Ethical Foundation

At Fernweh Schnauzers, I’ve spent over 10 years developing a framework of principles that guide every decision we make. Our family believes that without clear ethical standards, breeders can often lose their way. We always want to honor our passion for the breed with ethical behavior

– Erica

Every Life Matters

I hold a deep conviction that bringing life into this world creates an unbreakable obligation. Our family doesn’t believe in giving up on puppies – period. Where others might see a puppy with challenges as a burden, we see a life worth fighting for. I refuse to participate in the common practice of discarding puppies who don’t meet arbitrary standards. Every puppy deserves a chance at a happy life.

Health Above All Else

The miniature schnauzer breed faces its own unique health challenges that need to be taken seriously. Through genetic research and experience, we know our breed can be predisposed to specific health conditions within the breed. That’s why our family has made health screening non-negotiable.

We prioritize health above everything else because a Schnauzer is a family member.  We do everything in our power to ensure our genetics do not pass on health issues to the next generation.

Honoring Our Mama Schnauzers

Working with a Schnauzer momma and helping her raise a litter of babies is sacred.  All lives involved must be treated ethically and quality of life must be considered.  Too many breeders “use” their Schnauzer moms unethically and resort to overbreeding and unethical treatment.  Our adult Schnauzers are never to be a “means to and end”.  

 I have strict rules regarding our Schnauzer mommas and am committed to never overbreeding.  They are cherished and protected.  

I work closely with our veterinary team to ensure each pregnancy is in the mother’s best interest. If their body says “no more,” we listen – regardless of her breeding quality. These amazing mothers give us incredible puppies; they deserve our respect and protection.

Closed Loop Breeding = Zero Shelter Pups

When we place a puppy with your family, our relationship doesn’t end – it transforms. I believe that we hold a level of responsibility to every pup that we bring into this world.  

This means that our responsibility to our pups does not end when they go to their new homes.  Every Fernweh pup will always have a safety net and is welcomed back to our home if an adopter can no longer care for them.

 Life throws curveballs, and if circumstances ever change, we will welcome any of our dogs back home, no questions asked. 

We do this because our goal is to never have one of our pups in a shelter.  We like to call this closed loop breeding and it eliminates the role of a shelter.  If all breeders had this policy, we would eliminate the need for shelters.  

Protecting the Schnauzer Personality

The traditional Schnauzer personality is why we fell in love with the breed. It’s that perfect blend of intelligence, loyalty, and that unmistakable personality that makes you laugh every day. Our family treasures these traits above all physical characteristics. 

We are dedicated to preserving the traditional Schnauzer qualities that families have grown to love while improving on specific traits like “less barking” and “more laid back” demeanors.

Traits we are preserving: 

-intellegence

-loyalty

– Obedience

Traits we are genetically improving:

-less noisy barking

-laid back demeanor

Lifetime Commitment to our Schnauzer Families

We believe our Schnauzer families are extensions of our own.  We have the unique opportunity to share and advocate for the breed through our families.  With much knowledge comes responsibility.  

We have accumulated years of Schnauzer specific care, nutrition and training tips that should be shared with our Fernweh families. We are committed to always supporting our families through guided emails and calls.

Color Blind Breeding

The schnauzer world can be divided about “acceptable” colors. 

Greed and capitalism has created color breeding trends where breeders focus on creating trendy coat colors and types.  This type of breeding is harmful as it exploits one aspect of the breed for money and tends to ignore important characteristics like health.

In contrast, show breeding (due to politics) has excluded legitimate Miniature Schnauzer color patterns like Parti that exist with the breed’s genetic information despite clinical and historical studies that demonstrate its legitimacy.  These politics create genetic bottlenecks by ignoring legitimate genetic information.

Why Genetic Diversity Matters

Science tells us that artificially limiting our gene pool based on color preferences weakens the breed. When we exclude healthy dogs based solely on color, we’re not protecting the breed – we’re harming it. I use modern genetic science to guide decisions, not politics or popularity contests.

My pricing reflects this philosophy – we price based on health testing results and temperament, never on color trends. This ensures I’m never tempted to make breeding decisions based on market demands rather than what’s best for the breed.