The American Miniature Schnauzer Club only recognizes 3 colors of Miniature Schnauzers (Salt and Pepper, Black and Silver, and Black), but the American Kennel Society recognizes many different colors of Miniature Schnauzers: Chocolate (Liver), White Chocolate, Wheaten, Chocolate Parti (Liver Parti), Liver and Tan, Liver Pepper, White, Black Parti, Salt and Pepper Parti, and Black and Silver Parti.
PICTURES SHOWN BELOW ARE EXAMPLES OF MANY AKC MINIATURE SCHNAUZER COLORS THAT ARE REGISTERABLE (and many are currently available). Check out their videos!
All AKC puppies are eligible for registration, but may not be shown in AKC sponsored shows unless they are Salt and Pepper, Black and Silver, or Black. Whites (along with the standard colors) can be shown in International competitions with or without cropped ears and with intact tails! In fact, some countries are making it illegal to show Miniature Schnauzers with cropped ears and docked tails. If the parents are AKC, the puppies are AKC!
AKC Rare Miniature Schnauzer Colors
The newer colors of Miniature Schnauzers have become quite popular. Most of them are a result of recessive genes and, at times, are quite difficult to produce. Due to their “different” look, breeders strive to produce them because the public is always looking for that unique puppy that will not look like all the other dogs down the street. As a result, supply and demand have made these puppies more expensive.
These “rare colors” include: Chocolate (Liver), Chocolate Parti (Liver Parti), Liver and Tan, Black and Red, Cream, Red, Black and Rust, Liver Pepper, White Chocolate, Black Parti, Salt and Pepper Parti, Liver and Tan Parti, Liver and Red parti, Wheaten, Wheaten Parti, Liver and Red, and Black and Silver Parti. Below are pictures of many types of Miniature Schnauzers that are able to be registered with the American Kennel Society (AKC).
Merle is a GENE–NOT a SCHNAUZER!
There are many breeders that sell merle schnauzers. They are a cross breed and they shed! Many have other genetic issues (BLIND/DEAF) so do your homework before you purchase a “merle”!
The Registration Of Miniature Schnauzers
Important note for AKC Registration of “Rare” Colors…When registering your puppy with AKC, it is necessary to include two photos (one side view and one front view) along with the official AKC Registration Application. Only the salt/pepper, black/silver, and the black will be registered w/o photos.
The following colors can be registered IF both parents are registered with AKC:
Salt and Pepper vs Platinum Silver
Salt and Pepper has many variations to it’s shades. It can be a very dark black, resembling the black and silver, and at the other end of the spectrum, it can be so light that it appears white from a distance. What to look for, to tell the difference, is that ALL salt and peppers have banded hairs. That means that on the hair, there are 3 shades of gray. The darkest salt and peppers are called “Dark Salt and Pepper”. The lightest salt and peppers are called Platinum Silvers; they appear white, but have the dark banded hairs within the coat. Most salt and peppers will turn out to be a beautiful silver color and so some people mistakenly will call them a “Silver”. If you are paying more for a SILVER, you are being taken advantage of….silver is simply the color that all salt and peppers mature to be.
PLATINUM SILVER NEWBORN
SALT AND PEPPER NEWBORN
PLATINUM SILVER READY TO GO HOME
SALT AND PEPPERS READY TO GO HOME
PLATINUM SILVER ADULT
SALT AND PEPPER ADULT
The registration color code for a salt and pepper is 167.
Black and Silver: Registration Code 016
Black and Silvers can appear much the same as the salt and peppers when they are born, except that the black and silvers have NO brown or copper color behind the ears, on the hocks, nor on the ribs. As the black and silver matures, she will keep her solid black body and where she had copper colored accents on the face and feet, they will begin to lighten until they become a beautiful silver white. It is acceptable to have a few random white hairs appear on the body as they age, but otherwise, the body should remain a solid black color. Phantom is a term used to delineate between extremely white markings on the face and furnishings versus very little white on the face and furnishings. Phantoms tend to fade more quickly than the “traditional” black and silvers, although, some are fortunate to have the genetics to keep their dark coats even though they are extreme in their markings. They have black eyes, black pads and a black nose.
PHANTOM BLACK AND SILVER NEWBORN
PHANTOM BLACK AND SILVER READY TO GO HOME
PHANTOM BLACK AND SILVER ADULT
Black: Registration Code 007
The blacks are exactly what they sound like…solid black. They are born black, they are black as juveniles, and they should remain black. Some blacks will begin to lighten to a dark grey as they age, but who doesn’t turn a little grey with age?! Some blacks are able to retain their deep black color throughout their lives. This is genetic and some have it, but most do not.
BLACK NEWBORN
BLACK W/DOUBLE BLUE EYES READY TO GO HOME
BLACK ADULT
The registration color code for a black is 007.
White: Registration Code 199
Again, whites are exactly what they sound like. They are born white and will remain white throughout their lives. They are not born cream or some other color and then turn white. They are not albino, nor is it a defective gene. The white color is not recognized as a show color by the AMSC, but it is a registerable color within AKC and can be shown in the Internaional shows. When registering a White (or any other non-traditional color), a front view and side view picture must be sent to AKC along with the registration papers. (This is a rule set up by the AMSC)
WHITE NEWBORN
WHITE READY TO GO HOME
WHITE ADULT
Wheaten: Registration Code 224
This color is one of the rarest/most sought after colors within the Miniature Schnauzers. They are registered as Wheaten through AKC and typically have brown or hazel eyes. Occasionally, you can find them with blue or green eyes. Wheatens can have brown or black pads and a brown or black nose.
WHEATEN NEWBORN
Wheaten
WHEATON READY TO GO HOME
WHEATON ADULT
Liver: Registration Code 123
The entire coat of the dog is a chocolate color and the nose, pads and eyelids are a chocolate color. Also, the eyes are hazel or green in color.
LIVER NEWBORN
LIVER READY TO GO HOME
LIVER ADULT
Phantom Liver and Tan: Registration Code is 124
A phantom liver and tan is the same as a phantom black and silver except where the black and silver is black, the liver and tan has a chocolate colored coat. Also, the furnishings are a tan to cream color instead of the bright white of the black and silver.
PHANTOM LIVER AND TAN NEWBORN
PHANTOM LIVER AND TAN READY TO GO HOME
PHANTOM LIVER AND TAN ADULT
Liver Pepper: Registration Code is 498
The liver pepper is similar to the salt and pepper except that the nose, pads, and eyelids of the liver pepper are chocolate colored and the eyes may also be hazel green in color.
LIVER PEPPER NEWBORN
LIVER PEPPER READY TO GO HOME
LIVER PEPPER ADULT
White Chocolate: Registration Code is 199
A white chocolate is completely white with a chocolate colored nose, pads, and eyelids. The eyes are typically a hazel to green color.
WHITE CHOCOLATE NEWBORN
WHITE CHOCOLATE TOY READY TO GO HOME
WHITE CHOCOLATE ADULT
Black and Silver Parti
The body of a Black and Silver parti is often white with a large blanket of black. On the other hand, they can have a blanket of black with spots of white. The nose, pads, and eyelids are black. The eyes are brown in color. The eyebrows will be all white, just like the black and silvers.
BLACK AND SILVER PARTI NEWBORN
BLACK AND SILVER PARTI READY TO GO HOME
BLACK AND SILVER PARTI ADULT
The AKC registration color code for ALL Parti patterns is 038.
Wheaten Parti
The body of a wheaten parti is white/cream with large spots (or a blanket) of creamy red with the nose and pads being brown or black. Each wheaten parti will vary slightly in color. Their eyes can be brown, green or blue.
WHEATEN PARTI NEWBORN
WHEATEN PARTI READY TO GO HOME
WHEATEN PARTI ADULT
The AKC registration color code for ALL Parti patterns is 038.
LIVER PEPPER PARTI
The body of a liver pepper parti is white with large spots (or a blanket) of creamy brown with the nose and pads being brown. The eye brows and cheeks are a white to cream color just like a salt and pepper but keep in mind that all liver peppers have 3 shades of liver on each piece of hair and so each liver pepper parti will vary slightly in color. Their eyes are green or hazel.
LIVER PEPPER PARTI 4 WEEK OLD
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LIVER PEPPER PARTI TOY READY TO GO HOME
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LIVER PEPPER PARTI ADULT
The AKC registration code for ALL Liver Pepper Parti is 038.
Liver and Tan Parti
The body of a liver and tan parti is white with large spots (or a blanket) of brown with the nose and pads being brown. The eye brows and cheeks are a white to cream color. Their eyes are green/hazel.
LIVER AND TAN PARTI NEWBORN
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LIVER AND TAN PARTI READY TO GO HOME
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LIVER AND TAN PARTI ADULT
The AKC registration color code for ALL Parti patterns is 038.
Salt and Pepper Parti
The body of a salt and pepper parti is white with large spots (or a blanket) of silver(that start out brown) with the nose and pads being black. The eyes are also brown in color.
SALT AND PEPPER PARTI NEWBORN
SALT AND PEPPER PARTI READY TO GO HOME
SALT AND PEPPER PARTI ADULT
The AKC registration color code for ALL Parti patterns is 038.
Liver Parti
The body of a Chocolate parti is white with large spots (or a blanket) of Chocolate with the nose and pads being Chocolate. The eyes are also a hazel green color.
LIVER PARTI NEWBORN
LIVER PARTI READY TO GO HOME
LIVER PARTI ADULT
The AKC registration color code for ALL Parti patterns is 038.
Black Parti
The body of a black parti is white with large spots (or a blanket) of black with the nose and pads being black. The eyes are brown.
BLACK PARTI NEWBORN
BLACK PARTI READY TO GO HOME
BLACK PARTI ADULT
The AKC registration color code for ALL Parti patterns is 038.