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Island Miniature Schnauzers

Island Miniature Schnauzers (IMS) is located on Vancouver Island, just outside of the town of Sooke in a geographical area called Otter Point – 50 kms. from Victoria, BC.   We have been breeding, loving and training brightly coloured Miniature Schnauzers since 2006.   We participated in 6 months of CRD public hearings to obtain our breeding and boarding license.  Our acreage has been rezoned to comply with our breeding and boarding license.   We have a satellite office in Alberta, operated by our Senior Business Partner.  

Upon arriving at our farm, you will find yourself amidst a group of brightly coloured, lush coated Miniature Schnauzer puppies.  Our adult breeding dogs share their own living quarters which includes group doggie beds and a large activity centre.  Couches, chairs, cushions and slides are the furnishings of their large pens.

Doggang Life

Doggang Logistics

At IMS our Breeding Portfolio (under “The Parents” tab) reflects our current lineup of our Doggang. This database continuously changes as we positively alter our ever evolving multi-lineaged platform.  Our females are retired at three years of age.

Please find below an overview of our breeding practices. We have written this article in an adhoc style, allowing us to provide you with a glimpse of our passion and intimate daily involvement with our Miniature Schnauzers.

At our farm we currently have three distinct packs.  We interchange females and studs from one residence to another for our breeding purposes.  We interchange females to produce a litter of our choice, with the strict rule of no incest  breeding. We do not believe in such unhealthy and lineage-destroying breeding practices.

Each Doggang pack is separately romped up into our forest – allowing them to enjoy their freedom at their own pace. It is quite a sight to watch each Doggang member race up our steep hill, challenging each other with speed and agility.

These packs and their living quarters are described below.

Valley View – Pack #1

This building was built in 2016.  The dogs in this building enjoy a breath taking view of our valley.  They have their own exercise enclosure with their own chairs and couches.  Inside this residence are the pack living quarters consisting of group pillow beds and feeding stations.  The dogs in this residence are outside 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening.  They are outside the same time as #2 and #3.  This group of dogs are romped up into our forest twice a week.  Our Pack Leader, Dana, joyfully romps this pack.  

Young Silverton Daddy, who we purchased from Florida (we flew down to pick him up and flew back with him as a carry-on), is the leader of this pack.  Silverton is of the nature that we allow older pup-pups (5 months and older) to join his pack.  He is a great teacher of youth whereas he is fair yet realistic with his overall pack control.

Doggang Residence – #2

This is our original Doggang residence.   In this residence the dogs share group beds and outside they have chairs and couches.  The dogs in this residence are outside 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening.  They are outside the same time as #1 and #3.  This group of dogs are also romped up into our forest twice a week.  Our Pack Leader, Dana, joyfully romps this pack.  

Pasture OverLook – #3

This is our newest Doggang Residence – Gary built this building in 2018.  Just like our other residences, the dogs have group beds.  They enjoy a large fenced yard.   The dogs in this residence are outside 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the evening.  They are outside the same time as #2 and #3.   This group of dogs are also romped up into our forest twice a week.  Our Pack Leader, Dana, joyfully romps this pack.  

Upstairs Residence

The “regulars” of this living arrangement are our Boarders , very pregnant females and the puppies in training.

The inside dogs live upstairs with us in our home.  They are put outside on a regular basis and they too enjoy free-for-all forest romps.

Office Play Pens

This is located downstairs in our home.   The Mothers are kept with their puppies in play pens.  The puppies are taken out of their pens twice a day for training and socializing.  In the Summer they are put outside in play pens to enjoy fresh air and play time. 

Breeding Methodologies

Our females naturally go into season twice a year, although some only season once. We choose the pairing of each sire and dam. Our decision criteria depends on the following three factors: lineage, size and temperament.  We breed for health, intelligence and conformation.   Colour is a gift.  The gestation period is 63 days, although the Moms are safe to deliver at the 60 day mark.

The pregnant females are brought into our home when they are 40 days into their pregnancy. Their last days of their pregnancy they stay upstairs where we can smell and hear the commencement of the birthing.  

Typically the Mom commences labour in the wee hours of the morning.  The first puppy’s water sac breaks anywhere from half an hour to two hours after labour commences.   Of course there are various birthing scenarios which are usually very difficult. The most extreme case is that we need to rush the Mom into the twenty-four hour clinic in Langford where a C-section is performed.  If a female is required to have a second C-section then we ask the Vet to spay her at the same time. These females are carefully placed in a new home after she has enjoyed her puppies for at least ten weeks.

It should also be noted that no dog is quickly placed and many times the spayed female stays with us for months until her new owners are found. These dogs are advertised under our “Adult Dogs for Sale” tab.

Puppy Management Methodology

Puppies are born blind and deaf. At two weeks of age their eyes and ears start to open and at three weeks of age they have all their senses available to them.

The new Moms and their puppies live in upstairs for the first four weeks. Each litter has their own whelping box. In this fashion we can carefully monitor each puppy to ensure that its development is on track.  We individually handle each puppy on a daily basis – this is the commencement of our “0 Tolerance Alpha Training Technique”.   If a puppy cries when we are cuddling it, we breathe on its neck which immediately has a calming effect on it (our warm breath simulates the Mom’s warm, calming nudge) and only put the puppy down when it stops crying.  By doing so, we have just instilled our Alpha position with the puppy.

Each Mother is different when it comes down to keeping a clean bed. Some Mothers lick their puppies and their bed covering on a continual basis, whereas others do a very basic clean-up. In these cases, we daily change their bedding and ensure that each puppy has a clean bum!

The Mothers are fed four times daily with warm softened puppy chow.

After the first four weeks, the litters are moved downstairs to our Office where each litter and their Mom live in a large puppy pen. This pen is furnished with a high sided dish of water (the high sides are necessary so that a puppy cannot fall into the bowl), their bed, tiny play toys and a potty towel.

These pens are large enough to allow the puppies to learn how to crawl, walk, run and play. They learn how to lick from their water bowl, how to climb in and out of their bed and commence to learn how to interact with each other. It is the cutest thing to watch puppies learning how to play with each other – roughing each other up with a toothless rumble style!

The puppies and their Moms live in these puppy play pens together for six weeks. The Moms of course are taken outside for their potty chores.  It is best to mention here that we commence grooming education at 6 weeks of age.

The puppies are introduced to warm and softened puppy chow at four weeks of age. It is humorous to watch these puppies discover how to lick their puppy chow. So many times after the pups have eaten a bit of chow, they immediately get very sleepy. Their tiny systems need to concentrate on processing a different food stock which takes more energy to do so – so they curl up and fall sleep, many times in their food bowl!

At six weeks and at 10 weeks of age, the puppies receive their first set of vaccinations:  Parvovirus; Distemper; Adenovirus and Parainfluenza.  At nine weeks of age they are individually trained by one of our Home Life Trainers.  At 10 weeks of age the puppies are taken to our Vet, Sooke Veterinary Hospital, for Pre and Post Bile  Acids Testing (accomplished by fasting,  performing a blood draw, feeding the puppies and then again performing another blood draw).  The same day, the puppies are Vet Checked by one of the Doctors at this Hospital.  Two days after their vetting, the puppies leave the Farm to commence life with their new family.  

We watch the puppies outside when they go for their potty chores and praise each and every one for such “a good job”. Once they understand that they get praise for doing their potty outside, they will squat and at the same time, look up at us for their habitual praise. (This is why when you get your puppy home, he/she will look at you when they are doing potty chores outside – eagerly awaiting for your praise).

Home Life Training

Home Life Training is a one week training program where the puppy/dog goes off-site to learn potty training, kennel training, quiet behavior during separation, grooming handling, socialization with adults, children and dogs, rope leash and off-leash training. Note this training week is not an owner participation event.

Deb & Jim are experienced Home Life Trainers with many successful puppy graduates. 

They are located on the Galloping Goose Trail, so puppies will experience neighbourhood living, with direct access to the trail, providing them lots of exposure to cars, dogs, walkers, runners, bikers, strollers & children, as well as birds, squirrels, and periodically even horses, large & small.  Car rides to beaches; other trails & parks are common. 

This active couple has a sweet new addition to the family, Illa, an Island Miniature Schnauzer.  She is looking forward to helping teach the puppies the ropes, as well as having a playmate to hang out with in the yard or cuddle up with.  She is very good with other puppies, as she interacts with puppies of all ages at the IMS farm on a regular basis. 

Both Deb & Jim have flexible schedules, so there is always some one around for accompaniment and ongoing training.  There will be lots of love and learning, and Deb & Jim are so fulfilled knowing these sweet, smart, adventurous little ones are heading off to their forever homes with a great foundation to their training.

Deb & Jim have great respect for Beverley, her amazing energy, as well as her love for her dogs and humans.   They are grateful for the opportunity to work with these beautiful, sweet puppies.  Watching them develop, learn and grow is so joyful, and they really connect with Beverley’s … Join Up, Be One & Have Fun!

Vivienne, is our “large dog expert” Home Life Trainer.  Her specialty is training large dogs, so her assigned puppy gets plenty of exposure to her large dog, Kaya, a gentle, large Coyote Hybrid.  Her puppy goes for car rides, plays in her forest with Kaya, learns how to ask to go outside for potty chores and inherits the well-behaved nature of Kaya.

Meg, an energy worker/healer by trade, works and communicates with puppies and dogs energetically.  She first learned about the farm by answering to another position in the farm.  When she went for the interview with Beverley for that job, she immediately said “Your energy is great, would you like to be a Home Life Trainer? We are looking for more to add to our doggang and I was about to post it on line!”  The funny thing is, Meg has wanted to be a dog trainer for a long time and even thought about going away to take some training, however her family demands didn’t allow for it at that time.  Universe knows the best timing for everything!

She has 2 children aged 13 and 7, husband, 2 Chiwienees, and 2 cats in her household, so the puppy will have plenty of socialization with variety of members.  Daily walks with the other dogs make the puppy a good follower in the pack.  Our youngest cat has taken the role as “teacher” to show the puppies how to play with cats. Meg’s active daily routine will expose the puppies to human life and what is expected of them, and they are guided gently through their experiences.  She is greatly enjoying the time with puppies and is amazed how each one of them is so sweet, clever and eager to be with. Training puppies actually trains humans, Meg discovers, and she wishes all the new families for them to have great years to come.    

Coleen and Mark are our newest home life trainers.
They live on a rural cul de sac, have a large fenced yard where puppies play and are exposed to deer and wildlife on the other side. Walks along the creek on their property, local hikes and trails are part of their routine, as are car trips to the beach! Outings to more urban environments, help puppies adapt to street noise and busy stores.

Mark uses both a manual and a power wheelchair so puppies gain experience being around these mobility aids as well as learn how to stay out of the way.

Although there are currently no animals in their home, they have a calm, albeit a times, busy household with friends and family coming and going so puppies get familiar with new people.

Cuddles, positive praise and play time make for a happy and healthy learning environment for the puppies who spend a training week with them and Coleen and Mark get their regular puppy fix!
 
Kathrine and Jim live on a quiet, forested, 3-acre property. With just the two of them, their household is a relaxed and welcoming environment for puppies.

Their house has hardwood floors and is a split-level, so puppies learn how to navigate these types of floors and stairs comfortably. A wide, low-traffic road nearby gives puppies their initial exposure to vehicles, and outings to the shops in Sooke further their training and socialization. Kathrine and Jim are an active couple with flexible schedules and they like exploring trails, parks and beaches, so puppies get experience with these as well as car rides to and from.

Kathrine has a history of raising and training Labrador Retriever parents and puppies, as well as Irish Wolfhounds, and she remains passionate about puppies! She was immediately impressed with the training philosophy of Island Miniature Schnauzers and is thrilled to contribute to their in-home puppy training.

Mathilda lives with her two teen daughters, their two miniature schnauzers (Bia & Cookie) and their large mellow cat (Elio) – let’s face it, he is in charge! She has a calm but firm demeanor that is conducive to helping Island Miniature Schnauzers with the Home Life Training program.

She will have the puppies interact with her sometimes busy and always respectful household, where she will foster opportunities for the puppies to interact with her daughters, her dogs and cat.  The puppies will learn to climb laminate stairs, ring the bell to go outside, and learn the ins and out of the kennel routine.

She owns her own home in Victoria in a townhome environment with a small, fenced private yard. She will introduce rope leash training  to the puppies and have them walking on sidewalks and in the Royal Roads forest which is at her doorstep.

She is also known to hop in the car to the beach on a whim! She will provide a loving environment filled with positive reinforcements and copious amounts of love. 

Garrath Morgan has lived in Sooke for 16 years and is a very active member of our Community, as well as your morning hello in his previous life of coffee at The Stick in The Mud. He lives in the Broomhill area with his two daughters and a plethora of other animals!  This means the puppies will be exposed to many different friends, including other dogs, cats, and birds!  Garrath finds having all these animals gives the puppies the opportunity to mingle, learn and respect other animals in a safe and loving environment.

Garrath is self-employed as a Home Life Trainer, a dog walker as well as a local handyman, and this allows him to be able to focus and give your puppy his full attention.  Training days will be filled with car rides, trips to the beach, parks, and to socialize with friends.

He has been involved with breathwork and intention in the human capacity for some time and has amazing success in the transfer to animals.  They feel our emotions and we must breathe and set clear emotion and intention, so that your puppy understands your expectations and behaves accordingly. 

 

Additional Information

  1. Breed Category: Terrier
  2. Geographical Birthplace:Germany
  3. Date of Origin:18th Century
  4. Origin Function: Vermin Control
  5. Today’s Usage: Loyal Friend and Family Pet

 

The Schnauzer breed originated in Germany in the early 15th century.  The German word Scnauze means muzzle, describing the breed’s distinguishing bushy beard.   Three distinct sizes evolved from breeding programs – Giant, Standard and Miniature.

The Miniature Schnauzer is the newest of the three size categories, evolving as its own breed during the late 18th century.   Several small breeds were utilized to downsize the well-established Standard Schnauzer breed to create the Miniature Schnauzer.

The crossing of smaller breeds, such as the Affenpinscher, Miniature Pinscher and Poodle created the Miniature Schnauzer.  The utilization of these smaller breeds, presented a varied pallet of coat colours such as chocolate, white, and parti (patches of any size of colour on white).

Temperament

Miniature Schnauzers are known for their playfulness, child-like personality, intelligence, humor, friendliness and totally family devotion.  They are extremely loyal and protective to their owner/families and are excellent with children and other household pets such as dogs and cats.

Due to the original purpose of the Miniature Schnauzer, which was barnyard patrol, this breed enjoys staying close to home where its loved ones reside.  They are equally happy to be jogging alongside its owner or curled up beside its owner in a chair, just as long as they are with you and your family.

Sizes

Island Miniature Schnauzers’ puppies are classified into three size categories:  Teacup (4 -6 lbs.), Toy  (7-12 lbs.) and Miniature (14–23 lbs.).  We welcome your call, 778-425-2527 or email:  info@islandminiatureschnauzers.com

Athletic Miniature Schnauzers – Coat and Body Structure

We offer Athletic Schnauzers at Island Miniature Schnauzers.  These dogs will have longer legs, longer body and shorter, wiry coats.  They will have less eyebrows and a shorter beard.

Keeping in Touch

We communicate with our customers twice a year with a newsletter.  We love to be sent pictures of your dog/pup-pup.

Island Miniature Schnauzers in Summary

We enjoy regular off leash outings up in our mountain terrain.   The Doggang enjoy regular romping by themselves, as well as, with our Trainers.  They participate in hourly romping freedom up in our forest.

Our love for our Doggang and their puppies is always paramount.

All our dogs and their subsequent puppies are trained to show affection by providing kisses and hugs.  We breed for temperament first, resulting in loving puppies.  We have fourth generation breeding females who have learned this loving behaviour which is embedded in their puppies’ DNA.

At Island Miniature Schnauzers we do not incest breed.

At Island Miniature Schnauzers we are honoured to share the miracle of puppy birth with each of our females.  After the birth of each puppy, we ensure that it receives its first sip of warm colostrum milk.  

All our puppies are inside and outside potty trained and have been trained with our “Join Up, Be One and Have Fun”  techniques.  Your puppy is trained by one of our Home Life Trainers at nine weeks of age where they are potty trained; trained to walk correctly on a leash;  ride in the car; experience children and other doggies out on the trail.  

Respectfully,

778-425-2527

info@islandminiatureschnauzers.com

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