Miniature Schnauzer vs Otterhound vs Basenji – Which one is a better dog breed for you?

"Find similarities and differences between Miniature Schnauzer vs Otterhound vs Basenji" Compare Miniature Schnauzer and Otterhound. Which is better: Miniature Schnauzer or Otterhound or Basenji?

General Appearance Hair & Care Characteristics Good With Health Factors Reproducibility Show differences only

Name	Miniature Schnauzer	Otterhound	Basenji
Origins	Germany	England	Democratic Republic of the Congo
All Dog Breeds By Country Of Origin
Group	Hunting Dogs	Hunting Dogs	Hunting Dogs
Popularity Rank	18	186	84
Reviews	2	1	1
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Other Names	Zwergschnauzer	Otter Dog	Congo Dog, Congo Terrier, African Bush Dog, African Barkless Dog, Ango Angari, Zande Dog
Breed Type	Purebred	Purebred	Purebred
AKC Group	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1926 as a Terrier breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1909 as a Hound breed.	Recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1944 as a Hound breed.
FCI Group	Recognized by FCI in the Pinscher and Schnauzer - Molossoid and Swiss Mountain and Cattledogs group, in the Pinscher and Schnauzer type section.	Recognized by FCI in the Scent hounds and related breeds group, in the Scent hounds section.	Recognized by FCI in the Spitz and primitive types group, in the Primitive type section.
Breed Recognition	American Canine Registry American Kennel Club America's Pet Registry Canadian Kennel Club Dog Registry of America Inc. Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain North American Purebred Registry, Inc. American Canine Association, Inc. Australian National Kennel Council Continental Kennel Club National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club	American Kennel Club Australian National Kennel Council Canadian Kennel Club Continental Kennel Club Federation Cynologique Internationale Kennel Club of Great Britain National Kennel Club New Zealand Kennel Club United Kennel Club	No set
Price	$600-$1000	$500-$600	$1000-$1200

General Appearance - Miniature Schnauzer vs Otterhound vs Basenji

Size	Small	Large	Medium
Weight	Male: 11-18 pounds (5.0-8.2 kg), Female: 10-15 pounds (4.5-6.8 kg)	66-115 pounds (30-52 kg)	Male: 22-26 pounds (10-12 kg), Female: 20-25 pounds (9-11 kg)
Avg. Weight	Male: 14.5 pounds (5.0-8.2 kg), Female: 12.5 pounds (4.5-6.8 kg)	90.5 pounds (41 kg)	Male: 24 pounds (11 kg), Female: 22.5 pounds (10 kg)
Height	Male: 14 inches (35.6 cm), Female: 13 inches (33.0 cm)	24-26 inches (60-65 cm)	Male: 16-17 inches (41-43 cm), Female: 15-16 inches (38-41 cm)
Avg. Height	Male: 14 inches (35.6 cm), Female: 13 inches (33.0 cm)	25 inches (62.5 cm)	Male: 16.5 inches (42 cm), Female: 15.5 inches (39.5 cm)

Hair & Care - Miniature Schnauzer vs Otterhound vs Basenji

Coat	Wiry	Rough Waterproof	Fine
Colors	Salt Pepper Silver Black	Blue Cream Wheaten Tan Black	White Brindle Tan Red Black
Grooming	Advanced: The Miniature Schnauzer requires a lot of grooming.	Advanced: The Otterhound requires a lot of grooming.	Effortless: The Basenji requires minimal grooming.
Shedding Level	Miniature Schnauzers shed none to minimal.	Otterhounds shed above average.	Basenjis shed none to minimal.

Characteristics - Miniature Schnauzer vs Otterhound vs Basenji

Temperament	Alert Friendly Obedient Fearless Intelligent Spirited	Amiable Outright Tempered Boisterous	Affectionate Curious Playful Alert Energetic Intelligent
Intelligent Rank	Very smart: Miniature Schnauzer is an excellent dog breed.	Average: Otterhound's has average obedience intelligence.	Low: The Basenji if one of the dog breeds that have the lowest degree of obedience intelligence.
Trainability	Miniature Schnauzers are easy to train.	Otterhounds are easy to train.	Basenjis are easy to train.
Playfulness	Miniature Schnauzers, like any other dog breed, like playing.	The Otterhound is a highly playful breed.	Basenjis, like any other dog breed, like playing.
Sensitivity Level	They are a little bit more sensitive than other dog breeds.	Otterhounds are less sensitive than other dog breeds.	Basenjis have an average emotional level and are not the most sensitive dog breed.
Affection Level	Miniature Schnauzers are genuinely loyal, soft and gentle, loving and affectionate dogs toward their handlers.	Otterhounds are average dogs regarding their affection level.	Basenjis may seem unfriendly sometimes due to their independence.
Social Needs	Miniature Schnauzers are a social breed.	Otterhounds need for social interaction is average.	Basenjis are kinda antisocial.
Barking	Average: The Miniature Schnauzer barks occasionally.	Average: The Otterhound barks occasionally.	Low: The Basenji barks none to minimal.
Watchdog Ability	Miniature Schnauzers are one of the best watchdogs.	Otterhounds are not the best watchdogs.	Basenjis are one of the best watchdogs.
Territorial	Miniature Schnauzers strongly protect their territory.	Otterhounds can't provide protection for their territory.	Basenjis are average defenders.
Biting Potential	Low The Miniature Schnauzer has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Otterhound has a low chance of biting somebody.	Low The Basenji has a low chance of biting somebody.
Mouthiness	Miniature Schnauzers have lower than average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Otterhounds have an average tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.	Basenjis have a strong tendency to nip, chew, play-bite, or herd people.
Impulse to Wander or Roam	Miniature Schnauzers have average wanderlust potential.	Otterhounds have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world.	Basenjis have high wanderlust potential, which means that this breed has a strong desire for exploring the world.
Prey Drive	Miniature Schnauzers have a higher impulse to chase and catch something than other dog breeds.	Otterhounds have a high impulse to chase and catch something.	Basenjis have a high impulse to chase and catch something.
Apartment Friendly	Miniature Schnauzers are not the best choice for an apartment lifestyle, but they don't mind being inside if you walk them several times every day.	Otterhounds are not apartment-friendly dogs.	Basenjis are not recommended for an apartment lifestyle.
Adaptability	Miniature Schnauzers adapt very well to lifestyle changes and basically all living environments.	Otterhounds adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.	Basenjis adapt to lifestyle changes and different living environments quite okay usually.
Tolerates Being Left Alone	Miniature Schnauzers do best when a family member is at home during the day or if their workplace is dog-friendly so they can take the dog at work.	Just like every puppy, they are prone to panic, cry, bark, whine when they left alone by their owner.	Basenjis handle alone time quite well.
Fighting Dog	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Not really In history, this breed was not really used for combat dog.	Yes In history, this breed was unfortunately used for combat dog.

Good With - Miniature Schnauzer vs Otterhound vs Basenji

Stranger Friendly	Miniature Schnauzers are average friendly towards strangers.	Otterhounds are not the most stranger friendly dogs.	Basenjis are not the most stranger friendly dogs.
Child Friendly	Miniature Schnauzers are kid-friendly dogs.	Otterhounds are kid-friendly dogs.	Basenjis are kid-friendly dogs.
Cat Friendly	Miniature Schnauzers are average friendly towards cats.	Otterhounds are average friendly towards cats.	Basenjis are not the most cat-friendly dogs.
Dog Friendly	Miniature Schnauzers are average friendly towards other dogs.	Otterhounds are average friendly towards other dogs.	Basenjis are not the most dog-friendly dogs.
Office Friendly	No Miniature Schnauzer is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Otterhound is not the best dog breed for office environment.	No Basenji is not the best dog breed for office environment.
Senior Citizens Friendly	Miniature Schnauzers are usually recommended for elderly people.	Otterhounds are usually recommended for elderly people.	Basenjis are usually recommended for elderly people.
Pet Friendly	Miniature Schnauzers are generally with other pets.	Otterhounds are generally with other pets.	Basenjis usually don’t get on well with other pets.
Good For First Time Owners	No Miniature Schnauzers are not good for novice owners, due to their stubborn personality.	Yes Otterhounds are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.	Yes Basenjis are good for novice owners, due to their easy-going personality.
Service Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a service dog.
Therapy Dog	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.	Not really This breed generally not used as a therapy dog.
Detection Dog or Sniffer Dog	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.	Not really A detection dog or sniffer dog is a dog that is trained to use its senses (mostly its smell) to detect substances such as explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, currency, blood, and contraband electronics such as illicit mobile phones.
Search and Rescue Dog (SAR)	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.	Not really The use of dogs in search and rescue (SAR) is a valuable component in wilderness tracking, natural disasters, mass casualty events, and in locating missing people.
Boat Dog	Yes Miniature Schnauzer breed usually likes being on a boat.	Yes Otterhound breed usually likes being on a boat.	Not really Basenji breed usually doesn't like being on a boat.
Cart Pulling or Drafting Dog	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.	Not really A drafting dog or draft dog is a dog bred and used for cart pulling.

Health Factors - Miniature Schnauzer vs Otterhound vs Basenji

Health Issues	The Miniature Schnauzer is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.	Otterhounds tend to have more and frequent health issues than other breeds.	The Basenji is a healthy breed, but there are certain health issues that you should check with your vet regularly.
Health Problems	Cataracts Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare infection (MAI) Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA)	Bloat Epilepsy Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Joint Problems	No set
Life Expectancy	12-14 years	10-12 years	10-12 years
Calculate dog years to human years by breed here
Hypoallergenic	Yes	No	No
Energy Level	Miniature Schnauzers are high energy dogs.	Otterhounds are high energy dogs.	Basenjis are high energy dogs.
Exercise Need	Miniature Schnauzers have an average exercise need.	Otterhounds need a lot of exercises.	Basenjis need quite a lot of exercise.
Sleeping Need	Miniature Schnauzers don't need too much sleep.	Otterhounds don't need too much sleep.	Basenjis don't need too much sleep.
Avg. daily food consumption	1/2 to 1 cup dry food a day.	3 to 5 cups of a high-quality dog food daily, divided into two meals.	3/4 to 1 cup of high-quality dry food a day, divided into two meals.
Weight Gain Potential	Average to High.	Average.	Low to Average.
Weather & Climate	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Miniature Schnauzer can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Prefers average to cold weather conditions The Otterhound can adapt to well to cold weather conditions, some dogs even can be a good mountain dog.	Prefers warm weather
Stinkiness	Low The Miniature Schnauzer has a low chance of bad smell.	Medium The Otterhound has an average chance of bad smell.	Low The Basenji has a low chance of bad smell.
Drooling tendency	The Miniature Schnauzer is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Otterhound is a perfect example for very low drooling tendency.	The Basenji is a perfect example for low drooling tendency.

Reproducibility - Miniature Schnauzer vs Otterhound vs Basenji

Gestation Length	60-64 days	60-64 days	60-64 days
How often can the have a litter?	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.	Once a year. More frequent breeding is not healthy.
Litter Size	3-6 puppies	4-7 puppies	4-5 puppies
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