quickly when you give him training and socialization. This is important for a dog like this as he can quickly show you that he is strong willed and independent. Training and socialization makes him much nicer as he becomes more balanced and obedient.

He is full of life and extroverted and you can count on him to join you wherever you are and whatever you’re doing. Whether watching TV, swimming or hiking, he’ll be there and turn every occasion into a festive event. He is a loving, loyal dog, making a splendid pet.

He's protective of his human family and tends to be suspicious of strangers, and this is what makes him such a great watchdog.

Taigans are energetic dogs and they want a lot of activity. They’re good watchdogs too and are gentle with children.

They’re intelligent and independent and also strong willed. They’re fearless, calm, balanced, loving and loyal and capable of being an excellent pet and companion.

Miniature Schnauzers are such adaptable little dogs, quite happy to make a home with you in the city or in the countryside.

They’re sociable dogs, so just being with his human family wherever they are will suit him well. If he lives in the city however, he will need to have a walk everyday or taken to the park for a run.

He is also a dog that scarcely sheds, so he suits people battling with allergies. With an average life expectancy of 12 to 14 years, if you nurture your Mini Schnauzer and give him the best food and exercise there is, as well as loving him, you’re going to have a loyal and devoted pet.

Any dog, no matter how healthy they may appear to be, can encounter any one of the many common dog illnesses there are. It is highly unlikely that your Taigan will experience these health issues but it’s good to be aware of some of them -

Bone Cancer:

Also known as osteosarcoma, bone cancer is more commonly seen in large dogs of any breed. It’s a cancer which spreads rapidly through the body and it is terribly sad that the prognosis for your dog is poor.

You might notice swelling, joint pain and lameness and your dog will appear to always be tired. Sometimes you might see a growth. Your vet might do x-rays and if you catch it early, you can give your pet a longer lease on life.

Your Miniature Schnauzer is pretty healthy and he isn’t likely to cost you much in terms of vet fees. There are however some common dog problems that you want to be aware of such as cataracts of the eye and hypothyroidism.

Cataract:

This a a problem in the lens of the eye. The lens should be clear, and when a dog has a cataract, it obscures the vision. The size of the cataract can lead to blindness.

Diabetes in a dog can bring on cataracts as can genetics or damage to the eye from exposure to ultraviolet light. Fortunately, dogs with cataracts can still see. Dogs with old cataracts can have surgery to remove them.

When a dog owner suspects a cataract in their pet’s eye it is best to treat it immediately with anti-inflammatory dog cataract eye drops. Cataracts never go away however without surgery.

Hypothyroidism:

The thyroid gland in the neck produces a hormone called thyroxine. It controls metabolism, but with hypothyroidism, enough of the hormone isn’t made. Its a common disease which affects all dog breeds.

Signs of hypothyroidism include hair loss, weight gain, intolerance to cold and a troublesome skin. To have the disease diagnosed, the vet will do a series of blood tests.

The Taigan is a large slender dog and you want to keep him that way.

Diet:

If you feed him one of the commercially manufactured dog foods, make sure its for a large, active dog breed and that it has a good list of ingredients. There are bad packaged dog foods and you want to avoid these. They are devoid of vitamins and minerals.

Read the packaging to see how much food to give. Also try and give your dog some home-made food too. Make sure it isn’t spicy, exotic foods. Stick to simple, wholesome foods such as boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta, sweet potatoes, spinach and carrots. Chop the food up and mix it into the dry kibble twice a week or so as a treat.

Also try and include some raw meat in occasionally.

Never leave your pet without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

General Care:

Provide your pet with a dry, peaceful place to sleep.

Get him to the vet if he is showing signs of sickness.

Give him a good dose of exercise – walks, hikes, runs, ball games etc.

See that his vaccines are up to date.

Have him or her neutered or spayed to avoid unwanted puppies.

If you bring a dog into your family, provide it with love and attention.

Let’s look at several ways you need to care for your Miniature Schnauzer -

Make sure you have his puppy injections on time. This means knowing which veterinarian you’ll use. Later on if you don’t want to go in for breeding, you will need to have your pet spayed or neutered.

Make sure you have a nice warm, dry spot for your dog to sleep. It can be a cardboard box, or you can buy a dog basket or sleeping platform. Make sure your pet loves it and knows he can retreat to it anytime he wants.

If he goes outside for a few hours, make sure that he has a place to lie in the shade and away from the elements.

Good food promotes good health and longevity. You can feed your pet one of the top quality commercially manufactured foods and give your pet some variety by adding in some boiled chicken, vegetables and brown rice. Some raw meat occasionally can also be excellent for your pet.