Schnauzer vs Damchi - Breed Comparison | Petzlover

The exact origin of the Damchi isn’t particularly well documented but those who are interested say that the Damchi actually dates back as far as the 17th century, descending from different ancient Terrier- and Spaniel breeds.

It appears the dog comes from the Himalayan village of Damchi. The former King of Bhutan owned a Damchi and this dog has been featured on one of the country’s postage stamps. Today it is a loved dog in Bhutan, Asia while a few are found in Germany.

These dogs hail from Germany and are particularly well known for their stern faces and their facial hair - the mustache and eyebrows. You get 3 types of Schnauzer – the Miniature, Standard and Giant.

These dogs have always been used for their rat catching skills. The Standard Schnauzer is also known as Mittelschnauzer and they have been categorized as working dogs but also as Terriers.

They've always been good herders of livestock and have been regarded as a good all-round farm dog. Most Standard Schnauzers have earned American Kennel Club (AKC) herding titles. They also make excellent watchdogs.

A breed standard for this dog was written in 1880. Also, the Bavarian Schnauzer Klub was formed in Munich in 1907.

The Damchi is a small to medium breed dog and is part of the toy group. The dog stands up to 43cm tall and can weight 13kg.

His silky coat comes in different colors such as black and white or tan, brown and fawn. He has a lot of long soft fur but its a dog that doesn’t shed much. He has ears which are high set and which flop down and the tail is long and feathery, curling over the back of the dog.

People who know the dog say that they are similar looking to the Tibetan Spaniel, although the Damchi is a bit longer and more sturdy.

Temerament:

Known also as the Bhutan Damchi or Bhutanese Damchi, the Damchi is an active dog that is intelligent and devoted to its human family, although he is known to be aloof with strangers.

Known for his playful, jaunty nature, he is a small dog that is full of character, wanting to be with- and to please his human family. Sweet and gentle, he gets on well with children and pets in the home and will turn out to be a good watchdog too.

They are intelligent dogs and easy to train and will easily respond to tasks given to him. He will benefit from being trained and socialized. He becomes obedient and will easily adapt to life in the city or the country, so long as he is close to his human family, providing them with ongoing entertainment.

He is a social, friendly breed that can suffer with separation anxiety and he will simply pine away if he is left in the backyard and ignored.

You get the miniature and giant Schnauzer as well as the Standard. The Standard Schnauzer stands at between 43 to 51cm and weighs between 14 and 20kg. The dog comes in different color variants - black, black and silver and a greyish color.They have wiry coats that don’t shed much.

They are squarely and robustly built and a typical feature is the mustache, beard and significant eyebrows of the dog. The ears are set high and were once clipped but they are left floppy these days.

The tail has always been traditionally cropped to around three vertebrae,giving the dog a distinctive look, but now it is often left as is and is medium length and curls over the dog’s back.

Temperament:

The Schnauzie is a seriously intelligent dog and this makes them highly trainable so that he can obey quite a few commands. These dogs get bored easily and will require exercise and games that will stimulate him mentally and physically.

They’re alert too, and will bark in warning at any intruders, making them excellent watchdogs. Other notable characteristics are courage and stamina and they have been used for search and rescue work.

These dogs have strong personalities, and are inclined to be stubborn so you want to be sure that they are trained and socialized. This makes them more amicable to be around – they’re obedient and know their place.

The Damchi dog is such a robust, amicable little canine friend for anyone who appreciates his characteristics. Loving, loyal, social and friendly, the Damchi is one hang of a little dog.

He is fairly low maintenance, he won’t eat you out of the house and he isn’t a sickly dog. When you think of all the wonderful years of friendship he offers, anyone who chooses him won’t have one single regret.

Energetic, strong-willed and loyal, the Schnauzer can be an affectionate friend for children in the home as well as adults.

He is cool towards strangers and he is also a bit snooty and aggressive with other dogs, but if he is brought up with them, he will show some loyalty and friendship towards them too.

The Damchi is known to be a robust dog who doesn’t suffer from many health problems, but there are some common health issues that are good to know about so that you can get your pet some help.

Some of the common health problems are hip dysplasia, hypoglycemia, brachycephalic airway syndrome, epilepsy and dental disease.

Hypoglycemia:

A drop in blood sugar can be brought on by stress and this condition is more prevalent in toy breeds. If you find your Damchi lethargic, battling to walk properly or shivering, be aware of this drop in blood sugar as it can send your little dog into a fatal coma.Get him to the vet immediately.

Schnauzers are very healthy dogs. Nonetheless even these dogs can succumb to some of the many dog illnesses there are.

Hip dysplasia is a common dog ailment and the Schnauzer isn’t immune to it. Hip dysplasia can be very sad in dogs as it can cripple a dog, with painful arthritis being his lot as well. It is no comfort for dog owners to know that hip dysplasia is common in most dog breeds – they are devastated when their once playful dog is brought down by hip dysplasia and exhibits signs of stiffness and pain.

The Damchi is an active breed, who loves to be involved with everything his family is involved in. He will need to be provided with games and exercise as he is full of beans and will just love to go with you on your walks. Indoors or outdoors, he is always looking out for a game.

Grooming:

The Damchi has a long coat and to keep it silky and shiny it will require brushing twice a week to ensure no tangles and matting.

Dental disease is more prevalent in small dogs so prevent plaque build-up by ensuring you brush your pets teeth 2 or 3x a week.

Diet:

Your Damchi might have entertained you so much you may want to just give him one treat after the next. Be careful of feeding a small dog too much as a leaner dog lives a healthier, longer life free of many diseases.

Make sure you have your pet with you for 12, 13 or 14 years by ensuring he gets a bowl of nutritious food according to his size and age. With a well planned diet which consists of kibble, some home-made food such as brown rice, vegetables and chicken you’ll be doing your pet a tremendous favor by promoting good health. Never leave your pet without a bowl of fresh, cool water.

Your Schnauzer will need to have his hair brushed twice a week as well as being professionally groomed. This is by hand-stripping or by clipping.

Standard Schnauzers have lots of energy and will require adequate exercise every day – walks, ball games and runs off the leash.

Check his eyes and make sure there is no discharge. Check inside the ears and make sure there is no sign of redness and discharge. Look inside his mouth for rotting teeth. Bad teeth can cause lots of health problems with a dog, not just in terms of the teeth, but bad teeth can negatively affect other parts of the body too.

You want your Schnauzer to benefit from good food, after all nourishing food contributes to good health and longevity. If you choose to give your Schnauzer one of the commercially manufactured dog foods there are, make sure it is one of the better brands with more natural ingredients, The cheaper ones are filled with toxic ingredients.

Choose food according to his age, size and activity levels. To add some variety, feed him some home made food twice a week which can be added to his dry kibble. Boiled chicken, brown rice or pasta and spinach, sweet potatoes and carrots are a healthy choice for your pet. Try and include some raw meat into the diet. Ensure there is always a bowl of fresh, cool water for him.