Training a Miniature Schnauzer: what works and what to expect

Minis learn fast and tend to enjoy training more than the average terrier. Keep sessions to 5 to 10 minutes, use small food rewards and change the exercise often. Repetition bores them, so once your dog gets something right three times in a row, move on to the next thing and come back to it tomorrow.

Barking is the biggest training project. Teach a 'quiet' cue early: let the dog bark two or three times at the door, say the cue once, then reward the instant it stops. Recall needs steady work too, because a squirrel or a cat can override everything you have practiced. Use a long line in open spaces until your dog returns reliably with distractions around.