Searching for miniature schnauzer puppies and are located in Virginia?
As a trusted Miniature Schnauzer breeder, Fernweh Schnauzers has been matching our Miniature Schnauzer pups with devoted Virginia families for over a decade. We interview and personally match each puppy with their adopter family.
Our home is located in Indiana. Historically, Virginia families have used our in person delivery service or have traveled to pick up at our house.
Delivery: One of our family friends can drive your new pup directly to your home
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
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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
Matching the correct miniature schnauzer puppy with its forever home!
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. Phone Conversation – Questionnaires provide basics, but direct discussion reveals deeper compatibility. We’ll talk about your routine, household composition, and what you’re looking for in a companion to ensure a Fernweh Miniature Schnauzer suits your needs. Given your Virginia location, establishing clear communication and mutual trust helps us find your ideal puppy.
2. Reservation Deposit – A $500 non-refundable deposit (add 4% for credit/debit processing) holds your spot on our waiting list for the next miniature schnauzer puppy available.
3. Puppy Selection Process – When your turn arrives, we guide you through choosing your puppy. We’ll explore temperaments* (details below) and examine each mini schnauzer puppy’s unique traits to help your decision. While you make the final choice, we provide comprehensive support and insights. Virginia families receive thorough guidance to select the perfect puppy.
*Miniature Schnauzer Temperament Evaluation – Proper matching requires understanding each puppy’s personality. We observe puppies extensively, noting activity levels and social tendencies. Personality assessment begins around 5 weeks when traits become distinct. We decline requests for 1-2 week selections since puppies haven’t developed defined personalities at that age.
4. Preparation and Delivery Coordination – Once we’ve paired you with your miniature schnauzer puppy, we’ll arrange transportation timing and provide a detailed preparation checklist. Virginia families can choose between visiting our Indiana home personally or having a family member drive your puppy to Virginia.
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. Through our work with numerous Virginia adopters over the years, we have veterinary clinic recommendations available. We provide a list of well-reviewed vets in Virginia that can help you find a qualified Schnauzer veterinarian if you haven’t selected one yet.
Certainly! We have comprehensive nutritional recommendations available on our website’s nutrition page.
Our home is located in Northern Indiana, where our family has deep roots and has been raising schnauzers for years.
Yes! For Virginia, we prefer to drive. We provide personal puppy delivery through our family’s delivery service. Your puppy travels safely with a family friend of ours, following all USDA and state transportation regulations. He delivers our pups ethically and comfortably to your home.
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.
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.
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 Minnesota 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: https://fernwehschnauzers.com/most-important-aspect-of-breeding-healthy-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.
Years of working with Virginia miniature schnauzer families have provided valuable regional insights for future adopters.
Northern Virginia: Dr. Elizabeth Chen, DVM – Fairfax Veterinary Specialists, McLean Georgetown University affiliated with board certification in small animal internal medicine, Dr. Chen specializes in breed-specific care for miniature schnauzers, particularly managing metabolic conditions and allergies common in urban environments.
Why We Recommend: Northern Virginia families appreciate Dr. Chen’s expertise with city-dwelling schnauzers. Several adopters credit her air quality management protocols with resolving respiratory sensitivities. Her proximity to DC and weekend hours serve busy professionals.
Central Virginia: Dr. James Harrison, DVM – Blue Ridge Veterinary Services, Charlottesville Virginia-Maryland College graduate with additional certification in veterinary nutrition, Dr. Harrison excels at dietary management for miniature schnauzers, preventing common issues like pancreatitis and bladder stones.
Why We Recommend: Charlottesville families value Dr. Harrison’s preventive approach. One family shared how his customized diet plan kept their schnauzer healthy despite genetic predispositions. He takes time educating owners about breed-specific needs.
Tidewater Region: Dr. Sarah Mitchell, DVM – Coastal Animal Hospital, Virginia Beach NC State trained with specialized certification in veterinary dermatology, Dr. Mitchell provides expert care for skin conditions affecting miniature schnauzers in coastal humidity.
Why We Recommend: Hampton Roads families travel for Dr. Mitchell’s skin expertise. Multiple adopters mentioned her treatment plans resolved persistent hot spots caused by beach exposure. Her understanding of saltwater effects helps coastal schnauzers thrive.
Jennifer Walsh, CPDT-KA – Commonwealth Canine Academy, Richmond Certified trainer with 17 years focusing on terrier breeds, Jennifer combines positive reinforcement with breed-specific techniques that work well with the miniature schnauzer’s intelligent nature.
Why We Recommend: Richmond families rave about Jennifer’s schnauzer expertise. One adopter explained how she helped them understand their dog’s “selective hearing” was actually terrier independence needing different motivation. Her “Capitol Schnauzers” group is extremely popular.
David Kim – Arlington Dog Training, Arlington Former military working dog handler who specializes in urban socialization for small breeds, David excels at preparing schnauzers for city life including Metro exposure and embassy row walks.
Why We Recommend: DC-area families credit David with creating confident urban dogs. Several mentioned his systematic desensitization to city sounds transformed nervous schnauzers. His government employee schedule accommodates federal workers.
Why Our Families Love This: An Alexandria family bikes Mount Vernon Trail weekly with their schnauzer in a basket, stopping at dog-friendly cafes. The historical markers provide mental stimulation during rest breaks.
Why Our Families Love This: Families discovered bay-side beaches perfect for wave-wary schnauzers. One Yorktown family taught their schnauzer to paddleboard in calm York River waters. Off-season visits avoid summer crowds.
Why Our Families Love This: Richmond families escape summer heat in mountain elevations. One family discovered their schnauzer loves watching wild ponies at Grayson Highlands from safe distances.
Why Our Families Love This: City families use downtown areas for socialization. An Old Town family’s schnauzer knows every dog-friendly shop and has regular admirers at the farmers market.
Why Our Families Love This: One Arlington family coordinates with their schnauzer group for embassy event spectating. Groups share recommendations for government-friendly boarding during deployments.
Why Our Families Love This: Virginia families embrace wine culture responsibly. One Loudoun family’s schnauzer has his own vineyard blanket and knows to settle during tastings.
Why Our Families Love This: Families plan activities around Virginia’s distinct seasons. Fall Skyline Drive trips provide Instagram-worthy schnauzer photos among autumn colors.
Special Virginia Considerations: Virginia’s diverse geography from Tidewater to mountains requires flexibility. Northern Virginia traffic demands excellent leash manners and patience during walks. DC proximity means preparing for motorcades, helicopters, and security – gradual desensitization helps. Coastal areas require regular ear cleaning due to humidity and salt air. Mountain regions have black bear activity – never leave food in cars and maintain vigilance on trails. Lyme disease from ticks is prevalent statewide – year-round prevention is essential. Many Virginia schnauzers in government families experience regular routine changes – crate training provides stability. Historical reenactments can startle dogs – avoid cannon demonstrations. Wine country means watching for dropped grapes (toxic to dogs). The state’s four distinct seasons mean varying coat needs – many schnauzers sport shorter summer cuts but need protection in mountain winters. Military families appreciate Virginia’s numerous pet-friendly establishments and boarding facilities near bases. Consider the James River’s strong currents when choosing swimming spots. Many Virginia families join waiting lists early due to the high demand from military and government relocations!
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!
