Why the Boxer is Better than the Miniature Schnauzer as a Pet

Last Updated: Jun 16, 2022

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Boxer Versus Miniature Schnauzer: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer? Well, you have come to the right place. Because in this article, we will provide you with a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Boxer and for the Miniature Schnauzer. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you with more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Boxer or the Miniature Schnauzer.

Boxer versus Miniature Schnauzer

Boxer versus Miniature Schnauzer: Overview

A very important difference between the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer is the size difference between the two dog breeds. The Boxer is a medium-sized dog while the Miniature Schnauzer is a small-sized dog.

Furthermore, the Boxer belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

On the other hand, the Miniature Schnauzer belongs to the Terrier Dogs group. Terrier Dogs were originally bred to go underground to hunt rodents and other small wild animals (vermin). Terriers come in a wide range of sizes and shapes, but all terriers are energetic, highly intelligent, and territorial. Terries also have the tendency to escape. They require a securely fenced yard.

Boxer versus Miniature Schnauzer: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Boxer to the Miniature Schnauzer based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Later in this article, we will further explain each factor as it applies to the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer

FactorBoxerMiniature Schnauzer
Tolerates Being Alone1/55/5
Tolerates Hot Weather1/54/5
Life Span10 to 12 years12 to 14 years
Tolerates Cold Weather2/54/5
Does NOT Drool4/55/5
General Health2/53/5
Does NOT chew on things4/54/5
Height21 to 25 inches at the shoulder13 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder
Good For Novice Owners3/53/5
Dog Friendly3/53/5
Low Prey Drive3/52/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl3/53/5
Tendency NOT to Wander3/53/5
Adapts Well To Apartment Living4/54/5
Easygoing2/52/5
Kid-Friendly4/53/5
Friendly Toward Strangers4/53/5
Does NOT Shed2/54/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight2/52/5
Easy To Train4/55/5
Intelligence4/54/5
Affectionate With Family5/55/5
Easy To Groom5/52/5
NOT Rambunctious1/51/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor1/53/5
Minimal Exercise Needs1/51/5
Potential For Playfulness5/54/5
Weight60 to 70 pounds11 to 20 pounds
Average Lifespan11.0 years13.0 years
Average Price$1530$1950
Price Range$1000 – $1800$1400 – $2500
Temperament Score83.9 percent79.3 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health TestsNo Data
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Eye Examination
  • Mycobacterium Avian Complex
  • Myotonia Congenita
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds1117
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds)4812
    *Data from AKC.org (The American Kennel Club),dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (The American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Boxer in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Miniature Schnauzer. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for the Boxer is 73 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for the Miniature Schnauzer is 82 out of 125.

    Despite the higher Better-Pet score of the Miniature Schnauzer, we still believe that the Boxer is a better pet than the Miniature Schnauzer.

    This is because Boxers are much cuter but you cannot put a score on cuteness. If you could put a score on cuteness, then the Boxer will come out on top.

    Also, we are biased in favor of the Boxer :-). We are for the Boxer. So get a Boxer!

    Boxer versus Miniature Schnauzer

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer

    Below is a list of where the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer are most different:

  • Boxers do not like to be left alone. However, Miniature Schnauzers can be left alone for some time without problems.
  • Boxers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments. However, Miniature Schnauzers can tolerate hot weather.
  • Boxers are very easy to groom. However, Miniature Schnauzers require a lot of grooming and are not very easy to groom.
  • The Similarities Between the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer

    The Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer are most similar:

  • Both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer have the tendency to develop certain health problems.
  • Both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer are not prone to nip and chew at things.
  • Both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer adapt well to apartment living.
  • Both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer are very friendly towards strangers.
  • Both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them.
  • Both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer are very easy to train.
  • Both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer are very playful.
  • Size Comparison of the Boxer versus Miniature Schnauzer

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer.

    The Boxer weighs 60 to 70 pounds when fully grown. The Boxer is 21 to 25 inches at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, the Miniature Schnauzer weighs 11 to 20 pounds when fully grown. The Miniature Schnauzer is 13 to 14 inches tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    Size of Boxer versus Size of Miniature Schnauzer

    Appearance (Colors) of the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer

    Boxer Colors

    The Boxer comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Brindle
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Black
    • Bicolor
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Red / Chestnut / Orange

    The Boxer comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • Black
    • White / Cream
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Brindle

    Miniature Schnauzer Colors

    The Miniature Schnauzer comes in the following beautiful primary colors:

    • Bicolor
    • Gray / Blue / Silver
    • Brown / Chocolate
    • Black
    • White / Cream
    • Tricolor (Brown, Black, & White)
    • Yellow / Tan / Blond / Fawn

    The Miniature Schnauzer comes in the following lovely secondary colors in addition to its primary colors:

    • White / Cream
    • Black
    • Gray / Blue / Silver

    Lifespan of Boxer versus Miniature Schnauzer

    The lifespan of the Boxer is between 10 to 12 years. The average lifespan of the Boxer is 11.0 years.

    The lifespan of the Miniature Schnauzer is between 12 to 14 years. The average lifespan of the Miniature Schnauzer is 13.0 years.

    The Miniature Schnauzer live longer than the Boxer.

    Boxer versus Miniature Schnauzer

    Temperament of the Miniature Schnauzer Versus the Boxer

    The Boxer has a better temperament than the Miniature Schnauzer.

    This is because the temperament score for the Boxer is 83.9 percent while the temperament score for the Miniature Schnauzer is 79.3 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 83.9 percent, the Boxer has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 79.3 percent, the Miniature Schnauzer has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer by measuring the temperaments of 472 Boxers and 116 Miniature Schnauzers.

    Price of Boxer versus Price of Miniature Schnauzer

    The average price of the Boxer puppy is $1530. The price of the Boxer typically ranges from $1000 – $1800. However, the price of a Boxer can be as low as $100 and as high as $5000. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 1292 Boxer puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Miniature Schnauzer puppy is $1950. The price of the Miniature Schnauzer typically ranges from $1400 – $2500. However, the price of the Miniature Schnauzer can be as low as $500 and as high as $8500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 913 Miniature Schnauzer puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Miniature Schnauzer is more expensive than the Boxer.

    Boxer Miniature Schnauzer
    Average Price $1530 $1950
    Price Range $1000 to $1800 $1400 to $2500

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Boxer and Miniature Schnauzer. For different price points, the charts show how many Boxer puppies or how many Miniature Schnauzer puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Boxers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Boxers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Miniature Schnauzers

    A breakdown of the prices of Miniature Schnauzers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Boxer puppy or the Miniature Schnauzer puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking to buy a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from a puppy mill. Puppy mills mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Boxer versus Miniature Schnauzer

    Adopting the Boxer versus Adopting the Miniature Schnauzer

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Boxers and many Miniature Schnauzers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Boxer named Max that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Boxers like Max on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Boxers, Miniature Schnauzers are also available for adoption. For example, Borat is a Male Miniature Schnauzer that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Miniature Schnauzers like Borat that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Also, Benny is an adorable Male Miniature Schnauzer on petfinder.com that you can adopt.

    You can find more Boxers and Miniature Schnauzers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Boxer versus the Intelligence of the Miniature Schnauzer

    Boxer Miniature Schnauzer
    Intelligence Rank 48 out of 130 dog breeds 12 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 25 To 40 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.

  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Boxer has an obedience intelligence rank of 48 out of 130 dog breeds. The Boxer belongs to the `Average Working/Obedience Intelligence Dogs` category. This means that Boxers tend to learn new commands after 25 to 40 repetitions.

    The Miniature Schnauzer has an obedience intelligence rank of 12 out of 130 dog breeds. The Miniature Schnauzer belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Miniature Schnauzers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Miniature Schnauzer is more intelligent than the Boxer.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Boxer versus Popularity of Miniature Schnauzer

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Boxer is more popular with dog owners than the Miniature Schnauzer. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Boxer is 11 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Miniature Schnauzer is 17 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Boxer

    Popularity of Boxer

    Popularity of Miniature Schnauzer

    Popularity of Miniature Schnauzer

    Year Boxer Popularity Rank Miniature Schnauzer Popularity Rank
    2013 7 17
    2014 8 16
    2015 10 16
    2016 10 17
    2017 11 18
    2018 11 19
    2019 14 18
    2020 14 19
    2021 14 18

    Tolerates Being Alone: Boxer versus Miniature Schnauzer

    Boxers do not like to be left alone.

    Miniature Schnauzers can be left alone for some time without problems.

    Do Boxers shed more than Miniature Schnauzers?

    Boxers shed. They are not recommended for people with dog allergies.

    Miniature Schnauzers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Boxer or the Miniature Schnauzer?

    Boxers are very easy to groom.

    Miniature Schnauzers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Boxer or the Miniature Schnauzer?

    Boxers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Miniature Schnauzers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Are Boxers good family dogs? What about Miniature Schnauzers?

    Boxers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Miniature Schnauzers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Is the Boxer Easier to Train than the Miniature Schnauzer?

    Boxers are very easy to train.

    Miniature Schnauzers are very easy to train.

    Which one drools more, the Boxer or the Miniature Schnauzer

    Boxers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Miniature Schnauzers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    How Kid-friendly are Boxers and Miniature Schnauzers?

    Boxers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Miniature Schnauzers get along fairly well with kids. They are quite kid-friendly.

    Does the Boxer Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Miniature Schnauzer?

    Boxers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Miniature Schnauzers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Do Boxers Bark and Howl? What about Miniature Schnauzers?

    Boxers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Miniature Schnauzers bark and howl, but not very much.

    Can Boxers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Miniature Schnauzers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Boxers cannot tolerate cold weather. They are vulnerable to the cold.

    Miniature Schnauzers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Wanderlust Potential: Boxer vs. Miniature Schnauzer

    Boxers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Miniature Schnauzers have a moderate tendency to wander. This means that they sometimes get distracted by other animals or objects.

    Can Boxers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Miniature Schnauzers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Boxers cannot tolerate hot weather. They are not suited for hot environments.

    Miniature Schnauzers can tolerate hot weather.

    Is the Boxer Better for Apartment Owners than the Miniature Schnauzer?

    Boxers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Miniature Schnauzers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Boxer or the Miniature Schnauzer?

    Boxers are OK for new dog owners.

    Miniature Schnauzers are OK for new dog owners.

    Boxer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    You may also be interested in how the Boxer compares to other breeds aside from the Miniature Schnauzer. So, see below the links to the comparison of the Boxer to other breeds:

    Boxer versus American Eskimo Dog     Boxer versus Valley Bulldog     Boxer versus Shetland Sheepdog     Boxer versus Kai Ken     Boxer versus Fila Brasileiro     Boxer versus Scottish Deerhound     Boxer versus Cavalier King Charles Spaniel     Boxer versus English Toy Spaniel     Boxer versus Ibizan Hound     Boxer versus Bull Terrier     Boxer versus Portuguese Water Dog     Boxer versus Scottish Terrier     Boxer versus Finnish Spitz     Boxer versus Boston Terrier     Boxer versus Siberian Husky     Boxer versus Plott     Boxer versus Bulldog     Boxer versus Carolina Dog     Boxer versus Boykin Spaniel     

    Conclusion: Boxer versus Miniature Schnauzer. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Boxer and the Miniature Schnauzer better suits you and your family.