Miniature Schnauzer | We Got A Puppy!

MINIATURE SCHNAUZER | We Got A Puppy

In the summer of 2021 our dog of thirteen years died, we adored him, needless to say, we were devastated. Coco was our first and only dog we got together as a couple (up until now). We waited a year and a half before we even considered getting another dog. Coco can never be replaced, but our home did feel empty without a dog, so we started looking for our new fur baby.

MINIATURE SCHNAUZER (male) – CHOCOLATE TAN

Meet Luca Le Roi

On December 12, 2022 we brought home the newest member of our little family.

Luca Le Roi is a chocolate tan, miniature schnauzer. We got him at 10 weeks old and he weighed 4.7 pounds. The breeder doesn’t think that he’ll get any bigger than 10 or 12 pounds full grown, perfect size for us. My dad had two regular sized schnauzers when we were growing up, I’ve grown attached to this breed. I knew I didn’t want a regular size schnauzer, they can get up to 40+ pounds, so I decided on a miniature.

Luca is already a part of our family. This is a wonderful breed. It is not hard to train him, he is so well behaved. He’s loving, rambunctious, full of energy, smart, and times he can be a bit silly.

I wanted a female mini schnauzer, but the breeder had already sold all the females. However, when I saw pictures of Luca on their website, and when we saw his colorful eyes, we were in love. In about two years we want to get an all white, blue eyed, female mini schnauzer; so Luca can have a companion.

PUPPY PHASE | Shots + Pee pad

The first 5 weeks with Luca were fun, frustrating, and exhausting. Miniature schnauzers are fearless without being aggressive. They are hypoallergenic, smart, friendly, trainable, playful, attractive, obedient and loyal. We picked the most perfect breed for us, he’s a wonderful dog.

SHOTS | When we got Luca he came with 2 sets of his shots, but he needs 5 sets of shots before he can be safe outdoors. The veterinarian doesn’t want him to use the bathroom outdoors, or go on walks, or socialize with other dogs until he is completely vaccinated. Luca won’t be completely vaccinated until February 8 (he’ll be over 4 months old), but his vet doesn’t want him out officially until Feb 22.

Our yard is not entirely fenced off, we live in the hills – coyotes, cats, and wild rabbits wander on to our property, so his vet doesn’t want Luca exposed to all the elements until he’s completely vaccinated.

POTTY TRAINING | Luca knows to go on the potty pads, we never have to worry about him having accidents (It took one week to train him to go on his pee pads, we had to watch him like a hawk). The downside is we are constantly switching out his washable pee pads, and we have to pick up his poo and toss it out. I can’t wait until he’s completely housebroken and can go outside.

FUR BABY | Toys + Crate Training

TOYS | I’ve been buying his toys from HomeGoods, Ross, TJ Maxx, and Amazon. HomeGoods and Ross have affordable toys and pet supplies. Let me tell you, Luca goes through his toys fast, he’s teething, so he’s demolishing them in a blink of an eye. The good thing is he doesn’t chew on furniture or anything that does not belong to him.

CRATE TRAINING | For the first 3 weeks, Luca was in his crate (shown in image below). Thankfully he adjusted to crate training instantly. He did not cry at all the first night we got him. He’s a pretty independent puppy. We established clear boundaries from the beginning. He sleeps in a different room from us. Eventually, Luca will sleep in our room with us, once he is fully housebroken and has gone through obedience training.

He’s outgrown his crate, and he’s got his own playpen/personal space area now (I’ll show his new space in a future post).

MINIATURE SCHNAUZER | Real Talk

FINANCIAL COMMITMENT | I know this should go without saying, but, having a pet is expensive. Seriously, first off, purchasing our mini schnauzer was not cheap. His veterinarian visits are costly. We have pet insurance for him, again, pricey. We feed him CARNA4 dog food, it comes with a steep price tag. His grooming supplies, crate, playpen, treats, harness, collar, leash, etc.,

Don’t get tempted by cute pets on social media, tik tock, and Youtube. All this sh*t ain’t cheap! Do your research and be ready to be financially committed to your pet.

PUPPY BLUES | With our first dog, the last 7 years before he died were perfect. We could walk him without a leash, he was well trained, we were the 3 amigos. So it was a big shock when we welcomed a rambunctious puppy into our home.

That’s why it’s important to really figure out if you want a puppy in your living situation. Puppies are no joke. They require a lot of work. Puppies require constant caring and socializing and training and love. Puppies will get into mischief, because it takes them time to get to know the rules. You will experience a loss of freedom in the beginning, because they can’t be left alone all day. Some puppies cry and won’t sleep through the night. Others will bark incessantly. Many have a difficult time potty training or some can be picky eaters.

RESCUE vs. PUREBRED + Do’s & Don’ts

BUYING VS. ADOPTING | Adopting: This is a touchy topic in the pet community. Coco, our first dog, we rescued him from our local pet shelter. It was a wonderful feeling. The shelter wanted to put him to sleep because he was sick with parvo. So we took him home, nursed him back to health, and Coco lived 13 healthy years – which were filled with a lot of love and adventures.

Buying: We purchased our miniature schnauzer from a breeder. I don’t regret doing this, regardless, all puppies need homes. Also, I knew I wanted a miniature schnauzer. And when we look for a female mini schnauzer in the near future, we’re planning to go through a breeder again. No regrets.

NEGLECT | Don’t get a pet if you’re just going to neglect them. They are loving and loyal creatures that need love, respect, and attention.

• Spend quality time with them
• Take them on their daily walks
• They need quality, healthy food
• Daily grooming
• Regular veterinarian appointments
• Up to date on shots
• Don’t neglect their dental care
• Comfortable and secure place to sleep and rest
• Avoid reckless and careless behavior with them (ex: upper body hanging out the car window)
• No physical abuse
• No yelling
• No teasing (pulling on tail, taking their food away, kids riding on big dogs)
• Avoid walking/playing/exercising on hot pavement or in extreme heat.
• Don’t leave pets outside in the rain, snow, cold or extreme heat.

PUPPY LOVE | TIPS

• LOOK FOR A DEAL | Don’t buy super expensive pet items in the beginning. Luca is teething, he’s getting better, but in the beginning he was chewing on everything. The majority of his toys are already completely destroyed. Especially the first year, puppies will outgrow their first collar and harness, don’t waste your money on expensive accessories. I want to buys aesthetic pet accessories, but I need to wait until Luca is not teething anymore. I’m also not buying clothing or too many harnesses because Luca will eventually outgrow everything – I’m going to wait till he’s full grown before I buy all his clothes and expensive accessories.

• TIME | It will take time for your puppy to bond with you. It will take time for them to learn the rules of your house. Don’t get discouraged if it takes a while for your puppy to behave properly or if it’s hard for them to potty train. This journey with your puppy will take time. Don’t compare yourself to other pet owners on social media.

FUR BALL BABY | RESEARCH & BE PREPARED

• RESEARCH | What kind of dog fits your lifestyle and your home and your family. You don’t want a huge dog in your studio apartment. Are you planning to start a family? Certain breeds have physical limitations, like: bulldogs and pugs struggle with heat and strenuous physical activity. How will your new puppy adjust to your work schedule? Do you travel a lot? Research.

• BE PREPARED | Have all the basics ready before you buy/adopt your new puppy. Prepare a small space for your fur ball in their new home, that way they have a peaceful place to retreat to when they need to rest. Basics: pet carrier, crate, food & water bowl, soft bed, blanket, toys, chew toys, food, treats, pee pads, poop bags, pet safe wipes, collar, leash, brush/comb, and shampoo & conditioner…etc.,

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Thanks so much 🙂

Have a beautiful day