Nothing’s cuter than a schnauzer looking sharp—bushy eyebrows, scruffy beard, and an air of dignity that’s hard to replicate in other breeds. However, if you want to keep your schnauzer pup looking (and feeling) their best, it’s essential to understand what haircut best suits them.
Not sure which locks will look best on your canine? Luckily, we’ve gathered together a collection of our favorite schnauzer hair cuts to make your decision more informed (and more fun!). From super short styles to fur that’s more flowing, these cuts offer some adorable options.
But before we get started, here are some grooming tips unique to your breed.
Basic Grooming Advice
Keeping your schnauzer looking snappy is all about tending to that fur! Though this breed doesn’t shed like other dogs (and is considered more hypoallergenic because of that), their coif still needs some serious attention. Make sure to always:
- Keep their fur trimmed—since it doesn’t really fall out on its own, you’re going to need to stay on top of haircuts to keep them comfy, and to keep their hair from getting too tangled.
- According to our friends at the nest, it’s imperative to brush their fur often, because mats can easily form thanks to their double coats. And don’t forget to get the legs, arm pits and belly.
- Keep their beard brushed out—nothing’s worse than pup with food stuck in their face hair.
- You’re probably going to want to wash their cute old-man face often, too, as they can sometimes be sloppy eaters, and we know that beards can be unforgiving.
- Some people have their schnauzer’s hair hand-stripped a couple of times a year, which is basically pulling away the dead hairs. This helps keep their fur from matting. But don’t try this at home! Hand-stripping is something that should really be done by a professional, or it could be unpleasant for your pup.
Top Schnauzer Hairstyles
1. The Traditional Schnauzer Cut
This schnauzer cut should be pretty familiar, since it’s the one that you’ll generally see this breed sporting around town. For this look, you’ll want to keep their hair on your dog’s head, neck and body a bit shorter, with the fur on the legs layered and longer. Generally, their beards and eyebrows are left long as well (so cute!), and the hair is rounded at the paws.
There are variations of this style, but this basic schnauzer cut is always a safe bet. In fact, it’s even American Kennel Club-approved, aka the look that show schnauzers rock when they’re in the ring.
2. Puppy Cut
This cut is adorable on most breeds, and schnauzers are no exception. The fur is cut to the same length all over their bodies (about an inch or so), and they look fluffy and sweet—kind of like a puppy! You can trim the beard, too, to give the face an innocent, rounded look, but you can also keep it longer if you’re so inclined.
3. Kennel or Summer Clip
Want something even more low-maintenance? You can give your schnauzer this super cool short haircut that keeps them totally tangle-free and comfortable.
To get this look, trim their coat to a half-inch or shorter all over their body—perfect for hot summer months when their fur can get stifling.
4. Stylish pants
The name alone makes this hairstyle a winner in my book. The cut is just what is sounds like—the dog’s hair is trimmed short all over the body, and the hair on the legs is long and curly, just like a pair of pants!
You may need to pay special attention to brushing out that leg fur to prevent mats, but believe us…it’ll be worth it when your dog ends up looking as stylin’ as this.
However you decide to groom your schnauzer, they’re going to look fantastic and dignified—and you’ll be happy once you find the right style that fits in with your family (and budget, and free time, etc.).
Just remember to always pay attention to the cues that your dog is giving you, and if something is causing them stress, then it may be time to find a different approach/hairstyle/groomer/etc. We hope these hairstyle ideas have been useful for jazzing up your pup’s coif. Happy clipping!