Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Better than the Standard Schnauzer as a Pet? Answer…

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Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Standard Schnauzer: Introduction

Are you thinking of getting a new pet dog, and you have narrowed down your choices to the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer? Well, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will provide you a detailed comparison of these two dog breeds to help you decide which of the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer better suits you.

We will provide you a detailed discussion and comparison of dog attributes such as intelligence, price, general health, friendliness, etc, for both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer.

Furthermore, we will let you know which one of the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer is better suited for new dog owners, for owners with kids, for owners that live in apartments, for owners with dog allergies, etc.

Importantly, we did some analysis and calculation and we obtained a number that we call the Better-Pet Score™ for both the Flat-Coated Retriever and for the Standard Schnauzer. The dog breed with the higher Better-Pet score is the `better` pet. We hope that these Better-Pet Scores will provide you more insight into deciding which pet to get between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer.

Our only goal here is to help you make a well-thought-out decision on your next long-term companion, be it the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Standard Schnauzer

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Standard Schnauzer: Overview

Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer are similar in size. The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer are both medium-sized dogs.

Furthermore, the Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the Sporting Dogs group. Sporting Dogs were bred to help hunters catch and retrieve feathered game. Some sporting dog breeds such as Retrievers, which were built for swimming, were bred to hunt waterfowl in water. Whereas sporting dog breeds like setters, spaniels, and pointing breeds were bred to hunt quail, pheasant, and other game birds nest on grasslands. Many Sporting Group breeds have thick, water-repellent coats that protect them from harsh hunting conditions.

On the other hand, the Standard Schnauzer belongs to the Working Dogs group. Working Dogs were developed to assist humans in some capacity – including pulling sleds and carts, guarding flocks, guarding homes, and protecting their families. Breeds in the Working Group are known for their imposing stature, strength, intelligence, and fearless. Because of their size and strength, working dogs require a structured home life and firm, fair, consistent training by someone who can provide leadership without resorting to anger or physical force.

Flat-Coated Retriever versus Standard Schnauzer: Comparison Table

The table below compares the Flat-Coated Retriever to the Standard Schnauzer based on different important factors such as Price, Health, Kid-friendliness, etc.

When a dog breed scores higher for a factor than the other dog breed, the box of the breed that scores higher is shaded green and the box of the breed that scores lower is shaded red. When there is no difference between the breeds for a particular factor then the box is shaded gray for both pets. Also, when the factor is not important in picking a pet, or when the factor cannot be compared between two pets, the box for the factor is shaded gray for both pets

Most of the factors in the table for each dog breed are ranked on a scale of 1 to 5. “1” means “worst”, and “5” means “best”.

However, some factors such as “Price”, “Average Lifespan”, etc. cannot be on a scale of 1 to 5, so they are not on a scale of 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

Factor Flat-Coated Retriever Standard Schnauzer
Adapts Well To Apartment Living 1/5 4/5
Tolerates Being Alone 1/5 2/5
Height 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 8 inches tall at the s
Life Span 10 to 12 years 13 to 16 years
Good For Novice Owners 2/5 2/5
Does NOT Drool 4/5 5/5
Does NOT Shed 3/5 5/5
Does NOT chew on things 3/5 3/5
Low Prey Drive 3/5 1/5
Tolerates Cold Weather 4/5 4/5
Tolerates Hot Weather 4/5 4/5
Easy To Groom 4/5 2/5
General Health 4/5 5/5
Potential NOT to Gain Weight 2/5 5/5
Easy To Train 4/5 3/5
Does NOT Bark or Howl 2/5 4/5
Tendency NOT to Wander 2/5 1/5
Calmness/ Low Vigor 2/5 3/5
Easygoing 1/5 2/5
Affectionate With Family 5/5 4/5
Kid-Friendly 5/5 4/5
Dog Friendly 5/5 3/5
Friendly Toward Strangers 5/5 2/5
Intelligence 5/5 5/5
NOT Rambunctious 1/5 1/5
Minimal Exercise Needs 1/5 1/5
Potential For Playfulness 5/5 5/5
Weight 55 to 70 pounds 30 to 50 pounds
Average Lifespan 11.0 years 14.5 years
Average Price $1350 $1710
Price Range $1150 – $1800 $1200 – $2150
Temperament Score 92.0 percent 71.1 percent
Common Health Problems and Recommended Health Tests
  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 24 months, recommend every other year until age 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Popularity out of 200 Dog Breeds 94 90
    Intelligence Rank (out of 130 Dog Breeds) 18 18

    *Data from dogtime.com, OFA.org (The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals), petcalculator.com, wikipedia.org, ATTS.org (the American Temperament Test Society)

    Next, we added the scores of the factors that can be added together for the Flat-Coated Retriever in the table (that is, `Ease of Grooming` score + `General Health` score + `Calmness` score + …etc) and we compared it to the corresponding total score for the Standard Schnauzer. We call these total scores the Better-Pet Scores, as we mentioned earlier. We called this score the Better-Pet score because the better dog breed will have a higher score. This is because the pet will the higher score will have minimal needs and be easier to have as a pet.

    The Better-Pet score for a Flat-Coated Retriever is 78 out of 125 while the Better-Pet score for a Standard Schnauzer is 80 out of 125.

    Based on their Better-Pet scores, the Standard Schnauzer is a better pet than the Flat-Coated Retriever. So, you should get the Standard Schnauzer!

    Although we have done our best to analyze these two dog breeds in a very unbiased way, however, we will like to let you know that there are some dog attributes that cannot be assigned a number for comparison. We cannot put a number on how cute a dog breed is, for example. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    Also, the dog breed that best suits you will depend on your peculiar lifestyle, your taste, and your priorities, which we do not know. So, for you to decide on which breed is right for you, read through the rest of the article to further understand both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer so that you can make your own well-informed decision on which pet to get.

    The Most Remarkable Differences Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer

    Below is a list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer are most different:

  • Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living. However, Standard Schnauzers adapt well to apartment living.
  • Flat-Coated Retrievers gain weight easily. You need to pay careful attention to what you feed them. However, Standard Schnauzers are not prone to gaining weight easily.
  • Flat-Coated Retrievers are very friendly towards strangers. However, Standard Schnauzers are not very friendly towards strangers.
  • The Similarities Between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer

    The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer are very similar in certain aspects. Below is the list of where the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer are most similar:

  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer do not like to be left alone.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer are not the best dogs for new dog owners.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer do not have the tendency to drool.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer can tolerate cold weather.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer can tolerate hot weather.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer are very healthy. They do not suffer from a lot of health problems compared to other dog breeds
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer are very easy to train.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer do things with high intensity. They can be very forceful.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer are easily disturbed by noise in their environments. They are sensitive to human tone. They will understand the tone of your voice when you try to correct their behaviors with a firm tone.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer are highly intelligent.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer have very high energy levels. They need a lot of exercise time to release their high energy.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer require a lot of exercise. They are good for owners who like to exercise.
  • Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer are very playful.
  • Size (Weight and Height) of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Standard Schnauzer

    Now, let us discuss the difference in size between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer.

    Flat-Coated Retrievers weigh 55 to 70 pounds when fully grown. Flat-Coated Retrievers are 1 foot, 10 inches to 2 feet tall at the shoulder when fully grown.

    On the other hand, Standard Schnauzers weigh 30 to 50 pounds when fully grown. Standard Schnauzers are 1 foot, 5 inches to 1 foot, 8 inches tall at the s when fully grown.

    Temperament of the Flat-Coated Retriever Versus the Standard Schnauzer

    The Flat-Coated Retriever has a better temperament than the Standard Schnauzer.

    This is because the temperament score for the Flat-Coated Retriever is 92.0 percent while the temperament score for the Standard Schnauzer is 71.1 percent, according to the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS).

    The American Temperament Test Society (ATTS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide fair and objective evaluations of the temperaments of dog breeds.

    Dog breeds with low temperament scores tend to show unprovoked aggression, they easily panic without quickly recovering from the panic, and they tend to avoid people. However, dog breeds with high temperament scores are not aggressive and are not shy. Also, these dogs are generally friendly and they are protective of their owners.

    The average temperament score across all dog breeds (over 250 breeds) is 83.7 percent.

    With its temperament score of 92.0 percent, the Flat-Coated Retriever has an above-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    With its temperament score of 71.1 percent, the Standard Schnauzer has a below-average temperament compared to other dog breeds.

    The ATTS obtained the temperament scores of the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer by measuring the temperaments of 87 Flat-Coated Retrievers and 76 Standard Schnauzers.

    Price of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Price of Standard Schnauzer

    The average price of the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy is $1350. The price of the Flat-Coated Retriever typically ranges from $1150 – $1800. However, the price of a Flat-Coated Retriever can be as low as $100 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by reviewing the prices of 8 Flat-Coated Retriever puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The average price of the Standard Schnauzer puppy is $1710. The price of the Standard Schnauzer typically ranges from $1200 – $2150. However, the price of a Standard Schnauzer can be as low as $600 and as high as $2500. We obtained this price information by collecting and reviewing the prices of 26 Standard Schnauzer puppies listed for sale from various sources.

    The Standard Schnauzer is more expensive than the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    Flat-Coated Retriever Standard Schnauzer
    Average Price $1350 $1710
    Price Range $1150 to $1800 $1200 to $2150

    The charts below show the price distribution for the Flat-Coated Retriever and Standard Schnauzer. For different price points, the charts show how many Flat-Coated Retriever puppies or how many Standard Schnauzer puppies are listed for sale at those price points.

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Flat-Coated Retrievers. The typical price range is shaded Green.

    A breakdown of the prices of Standard Schnauzers

    A breakdown of the prices of Standard Schnauzers

    Note that a lot of factors determine how much you can expect to pay for the Flat-Coated Retriever puppy or the Standard Schnauzer puppy. This includes if health screening tests have been performed on the puppy, if the puppy is from a famous pedigree, the US State where the puppy is bred, etc.

    Nevertheless, when looking from a puppy, look at buying a puppy only from well-established breeders that breed puppies primarily for the love of dogs, and secondarily for profit. Do not buy a puppy from one of those puppy mills that mass-produce puppies in bad living conditions for maximum profit.

    You may also consider adopting a dog instead of buying a dog.

    Adopting the Flat-Coated Retriever versus Adopting the Standard Schnauzer

    You may consider adopting a dog instead of buying a puppy. Many Flat-Coated Retrievers and many Standard Schnauzers are currently available for adoption.

    These adorable and cute dogs are waiting in dog shelters hoping that someday someone will rescue them. Furthermore, adoption costs are lesser than the cost of a new puppy. Dog adoption costs are usually around $300. In addition to your local dog shelter, a good place online to see dogs that are available for adoption is petfinder.com.

    Below is an adorable Male Flat-Coated Retriever named Kaluha that is currently available for adoption on Petfinder.com. You can find other lovely adoptable Flat-Coated Retrievers like Kaluha on pefinder.com.

    Also, like Flat-Coated Retrievers, Standard Schnauzers are also available for adoption. For example, Marley is a Male Standard Schnauzer that is currently available for adoption on petfinder.com. You can find more Standard Schnauzers like Marley that are up for adoption on petfinder.com.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer can both be adopted. Images from petfinder.com

    Palisade is the name of another Flat-Coated Retriever (Male) on petfinder.com that is looking for a new home.

    You can find more Flat-Coated Retrievers and Standard Schnauzers that are available for adoption on petfinder.

    The Intelligence of the Flat-Coated Retriever versus the Intelligence of the Standard Schnauzer

    Flat-Coated Retriever Standard Schnauzer
    Intelligence Rank 18 out of 130 dog breeds 18 out of 130 dog breeds
    Trainability Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions Tend To Learn New Commands After 5 To 15 Repetitions

    Professor Stanley Coren, the famous psychology/neuropsychological professor and, dog lover/trainer measured and ranked the intelligence of about 130 different dog breeds.

    According to Prof. Stanley Coren, the total intelligence that a dog demonstrates is the addition of three types of intelligence. These intelligence types are:

  • Instinctive Intelligence: This is the natural intelligence a dog has because of what the dog was bred for. This type of intelligence comes from instinct. For example, dog breeds that were bred for guarding will have high `guarding` instinctive intelligence, while dog breeds that were bred for hunting will what high `hunting` instinctive intelligence. However, you cannot compare the intelligence of dog breeds based on instinctive intelligence because such a comparison will not make sense.
  • Adaptive Intelligence (learning and problem-solving ability): This indicates what a dog can learn to do for himself or herself. It includes learning and benefiting from experience with his environment, solving new problems, and so forth. Adaptive intelligence is specific to each dog, and not breed specific. Thus, two dogs can have remarkably different levels of adaptive intelligence even if they are of the same breed.
  • Working/Obedience Intelligence: This intelligence is the closest to what we might call school-learning ability and it is based upon what the dog can learn to do when instructed by humans. Importantly, different dog breeds have different learning abilities. Also, science has shown that some dog breeds can learn faster than some other breeds. This means certain dog breeds tend to have higher working/obedience intelligence than some other breeds. Dogs with high Working/Obedience Intelligence are smart and easy to train.
  • Prof. Coren showed that the Working/Obedience Intelligence of different dog breeds can be measured reliably. Thus, he was able to rank different dog breeds based on their Working/Obedience Intelligence.

    This is important because according to Prof. Coren, 51 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from its genes while 49 percent of a dog`s intelligence comes from the dog`s environmental circumstances.

    To rank the intelligence of dog breeds, Prof. Coren employed the help of 208 dog obedience judges in North America to fill out a detailed survey on dog obedience. This number represented more than half of all of these judges in North America at the time. He also employed 63 veterinarians and 14 guard dog experts to collect data on the personality of different dog breeds.

    Prof. Coren found that the Flat-Coated Retriever has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The Flat-Coated Retriever belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Flat-Coated Retrievers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Standard Schnauzer has an obedience intelligence rank of 18 out of 130 dog breeds. The Standard Schnauzer belongs to the `Excellent Working Dogs` category. This means that Standard Schnauzers tend to learn new commands after 5 to 15 repetitions.

    The Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer are of the same intelligence.

    However, Prof. Coren noted that a dog should not be judged based on its intelligence alone, that other factors such as sociability, adorability, and compatibility with the owner are other very important factors that new dog owners need to consider when deciding on a new dog.

    The Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Popularity of Standard Schnauzer

    Every year, the American Kennel Club (AKC) publishes information on how popular a dog breed is in that particular year. The AKC gets the popularity information of a breed from how many dogs of that breed the owners register with the AKC every year. The AKC collects this data for about 200 dog breeds. The AKC collects this data for purebred dogs only(no mixed or hybrid dogs).

    The graphs and the table below show the popularity of the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer over the years.

    Based on the AKC popularity data over the years, the Standard Schnauzer is more popular with dog owners than the Flat-Coated Retriever. This is because, over the years, the average popularity of the Standard Schnauzer is 90 out of about 200 dog breeds while the average popularity of the Flat-Coated Retriever is 94 out of about 200 dog breeds.

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Flat-Coated Retriever

    Popularity of Standard Schnauzer

    Popularity of Standard Schnauzer

    Year Flat-Coated Retriever Popularity Rank Standard Schnauzer Popularity Rank
    2013 94 90
    2014 92 90
    2015 86 91
    2016 89 85
    2017 96 90
    2018 91 89
    2019 104 97
    2020 102 92

    Health Problems of Flat-Coated Retriever versus Health Problems of Standard Schnauzer

    Every dog breed has its own set of health problems that it has a tendency to develop. Therefore, there is nothing like a perfect puppy.

    Both the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer are prone to certain genetic health conditions. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) is the organization that keeps track of health problems in dogs. Based on the extensive records that the OFA keeps, the OFA knows what health problems each dog breed is naturally prone to develop. Hence, the OFA recommends which health screening that breeders should perform on a dog breed to make sure that the breeders won`t breed `defective` dog parents that can pass down defective genes to their puppy offspring.

    The more health problems a dog breed is prone to develop, the more health tests the OFA will recommend for that dog breed.

    Based on our review of OFA records, we found that the Standard Schnauzer is prone to more genetic health problems than the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    This is because the OFA recommends more screening health tests for the Standard Schnauzer than for the Flat-Coated Retriever.

    3 health tests are recommended for Flat-Coated Retriever while 6 tests are recommended for the Standard Schnauzer.

    Below is a detailed discussion of health problems in Flat-Coated Retrievers and in Standard Schnauzers.

    Flat-Coated Retriever Health Problems

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Flat-Coated Retriever puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Flat-Coated Retriever puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Flat-Coated Retriever breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Flat-Coated Retrievers for:

  • Eye Examination
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • Patellar Luxation
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Flat-Coated Retrievers here.

    Standard Schnauzer Health Problems

    Standard Schnauzers are genetically prone to certain health problems. However, breeders can reduce the chances of producing Standard Schnauzer puppies with genetic defects by making sure that a puppy`s parents are free from genetic health problems before allowing the parent to make puppies.

    The OFA provides breeders recommendations on which genetic diseases that breeders should screen their dog parents and puppies for.

    If you want a Standard Schnauzer puppy that will grow up to be healthy, make sure that your Standard Schnauzer breeder screens your puppy or your puppy`s parents for the health problems that the OFA recommends for your puppy`s breed. This will increase the chances that your puppy is free from genetic defects.

    The following are the health tests that Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) recommends that breeders should screen Standard Schnauzers for:

  • Autoimmune thyroiditis
  • Cardiac Evaluation
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM)
  • DNA Repository
  • Eye Examination- minimum age 24 months, recommend every other year until age 7
  • Hip Dysplasia
  • You can find out more about OFA`s recommended tests for Standard Schnauzers here.

    More Discussions on Health Problems in Flat-Coated Retrievers and Standard Schnauzers

    Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Flat-Coated Retriever Breed is Thyroid problems.

    This is because the Flat-Coated Retriever ranks 28 out of 115 dog breeds for Thyroid problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 241 Flat-Coated Retrievers, 14 of them had Thyroid problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Flat-Coated Retrievers, and how common these diseases are in Flat-Coated Retrievers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Thyroid problems: Rank 28 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Patella problems: Rank 85 out of 145 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 129 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 129 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 172 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • Based on our analysis of data from the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, of all known genetic health problems in dogs, the health problem that is most commonly seen in the Standard Schnauzer Breed is Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems.

    This is because the Standard Schnauzer ranks 2 out of 3 dog breeds for Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems. In fact, in a health test conducted on 1749 Standard Schnauzers, 8 of them had Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems.

    The genetic diseases that were found to commonly occur in Standard Schnauzers, and how common these diseases are in Standard Schnauzers relative to other dog breeds, are given below:

  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems: Rank 2 out of 3 Dog Breeds
  • Thyroid problems: Rank 40 out of 115 Dog Breeds
  • Elbow problems: Rank 54 out of 144 Dog Breeds
  • Eyes problems: Rank 103 out of 182 Dog Breeds
  • Hips problems: Rank 128 out of 198 Dog Breeds
  • The table below lists the common health problems in Flat-Coated Retriever and in Standard Schnauzer and the rank (prevalence), compared to other dogs, of these health problems in the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer:

    Disease Flat-Coated Retriever Rank Standard Schnauzer Rank
    Thyroid problems 28 out of 115 dog breeds 40 out of 115 dog breeds
    Patella problems 85 out of 145 dog breeds Not Common
    Elbow problems 129 out of 144 dog breeds 54 out of 144 dog breeds
    Eyes problems 129 out of 182 dog breeds 103 out of 182 dog breeds
    Hips problems 172 out of 198 dog breeds 128 out of 198 dog breeds
    Dilated Cardiomyopathy problems Not Common 2 out of 3 dog breeds

    *To learn more about each of these diseases, go to OFA.org and search for the disease.

    Again, most of these health problems can be prevented through health screening. Responsible breeders screen male and female dog parents for genetic problems. These breeders will only breed dogs that are free of genetic defects. That way, there is little or no chance that their puppies will grow up to have genetic health problems. Always ask a breeder for the list of health tests the breeder screens their dogs for before buying a puppy from such a breeder.

    Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Better for Apartment Owners than the Standard Schnauzer?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not adapt well to apartment living.

    Standard Schnauzers adapt very well to apartment living.

    Tolerates Being Alone: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Standard Schnauzer

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do not like to be left alone.

    Standard Schnauzers do not like to be left alone.

    Which is Better for New Dog Owners, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Standard Schnauzer?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Standard Schnauzers are not the best dogs for new dog owners.

    Which one drools more, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Standard Schnauzer

    Flat-Coated Retrievers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Standard Schnauzers do have a very low tendency to drool.

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers shed more than Standard Schnauzers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers shed moderately.

    Standard Schnauzers do not shed a lot. They are good for people with dog allergies.

    Does the Flat-Coated Retriever Have a Higher Prey Drive than the Standard Schnauzer?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers have a moderate prey drive. They can sometimes chase after smaller animals and pets.

    Standard Schnauzers have a high prey drive. They have the tendency to chase after smaller animals and pets. They do not get along well with other pets.

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Cold Weather? And can Standard Schnauzers Tolerate Cold Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Standard Schnauzers can very well tolerate cold weather.

    Can Flat-Coated Retrievers Tolerate Hot Weather? Can Standard Schnauzers Tolerate Hot Weather?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers can tolerate hot weather.

    Standard Schnauzers can tolerate hot weather.

    Which is Easier to Groom, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Standard Schnauzer?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to groom.

    Standard Schnauzers require a lot of grooming and they are not very easy to groom.

    Is the Flat-Coated Retriever Easier to Train than the Standard Schnauzer?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are very easy to train.

    Standard Schnauzers are fairly easy to train.

    Do Flat-Coated Retrievers Bark and Howl? What about Standard Schnauzers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are highly vocal. They have the tendency to bark and howl.

    Standard Schnauzers are not very vocal. They do not tend to bark and howl.

    Wanderlust Potential: Flat-Coated Retriever vs. Standard Schnauzer

    Flat-Coated Retrievers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Standard Schnauzers have a high tendency to wander. They are easily distracted by other animals or objects.

    Are Flat-Coated Retrievers good family dogs? What about Standard Schnauzers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    Standard Schnauzers are great family dogs. They are very affectionate with family.

    How Kid-friendly are Flat-Coated Retrievers and Standard Schnauzers?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Standard Schnauzers get along well with kids. They are kid-friendly.

    Which Dog Breed is more Dog-Friendly, the Flat-Coated Retriever or the Standard Schnauzer?

    Flat-Coated Retrievers get along very well with other dogs.

    Standard Schnauzers get along fairly well with other dogs.

    Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Flat-Coated Retriever that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Flat-Coated Retriever:

  • Wirehaired Pointing Griffon (81 percent match with Flat-Coated Retriever). Here is our comparison of the Standard Schnauzer vs Wirehaired Pointing Griffon.
  • Other Dog Breeds That are Similar to the Standard Schnauzer

    Furthermore, there are other dog breeds that are very similar to the Standard Schnauzer that you can consider on your quest to get the best pet.

    We crunched the numbers and found that the following dog breeds have similar personality and temperament as the Standard Schnauzer:

  • Polish Lowland Sheepdog (77 percent match with Standard Schnauzer). Here is our comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever vs Polish Lowland Sheepdog.
  • Other Breed Comparisons that Might Interest You

    You may also be interested in how the Flat-Coated Retriever and how the Standard Schnauzer compares to other breeds. So, see below the comparison of the Flat-Coated Retriever and of the Standard Schnauzer to other breeds:

    Flat-Coated Retriever Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Flat-Coated Retriever versus Cane Corso     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Cesky Terrier     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Great Dane     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Pomsky     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Shiba Inu     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Lagotto Romagnolo     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Plott     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Golden Retriever     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Finnish Spitz     Flat-Coated Retriever versus Black Mouth Cur     

    Standard Schnauzer Versus Other Dog Breeds

    Standard Schnauzer versus Collie     Standard Schnauzer versus Lhasapoo     Standard Schnauzer versus American Water Spaniel     Standard Schnauzer versus American Foxhound     Standard Schnauzer versus Bolognese     Standard Schnauzer versus American Staffordshire Terrier     Standard Schnauzer versus Canaan Dog     Standard Schnauzer versus Estrela Mountain Dog     Standard Schnauzer versus Beagle     Standard Schnauzer versus Black Russian Terrier     

    Conclusion: Flat-Coated Retriever versus Standard Schnauzer. Which One is a Better Pet?

    In summary, there is nothing like a better dog breed or a worse dog breed. The important question to ask is which dog breed better matches your interests and lifestyle. We hope our discussion above will help you in deciding which dog breed between the Flat-Coated Retriever and the Standard Schnauzer better suits you and your family.