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Q&A About Chocolate or Liver Colored Mini Schnauzers

Is a Chocolate Schnauzer the Same as a Liver Schnauzer?

Yes! There are numerous ways people describe the chocolate, brown, liver colors in toy and mini schnauzers. “Chocolate” and “liver” are commonly used to describe the same brown-based pigmentation in dogs. In a chocolate, brown, or liver Schnauzer, pigment that would ordinarily appear black is instead brown. This is why chocolate Schnauzers also have brown noses, brown paw pads and brown pigmentation around the eyes rather than black.

At SVCC, we often use the word “chocolate” because it is the term many families use when describing these beautiful brown Mini Schnauzers, while “liver” is another term you will frequently encounter when researching the color.

What Makes a Chocolate / Liver Mini Schnauzer Chocolate?

It is in the genes - brown/liver pigmentation is associated with recessive b alleles at the B locus in genetic test reports such as the ones in this link showing our Embark DNA reports we use at SVCC Schnauzers. The recessive “bb” that we trace in the Embark DNA we do on all our breeding dogs can be seen in this video showcasing our boy Luca’s report. Luca is a Chocolate & Tan schnauzer. One of our girls in our breeding program, Coco, is a solid liver or chocolate and her DNA report is here. Both Luca and Coco are dark colored dogs with the “bb” genes. UC Davis - well respected for their genetic testing in dogs - describes the B locus as “Brown (B Locus/Chocolate/Liver)” and explains that brown changes eumelanin from black to brown. It is also possible for dogs to have light colored hair (ee on the E locus) and a chocolate nose (bb) - Lucky is an example of this coloring with green eyes. It is very common for liver or chocolate colored dogs to have green eyes. We have several girls that are called “white chocolate” schnauzers - these are white or cream colored with brown noses and green eyes. See Janee and Nestlee’s playlists on our YouTube channel to see this color with the variety of colors of their puppies. You will hear this color dog described with many phrases such as: chocolate schnauzer, liver schnauzer, chocolate mini schnauzer, chocolate and tan Schnauzer, liver toy schnauzer, and brown schnauzer - all of these are referring to the “bb” recessive brown color that you see in the photos above.

To summarize, in schnauzers chocolate / liver—coloring is genetic. Brown pigmentation is associated with recessive variants at the B locus. A dog expressing brown inherits a brown-associated allele from both parents and thus it is described as “bb” or brown instead of black which would be “B". These genetics affect eumelanin, the pigment that would otherwise appear black. In a chocolate Schnauzer, that pigment appears brown instead. This is why we see brown coat pigmentation along with characteristic brown pigmentation of the nose and paw pads.

At SVCC Schnauzers, we use Embark DNA testing to better understand the coat-color genetics our breeding dogs carry. This helps us make intentional breeding decisions and understand which colors and patterns may be possible in future puppies rather than relying on appearance alone.

What does a Chocolate puppy look like?

You can see one of our adorable SVCC Chocolate puppies in his Gotcha Day video here. And there are lots of photos of our dogs above on this page. Scroll up and you will see a wide variety of chocolate or liver colored schnauzers.

Why Do Chocolate Mini Schnauzers Have Brown Noses?

The brown nose is part of the same pigmentation genetics that produces the chocolate or liver coloring.

Dogs with brown-based pigmentation have brown rather than black eumelanin. That difference can be seen not only in the coat but also in areas such as the nose and paw pads. This is one reason the nose can provide an immediate visual clue that a Schnauzer has brown-based (bb) pigmentation instead of black (B) based pigmentation.

At SVCC, we don't rely on appearance alone. We use Embark DNA testing to better understand the coat-color and health genetics our breeding dogs carry and can potentially pass to their puppies.

What is a chocolate and tan Mini Schnauzer?

A chocolate and tan Mini Schnauzer might also be called a Chocolate Phantom. In the photos above notice there is a solid chocolate / liver colored schnauzer who only has one color on his whole body? Then notice the dogs that have two colors the darker liver brown base and a lighter color that create “points” or eyebrows and the same color around the mouth and on the legs? That is the chocolate and tan. This color patterns can also come in liver and red, chocolate and rust - you may hear people use different terms to describe the same color pattern.

Do chocolate Schnauzer puppies change color as they grow?

Some chocolate schnauzers do change color as they mature. Some get darker, some stay the same color they had as a young puppy, and some fade to a lighter shade of their base color. It is not clear why this happens but when a schnauzer is salt and pepper they fade from looking dark to a grey color - this fading gene is common in some schnauzer lines and not in others. In our SVCC Schnauzer YouTube videos you are able to see many chocolate schnauzer varieties as they are born and grow to become beloved family pets.

Can a Chocolate Mini Schnauzer Be a Purebred Schnauzer?

Yes. Chocolate / Liver - liver and tan, chocolate parti, and the other varieties of liver colors do show up in Embark DNA tests as 100% mini schnauzer as you can see in the Embark DNA tests on our YouTube Channel. Our dogs are also AKC registered as liver colored schnauzers.

It is important to know that chocolate or liver schnauzers can be shown in obedience, rally, and agility at AKC dog shows. They can be part of AKC events however they are not one of the three colors accepted in the beauty pageant - conformation ring shows under the American Miniature Schnauzer Club's AKC conformation standard, which only recognizes salt and pepper, black and silver, and solid black colors in schnauzers. Because chocolate is a nonstandard color, families researching chocolate Schnauzers may encounter differing opinions about this color and their ancestry. This is true in many dog breeds that as a breed evolves people’s interests in the colors and sizes can be shaped by breeders to align with what people want today. This is no different than when the original German breeders were selecting traits that made this breed great at dealing with vermin on farms. Those breeders were selecting the best vermen chasers and breeding them to each other. My how times have changed! What people who are seeking a puppy from us want today is a wonderful family companion who is easy to train and becomes a beloved family member.

At SVCC, we believe families deserve as much information as possible. We consider pedigree information, breed ancestry, DNA health testing, coat-color genetics and our knowledge of the dogs and their family lines when making breeding decisions.

Color alone does not tell us everything we need to know about a dog. Our breeding decisions consider health, temperament, trainability, structure, adult size and what we have observed across generations of our dogs—not simply whether a puppy has a particular coat color.

You can also see the Embark DNA Reports for our breeding parents in this playlist on our YouTube channel

How big do Toy and Mini chocolate Schnauzers get?

Schnauzers come in many size ranges! We have dogs that are between 7 to 15 lbs full grown. We describe what we do in our breeding program here including the size variations. We consider a dog that is 11 inches at the shoulders (and will likely be 11lbs) to be Mini Size. Our Mini Schnauzers that are under 11 inches and under 11 lbs full grown we refer to as “toy sized” even though they are Miniature Schnauzers.

Where Can I Find a Chocolate Mini Schnauzer Puppy in Pennsylvania?

SVCC Schnauzers raises Mini and Toy Schnauzer puppies in our home in Haverford, Pennsylvania, on Philadelphia's Main Line. Families can easily drive to us from throughout Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Delaware and the Northeast. (For families who live farther away, our puppies can also travel throughout the United States with our flight nanny service.)

Our litters may include chocolate, chocolate and tan and other schnauzer colors depending upon the genetics of each pairing. Because we plan our litters carefully and do not have every color available at all times, families interested in a future chocolate Mini Schnauzer can join our SVCC Puppy Priority Reservation List.

SVCC Schnauzers is your answer with more info about our available puppies, our SVCC process for getting a puppy, and our Puppy Prep School.

Can a Chocolate Mini or Toy Schnauzer be Registered with the AKC (American Kennel Club)?

Yes. Miniature Schnauzer colors can be registered with the major registries including the American Kennel Club (AKC). All the Miniature Schnauzers colors can be shown in events such as Agility, AKC Canine Good Citizen, Rally, and Obedience. Chocolate/liver Miniature Schnauzers can be eligible for AKC registration when they meet AKC registration requirements - such as their parents are already registered. Coat color and eligibility to compete in AKC conformation are separate issues.

AKC registration is used for tracking breeding family lines so that pedigrees can be understood. (I use the Embark DNA Breeder tools to ensure that I am keeping the COI of inbreeding below the average in Mini Schnauzers when we breed a male and a female.)

I want to distinguish registration from eligibility to compete in AKC conformation dog shows. As I shared above, chocolate / liver mini schnauzers can be registered and also can compete in obedience, AKC Canine Good Citizen, rally and agility at AKC dog shows. They are not permitted into the AKC conformation show ring - the beauty pagent - at this time; however that could change at some point in the future as the interest in this color grows.

What health challenges do Chocolate Schnauzers have and how can these be avoided?

Like all breeds, Miniature Schnauzers can be affected by inherited health conditions. At SVCC Toys LLC, we use Embark DNA testing on our breeding dogs to identify tested genetic variants and use that information when making breeding decisions. Our breeding dogs are clear of the known issues that Embark tests for so we understand what we are working with and know what to expect from our puppies.

What is the Mini Schnauzer temperament?

Miniature Schnauzers love to be lap dogs. They are are easy to train and very intelligent. It is important that owners learn how to train their dogs. Mini Schnauzers love to learn so they are obedient dogs for owners who know how to train them. When schnauzers are well socialized at a young age they will get along with people, dogs, and cats. We provide a guide and training for how to care for and prepare your Mini Schnauzer puppy to become a wonderful family companion. We also offer puppy manners and socialization classes to help you and your family create a great companion.

Do Chocolate Schnauzers get along with other pets and family members?

Yes, both Mini and Toy size schnauzers do very well with children, teenagers and adults as long as they are socialized well when they are young. Miniature Schnauzers who were raised as puppies with small children from the beginning do well with children. Supervision will be needed with young children because no breed of dog, including the Miniature Schnauzer, does well with very young children pulling and jumping on them.  

Schnauzers also get along very well with dogs and cats. If you have hamsters, Guinea pigs, or rabbits, your Schnauzer should not be able to play with them.

What are the grooming needs of the Chocolate Miniature Schnauzer?

They will need to be combed or brushed daily. A bath every 3 - 4 weeks with shampoo and conditioner is also good for them. You can watch our YouTube channel playlist on grooming to learn how to groom your Mini Schnauzer yourself in either the Teddy Bear Schnauzer or the Traditional Schnauzer style or go to a professional dog groomer.

How much exercise do Chocolate Miniature Schnauzers need?

The toy variety of schnauzer does not need long walks. The larger the size of the dog the higher the need for exercise outside. A six to twelve pound mini schnauzer can be very happy indoors playing with you and their toys. A twenty pound schnauzer will need more frequent walks and opportunities to run and play outside.

Which is better a chocolate male or female schnauzer?

When you have a male neutered and a female spayed (pets, not breeding dogs) the differences between them are not significant. Both will be loving, quick to want to please you and a beloved family pet. Let’s talk about the temperament you are looking for in a pet so we ensure we match you to the right dog — that is more important than the gender of your schnauzer. For example, do you want a relaxed, easy going lap dog or do you want a dog that will enjoy long walks and hikes with you? The only noticeable difference is a male will lift his leg to do his potty business and a female will squat.

If you are part of our guardian program and we co-own a breeding dog, we will discuss how that works with breeding for a stud male or having a female come back to live with us to whelp her puppies and care for them in our home.

Is the Chocolate Miniature Schnauzer good with apartment living?

Yes! The toy size do especially well in apartments and living arrangements where they use potty pads instead of going outside.

I heard Chocolate Mini Schnauzers bark too much – is that a problem?

At SVCC Toys LLC, ours do not bark too much because they have been taught to bark to alert us. You can watch this YouTube video on our channel about the way we teach dogs “Quiet.” When we acknowledge what they are wanting us to see, then they stop barking. We say, “Thank you. I can handle this!”

We make it clear whatever is happening we can handle it - we are the pack leaders and don’t need them to be responsible for us. They will be great alert dogs and if you behave as the pack leader they will be calm and easy going.

What if I want to breed a dog I get from you?

If you want AKC breeding rights on a puppy please indicate that in our first conversation. You will be paying more for the breeding rights. Also if you buy a puppy from us that is a pet and not to be bred we will not provide AKC papers unless you make that known to us that it is important to you.

Where is SVCC Schnauzers located?

We are in Haverford, PA. And we can deliver puppies anywhere in the United States with flight nanny services.

If you are looking for a well-bred, DNA tested, chocolate mini or toy Schnauzer, contact us!