Searching for miniature schnauzer puppies and are located in California?
Fernweh Schnauzers has been pairing our Miniature Schnauzer pups with devoted California families for over a decade. We interview and personally match each puppy with their adopter family.
Puppy Nanny: A member of our family can fly to your nearest airport
Home Pickup: You are welcome to fly to our Indiana home for pickup
We are recognized as one of the top Schnauzer breeders in the country and have over a decade experience
We are uniquely known for producing Healthy and Socialized Miniature Schnauzers
Highly reviewed by our past adopters – 4.9 star Google review average
Be the first to know about new litters and puppy pictures! Subscribe now.
Health Tested Parents
We have over a decade of bloodline improvement.
Health examines focus on:
Hereditary Diseases, Digestive, Patellar Tendons, Eyes, Hips, Heart, and Tail
Head to Tail Puppy Examination
Performed by our licensed veterinarian
Customized personality profiling
We do personality testing to ensure that each puppy is a good match for their family
Platinum Health Guarantee
Personal follow-up after puppy goes home
We are fully invested in supporting our adopters during the critical transition period
Each of our Puppies come with:
-AKC Registration from “Bred With Heart AKC Breeder”
-Bag of puppy food
-Internal parasite prevention
-Blanket that has been with their litter
-First puppy grooming
-Starter toys
-Fully up to date on vaccinations
Through years of experience, we have developed our adoption process to focus on the compatibility of each miniature schnauzer puppy with their adopter family. We believe that a successful adoption always starts with placing the correct schnauzer with the correct family.
1. Verbal Interview – Miniature Schnauzer Puppy questionnaires are great, but verbal interaction via a phone conversation really cannot be beat. Expect to talk about work schedule, family/pet structure, and expectations to ensure a Fernweh Miniature Schnauzer is the best fit for your family. Because of your California location, communication and a good relationship are important foundations. They are essential to working towards finding the best pup possible for your family.
2. Deposit – We require a $500 non refundable deposit (please add a 4% processing fee if using credit/debit card) to join our wait list for the next miniature schnauzer puppy available or current puppy available.
3. Miniature Schnauzer Selection – Once an adopter has made their way through the waiting list, we will begin the puppy selection process. Personalities will be discussed* (read more on this below), and the pro’s and con’s of each mini schnauzer puppy available will be weighed before a selection. Ultimately, a puppy selection is made by the adopter, but we will do our best to provide support and information to make the best decision. We believe it is our job to give you all the information possible to make the best decision. If you are in California, know you will receive the support and information you need to pick the correct puppy for your family.
*Miniature Schnauzer Puppy Personality Profiling – In order to ensure we understand (and correctly match) each puppy with their correct family we must understand each personality. We conduct our personality profiling by spending a large amount of time with each puppy and noting both their energy levels and dominance/submissive levels. This process requires each puppy to be around 5 weeks of age before we can confidently profile each puppy’s personality correctly. Some adopters request (and we deny) to choose their puppy as early as 1 to 2 weeks of age. This selection approach is short sighted and often ends in disaster as the adopter has no idea what kind of miniature schnauzer they are purchasing before their selection.
4. Mini Schnauzer Puppy Prep and Pickup or Delivery Information – Once we have matched an adopter with their miniature schnauzer puppy, we will transition to setting a pickup or delivery date and preparing the adopter with a puppy supply list they will need before getting their new miniature schnauzer puppy! If you are from California, we will begin to work through logistics and help you make the best decision – either traveling for an in person pickup or using one of our family members to deliver your puppy to you in California.
Puppy Prep Questions
Your Fernweh puppy comes home with complete AKC registration documents, current health records including vaccinations and deworming, comprehensive veterinary documentation, and a thoughtful starter kit containing toys, quality puppy food, a detailed care guide, and a familiar-scented blanket from their litter.
Yes! Every puppy receives thorough veterinary examinations and stays current with all age-appropriate vaccinations and deworming protocols before joining your family.
Your puppy will have been introduced to crate basics and simple commands. However, miniature schnauzer puppies typically develop full housetraining readiness around 10-12 weeks of age, so continued training at home will be necessary.
Our puppies go home at 10 weeks of age. This extra time with their mother and siblings provides valuable socialization and developmental benefits that set them up for success.
Please arrange a veterinary appointment within 72 hours of bringing your puppy home. We recommend scheduling this visit before pickup or delivery day. Because we have worked with many California adopters over the years, we do have some vet clinics that we recommend. We provide a list of highly reviewed vets in California that can help you locate an experienced Schnauzer vet if you haven’t already done so.
Certainly! We have comprehensive nutritional recommendations available on our website’s nutrition page.
Delivery and Pickup Questions
Our home is located in Northern Indiana, where our family has deep roots and has been raising schnauzers for years.
Yes! For California, we prefer to fly. We provide personal puppy delivery through our family’s flight nanny service. Your puppy travels safely in-cabin with us, following all USDA and state transportation regulations.
Absolutely! We welcome personal pickups and enjoy meeting our puppy families. We’ll review everything in your puppy package and ensure you feel confident before heading home.
We deliver to most major California airports including LAX, San Diego, Fresno, San Jose, and San Francisco. We can also arrange delivery to nearby states.
A deposit secures your spot on our waitlist or reserves a specific puppy. The remaining balance is due at pickup or delivery. Our miniature schnauzer puppies are often reserved quickly, so early planning is recommended.
Adopter Support Questions
Our puppies receive veterinary care from our best-in-state vet clinic, Auburn Hills Animal Hospital. We register all puppies through AKC’s purebred registry and proudly maintain our “Bred With Heart” AKC recognition. We comply with all state and USDA requirements for puppy care and transport.
Definitely! We feel it is essential to support our out of state adopters. We’ll check in personally after your puppy arrives and review their care package together. We’re committed to ongoing support and welcome any schnauzer-related questions as your puppy grows. Even our out of state adopters like California will receive world class support from our family.
Miniature schnauzers have unique characteristics and health considerations. With our years of breed-specific experience and access to veterinary consultants, we can provide knowledgeable guidance on schnauzer health matters.
The pages from our website our helpful:
What is the most important ingredient to breeding healthy miniature schnauzer puppies?
Yes! We have extensive resources and experience with schnauzer-specific training, nutrition, and behavior. Our website features helpful articles on housetraining, crate training, and proper nutrition for miniature schnauzers.
Here are some links we recommend from our website:
https://fernwehschnauzers.com/separation-anxiety/
https://fernwehschnauzers.com/how-to-potty-train-a-miniature-schnauzer/
https://fernwehschnauzers.com/puppy-behavioral-issues/
Yes! Maintaining AKC registered purebred lineages is fundamental to our program. You’ll receive all necessary AKC documentation to register your puppy after adoption.
Email works best for most questions and ongoing communication. For urgent health concerns, we’re happy to schedule phone consultations to provide immediate support.
Over the years we have worked with quite a few California based Miniature Schnauzer adopters. Here is a pool of information that we have gathered that might be helpful for future adopters.
Northern California: Dr. Julie Sofronk, DVM – All American City Veterinary Hospital, Roseville President of the Miniature Schnauzer Club of Northern California, Dr. Sofronk specializes in terrier breed health with extensive experience in preventing hereditary schnauzer conditions including pancreatitis, bladder stones, and skin allergies.
Why We Recommend: Many of our adopter families appreciate that Dr. Sofronk truly understands the schnauzer personality and takes time to explain breed-specific health concerns. Our families especially like her preventive approach to managing the dietary sensitivities common in miniature schnauzers.
Central California: Dr. Emily Alfaro, DVM – San Joaquin Veterinary Hospital, Fresno Known for her expertise with small breeds and terriers, Dr. Alfaro takes a comprehensive approach to preventive care and works closely with internal medicine specialists for complex cases involving genetic conditions common in miniature schnauzers.
Why We Recommend: Our Central Valley families love that Dr. Alfaro remembers each dog’s personality and quirks. Several of our adopters have mentioned how she helped them navigate their schnauzer’s sensitive stomach issues with customized diet plans that actually work.
Southern California: Dr. Paul Palazzolo, DVM – Long Beach Animal Hospital With over 35 years treating small breeds and exotic pets, Dr. Palazzolo offers specialized care for terriers and maintains extended evening hours seven days a week, perfect for busy schnauzer families.
Why We Recommend: Many of our Southern California families appreciate the extended hours for those “my schnauzer ate something weird” moments. Our adopters consistently mention how the entire staff treats their schnauzers like VIPs and remembers them by name.
Rebecca Corso, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA – Your Pro Dog Trainer A Certified Professional Dog Trainer with special expertise in terrier breeds, Rebecca offers both in-person and virtual training throughout California. Her background includes work with service dogs and she has a Master’s degree in Zoology, bringing a scientific approach to understanding schnauzer behavior.
Why We Recommend: Our families rave about Rebecca’s ability to explain the “why” behind schnauzer behaviors. One adopter told us Rebecca helped them realize their schnauzer wasn’t being stubborn about recall – he was just being a terrier who needed a different motivation approach. Many families love that she offers virtual follow-ups, perfect for quick questions about new behaviors.
Chris Schmidt – Central California SPCA, Fresno Offering free weekly training classes that welcome all experience levels, Chris has developed specific techniques for working with intelligent, independent breeds like schnauzers. His group classes create a supportive environment where small dogs can learn without feeling overwhelmed.
Why We Recommend: Our adopters can’t stop talking about these free classes! Several families drive over an hour to attend because Chris makes training fun for both dogs and humans. One family told us their schnauzer actually gets excited on “school nights” and waits by the door with his leash.
Schnauzer Meetup Groups
Small Dog Beach Adventures
Terrier-Friendly Hiking Trails
Agility and Brain Games
Dog-Friendly Wine Country
Urban Adventures
Schnauzer Spa Days
Special California Considerations: Remember that miniature schnauzers can be sensitive to extreme heat. During California’s warm months, schedule activities for early morning or evening, always bring water, and watch for signs of overheating on those adorable bearded faces!
We are currently accepting deposits to join our waiting list for future miniature schnauzer puppies of many different colors. If you are interested in adding a Fernweh Schnauzer to your family we would encourage you to reach out to us via an email or phone conversation. Please be advised that we are known through the country as a breeder of high quality miniature schnauzer puppies and are in high demand. Be sure to reach out and plan in advance when considering a future Fernweh addition. Adopters who plan ahead and join our waiting list are preferred and treated as such during the adoption process. Click Here to see our puppies!
