10 Things You Didn’t Know about The Wowauzer

Wowauzer

The Wowauzer is also known as West Highland Schnauzers or Wowzers under the Designer Breed Registry. These are unusual small dogs with an unclear history despite their clear genetic makeup. However, they are wonderful, loving, if persistent, and sometimes stubborn dogs. They are often mistaken for small schnauzers and share the characteristic mustached face reminiscent of that breed. Here are ten things you didn’t know about the Wowauzer.

10. Mysterious Origins

Little is known about the precise origins of the Miniature Schnauzer and Welsh Terrier mix. According to WagWalking, “Their ancestors were depicted by painters such as Rembrandt and Albrecht Durer during the Renaissance, and are also shown in tapestry dating from 1501.” Meanwhile, the modern descendant Wowauzer is widely believed to have been bred as recently as the 1990s.

9. Small & Lightweight

Although they are considered small to medium-sized, Wowauzers max out at around thirty pounds and rarely top fifteen inches tall. While this is certainly not the size of a min-pin or a teacup chihuahua, they are still pretty compact dogs. You won’t have to worry too much about getting bowled over by your furry friend when you come home, and they’re excited to see you.

8. Wowauzer Eyes Are Always Brown

Some dogs, like huskies, can have stunning pale blue eyes. However, the Wowauzer always has brown eyes. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it is an intriguing quirk of their genetics. Similarly, their noses are always black.

7. Long-Lived

Mastiffs and Great Danes are delightful, loving, massive dogs. However, the downside to owning one of these giant breeds is that they typically only live about eight years. Meanwhile, the much smaller Wowazer is a relatively long-lived breed. An expected lifespan for a healthy Wowauzer is twelve to fifteen years. This is just one of the many reasons they make great family pets.

6. Good With Kids And Families

Wowauzers are great with kids. Sure, they’re a high-energy breed, but they don’t herd like some, and they know how to calm down. As bright, loyal, and often surprisingly sensitive dogs, Wowauzers aren’t prone to the sort of energetic bursts that can leave little kids on the floor crying, but they will play all day given a chance.

5. Health Concerns

Every dog breed has unique health concerns. For big dogs, it’s often joint issues, and pugs have breathing or eye problems from overbreeding. Fortunately, Wowauzers are relatively low maintenance compared to these health-issue-prone breeds. According to DogZone, you need to look out for atopic dermatitis, diabetes, kerato-conjunctivitis sicca (dry eye), and pancreatitis. As health issues go, that’s a surprisingly minimal list, and most of these conditions are manageable, allowing a dog to have a long, high-quality life.

4. High Energy And Distractable

Not everyone wants a high-energy dog, but those who do know what a joy they can be. Wowauzers are not as wild as collies, but they do love a good run, long walk, or extended play session. Moreover, they love the outdoors and are especially fond of sniffing around, tracking, and hunting-type activities in general. Distractability can make these clever dogs a bit of a handful. Training a Wowauzer can present a challenge. Because they are bright, this breed gets bored quickly. Owners should keep training repetition to a minimum for more effective attention span use. Moreover, Wowauzers are known for being stubborn, so it will take more time and patience to train these dogs properly. Be consistent, and keep those treats coming.

3. Attitude Is Everything

A Wowauzer is sometimes a challenge to train. Their stubborn and persistent nature works best with positive reinforcement and firm rules. However, the flip side of that behavior is that they are loyal and independent enough that separation anxiety is basically nonexistent for these sweet dogs. Unlike some breeds that are clingy and howl if you leave the room, Wowauzers are more laid back and self-assured in general.

2. Low Shedding

Wowauzers have beautiful, medium-length, shaggy coats, but they aren’t excessively long-haired. Because of the texture, this breed is prone to tangles and needs frequent brushing. However, one of the nice things about Wowauzer fur is that they are relatively low-shedding dogs. That means you won’t have to deal with the ‘dog glitter’ that gets everywhere with most species, though there will still be some cleanup. Better still, you can choose almost any color you want. According to Dog.com, “The color of a dog’s fur can be black, liver (brown), red, yellow, white or combinations thereof. Dogs with dilution color factors in their genes will be a paler version of these basic colors.” Wowauzers come in seven natural colors: black, white, grey, silver, brown, fawn, and even brindle. The wide variability in coat colors comes from their genetic background. Between the Miniature Schnauzer and Welsh Terrier, these canines can have most coat colors.

1. Perfect Companions

Relatively few dog breeds are specifically bred to be companions. Most species started out as hunters, vermin control, or something similar. Pugs and Papillons are among the few dog breeds that have been selectively nurtured along as specific companion-only animals. Like these, the Wowauzer was also made for friendship. Although they are intelligent, stubborn, and more independent than most, the Wowauzer is intensely loyal and loving. It’s hard to find a dog that is both laid back enough to let you walk out the door without having a fit and loyal in the way only a dog bred to be a human companion can be. If you’re considering a pet, a Wowauzer is an ideal choice.

Final Thoughts

If you are looking for an outstanding, small to medium-sized family dog with shaggy fur that doesn’t get everywhere, the Wowauzer should be on the top of your list. Although they have high energy levels, they also love calm family evenings together. You’ll need to brush a Wowauzer regularly, but there won’t be clouds of fur-mess around the house. Most importantly, despite a few common health issues, this breed is very long-lived.

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